When home is ruled according to God's word, angels might be asked to stay with us, and they would not find themselves out of their element.

Charles Spurgeon

Oh Lord, let this be a home of peace and love. Help us, Father, to make this a home of quietness and trust and yet a home full of laughter and joy.... a haven for all who enter.

To think... almost a year

It was a year ago that I was 38 weeks pregnant with our fifth little one. The Christmas tree was already up, the lights on the house were up and everything was ready for the coming Christmas season. I was seeking His grace as we entered a new season...

It's almost been a year since we welcomed this precious girl into our lives, almost a year since we became a family of seven, almost a year... And oh, how good God has been.

A precious baby girl joined our lives on Thanksgiving day. It's funny because as Thanksgiving day drew near and I just had this feeling that it would be the day she arrived, I grumbled. Yet, after her birth and as the days passed, it became so clear to me that it was the most perfect day for her to be born.

Our precious Alaina, Oh, how we are so thankful for you... for your life. You are busy now, exploring the world around you as you are learning to walk and talk and yet, your favorite thing to do is just to cuddle in with Mommy... or Daddy. We treasure these days with you... and we praise God for the gift of you.

White Days

We've had to say goodbye to our warm fall days. Last week we saw our first snow of the season. The kiddos have been thrilled and are happy to just walk around outside... and run around... and to lay on the ground making snow angles... and to throw snow balls...

It's Monday, a new day and a new week. Thanksgiving is quietly coming up and all that we have to be thankful for seems to be jumping up in front of us just begging to be noticed. There are so many gifts.

The warmth and light from the fireplace on these cold days.

The beauty of waking up to a white world.

The flu behind us.

A husband who so wonderfully helped me and the kiddos while we were sick.

Family. A dad and mom who brought us chicken soup and a sister who sent along her treasured tummy tune-up.

A little girl laughing in the morning after being up during the night getting sick.

Plans being made for Thanksgiving. A menu, shopping lists and fun activities.

Little children stopping to make their own "tree of thanks".

Dad, snow, Grandma coming to visit, Jesus... are just some the things listed on these leaves

Quiet Sunday afternoons full of games, reading and creating.

A little girl making her first necklace and bracelet.

A new week.

In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 16:11

It was Friday night and we were getting ready for prayer at a friends. Dinner was finished, dishes being loaded and everyone was busy grabbing their books.

The chatter started just as quickly as we got in the car. Livie sits in-between the boys and just as we were pulling down our street, she yells, "The boys smell like women!"

The car irrupts in laughter.

The boys smell like women?

Where did she get that? Why does she think they smell?

Just as quickly as she blurted that out, the older of the two boys, one of the two boys that was being accused of smelling like a woman, blurts out, "No, Liva stinks!"

The younger of these two boys quickly corrects, "No. Dad, Liva does not smell very good."

The laughter is dying down just a little bit and questions are starting to be asked.

Slowly the truth begins to unravel...

A little girl getting ready for prayer. She ran into Daddy and Mommy's bathroom and found Mommy's body spray. She quickly sprayed some on herself... wanting to be just like mommy.

She just put a little too much on and it was discovered in the car. She just thought it was the boys who smelled.

Oh. my. goodness. How I love these little ones. They bring so much laughter into our lives.

Our week in pictures...

This week has been absolutely beautiful. Right now the temp outside is 68 degrees and tomorrow has promises of being in the 70's. So often this week I have found myself questioning if the calendar really reads November. How can it only be a couple of weeks until Thanksgiving?

I know that we need to vacuum downstairs and some laundry is waiting to be folded. I've promised a sweet little girl that we will make some cookies today. Yet, we slowly find ourselves creeping outside. I think I want to be outside just as much as them. I quickly grab the little one and some knitting and go to join the others out under the sun. I know that soon our days will be colder, snow will sit on the ground and we won't be as anxious to open the door and walk out. So today I let the other things sit. It's good to just sit and watch, letting my heart store up these moments, letting myself breath deep, and to laugh and play.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

It's been a while since I've done "a week in pictures". I grabbed the camera today as I sat outside and enjoyed the beauty.

::: this chair calls my name so often :) :::

::: trampoline fun :::

::: the breathtaking view :::

::: a little one ready to go explore :::

And now it's time to go make those cookies and fold that laundry. Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

God's voice speaking peace is the sweetest music an ear can hear.

C.H. Spurgeon

Oh Lord, may my ears be open to hear.