It has been a merry little Christmas. We have rested and relaxed, in fact you could possibly say we've been lazy. It's been wonderful. Eric has been home the entire break and I'm so thankful for the time we have spent together with the kids. We have enjoyed time with both sides of our extended family and I love watching the kids spend time with their aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
And now it's winter. I'm hoping the snow continues. I'm ready to light my Kentucky Bourbon candle and hibernate for a bit. The seed catalog came in the mail a few days ago, so it's time to start working on that order. Always a fun winter activity. We have a ton of new movies and board games to keep us busy this winter. I think my favorite new toy is Cora's new Disney Princess Little People castle. I love Fisher-Price. I love Little People and Imaginext toys. At some point they will all be too big for these toys and that will be a sad Christmas, but for now I love how busy they are with they great toys. The older two actually got toys they like too, which is hard to find because of their age. But, they LOVE their new Spy Gear and Spy Net stuff. I thought these things might be poorly made or break easily, but they are actually incredibly cool and high-tech toys. Fun stuff.
2013. New Year's Eve will be quiet. The six of us at home. It seems like a fitting way to end a great year...here in my home with my sweet family.
And now it's winter. I'm hoping the snow continues. I'm ready to light my Kentucky Bourbon candle and hibernate for a bit. The seed catalog came in the mail a few days ago, so it's time to start working on that order. Always a fun winter activity. We have a ton of new movies and board games to keep us busy this winter. I think my favorite new toy is Cora's new Disney Princess Little People castle. I love Fisher-Price. I love Little People and Imaginext toys. At some point they will all be too big for these toys and that will be a sad Christmas, but for now I love how busy they are with they great toys. The older two actually got toys they like too, which is hard to find because of their age. But, they LOVE their new Spy Gear and Spy Net stuff. I thought these things might be poorly made or break easily, but they are actually incredibly cool and high-tech toys. Fun stuff.
2013. New Year's Eve will be quiet. The six of us at home. It seems like a fitting way to end a great year...here in my home with my sweet family.
It's been awhile since I've written here...ready to start again. The days go by so quickly right now, they are good days, just such quick days.
My home. I love this place, especially this time of year. One evening last week I was overwhelmed with love for this home we've created. Everyone was sleeping, kids in their beds, Eric on the couch. I was reading, snuggled up in a blanket in the big oversized chair and ottoman. The Christmas lights and the lamp by my chair were all the lights I needed to see my book. My new Christmas candle lit on table. Contentment. Peace. Happiness. It was late, later than I should have been up, but I didn't want to go to bed just because I was so stinking happy in my big chair with my blanket and book. This house is a great place for us during each season, but something about the winters here get me. Maybe it's the wood burner and the warm heat that fills the house, the smell of the wood burning when you step outside. Maybe it's that an A-frame in the woods looks like the cover of a Christmas card when it's snowing. I'm sure it's a combination of many things, but I love it. The sacrifices we make to live here are more than worth it.
My baby girl is now a full fledged toddler, going on preschooler. She is changing rapidly and conversations with her are usually the highlight of my day. She's funny, and she knows she's funny. She's also spoiled rotten, and I think she knows that as well. Last week I had reached a bit of a breaking point, not just with her, but with all four kids. It had been a rough two days...I was lied to, hit, and screamed at one too many times. It's like something bizarre was possessing my children. My mother-in-law called to check in, and I asked her to pray for me. I almost immediately felt a change, but not in my kids behavior, in my own heart. My mind was being renewed. I began to see things much more clearly...what it meant to be their mom, to embrace their interruptions and include them in the mix of my day in a more substantial way. Then on Sunday our sermon was about renewing our minds and the Holy Spirit moved in a very clear way in my heart and in the congregation. This has effected my relationship with all four kids, but with Cora in particular. I have found that keeping her by my side, even when I am working or doing chores, helps so much. When I vacuum, Cora vacuum's. When I cook, Cora cooks. She even cleaned the bathroom with me last week. She is my work...my most important job. My mind is being renewed as a mother this Advent season, and I'm very grateful.
My home. I love this place, especially this time of year. One evening last week I was overwhelmed with love for this home we've created. Everyone was sleeping, kids in their beds, Eric on the couch. I was reading, snuggled up in a blanket in the big oversized chair and ottoman. The Christmas lights and the lamp by my chair were all the lights I needed to see my book. My new Christmas candle lit on table. Contentment. Peace. Happiness. It was late, later than I should have been up, but I didn't want to go to bed just because I was so stinking happy in my big chair with my blanket and book. This house is a great place for us during each season, but something about the winters here get me. Maybe it's the wood burner and the warm heat that fills the house, the smell of the wood burning when you step outside. Maybe it's that an A-frame in the woods looks like the cover of a Christmas card when it's snowing. I'm sure it's a combination of many things, but I love it. The sacrifices we make to live here are more than worth it.
My baby girl is now a full fledged toddler, going on preschooler. She is changing rapidly and conversations with her are usually the highlight of my day. She's funny, and she knows she's funny. She's also spoiled rotten, and I think she knows that as well. Last week I had reached a bit of a breaking point, not just with her, but with all four kids. It had been a rough two days...I was lied to, hit, and screamed at one too many times. It's like something bizarre was possessing my children. My mother-in-law called to check in, and I asked her to pray for me. I almost immediately felt a change, but not in my kids behavior, in my own heart. My mind was being renewed. I began to see things much more clearly...what it meant to be their mom, to embrace their interruptions and include them in the mix of my day in a more substantial way. Then on Sunday our sermon was about renewing our minds and the Holy Spirit moved in a very clear way in my heart and in the congregation. This has effected my relationship with all four kids, but with Cora in particular. I have found that keeping her by my side, even when I am working or doing chores, helps so much. When I vacuum, Cora vacuum's. When I cook, Cora cooks. She even cleaned the bathroom with me last week. She is my work...my most important job. My mind is being renewed as a mother this Advent season, and I'm very grateful.
I am beyond grateful for the boy's teachers this year. They are an amazing group of women and they are on my team. Evan's kindergarten teacher, aka the kindergarten whisperer, is so gifted and meek. Eric and I had the privilege of attending her kindergarten reading workshop earlier this week. She cares deeply for the kids in her class and I could sit and learn from her for hours. Evan simply loves kindergarten and has already gained so much confidence. He has now owned the title of "reader" and is very proud of his accomplishment.
Trey's teacher can be described in one short word, sweet. Like Evan's teacher, she is very meek and so gentle. She called me near tears during the first week of school because she was so worried that she had hurt Trey's feelings that day. She explained how much she cares for Trey and how she pulled him aside to make sure he realized how much she appreciated his kind heart and helpful spirit in the classroom. She called me just to make sure I was aware of the situation and that we were on the same page. She took the time to make sure his little spirit had not been crushed. To this mom, that means the world.
Then there are Riley's teachers. I had the most meaningful meeting with them this morning. I wanted to discuss some concerns we had with Riley academically. We went through my list, but then we discussed so much more. They care about all aspects of Riley...his academic progress, his self-confidence, his peer group, his emotions. They had taken the time, in just these few shorts week of the new school year, to really get to know Riley. I held it together pretty well during the meeting, but the tears hit the second I left the building...so thankful to have them on my team.
Trey's teacher can be described in one short word, sweet. Like Evan's teacher, she is very meek and so gentle. She called me near tears during the first week of school because she was so worried that she had hurt Trey's feelings that day. She explained how much she cares for Trey and how she pulled him aside to make sure he realized how much she appreciated his kind heart and helpful spirit in the classroom. She called me just to make sure I was aware of the situation and that we were on the same page. She took the time to make sure his little spirit had not been crushed. To this mom, that means the world.
Then there are Riley's teachers. I had the most meaningful meeting with them this morning. I wanted to discuss some concerns we had with Riley academically. We went through my list, but then we discussed so much more. They care about all aspects of Riley...his academic progress, his self-confidence, his peer group, his emotions. They had taken the time, in just these few shorts week of the new school year, to really get to know Riley. I held it together pretty well during the meeting, but the tears hit the second I left the building...so thankful to have them on my team.
The first week of the new school year is over. It went as smoothly as possible, just a big transition. Oddly, the new kindergartener is the only one that hasn't cried.
Riley has been overwhelmed by the expectations of being a responsible 5th grader preparing for middle school and is swamped with homework already. He's missing his friends that were placed in the other class and he's now a slightly hormonal pre-teen. But, I watch him and am amazed at the way he is maturing and growing.
Trey is adjusting to a new classroom and teacher, which is always a bit of a struggle for him. He received some really disappointing news today as well...he won't be included in a program that he was really looking forward to attending. These experiences, however, are times for us to help him learn and grown. Now as I type he is sitting next to me practicing piano and all I can think is what a beautiful child he is and how much I love him. He is also growing and maturing in remarkable ways.
Then there is Pickle. Wow, was that kid ready for kindergarten. He hasn't quit smiling all week. I make mistakes about every other minute while parenting my children, but waiting another year for Evan to start school was one of my better moves. He has LOVED riding the bus in the morning with his brothers. Trey reported today that Evan does not want his help getting to the kindergarten room after he gets off the bus. He is Mr. Independent. I LOVE that he is only in school half day and it's been fun to have him home every afternoon while Cora naps.
Sister misses the boys and doesn't want to be home while they are in school. She wants to "go bye bye" all morning. She begs for preschool, but I know we are going to have fun every morning on our own.
So, here we go again. Another year...homework, projects, reading logs, packing lunches, field trips, class parties, friends, teachers, and a good amount of chaos. As I was running this morning I simply prayed that I would be filled with the fruits of His Spirit. I can not do this on my own and if I decide now to not even try, my kids will have a much better school year.
Riley has been overwhelmed by the expectations of being a responsible 5th grader preparing for middle school and is swamped with homework already. He's missing his friends that were placed in the other class and he's now a slightly hormonal pre-teen. But, I watch him and am amazed at the way he is maturing and growing.
Trey is adjusting to a new classroom and teacher, which is always a bit of a struggle for him. He received some really disappointing news today as well...he won't be included in a program that he was really looking forward to attending. These experiences, however, are times for us to help him learn and grown. Now as I type he is sitting next to me practicing piano and all I can think is what a beautiful child he is and how much I love him. He is also growing and maturing in remarkable ways.
Then there is Pickle. Wow, was that kid ready for kindergarten. He hasn't quit smiling all week. I make mistakes about every other minute while parenting my children, but waiting another year for Evan to start school was one of my better moves. He has LOVED riding the bus in the morning with his brothers. Trey reported today that Evan does not want his help getting to the kindergarten room after he gets off the bus. He is Mr. Independent. I LOVE that he is only in school half day and it's been fun to have him home every afternoon while Cora naps.
Sister misses the boys and doesn't want to be home while they are in school. She wants to "go bye bye" all morning. She begs for preschool, but I know we are going to have fun every morning on our own.
So, here we go again. Another year...homework, projects, reading logs, packing lunches, field trips, class parties, friends, teachers, and a good amount of chaos. As I was running this morning I simply prayed that I would be filled with the fruits of His Spirit. I can not do this on my own and if I decide now to not even try, my kids will have a much better school year.
For the first time since we began gardening I was able to can salsa with my own tomatoes today. Usually we only grow enough tomatoes to eat during the season and have had to rely on local farmers for any canning we do of tomato products. I didn't can much, but my 18 tomatoes made 5 1/2 pints and there are plenty more on the vine for another batch soon. I also already have two large freezer bags full of frozen tomatoes. This feels like a major success. I took the time to can green beans today as well. It was very time consuming...pressure canning is such a hassle compared to water bath canning...but the 5 quarts on the counter make me happy and they will taste so much better than frozen green beans. I love watching the jars pile up in the pantry and on top of the cabinets...jams, relish, pickles, peaches, green beans, and salsa. Our garden, our work, now all neat and pretty on my shelves.
Trey and I spent time in the garden this afternoon pulling out the green bean and cucumber plants. It's about time for a change of season in the garden. Trey reminds me so much of his daddy. He loves to have his hands in the dirt and he is ready to soak in any information we give him about gardening. Riley and Evan are more interested than usual this year. Riley has even spent some time reading Rodale's Garden Encyclopedia because he wanted to know more about some of the volunteers plants growing in our compost.
New hens have arrived and we have eggs to collect again!
More carrots, spinach, and lettuce went in today...fall is coming. Cabbage is almost ready to go outside as well. This is also a big accomplishment for us. We have never done well with a second planting.
Trey and I spent time in the garden this afternoon pulling out the green bean and cucumber plants. It's about time for a change of season in the garden. Trey reminds me so much of his daddy. He loves to have his hands in the dirt and he is ready to soak in any information we give him about gardening. Riley and Evan are more interested than usual this year. Riley has even spent some time reading Rodale's Garden Encyclopedia because he wanted to know more about some of the volunteers plants growing in our compost.
New hens have arrived and we have eggs to collect again!
More carrots, spinach, and lettuce went in today...fall is coming. Cabbage is almost ready to go outside as well. This is also a big accomplishment for us. We have never done well with a second planting.
My first born is now eleven years old. How did that happen? He will be starting the fifth grade in a few days and for the moment I'm still denying what all comes after fifth grade. He wanted a very simple birthday celebration, large parties make him a little anxious (he's a touch like his mom...okay, alot like his mom). So, we grilled out his very favorite food, hamburgers, and then took him and his two brothers to a late night showing of the new Diary of Wimpy Kid Dog Days movie on Thursday night. We laughed, hard. Last night we celebrated with my family at a pizza place. Simple, fun, and just what he wanted.
Riley has grown into a remarkable young man this year. The issues we were having with him, primarily attitude and arguing, have gotten so much better. He wants to be with his family and does a great job interacting with his brothers and sister. He still loves basketball, but has started running this year as well. He plans on running cross country in middle school...we'll see. I love running with him. It's a great way to spend time alone with him. He's at such an interesting age. One minute he seems so grown up and the next minute I may find him still willing to play Batman with his brothers. I don't know when it will end, when he will feel too old for their toys and games, but I love watching him right now.
Riley Michael Stetler, I am blessed to me your mom. You are a gift to me and the rest of our family. Your smile and hugs brighten my days. My prayer is that this last year of elementary school continues to form you into the young man God created you to be. I love you.
Riley has grown into a remarkable young man this year. The issues we were having with him, primarily attitude and arguing, have gotten so much better. He wants to be with his family and does a great job interacting with his brothers and sister. He still loves basketball, but has started running this year as well. He plans on running cross country in middle school...we'll see. I love running with him. It's a great way to spend time alone with him. He's at such an interesting age. One minute he seems so grown up and the next minute I may find him still willing to play Batman with his brothers. I don't know when it will end, when he will feel too old for their toys and games, but I love watching him right now.
Riley Michael Stetler, I am blessed to me your mom. You are a gift to me and the rest of our family. Your smile and hugs brighten my days. My prayer is that this last year of elementary school continues to form you into the young man God created you to be. I love you.
Gardening has been a challenge since we left the city. We realized very quickly how little we actually knew about gardening. In the city we used wooden boxes and had our soil delivered. There was no need to amend the soil and there were no weeds. It was fairly simple. Now it is complicated and very labor intensive work. This season began with double digging new beds. I am very proud to say that I double dug one bed almost entirely on my own. The beds seem healthy and the plants seems to love the soil and compost we have used. This process cost us very little, even the stones surrounding the beds were dug out of our property and our creek. We spent a little on soil amendments.
We are still so far away from our goal, but I have made a choice to not focus on that. After reading Hannah Coulter it was very easy to view Our Place with patience. Eric is the right man for the right place, just as Hannah describes her husband Nathan in the book. He is slowly doing the work that needs done and his work does not stand out as fancy or elaborate. It is simply the work that needs done and it fits Our Place because he fits Our Place. Of course, the goal is to become more self sufficient each year...to grow more, preserve more, and raise more animals. That will come, in time.
A few notes to look back on next year...
1. Less plants with better spacing...especially with tomatoes and beans.
2. Grow parsley and dill. How silly to harvest 100 cucumbers, but have to buy dill to pickle them.
3. Grow Copra onions...nothing else. I miss my 100 storage onions from the last two seasons. We have a very small harvest this year.
4. GARLIC
5. Tomato stakes, not cages.
As for this year, the cucumbers have been extremely successful. I have 15 pints of pickles canned with plenty more to harvest. Cucumber salsa for dinner tomorrow and then I'll probably start making relish. I am making pesto to freeze this week, the basil has done well this year as well. Green beans, enough for a meal or two a week...no where near enough to can. I would love to try and grow enough to can next year. The asparagus bed is in, which was a crazy amount of hard work digging and refilling that trench. I sure hope it comes back up next year! Chard...easy and healthy. Carrots are looking super. Peppers...I'm about ready to give up. We stink at growing peppers. Maybe pots next year? And then there are the tomatoes. They are huge, almost too big. They love the compost filled, double dug bed. They are slowly starting to turn red. I really hope they make some progress this week because I really don't like fried green tomatoes very well.
We need to gather up some energy for fall planting now.
We are still so far away from our goal, but I have made a choice to not focus on that. After reading Hannah Coulter it was very easy to view Our Place with patience. Eric is the right man for the right place, just as Hannah describes her husband Nathan in the book. He is slowly doing the work that needs done and his work does not stand out as fancy or elaborate. It is simply the work that needs done and it fits Our Place because he fits Our Place. Of course, the goal is to become more self sufficient each year...to grow more, preserve more, and raise more animals. That will come, in time.
A few notes to look back on next year...
1. Less plants with better spacing...especially with tomatoes and beans.
2. Grow parsley and dill. How silly to harvest 100 cucumbers, but have to buy dill to pickle them.
3. Grow Copra onions...nothing else. I miss my 100 storage onions from the last two seasons. We have a very small harvest this year.
4. GARLIC
5. Tomato stakes, not cages.
As for this year, the cucumbers have been extremely successful. I have 15 pints of pickles canned with plenty more to harvest. Cucumber salsa for dinner tomorrow and then I'll probably start making relish. I am making pesto to freeze this week, the basil has done well this year as well. Green beans, enough for a meal or two a week...no where near enough to can. I would love to try and grow enough to can next year. The asparagus bed is in, which was a crazy amount of hard work digging and refilling that trench. I sure hope it comes back up next year! Chard...easy and healthy. Carrots are looking super. Peppers...I'm about ready to give up. We stink at growing peppers. Maybe pots next year? And then there are the tomatoes. They are huge, almost too big. They love the compost filled, double dug bed. They are slowly starting to turn red. I really hope they make some progress this week because I really don't like fried green tomatoes very well.
We need to gather up some energy for fall planting now.
Back from a beautiful week with Eric and the kids at the lake in NY.
--Dinner at Redline drive-in and Scotty McCreery in concert at the Institute on our first night of vacation.
--Riley and Trey up and staying up on skis.
--Evan tubing without fear.
--Cora loves the water. Fearless on the tube.
--Full days on the boat with picnic lunches...swimming, skiing, tubing, laughing, sleeping...just being together in the sun.
--Rest and reading...finished the 5th Harry Potter book and Hannah Coulter, started Nathan Coulter. I'm officially obsessed with Port William. I'm convinced it gives me a look at Corydon, IN and my great grandparents farm that I was never able to experience, but that I visit frequently in my dreams.
--Dinner, ice cream, coffee, and Vocal Trash show at the Institute. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much when the night was over.
--Running with the boys.
And now we are done traveling, the beach and the lake gifted us with memories we will cherish. Home. Our place. Our garden. Our quiet. I love it here. The boys have decided we are now on stay-cation. I want to rest here and read here. I want to smile and laugh and know that the mess will get cleaned up when the fun is over for the day. I don't worry about the mess on vacation, but we get to it eventually. The mindset of vacation at home. Yes, now it's back to work and responsibilities, but I'm still with my sweet family and don't want to miss the memories we can build here because I allow myself to get caught up in the day-to-day of it all. The first challenge was getting groceries in the house...four kids at Walmart. Stay-cation was a challenge. But now the boys our out bike riding with Eric and dinner will be late on this summer night. So, here's to the rest of the summer and our stay-cation in Gambier.
--Dinner at Redline drive-in and Scotty McCreery in concert at the Institute on our first night of vacation.
--Riley and Trey up and staying up on skis.
--Evan tubing without fear.
--Cora loves the water. Fearless on the tube.
--Full days on the boat with picnic lunches...swimming, skiing, tubing, laughing, sleeping...just being together in the sun.
--Rest and reading...finished the 5th Harry Potter book and Hannah Coulter, started Nathan Coulter. I'm officially obsessed with Port William. I'm convinced it gives me a look at Corydon, IN and my great grandparents farm that I was never able to experience, but that I visit frequently in my dreams.
--Dinner, ice cream, coffee, and Vocal Trash show at the Institute. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much when the night was over.
--Running with the boys.
And now we are done traveling, the beach and the lake gifted us with memories we will cherish. Home. Our place. Our garden. Our quiet. I love it here. The boys have decided we are now on stay-cation. I want to rest here and read here. I want to smile and laugh and know that the mess will get cleaned up when the fun is over for the day. I don't worry about the mess on vacation, but we get to it eventually. The mindset of vacation at home. Yes, now it's back to work and responsibilities, but I'm still with my sweet family and don't want to miss the memories we can build here because I allow myself to get caught up in the day-to-day of it all. The first challenge was getting groceries in the house...four kids at Walmart. Stay-cation was a challenge. But now the boys our out bike riding with Eric and dinner will be late on this summer night. So, here's to the rest of the summer and our stay-cation in Gambier.
I love a good rocking chair. I always have. My parents always made sure I had a nice wooden rocker just my size, starting with a very small one that I still have. We are here at the cottage and in the living room is a very comfortable rocking chair. This afternoon I found myself alone in the cottage during Cora's nap and I settled into the rocker for a few quiet minutes of reading. The motion of the rocking chair and the relaxing sweet spirit of vacation at the lake led to the most peaceful twenty minutes of sleep I may have ever experienced. Now it's time to hurry down to the lake because I just received word that Riley has been up on skis and can ski half way across the lake. Sweet days of summer vacation.
Home from another two weeks at Topsail. The weather was beautiful the entire time and we all were healthy. This hasn't always been the case, so I'm very grateful. So thankful for the time away...this is a wonderful gift my parents give us each summer. I hope they realize that we don't take this gift for granted. All four kids played so well in the ocean this year. Evan was so much braver and Cora was a little too brave at times. She also preferred swimming naked over a swimsuit. I think she just likes being naked right now. We found her today completely naked standing with her back to the window air conditioner. She was sticking her little bootie out so the air would blow right on her backside. Who could blame her though, it was 103 and outside!
We drove through the night arriving home at 5 this morning. We pushed through the day. We're exhausted and ready to sleep, but it was worth it. We're unpacked and have been to the grocery to restock. In a few days we leave again for a week at the cottage in NY. Again, an amazing gift we have been given from Eric's family. We have a ton to do for work in the next few days, but I'm ready to work hard and get it all done quickly so we can head out to relax as a family again.
We spent three summers in Franklinton. Each year when we would pull up to the house after our beach trip I would become really depressed. I missed the beauty of Topsail immensely and I wasn't ready to readjust to life in Franklinton and all that it required from me. Tonight the view from my bedroom window is just about as beautiful as the view from the living room of our beach front home in Topsail. The sunset over the cornfield it simply spectacular. This place is home. It is our family's sanctuary.
We drove through the night arriving home at 5 this morning. We pushed through the day. We're exhausted and ready to sleep, but it was worth it. We're unpacked and have been to the grocery to restock. In a few days we leave again for a week at the cottage in NY. Again, an amazing gift we have been given from Eric's family. We have a ton to do for work in the next few days, but I'm ready to work hard and get it all done quickly so we can head out to relax as a family again.
We spent three summers in Franklinton. Each year when we would pull up to the house after our beach trip I would become really depressed. I missed the beauty of Topsail immensely and I wasn't ready to readjust to life in Franklinton and all that it required from me. Tonight the view from my bedroom window is just about as beautiful as the view from the living room of our beach front home in Topsail. The sunset over the cornfield it simply spectacular. This place is home. It is our family's sanctuary.
An energizing start to a day off with my family at home...up at 5:15 to run, a bowl of granola, a cup of coffee, a chapter of Jayber Crow, and a shower all before any of my kids were up for the day! I've been getting up at 5:15 for a week now and it's made a huge difference in my energy level for the day. I'm enjoying running early on the trail and spending a hour or so with the wildlife of Knox County before spending the day with my kids. It's been good, it just requires a lot of discipline to get to bed on time.
We are spending the holiday weekend at home because we both had work responsibilities over the weekend, but those are all completed now and we can just rest on this day off. We took the kids to get ice cream at the Kenyon Bookstore last night and came home with an armful of great new books as well. The books are keeping us busy this morning.
Evan has created a very elaborate imaginary world and has somehow convinced both of this brothers to participate with him. They have created costumes from old clothes and are making props out of cardboard. There are a lot of rules and details involved in Evan's "super hero school" and everything goes well as long as Riley and Trey are willing to play by his rules. Evan has already spent a few minutes in timeout for his bossy attitude...
Three days left of school!
We are spending the holiday weekend at home because we both had work responsibilities over the weekend, but those are all completed now and we can just rest on this day off. We took the kids to get ice cream at the Kenyon Bookstore last night and came home with an armful of great new books as well. The books are keeping us busy this morning.
Evan has created a very elaborate imaginary world and has somehow convinced both of this brothers to participate with him. They have created costumes from old clothes and are making props out of cardboard. There are a lot of rules and details involved in Evan's "super hero school" and everything goes well as long as Riley and Trey are willing to play by his rules. Evan has already spent a few minutes in timeout for his bossy attitude...
Three days left of school!
I have spent the last hour resting on this sunny Sunday afternoon. It's been beautiful to rest and read. I'm determined to finish Jayber Crow before I start the next Harry Potter book. They are written so differently and I feel the excitement of Hogwarts calling me to start the fifth book of the series. At the same time, finishing Jayber Crow is good for me. It's slow reading, and after a chapter or maybe two I feel completely satisfied with what I have just read and can easily but it down until I'm ready to visit small town Kentucky again. It's a different kind of reading that I am learning to enjoy.
Life is busy...May is always this way. The older two have eight days of school left and Evan finishes his last year of preschool this week. I now have two part time jobs. I have just accepted the positon of part time Children's Director at our church. I am really excited about the opportunity and I am surprised to find myself enjoying a new identity that is outside my role as "mom." I am still working for my dad and now am learning some new responsibilities in this area of my life as well. It's an interesting place to be...a place that several of my close friends find themselves as well. We are stay-at-home moms that work. We aren't seen as "working moms" so we are still fully expected to be at the field trips and to bring in great snacks on special days at school. After school, snack should be ready and we should be prepared to start in on homework with the kids. Take-out isn't an acceptable dinner...we are stay at home moms. We should have a dinner menu planned that is healthy and tasty. We work, but we try so hard to make sure it never effects our family. We work early in the morning and late into the night, usually when our kids our sleeping. It may sound like I'm griping, but I'm not. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Staying home and not earning an income isn't a luxury we can afford, so this is the best option. But it is something I've been thinking about lately and I felt like recognizing it here honors the work that my friends, like Becky and Kelsie, do to keep their homes running smoothly and earn an income at the same time.
My kids are good. We are gearing up for another summer of our at home summer camp. We're pretty excited about the ideas we have come up with this year. My two year old is a little more than I can handle right now. She has a temper and she whines. I know these are normal two year old traits, but it's making me feel a little crazy. She spent some time in her bed this morning after a big tantrum and Trey was so upset with me for trying to discipline her. This is the problem, she's spoiled rotten and often her brothers are the biggest culprits. They do anything she tells them to do. They really love her so much. This morning I sat and cried as I listened to Riley talk to his Sunday School class about his sister. I was in the next room, he didn't know I was listening. They were sharing about moments in their lives when they knew they had experienced God. Riley shared about finding out he was going to have a sister. He said she was his miracle. He had been so excited to bring Nana home from Liberia, and he had grieved her loss along with Eric and I. Cora, he believes, was his gift from God. And she is a gift, a miracle. But my little miracle sure does need to spend part of her day in time out right now!
My Riley is growing so quickly. I sat and watched him from a distance this week and was amazed at how grown up he seemed. Next year will be his last year in elementary school. He came to me last week to ask what it meant to follow Jesus. He's growing up and I'm very proud of the young man he is becoming.
My Trey is precious, tender and sweet. His feelings are fragile and sometimes I hurt them without realizing it. He is thrilled with the new chicks and would move into the coop if we let him. He continues to have a sense of adventure that makes me a little nervous as he approaches adolescence. I love to read his writing...I love to see how his brain works. I love to watch him play the piano.
My Evan...my baby. I am so grateful that Mount Vernon only has half day kindergarten because I am just not ready to spend an entire day away from Evan. There isn't much else to say...he is my boy.
And Cora, my girl...my beautiful, crazy, dirty, princess. The loves of my life.
Longest blog ever, but writing this long only seemed appropriate on a afternoon which has been this relaxing. Reading this later, when they are older, will be a gift.
Life is busy...May is always this way. The older two have eight days of school left and Evan finishes his last year of preschool this week. I now have two part time jobs. I have just accepted the positon of part time Children's Director at our church. I am really excited about the opportunity and I am surprised to find myself enjoying a new identity that is outside my role as "mom." I am still working for my dad and now am learning some new responsibilities in this area of my life as well. It's an interesting place to be...a place that several of my close friends find themselves as well. We are stay-at-home moms that work. We aren't seen as "working moms" so we are still fully expected to be at the field trips and to bring in great snacks on special days at school. After school, snack should be ready and we should be prepared to start in on homework with the kids. Take-out isn't an acceptable dinner...we are stay at home moms. We should have a dinner menu planned that is healthy and tasty. We work, but we try so hard to make sure it never effects our family. We work early in the morning and late into the night, usually when our kids our sleeping. It may sound like I'm griping, but I'm not. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Staying home and not earning an income isn't a luxury we can afford, so this is the best option. But it is something I've been thinking about lately and I felt like recognizing it here honors the work that my friends, like Becky and Kelsie, do to keep their homes running smoothly and earn an income at the same time.
My kids are good. We are gearing up for another summer of our at home summer camp. We're pretty excited about the ideas we have come up with this year. My two year old is a little more than I can handle right now. She has a temper and she whines. I know these are normal two year old traits, but it's making me feel a little crazy. She spent some time in her bed this morning after a big tantrum and Trey was so upset with me for trying to discipline her. This is the problem, she's spoiled rotten and often her brothers are the biggest culprits. They do anything she tells them to do. They really love her so much. This morning I sat and cried as I listened to Riley talk to his Sunday School class about his sister. I was in the next room, he didn't know I was listening. They were sharing about moments in their lives when they knew they had experienced God. Riley shared about finding out he was going to have a sister. He said she was his miracle. He had been so excited to bring Nana home from Liberia, and he had grieved her loss along with Eric and I. Cora, he believes, was his gift from God. And she is a gift, a miracle. But my little miracle sure does need to spend part of her day in time out right now!
My Riley is growing so quickly. I sat and watched him from a distance this week and was amazed at how grown up he seemed. Next year will be his last year in elementary school. He came to me last week to ask what it meant to follow Jesus. He's growing up and I'm very proud of the young man he is becoming.
My Trey is precious, tender and sweet. His feelings are fragile and sometimes I hurt them without realizing it. He is thrilled with the new chicks and would move into the coop if we let him. He continues to have a sense of adventure that makes me a little nervous as he approaches adolescence. I love to read his writing...I love to see how his brain works. I love to watch him play the piano.
My Evan...my baby. I am so grateful that Mount Vernon only has half day kindergarten because I am just not ready to spend an entire day away from Evan. There isn't much else to say...he is my boy.
And Cora, my girl...my beautiful, crazy, dirty, princess. The loves of my life.
Longest blog ever, but writing this long only seemed appropriate on a afternoon which has been this relaxing. Reading this later, when they are older, will be a gift.
My kids have a lot of questions about Jesus. I admit to them often that I don't have all of the answers. They know that I believe Jesus is the Son of God. They know that I believe the Bible tells us God's story. We talk about these things together and we pray together. However, so many times my answer is simply, "I don't know...these are things we many never full understand until we are with Him in His new Kingdom."
My baby girl has been battling a staph infection for a month now and we hit a crossroads yesterday. The infection was spreading and we were on our third antibiotic. The new meds had to start working quickly or we were on our way to the hospital. I felt led to anoint Cora with oil during her nap yesterday and asked several close friends and family to pray with me. Then as dinner approached I felt that it was time to fast and pray. These are things that quite honestly do not make a lot of sense to me, they never have. At the same time, I believe that fasting, praying and anointing Cora with oil are things that God asked me to do yesterday.
This morning my prayer as I got out of bed was this..."Lord, I have no idea what this day has in store for me and my family. However, I believe that You alone have the strength we need to handle whatever that may be."
Cora's infection has improved remarkably since last night. It would be very easy to attribute this improvement solely to her new medicine, and I do believe that is part of it. However, I also believe that as my baby slept last night, Jesus had His divine hand upon her as well. I don't understand that, but I believe it. The doctor's have told me they don't need to see her today. We continue to pray for healing and a full recovery.
My baby girl has been battling a staph infection for a month now and we hit a crossroads yesterday. The infection was spreading and we were on our third antibiotic. The new meds had to start working quickly or we were on our way to the hospital. I felt led to anoint Cora with oil during her nap yesterday and asked several close friends and family to pray with me. Then as dinner approached I felt that it was time to fast and pray. These are things that quite honestly do not make a lot of sense to me, they never have. At the same time, I believe that fasting, praying and anointing Cora with oil are things that God asked me to do yesterday.
This morning my prayer as I got out of bed was this..."Lord, I have no idea what this day has in store for me and my family. However, I believe that You alone have the strength we need to handle whatever that may be."
Cora's infection has improved remarkably since last night. It would be very easy to attribute this improvement solely to her new medicine, and I do believe that is part of it. However, I also believe that as my baby slept last night, Jesus had His divine hand upon her as well. I don't understand that, but I believe it. The doctor's have told me they don't need to see her today. We continue to pray for healing and a full recovery.
A post really should be written to document the last week of my life, but I don't really have the energy left to write it all out. To sum it all up, it sucked. All four kids and the dog are now on two meds. I can't get Cora to take her antibiotic which literally smells and tastes like poop, so I'm not sure what's going to happen with her. I'm giving it another day before I start harassing my doctor's office again. We have spent so much time in doctor's offices that this morning when Evan and Cora were playing doctor I heard him ask her, "So, are you going to be a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant."
In the midst of it God has provided me with an amazing support system. My parents and in-laws have been my superheros. The urgent care doctors were phenomenal. My friends have listened patiently. And now my husband is home which brings so much more peace to our home. I think we get to keep him around for a few weeks before he's out of town again.
As we approach the other side of this mess (hopefully) I find myself feeling incredibly grateful. The big picture is beautiful, just the details got a little messy. When I can step back and distance myself from the day to day chaos I see four beautiful children, my dear husband, and a dog I can't help but love. The big picture contains extended family who change their plans to help me out and a pastor that prays for our family with me over the phone. These people are gifts I don't deserve, but am so blessed to have.
In the midst of it God has provided me with an amazing support system. My parents and in-laws have been my superheros. The urgent care doctors were phenomenal. My friends have listened patiently. And now my husband is home which brings so much more peace to our home. I think we get to keep him around for a few weeks before he's out of town again.
As we approach the other side of this mess (hopefully) I find myself feeling incredibly grateful. The big picture is beautiful, just the details got a little messy. When I can step back and distance myself from the day to day chaos I see four beautiful children, my dear husband, and a dog I can't help but love. The big picture contains extended family who change their plans to help me out and a pastor that prays for our family with me over the phone. These people are gifts I don't deserve, but am so blessed to have.
I did take that nap I needed. It took me a minute or two to get past the nagging guilty feeling from sleeping in the middle of the day, but in the end it helped immensely. Tazo Awake tea does live up to its name...a cup after my nap did the trick. A phone call to a friend who patiently allows me to vent helped renew my spirit as well. And then the school bus pulled up to my driveway. Two beautiful boys who are growing up way too quickly came running off the bus and into the house. Their first question..."How are you, mom? I hope you rested today."
These little people are growing so quickly...at times it frightens me. Each day with them, despite the circumstances, is a gift. I'm thankful for this day. I'm thankful for my bed and the rest that is coming. But more than all of that, I'm so thankful that I have another day with them tomorrow.
I'm trying to find a way to get up from this chair and getting moving for the day. I do not do well without good sleep and I think my grand total for last night was about 3 or 4 hours. There's no reason to go into the details, but after a very rough evening by myself with the kids and the dog, the middle of the night was even worse. Some days it all just seems like too much. This is one of those days. At some point in the day I have to gather up the energy for tonight. Eric will be gone again and my boys are so excited that it's Friday. They have all kinds of fun plans made for the evening and I want to find a way to enjoy it with them in spite of my exhaustion. A nap may be in order for this afternoon, but sometimes that just makes it all worse. Tea is a must, and I'm hoping Tazo's Awake tea can live up to its name. Most days go well, and on those days living out the fruits of the Spirit are so much easier. I won't be able to do this on my own, I am weak on my own today.
This morning on my way to Evan's kindergarten well child visit I remembered that I was planning on leaving early to stop for gas. I was running a little later than I planned, so I decided to wait until after the appointment to stop and fill up. Unfortunately, we never made it to the appointment. We ran out of gas just before reaching the doctor's office. Luckily, a police officer was nearby and came to help me out. Evan and Cora were able to take a nice ride in the police car! In the past something like this would have made me absolutely crazy. I would have been so mad at myself that it would have ruined my day. One of the gifts of having four children is that you learn to just go with it...whatever the day happens to give you, even when unwanted and unexpected. We rescheduled the doctor's appointment, rode in the police car to the gas station and then headed to the playground for a picnic. Doctor appointment morning became field trip morning and Evan and I had a good laugh about how silly it was for mommy to forget to fill up the car with gas!
I have been praying lately that God would help me respond to my day, my husband, and my children with the fruits of the Spirit. When I look back over the last week I see where He has done just that for me, especially during moments when it would have been impossible on my own. On my own I lack patience and self control. I have a temper and that temper can disrupt the peace in our home. On my own I am irritable when I am tired and I use harsh words with the ones I love. This is who I am without His strength. It isn't pretty. I know the change I have noticed lately isn't because of my own strength, it is only because of the grace He gives me for each day. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control, and gentleness...these are the things I want my family to see in me. Lord, help me each day because without you I am lacking so much of what they need.
I have been praying lately that God would help me respond to my day, my husband, and my children with the fruits of the Spirit. When I look back over the last week I see where He has done just that for me, especially during moments when it would have been impossible on my own. On my own I lack patience and self control. I have a temper and that temper can disrupt the peace in our home. On my own I am irritable when I am tired and I use harsh words with the ones I love. This is who I am without His strength. It isn't pretty. I know the change I have noticed lately isn't because of my own strength, it is only because of the grace He gives me for each day. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control, and gentleness...these are the things I want my family to see in me. Lord, help me each day because without you I am lacking so much of what they need.
This early spring has been wonderful. All four kids spend as much time as possible outside and it brings me so much joy to simply watch them run and play. Riley spends his free time with a basketball in his hands. Trey spends time with Riley playing ball, but also runs around with Evan and Cora. Evan and Cora are two little peas in a pod. Evan helps me so much with his little sister and as soon as their little feet hit the front porch they are running toward the creek or their bikes. And now, they also spend a lot of time running with our new dog, Scarlett. Scarlett is a 9 month old Golden Retriever who we have learned to love very quickly. The first week was rough and I questioned our decision to get a dog several times each day. Now we have all adjusted and the dog is just another part of our family. Sunday morning I stood by the window watching Riley and Trey run the dog along the trail that leads to our woods and I couldn't stop smiling. The tree house is back in use as well and they are so excited to take their new walkie talkies Nana brought them out to the woods tomorrow and test them out in the tree house.
We choose to say "no" to a lot of things in order to live on this land. We have no landscaping, no base board, and very old furniture. We don't eat out and going to the movies isn't even an option. The money we would use on those things pays the mortgage. But, I don't regret it one bit. I watch my boys run the trail with the dog... I watch Evan head down the hill to the tree house on his bike...I watch Cora climb out of the creek covered in mud...and all I can think is, "This is good, so very good." It is so worth the sacrifice.
Just about 8 weeks of school left, so ready to have them all home for the summer.
We choose to say "no" to a lot of things in order to live on this land. We have no landscaping, no base board, and very old furniture. We don't eat out and going to the movies isn't even an option. The money we would use on those things pays the mortgage. But, I don't regret it one bit. I watch my boys run the trail with the dog... I watch Evan head down the hill to the tree house on his bike...I watch Cora climb out of the creek covered in mud...and all I can think is, "This is good, so very good." It is so worth the sacrifice.
Just about 8 weeks of school left, so ready to have them all home for the summer.
My two older children had the privilege of spending the last two days with Michael J. Rosen. This writer, illustrator, photographer, poet, and all around amazing man captured by boys attention and his books have brought great conversation into our home. We purchased two of his books and started to read Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm tonight at bedtime. It is a simply beautiful book. I'm trying to figure out how to get a copy of the documentary.
Wiggin Street Elementary is a remarkable place and Mr. Rosen's visit was made possible by private donations from our extremely supportive Gambier community. What a gift it is to live is this small beautiful corner of Knox County. The teachers have been preparing for his visit for weeks by helping the children write stories that were similar to Mr. Rosen's. I think this helped the students really connect with him and his books. Last night we attended the family session he held in the gymnasium, which was a very nice family event.
Things are good here in the country...the children LOVE being outside in this beautiful weather. I've found that homework time is so much easier if they spend a couple of hours outside playing together before I sit them down to work on their evening work. Their bodies are tired and they have gotten all of their wiggles out, but their minds are sharp and ready to concentrate. Trey's class is doing a great reading incentive program in conjunction with the Iditarod. Every page he reads is a "mile" and he is actually racing three real mushers. He is tracking their progress and we are all learning so much about an amazing event that is brand new to us. After playing outside in the sun, settling into my bed to read his "miles" after dark and then practicing piano for a few minutes his entire mind and body had been exercised and he immediately drifted off into a sweet sleep. He is so happy to have started piano lessons again. His teacher is wonderful and she lives within walking distance of our house.
Cora Jean is very happy with the warmer temperatures as well. She would spend the entire day in the sandbox. My dirty little princess. Evan has been able to move his imaginary games outdoors, which only gives him more room to create his own world. Today he invited me to visit the zoo with him. Apparently the monkeys live in cages under our deck. And of course, nothing makes Riley happier than being able to shoot baskets until 7pm. Maybe we are going to have an early spring? I sure hope so.
Wiggin Street Elementary is a remarkable place and Mr. Rosen's visit was made possible by private donations from our extremely supportive Gambier community. What a gift it is to live is this small beautiful corner of Knox County. The teachers have been preparing for his visit for weeks by helping the children write stories that were similar to Mr. Rosen's. I think this helped the students really connect with him and his books. Last night we attended the family session he held in the gymnasium, which was a very nice family event.
Things are good here in the country...the children LOVE being outside in this beautiful weather. I've found that homework time is so much easier if they spend a couple of hours outside playing together before I sit them down to work on their evening work. Their bodies are tired and they have gotten all of their wiggles out, but their minds are sharp and ready to concentrate. Trey's class is doing a great reading incentive program in conjunction with the Iditarod. Every page he reads is a "mile" and he is actually racing three real mushers. He is tracking their progress and we are all learning so much about an amazing event that is brand new to us. After playing outside in the sun, settling into my bed to read his "miles" after dark and then practicing piano for a few minutes his entire mind and body had been exercised and he immediately drifted off into a sweet sleep. He is so happy to have started piano lessons again. His teacher is wonderful and she lives within walking distance of our house.
Cora Jean is very happy with the warmer temperatures as well. She would spend the entire day in the sandbox. My dirty little princess. Evan has been able to move his imaginary games outdoors, which only gives him more room to create his own world. Today he invited me to visit the zoo with him. Apparently the monkeys live in cages under our deck. And of course, nothing makes Riley happier than being able to shoot baskets until 7pm. Maybe we are going to have an early spring? I sure hope so.
March 4th is a big day at our house. Cora and her daddy share a birthday. We celebrated with family earlier in the week and Cora was spoiled with so many great gifts by both side of the family. She seemed to think the fun should continue today. She was already awake and eating when her daddy came into the kitchen this morning. The boys all yelled, "Happy Birthday, Dad." Cora said, "My day, more presents."
So, my baby girl is now two. She is our rough and tumble princess. She'll wrestle the boys to the ground while wearing her tutu. She loves to be with people. She asks everyday if we can go to Walmart. If I say no, she then asks for Aldi. She could ride in a cart all day, just talking to the people she meets along the way. She loves playing with her babies and kitchen, especially when Evan is willing to play with her. She loves books, Elmo, country music, and the Wiggles. She gives amazing hugs and has a sweet smile. She fills our home with so much joy. She's my baby girl, my surprise...my gift.
Eric William is 35 today. As a gift, the Bucks pulled out an amazing win! I am so thankful for him. He loves me unconditionally and I am so grateful that he is my partner and friend. Some days it feels like we live in a zoo, but it's our zoo. Love you, Eric.
Regular season is over...Big 10 tourney starts Thursday and then March Madness!!!!
So, my baby girl is now two. She is our rough and tumble princess. She'll wrestle the boys to the ground while wearing her tutu. She loves to be with people. She asks everyday if we can go to Walmart. If I say no, she then asks for Aldi. She could ride in a cart all day, just talking to the people she meets along the way. She loves playing with her babies and kitchen, especially when Evan is willing to play with her. She loves books, Elmo, country music, and the Wiggles. She gives amazing hugs and has a sweet smile. She fills our home with so much joy. She's my baby girl, my surprise...my gift.
Eric William is 35 today. As a gift, the Bucks pulled out an amazing win! I am so thankful for him. He loves me unconditionally and I am so grateful that he is my partner and friend. Some days it feels like we live in a zoo, but it's our zoo. Love you, Eric.
Regular season is over...Big 10 tourney starts Thursday and then March Madness!!!!
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