Life In The Sticks

Are you there? We moved!

2012-01-11T12:05:00.001-08:00

Oh neglected blog, how you have been missed. I have a lot of catching up to do and yet, I STILL have minor writer’s block. Perplexing!

We moved into a new *old* house this fall and it has been so fun to set it all up and make it our own. What a blessing the season of living with Caleb’s parents was. Our “Life in the Sticks” was precious to me in so many ways and I learned an incredible amount. I also loved that chance to see my kids natural life nurtured through chickens and gardening and playing in the great outdoor. However, as the school year commenced, it was all so lovely to wake 45 minutes before the opening bell and make it to school on time, with a brief 4 minute drive.

So, I’m going to hit “publish” and see if this works, more to come soon.

Summer Recap

2011-08-23T19:27:00.001-07:00

I really did want to “unplug” this summer. Put away the facebook, blogging and TV and just enjoy some good time with the kids. After all, Avery did graduate from Kindergarten and McClaine was headed there in the fall. We needed some good quality time to make mudpies and play in the sprinkler.And enjoy the East Texas “beaches.” Which we really did, this is not a beach at all, but we pretended. It was really a muddy lake with ~~beach-like~~ quicksand shores. I am learning that if you really zoom in, people can’t tell if you are in Bermuda or at Lake Tawakoni.Though we didn’t quite make it unplugged, I did give blogging a little break (hence the exhaustive recap) and somehow we are surviving record consecutive days of over 100 degree weather with minimal help from Nick Jr. And we did manage to get in some good playing in the backyard until the worst drought in Texas history turned our grass into straw.At the beginning of June, I left the kids with Caleb and flew with my brother and sister-in-law, Beth, to Colorado to wish my dad a happy 70th. My Uncle Tommy picked us up in Denver and we spent the morning there with he and my cousin, Brittny. Then we drove up to Vail for my dad’s birthday party. We were going to make the whole thing a surprise, but we had to tell my dad for reasons you will soon find out… but, we did surprise my Aunt Janice and Jimmy Ray. Check out the surprised looks when we jaunted into their barber shop from TEXAS.

We went to Los Amigos for my dad’s birthday party. Los Amigos is the restaurant that my parents started in the 70’s at the base of Vail Mountain. There were tons of Vail Pioneers that joined us in the celebration. Here’s a couple quick family pictures.

Seems everyone one had a pretty great time, because I had to drive these three kids home after the festivities. Brandt (Brittny’s husband) asked me if I could drive them home in his truck. “Sure,” I exclaimed. And then I met her. Lord have mercy. This beast was a PAIN to get out of the parking structure in Vail Village let alone drive up Wildridge! But I conquered. Missing a gas pedal, dashboard lights, seatbelts and first gear, made our next challenge of this Colorado trip a breeze.

Meet the Penske. My dad has been asking me for years to come get some of his cool treasures so he doesn’t have to keep storing them. So we obliged and rented a moving truck, loaded two storage rooms full of stuff and headed back to Texas- just me, Beth and Ryan and a big ol’ load.It was a lot of fun going through dad’s stuff. He is so kind and wanted us to enjoy the stuff he has while he is still living. Thanks dad! But… we’ll pass on that nasty jar of unidentified product and the O’Johnny port-a-pot! Now would be a good time to tell you how terrifying it is to drive a moving truck through the mountains of Colorado.There’s just no way I can capture the sheer drop-off of this pass that we drove over. It was so dang scary. It made me really thankful that my bro has his CDL and knows how to drive the big rigs! It really was gorgeous too.

After conquering Monarch Pass, we went ahead and let Rojo act silly at the local Salida WalMart. He really did deserve it. When I got home, my big ol’ boy turned FIVE! And he did not want a Superman, or Spiderman party. Nope. He wanted a…

That’s right, purdy darlin’. My boy had a Rifleman party. Yeehaw.Later this summer, Caleb and the kids and I spent a great, refreshing weekend in San Antonio on our way out to the West Texas Ft. Davis Mountains. We go every first week in August for Bloys’ Camp Meeting.This is such a special time for our family and I look forward to the fellowship, worship and eating cookies on the porch while the kids dig in the dirt.The kids are getting big enough that they can help feed the nearly 500 people that go through the Means-Evans cookshed for every meal. Here Audrey and McClaine are serving up biscuits. We do manage to make it out to dinner in town once during the week. So here’s a group of us out on the town! This is a picture of the courageous kids and select parents that venture up the mountain to hike to the bat cave. And here they are in the bat cave!!! This is always such a great way to wrap up the summer, spend time with people we love and relax before…

we put our uniforms on for a new year of the blessing of school! Thank you, Lord, for a great summer and a new school year on the horizon!

Dabbling in Design

2011-05-11T18:07:00.000-07:00

Hello there! I realize that it has been entirely too long since my last post and quite honestly I feel like every post that I do write starts just the same- “it’s been a while.” No doubt about it, I find it increasingly challenging to keep up with being a mother of four wonderful and energetic children and all that goes with it- the laundry, the dishes, the teaching, the cooking, the potty training and the training up in the Lord.

I also feel the pressing need to make every post that I do write seasoned with grace and laughter and joy, and that’s just really tough to do when you only have fractured thoughts and frequently interrupted conversations and only about four point six moments to sit down at the computer. I am finding that I get lured into the quick status updates on Facebook because you are usually only held accountable for <25 words!

My mom did come to visit over Mother’s Day weekend and it was such a treat to see her. I am sure my Azalea post convinced her to get her on the plane, but be certain that the sweet kisses and laughter from my children had her perusing realtor.com for some possible winter homes in Texas. Or was it that I took her to Ross? Or perhaps the fact that she had to drive home from Denver airport in a snowstorm?

Whatever the case was, it was just a lovely weekend. I truly am so blessed to be a mother of these sweet and funny kids of mine.

I have also been dabbling in design, and contemplating opening an Etsy shop with my very fabulous and talented mother-in-law. She makes to-die-for birthday cards in a mixed-media style with fabric and such. They are very lovely and very labor intensive, and so while the recipient treasures the one they receive, it would be so fun to share. I have been working in collaboration with her in using her designs to create ~~stationary~~ stationery (note to self- learn the correct spelling of the item that you are considering selling) and greeting cards.

This is a scan of the original card that Mona made me for my birthday,
you can’t really tell, but it is fun fabric and even an illustration of Lassie stitched onto thick watercolor paper.

This is a quick example of a personalized note card (post card) This is a photograph of a card that she made for my nephew Wyatt for his second birthday (it very much resembles Zipper the dog)

And a Wyatt post card that uses her design- This is a photograph of a card that she made for Margaret last year
(with scraps of wrapping paper from the baby shower in honor of Margaret when she was pregnant with her!)

And this is a note card using that design that I will probably give as a set to my cousin Jode for her birthday this year.
Glad she doesn’t read my blog or it might ruin the surprise.This was the Christmas card that I made for her family last year-

and the back-

We’re just thinking about testing the water. It would be nice to do something you enjoy and make a little money while you’re at it, right? So, I have been spending those very few moments when the children are nestled all snug in their bed, to mess with design a bit, and it is so much fun.

And keeps me from blogging. So there’s a good chance that the next post will begin the same as this one.

Be blessed, friends!

I Usually Don't Cuss

2011-04-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Really, I don't.

But in an attempt to customize the font on my post titles, I reverted back to the classical design and

LOST ALL OF THE CUSTOM DESIGN I HAD DONE IN MY HTML CODE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND DIDN'T SAVE AND DON'T REMEMBER HOW TO DO IT B/C I DID IT SO LONG AGO.

BEEP BEEP BEEPITY BEEP.

Running Their Hearts Out and Emptying Your Wallets (all for a good cause)

2011-04-20T08:53:00.001-07:00

Avery and McClaine ran in their school Jog-A-Thon last week and it was awesome. I was so proud of them for their fund raising efforts, their desire to give back to the school that has been such a blessing to them and their endurance as they ran the race set before them.

They had each set goals of how many laps to run-
Avery set the goal of 35 laps and McClaine set the goal of 30 laps. They received pledges for each lap that they ran and I think some of their sponsors were a little surprised when they called them with the final tally.

Avery ended up running 44 laps and McClaine ran 42 laps!
Together they raised nearly $800 for their school. Audrey was altogether a wonderful helper,

And played independently and with other children while I punched holes furiously for the high school students that ran laps (to keep track of how many they ran).

This school has been such a tremendous blessing to our family and I have come to value even more after their first year, a Classical Christian Education.
This essay by Dorothy Sayers started the revival of Classical Education,
it is a wonderful and thought-provoking read if you are interested.

Taking Things Into My Own Hands

2011-04-11T15:27:00.001-07:00

Last year when we went to Sabinal, I was conquered by an oak tree branch. The pictures are not for the faint of heart, but if you care to see how I was nearly scalped and the reason why I still have trouble breathing out of my left nostril, you can read about it here. But be forewarned, there is lots of blood.

This year I decided to take matters into my own hands-

Well, not really. I just avoided cruising around on a bench mounted in the bed of a pickup truck and stuck with less dangerous sporting such as shooting clay pigeons and fishing. It’s always a really fun reunion with my brother and his wife and kids, and my dad. He is really a fun dad and he is about to turn SEVENTY so we did manage to fit in a Coca-Cola Cake.

Audrey and her cousin Sage are like two peas in a pod. I love that they are so close in age and that we live so close by, it will be a treat to watch them grow up together. Reece did more photography than me this weekend. All of these pictures (except the one from last year at the top) are from my phone. Do you know about the instagram ap? It makes really mediocre pictures pretty cute.

There were Indians in the Sabinal area… And not just this one with the feather in her hair! Caleb found these really cool arrowheads.

It was a wonderful and slightly exhausting weekend, but not nearly as painful for me as the last trip we took there.

Life, Death and A Plea to Move Down to Texas

2011-03-30T15:00:00.001-07:00

‘Tis a strange title, I know…

Mom called the other day, in disbelief that another snowstorm hit the mountains of the Vail Valley, she would work from home again. I walked down the stairs and peered through the window, early morning light on trees looked to be crowned with snow themselves. It’s rare for it to snow this late in Texas.

Ah… glorious spring in East Texas! Dogwood Trees covered in white blooms look to be decorated with white finery. I have tried to tell her before that she would gladly welcome the lovely mild winter and charming spring seasons of Texas, and her grandchildren and children would gladly welcome her. Perhaps the dogwood trees and wisteria and azaleas will woo her down south for the winter?

This is the wonder that I see when I drive the kids to school, down the winding country roads-

tall pine trees adorned with Wisteria, clusters of beauty! Oh, to capture the scent on my blog!

Then we make our way into the heart of the city, closely approaching the school as we follow the old brick streets through the Azalea Trails of Tyler.

{source}

I love the Lord. Not only is He wildly creative in the things He made, but the fact that He made seasons! Winter’s hard cold brings death and then in the spring comes life in its fullness. It truly has me amazed with who He is. Not only are we experiencing a great spring here, but I feel like we are really getting a glimpse into the whole idea of creation and passing of life. We welcomed our new nephew, Silas, into the world on Saturday morning.
{photo credit: Jon Vashey}

He is awesome! So cute and snuggly and that “newborn smell,” yet another aroma I wish I could capture on a blog. We took care of his two “big” brothers and let me just say that I couldn’t even get a camera out. We had a one year old, a two year old, a three year old, two- four year olds and a six year old running (literally) around here.

We are also preparing for Caleb’s very godly and humble grandma to pass into eternity and meet her blessed Savior and Creator. She has been bed-ridden for a few weeks now since she experienced pneumonia and A-Fib. You can tell that she is longing to be in the presence of the Lord, she repeats Scripture and hymns of praise are ever on her lips when she is awake. It is such a joy to open the Word of God and read to her, because her eyes light up and she faintly, but exuberantly utters the words right along with you. They are written on her heart.

Before she was hospitalized, Caleb went to visit her at her apartment. After they visited and had lunch, she asked him to write down the names of our kids (her memory is not what it once was) so she could pray for them. He went into her bedroom and found a spiral sitting on her desk. When he opened it he could not find a blank sheet, page after page, neatly written scripture covered each page. And then he looked down to find a stack of about ten more spirals that were just the same.

“Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2

We really do have much to tremble at- the splendor of His creation, new birth and preparing for eternity. I am so thankful for all that He is and all that He has done, contemplating it truly does restore the soul. I am also in awe of how simple He makes it to know Him.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

The fact is we are all dead. Just as a cold, hard winter allows no blossoms or crops, our sin separates us from a Holy God.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

And-

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23

Just as a long winter needs the sun to bring forth life, we need God’s Son to bring forth life in our death.

Our requirement is simple- faith. We just need to believe. Just as God created the seasons and they come as inevitably as new birth and the passing of life, God made the wise the simple. We just have to believe.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (emphasis mine)

It is a wondrous thing to be a part of the life cycle that God has created. I really feel blessed!

When You Are Three

2011-03-21T14:16:00.001-07:00

There’s no doubt in my mind that 3 is one of my very favorite ages. Growing out of the temperamental phase and full of imagination and vigor, Audrey’s little antics constantly have me chuckling.

And I love that technology helps me to capture those moments word for word. When she starts going on a little ramble about princesses and teachers turning into mean people and getting healed by Jesus and then they get married, I hit that little voice memo on my phone and catch every precious word.

This was a recent ramble that I caught:

Audrey: I am having two babies in my tummy with lots of color in there. The boy oneses is Caleb, the girl oneses Sagey. Tomorrow I will have my babies.

Me: Audrey, who is your husband?

Audrey: Caleb

Me: Okay, because if you are having babies it is very important to have a husband to help you take care of the babies. You know, to go to work and make money to buy groceries to help you feed your children. And a good daddy to teach your son to be a man and teach your daughter what a good man looks like.

Audrey: My husband is having a dream in my tummy. And what are you doing today? Sagey is a big girl in my tummy. She is in my belly button. I'm about to have another baby. A big baby when I am about to grow up like you.

My teeth hurt. I'm gonna go inside, my baby doesn't need me.

***

And when you’re three, and your “teeth hurt,” you can just go inside, because your baby doesn’t need you.

when you pass through the waters

2011-03-17T14:13:00.001-07:00

Some calls are easy to receive as a mother. The first one came around 3 o’clock, the school office saying that McClaine was running a low-grade fever and that he couldn’t stay for extended day care. A sure sign that the virus that he had been fighting for a few days had not nearly run its course, though the thermometer that morning indicated it had. Also a sure sign that God’s providence was at work, Avery and McClaine being picked up earlier than expected, freeing Caleb up for what was to come. This call was easily handled, a simple text message to Caleb, not a second thought, I continued to peruse the pictures of mommy’s cradling babies in the midst of rubble. Those images are so hard to stomach- caring for our babies and loved ones is what we mothers do, and when we can’t do it well- when temperatures drop as quickly as the snow, when blankets can’t be found, when there is no food for hunger pangs, when there is no water for parched mouths, when waves crash and earth still trembles…

Source

I looked over at Audrey, still warm with fever, but content to lay on the couch and watch Dora, cup of cold water in her hand. I was so thankful for all that I had. Caleb had brought Reece over to his grandma’s house that morning, giving me an opportunity to rest and recuperate from this virus that had hit our household. I remember reconsidering that morning if I should let her go, she was one of the few that hadn’t yet shown signs of being sick, she was lively and happy and ate a full breakfast. My body was still aching and my cough was deep, so I smooched her cheek and passed her into loving and capable hands- thankful again for the many provisions, family nearby and ease for me, so I could rest that day.

I was reading this very thoughtful post (please go back and read it) when I got that second call, the one that was not so easy to receive. I can barely sort the details, but it was my sister-in-law, Leigh. “Tyne,” she said calmly, but I could decipher she was anything but calm, “has anyone called you yet?”

“What? No. I mean, what?”

“It’s Reece,” her voice started to quiver, my heart started to race, “She’s having a seizure, they are on the way to the ER.”

I couldn’t delay by asking too many details, I determined exactly which ER and I hung up. Moisture leaves mouth, lips crack, heart in my throat, mind fathoming every possible worst-case scenario. I scooped Audrey from the couch, super-mommy strength restored to my fevered body when one of my babies is far from me, not known to be conscious or alert, seizing for the first time. I am terrified, panicked, parched. And then it washes over me,

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
         And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
         When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
         Nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:2

I remember His sovereignty, I am calmed by His love and the Truth that He is mindful of all details.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths,you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’

even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you” Ps 139:7-12

Prayers well-up, panic calms, I feel peace. I know that God is in control. I know that He is aware of all of Reece’s needs and my needs. I put my shoes on and Audrey’s shoes on and we get in the car. A bottle of water in the car wets my lips, I offer gratitude. Enough gas to get to the ER, thanksgiving rises to the God who is able to heal. I think of those in Japan without water, without gas, without an escape. I ask for that same God to bring them peace in the midst of trial. I begin to praise God in the midst of the valley, for all of His provisions. Reece was in town today, close to the hospital and not far like me and Audrey; in the care of three nurses (Oma, Margaret and my Aunt Carol); that Caleb picked the kids up earlier than he was planning and could come straight to the ER. Aunt Carol greeted me at the door of the ER, took Audrey and led me straight to my youngest. Thank You, Lord, You are so mindful!

She was clinging to her Oma, face flushed and only in her diaper. When she saw me, she looked relieved and sad at the same time- but SHE WAS ALIVE and CONSCIOUS and she recognized me! I was so thankful, those thoughts that first invaded my mind were not true- that I may never see that precious smile again. They ran thorough tests and as I held my sweet sleeping baby against my chest waiting for the results, I thought of other mommies clinging to babies, holding them close to chest. Snow falls in Japan, homeless, a mother clings to her babe. Rubble all around, mother rocks her babe in Haiti. We want the best for our little ones, and I breathe deep and cry, overwhelmed by the dichotomy of emotions, gratitude meets devastation.

Source

Reecey’s febrile (fever-induced) seizure was caused by the flu. They prescribed Tamiflu and sent us home, with such ease. I only wish it were so easy for other moms. I am so humbled by the care and love that we received and the prayers that bathed us with His peace. I pray for His awesome peace and provision over all those suffering around the world…

These are some personal accounts from friends of ours who experienced the earthquake, you can read their testimonies and pray for them, and please take a minute to encourage them…

Passport Diaries

Hope for Japan

Be Still My Heart, Those Daffodils are Blooming Again

2011-03-15T09:24:00.001-07:00

I know it is extremely challenging to see the daffodils in the background when your eyes are captivated by those freckles. But take note, the daffodils are in bloom. We headed to Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil farm a couple weekends ago and since I didn’t charge my camera battery, my sweet friend, Crystal, who came along with her children, let me borrow her camera. And I am so thankful, because it is no small task to pull the spring clothes out of storage and have four coordinated outfits put together for four incredibly active children who really aren’t much interested in posing for a camera. Oh wait, never mind! How cute are they? And I must say that with a little presto chango from my pal Photoshop, these pics turned out pretty stinkin’ good. Be of good cheer, those of you with a little point and shoot, you can do wonders with Photoshop!

Pioneer Woman has some fantastic Photoshop Actions that are free to download. If you are not a Photoshop guru, she makes it so simple with the click of a button. On the top three photos I used her “boost” action. It helps to crisp up those grey dull digitals and gives them a boost of color.

Rita, over at the CoffeeShop Blog, is awesome. Her blog is packed with tutorials, photoshop actions, textures, frames, storyboard templates and so much more- ALL FREE! She is so generous. Most of the photos below are edited with her actions. This photo of Avery and McClaine is edited with the Moody Pop action. This group shot is edited with Butterscotch Vintage

This picture taken outside of this old log cabin at Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil farm is edited with PW’s Old West Action. This is CoffeeShop Blog’s Denim Action

This is CoffeeShop’s Attic Vintage. Yeehaw! More Butterscotch Vintage.

And this is PW’s Sepia (I can’t find the link, sorry pals)

Another Butterscotch Vintage. Can you tell I like Butterscotch Vintage?

This is PW’s B&W Beauty.This is CS’s Autumn Glow. Pretty cute, huh?

And this shot of my four little darlings (the best group shot of about 60 taken) is edited with CoffeeShop’s Splendor Black and White Action.

Alrighty, enough of all that photo and editing chat. Let’s get back to my friend Crystal, the one I referred to before I went on a long dialogue about my love for butterscotch ~~action~~. When I transferred to Texas A&M, the Lord was kind enough to put a very sweet and godly lady in my life named Crystal. Really, she is just a gem, encouraging and edifying and fun all in one. She taught me so much about the Lord when I was a young believer and really helped me in my walk. Though we kept in touch somewhat during college, after we graduated we parted ways and I couldn’t track her down. Even with the awesome finding power of facebook, a married name often makes it tricky to find someone. But have no fear, God can reunite people in ways that Facebook cannot! I took my youngest two to a grocery store that I RARELY visit to buy some groceries for Caleb’s grandma. I passed that familiar friend once in the canned vegetable aisle and did a double take. Then in the dairy aisle we looked at each other and immediately she said, “Tyne, is that you?” while I simultaneously said, “Crystal???” It was so fun to reunite with someone who was so such a treasure from my past. She and her family recently moved here and had been praying for the Lord to provide some friends and fellowship. I had also been praying that the Lord would bring a sister into my life to edify and sharpen me in my walk with the Lord. It has been such a blessing over the past several months to meet with her and get to know her family. Her sweet kids are the ones that are in the photos above with my kids. What a kind way for the Lord to show His love for us both!

Oh my, I found a couple photos that I missed:

This is CS’s Vintage News. This is edited with CS’s Attic Vintage Action.

This group shot is edited with PW’s Heartland Action.

And lastly, ‘cause I am tired and just want to sit on the porch with a blowpop, is edited with CS’s Simply Vintage Action.

I would love to know if you have any tips on photo editing with Photoshop. Do you have any favorite blogs that have great FREE actions?

Monkey Britches

2011-03-13T13:18:00.001-07:00

Heaven forbid someone misunderstand me, but I have called this little lady “monkey britches” from the time she was an infant. She has certainly grown into that nickname, joyful, boisterous and stubborn as can be, a monkey birthday cake for her second birthday is absolutely appropriate (thanks Oma, for making a homemade cake, walmart would have thought me crazy to request a monkey cake).

It’s tough having kids so close together, in many ways. At Reece’s party, Audrey was DEVASTATED that she didn’t have her own presents to open, she just didn’t get it. And I am a rare mom these days not to have favors for all the kids that attended her party (which happened to be her siblings and two cousins). So my sweet Avery, the oldest and so very considerate, took it upon herself to find a partially chewed on blow horn and wrap it for her younger sister. Which completely solved the situation. We also recently celebrated the birthday for my very handsome nephew, Wyatt. Here’s his momma, Leigh-

She made this very cool dirt cake that was composed of pudding and cream cheese and cool whip and crushed oreos and gummi worms and all things that make my body hurt but are nearly impossible to pass up!

They had the birthday party at a beautiful nature reserve in East Texas. It was a glorious spring day. AND, someone got a new bicycle for his birthday!!! We managed to get a little fishing in while we were there.

Some of us did… poor McClaine is super sick, and spent most of the day sleeping- in the jog stroller or on a blanket. He really was acting pretty good this morning, but by the time we made the drive out there his eyes were watering, his nose was running and he was on the verge of tears.

Aves managed to catch a couple fish.

It has been a great weekend so far, the weather is lovely and mild, and there’s a chance of a girls’ night on the forecast!

Birch Trees and the Lenten Season

2011-03-09T15:39:00.001-08:00

A birch tree, majestically clothed in silver bark, begins to shower the path laden with winter’s leaves. Another sign that the warm days of spring are here.
Caleb taps the tree, collecting the sweet sap in an old coffee tin.

Those clear drops are steady into the old vessel, every drop essential to make a syrup

It takes 99 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup

Little one and I venture down the shady path to empty the vessel into a larger potSun streams through those bare trees and her face is all aglow

Spring’s approach is everywhere. The daffodils are pushing their way up through parched leaves and I am reminded that the Lenten Season is at hand.

I grew up observing Lent as a Lutheran and then, as I found a non-denominational church in college I strayed from what I traditionally practiced during Lent.
Which was usually just “giving up” something that I knew wouldn’t be too much of a challenge to sacrifice. I would occasionally have to ask the Lord to help me put down the Hershey Kiss, but really I wasn’t connecting with the Lord like I knew I should. As I have become a mother, I have found an increasing appetite to realize the great gift of the relationship I have with God. I want my faith to be conscious and deliberate and seasoned with a grateful heart brimming with joy.
I want my kids to see this reality in my life and want it in their own lives.

I have been prayerfully considering how to draw closer to the Lord during this season and have found these posts to be particularly insightful and inspiring. This one and this one. For those of you who are wondering what Lent is about, this post has great explanation. I am finding myself needing to unplug from the very alluring facebook and plug into the Word of God. I am also wanting to increase discipline in certain areas such as prayer.

I really love the way Edie summarizes these “stray thoughts” on Lent in this post:

1. Lent is a time for penitence and reflection and the practicing of christian discipline. It does not make God ‘more pleased with me’ and is not a ‘good work’. God is pleased with Christ alone and good works are those things which I do in service to my neighbor.
2. If I purpose to ‘give something up’ for Lent and then two weeks later find that I fail and can’t keep my lenten discipline, God is not disappointed in me. God is pleased with Christ and thus pleased with me when I have faith in Christ. I am a sinner who fails and sins constantly. And my failing is not a surprise to God.
3. If I keep my lenten discipline to the ‘tee’, I must be careful not to try and convince myself that I’m ‘more spiritual’ or holy than before. I have been freely clothed with the righteousness of Christ and am only learning to ‘fit’ into clothes that were given me by God.
4. We must also be careful not to view our discipline as ‘suffering’ and remember that Christ suffered on the cross for our redemption and we do not get to choose our own suffering (by giving up, say diet pepsi for a month).
5. It is a good exercise to occasionally deprive our bodies, to not give in to every fleshly desire. We are so often slaves to our own bodies and teaching ourselves discipline in any area is often met with resistance.

Just like that birch tree that is fully clothed in radiant silver bark, I know that the righteousness that I have is only a gift from the Lord through my faith in Christ, and apart from Him and His blood, I am a sinner. During this season, I want to fully realize the great gift that I have through Christ’s sacrifice. Just as every drop of the sap in that old vessel is necessary to make a syrup, I want to know and realize the value of Christ. I hope to record what the Lord is teaching me in this season through more frequent posts.

Sprouting and Spring Chickens

2011-02-21T19:28:00.001-08:00

Sprouts- These are signs. Praise Jesus that things are thawing out around here. And there are even some things blooming in the backyard. I am glad that these daffodils got planted in the backyard so we have a sign of when Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil farm may be ready for a visit by four slightly obnoxious children and a mom dying to capture a photo with all children beaming and focused on the camera.

Mr. Rooster’s frostbite thingy on his head is healing up quite well. Did I ever tell you that I have quite a dislike for birds? When I was a child I was petrified of them, but now that I am a mommy, my kids would never even know that I didn’t love the things with their beady eyes of death. Really, I am so thankful that these precious feathered things are gracing us with many yard eggs a day. Because omelets are wonderful (not that I am whipping those up every morning, but a girl can dream).

I just celebrated my 34th birthday- woooohoooo! I really feel so much better than I did a few years ago when I was either full-time nursing, or pregnant, or sleep deprived or all of the above for 5 years straight. A full-nights sleep and only having one child in diapers will really help a lady’s composure. That along with depriving myself of refined sugar has made a huge difference in how I feel. In case you missed that sentence, I am on a doctor-prescribed diet that puts a NIX on refined sugar, corn syrup, peppermint mocha creamer, etc.

I told Caleb that I really wanted a picture of me with my kids for my birthday, this is the closest we got to that goal- me, my children, one of my nephews and my nieces- all of us with our eyes closed.

I am ever grateful that he decided to replace the stereo in my car that broke two years ago! It is awesome and plays CDs, plus I can hook my iPhone up to it and play music from that. Happy Birthday to me! Now if I can just wean myself from my addiction to talk radio, I’ll be good to go.

Our greens have been going strong all winter long, and now that the daffodils are in bloom, I can finally venture outside to pick them, instead of sending someone braver and tougher than me.

We spent the whole day outside today and it was such a blessing. It seriously made me consider going “unplugged” this summer? Anyone else want to play?

This is the Season

2011-02-07T08:12:00.001-08:00

This is the season where temperatures are chilly and children are cooped up.

Or they sneak out into the snow.

This is the season where Cardinals are grateful for bowls of bird seed on the porch. This is the season where baby is now toddler, toddler is now pre-schooler and two are now readers.

Naps are seldom and laundry is plentiful and teaching is abundant.

This is the season where God is refining my character and teaching me how to impart character in my children.

This is the season where I try to balance the time commitment of recording the precious moments and living in them.

This is the season where blogging takes the back burner to a home-cooked meal.

In a Song of Solomon Kind of Way

2011-01-20T06:51:00.001-08:00

I am such a slacker on posting. I know, I know. I am taking 7 ladies from East Texas to this conference tomorrow, and I am so excited. Our very kind husbands will stay home with the kiddos. The other night in couple’s Bible Study, Caleb prayed for our weekend away, “…And Lord, we ask that this conference would be beneficial to all of us, in a Song of Solomon kind of way.” I love that man, he is so funny!

Blame the Jack-Knifed Semi

2011-01-10T07:44:00.001-08:00

Snow falls in East Texas now, one week after we got home from our wonderful trip to Colorado. Snow falls, and wakes up this weary blog and the lack of motivation that I have had to recollect that great trip. I blame the Semi-Truck that jack-knifed and closed Vail Pass for over six hours, at the very beginning of our 18 hour drive home that ended up taking 23+ hours and my gusto to write.

And as the snow falls outside today and I peruse the pictures of children accessorized in mittens and hats, snowflakes caught in their eyelashes, I must write- because it’s too cute and the memories were too fond to depart from so quickly.

Cousins playing in pajamas late into the day on the day we remembered our Savior’s birth.

Snuggling with Aunt Janice and pulling out mommy’s tutus from her ballerina days.Sharing laughs as we unwrap the old collectables that have gathered dust in mom’s closets.
It’s funny that she wraps up those sentimental things, her purging becomes our giggles.
This fancy ship was a gift to my brother from some Chinese hockey players that came to play in a tournament against my brother’s team when he was in high school.
I got a couple fancy drama masks in case you were wondering.

Watching grandpa coach his granddaughter on a new puzzle.My sister-in-law and my precious niece Lenna.

We have a tendency to play a lot of cards when we get together as family- Pinochle, anyone?

And Avery and McClaine schooled my dad and uncle Jim at Go Fish.

Our wonderful friend, Marjie came over for Christmas. She is such an awesome lady and has been fighting hard against Cancer for over three years.

She brought lots of laughs, dozens of puppets and an INCREDIBLE Melissa and Doug Puppet Theater. Thanks Marjie!

And then came Uncle Josh. Uncle Josh is Margaret’s husband (Margaret had to go back to work in Oregon, so she couldn’t come- boo!), who was on break from school for a couple weeks, so he came to play. And play he did- for HOURS with the kids. He also shaved his beard so they would recognize him better. I have no doubt that the kids knew just who he was even with the beard and he may have later regretted his decision to shave when it got to be 6 below zero.Aren’t you glad he didn’t stick with the handle-bar moustache?

They built huge forts out of pillows and blankets, and those evolved into “dog cages.” Josh was the dog catcher and had 4 puppies to chase all over the house.
Then they built a raft out of sticks and branches…

And launched it off into the river in my mom’s backyard.

Then Caleb and Uncle Josh took the big kids up the gondola.
It’s free for foot passengers after 2pm, and that just happens to be when the little girls and I needed a nap!

Hot Chocolate was definitely in order on this chilly day!The kids had a snowball fight on the top of the mountain- let’s take a moment to examine the “Texas Style” of this snowball fight.
Notice that they all had jeans on, and the boys had cowboy boots on. Oh yeah, the only thing missing are those “gators” that keep the snow out of yur cowboy boots!

The next day my mom graciously babysat my brood so Caleb and Josh and I could go skiing! Thanks Aunt Brittny for the awesome hook-up on tickets! Caleb snowboarded, Josh telemarked and I raced down the hill and tried to take pictures. It felt so great to get back on some skis after five years!
We are going to start saving up for next year, and maybe we can get the kids in some lessons.It is always appropriate to finish the night with a little Conga line and some good eats at Aunt Janice and Jimmy Ray’s house. Here’s a picture of my mom and her six little grandkids

And the family photo…

Are you still there? Was that the longest post EVER? I hope you and your family had a great Christmas… more from me coming up later this week.

When The Christmas Season Seems to Fly

2010-12-10T07:30:00.001-08:00

It was just last week we were soaring, short-sleeves, giving thanks and smoking turkey.December comes with a cold-snap and we celebrate the third birthday of our third child.
She delights our souls with her sweet choruses of a classic, “Honah Donna had a forest, eeee eye eeee eye oh!
And a moo moo here and a moo moo there. Honah Donna had a forest, eeee eye eeee eye oh!”

She is really growing up. And though her conversations are heavily seasoned with the ever curious, “why? why? why?”
She is maturing into her mother’s girl everyday. “Momma, can you please hand me a wiping towel? Thank you, that was so helpful.”

December also gives us an opportunity to rejoice in God’s gift of marriage.
I am so thankful for this man God has blessed me with.
He is kind, funny, considerate, noble, a great leader, a humble servant and wonderful father to our children.
He lives with purpose- to serve God, to love his wife and to teach his children, intentional and joyfully sporadic.

December also brings lights. Lights everywhere and the fast fury of collecting gifts and packing for road-trips to Colorado.
The smell of fresh pine, the sound of Bing Crosby, decking the halls.

I am trying to find a healthy balance to the chaos and anxiety of the “holidays” and finding the peace of Christmas through the Prince of Peace.
It helps to take my eyes off the lights and fix them on the Light of the World, Jesus.

We have been quietly devoting ourselves to receive the coming king every night through the help of Ann Voskamp’s Jesse Tree Journey.

It is good to wait for Him, when the Christmas season seems to fly.

*photos courtesy of Jeff Grissom and Jon Vashey

Thankful Hearts, Stuffed Bellies and Other T-Day Pics

2010-11-29T07:40:00.001-08:00

I hope that your Thanksgiving weekend was a enjoyable as our was. Ours was filled with family, food, beautiful fall weather, hunting and several hundred miles of travelling- with no traffic, thanks to some fine back roads of Texas. The weather was perfect, crisp and cool, and it only rained while we were preparing food or fellowshipping on screened in porches. It seemed to clear for some yard football and driving.

Nothing says fun like playing in the dirt with cousins. The adults weren’t the only ones whipping up pies this weekend.

It was such a treat to have my dear friend, and Caleb’s cousin, LeeAnn here with her husband and beautiful daughter.

After a day packed with giving thanks for family, food and an Aggie football win (WHOOP), we woke up early on Friday and drove to the Hill Country to meet up with my mom and dad, my brother’s family, and all of my aunts and uncle and cousins on my dad’s side of the family. These are some cousins that have a GRAND time together. McClaine is completely outnumbered as the only boy out of 8 kids!

Sage and Audrey are like two peas in a pod (pardon the iPhone quality photos- I was having such a ball, I rarely took a picture with a real camera).

And Lena found some snooze time with her Nana.

The ladies escaped for the afternoon to hit up the Fredericksburg Trade Days and there was some serious junk to be seen. I thought these little kid tractors were very cool.

However, this booth was NOT so cool. Creepy, and filled with baby doll parts, but definitely picture worthy.

There was one booth that was filled with peculiar wind chimes. And there was certainly some afternoon napping as the Tryptophan kicked in.

After the seven hour drive home yesterday, and the rain that was falling early this morning, I made a decision to keep Aves and McClaine home from school today to have a little downtime. We skipped on the Black Friday madness last week and instead, are gearing up for the Advent season where we teach the kids about the anticipation of God’s great gift found in a babe named Jesus. This Jesse Tree Journey, by Ann Voskamp is a wonderful resource to do just that.

Conscious Gratitude

2010-11-23T07:22:00.001-08:00

I laid in bed early yesterday morning, their faint giggles pouring into my room- stirring the attitude that would follow me the rest of the day. Caleb got up REALLY early yesterday when he heard Avery’s footsteps going down the stairs at the time that she would normally wake for school. He fed her breakfast and then fell sound asleep on the couch. Clearly she was not amused with Nick Jr.’s morning offerings and she snuck back upstairs to wake her more interesting brother and sister.

This is the point where, under normal circumstances, my attitude would begin with grumbling and escalate to all out frustration that would follow me and direct my actions throughout the day. But this day was different. I snuggled deeper under my comforting flannel sheets, content with the pillow that cradled my head and the fabulous mattress that Caleb and I scored for a deal when we first wed. I asked the Lord to stir that heart of gratitude that I was committing to consciously express this month. Using gratitude as a filter- perceiving circumstances, asking God to show me the blessings in those circumstances, turning that perception into gratitude in my heart and then expressing gratitude in my actions and words.

She woke them with kisses and asked them if they wanted “Avery to read them a story while they wait for mama to wake up.” I love when she uses her encouraging teacher voice and talks in third person… I take it in. Thank you, Lord, for producing an encouraging and teaching spirit in my oldest daughter. Thank you for creating joy in her to love her brother and sister. She is admirable, and they do admire her. Plus she is funny- and they love to laugh. Thank you, Lord.

She grabs Richard Scarry’s Best Story Book Ever. They are some of our favorite stories. And they were Caleb’s favorites when he was a young boy. Conscious gratitude, Oma kept those books! Thank you, Lord that those favorites of my husband are now favorites of my children. I just lay there in my fabulous bed and soak it all in, her reading skills coming to life.

“f-ee-d Feed b big h-il-duh Hilda h-ip-po Hippo her A-B-C’s.” Conscious gratitude. She’s reading, she is in a wonderful school and God put her there- she wasn’t supposed to go there, and we weren’t supposed to be able to send her. I utter gratitude to the Lord for the detail and care that He put into choosing this school for Avery and McClaine, the wisdom that they are gleaning there, the love for the Lord that is being fostered there, the love for learning. She continues, “now Audrey, this is the letter ‘A,’ can you point to the letter ‘A’? That’s right! Now McClaine, would you feed her an automobile or an apple? Which would you feed her?”

The volume of their banter increases as they proceed through the alphabet, “Audrey! You would feed Hilda a jeep? Nooooo! You would feed her jam.” Their giggles are in perfect harmony, and yet they don’t wake their slumbering baby sister in the room right beside them. Conscious gratitude. Children that love to laugh together, a tot that slumbers through the merriment of her siblings. I smell coffee brewing downstairs, egg in a basket sizzling in a skillet. Conscious gratitude. Food to eat, husband cooking, children laughing, tot stirring, quiet singing from her room.

My feet hit the floor with and my heart is brimming with gratitude. “Who wants to wake up Reecey with me?” They spring to their feet and run into her room with songs and excitement, “good morning, good morning, good morning to you.” She joins their chorus and I take the moment in, conscious gratitude for all of God’s awesome blessings.

“I will go about your alter, O Lord, that I may proclaim with thanksgiving and declare all Your wonders.” Psalm 26:6-7

Happy Thanksgiving… I am consciously grateful for each of you!

Hoping I Can Be As Good of a Mommy as She Is

2010-11-15T07:32:00.001-08:00

My mom is, and always has been exceptional at mothering. Always nurturing, always compassionate, encouraging, motivating, generous… she never took short-cuts and knew that loving discipline and correction would pay off. She also took such joy in the art of motherhood that I always looked forward to being a mommy myself.And now I am, times FOUR! I hope and pray that my children see that same joy in me and that they look forward to parenting as much as I did. Thanks for the great example, mom!

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Chicago

2010-11-08T13:20:00.001-08:00

Before I was born, mom had a group of friends that met for book club. Book club turned into Lamaze classes when they got pregnant with us kids. And now they still meet for book club monthly and once a year they take their daughters to a fun city for book club. This year, the windy city greeted us with great fellowship, food, shopping and a plethora of sightseeing. Mom found a great place for us to stay right on Lake Shore Drive and the views were amazing. I would highly recommend looking at Vacation Rentals By Owner the next time you are heading out of town and want a place that accommodates a group of any size and has special amenities that may not be found in a hotel. Plus, which was the case for us, you can usually get a steal.

The first night, we bundled up and headed to Rose Bud on Rush Street. Oh. My. Italian. Delicious food- huge portions!

It was frigid the next day- 32 degrees and wind blowing like mad. But we would not be deterred from the shopping of Chicago.

This is what I learned from shopping in Chicago- as long as you have skinny jeans and boots, you are set. Go into your closet and find three tops that clash and layer them. Now throw on some crazy accessories and you are in style. I am in luck. I have so many clashing items in my closet. See exhibits A, B, & C from one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie.

Speaking of Anthropologie, can we take just a moment to look at this awesome art they had on their wall hanging between the balcony of the second floor and above their registers? It was so cool and made from cardboard boxes that were painted and rolled and beautifully arranged. So cool.Here’s a close-up.The other thing that I learned about fashion is that, being a mother of four, and within weeks of paying all of our debt off- I can’t afford to shop at Anthropologie. But I do covet their clothing so. Good thing my mom and I were both able to find goods at Forever 21. After hitting up the three story H&M on Michigan Ave., we hit the brisk street and ventured to Andersonville. Look at the flags on the Tribune Tower to get an idea of the wind we were up against.

Andersonville was a cute little neighborhood that used to be primarily Swedish (I think), and is now full of funky boutiques and the streets are lined with gorgeous autumn foliage.

We made it a habit to have Hors D’oeuvres and wine before we went out for a LATE dinner. I am so used to eating when the kids eat- which is around 5:30, so waiting until nine is wild to me. But you have to cram in a full day of shopping and sightseeing, so food must wait! Here are some group shots of the moms and daughters that were along for the fun.

We had dinner the second night in Greek town at the Parthenon (I forgot my camera). I am wholly convinced that my mom and I had the best meal, but I am sure they were all amazing.

The next morning we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. It is awesome. I won’t bore you with all of my photos that I took for the kids of airplanes and tornado simulations and baby chicks, but let me say- if you go to Chicago, you can’t miss it. After the museum we went to the Ritz for high tea. This was so fun, and I must say, I felt VERY spoiled. Our sweet waitress was so stressed the whole time because she was “in the weeds.” And I know this because I am used to being in her shoes- from the time I was a young lady as a waitress in my dad’s restaurants, all the way through college as a cocktail waitress, and now as a short-order cook and waitress for four kids- I am USED to being in the weeds and serving others. So it was really special to be served finger sandwiches and homemade crumpets with lemon curd and fancy tea. I was sure to keep my pinky up, and not my nose up in the air!

After tea we did a little more window shopping and then we went to The Red Bar Comedy Club. This was truly a test. Imagine going to a comedy club with your mommy… and you being pretty conservative are only HALF as conservative as your mommy? The first comedian was totally raunchy. I was so disappointed, so instead of standing up and leaving, I leaned over to my mom and whispered in her ear that this would be a really great time to pray for this young man, who was clearly very messed up and in need of some fulfillment in his life. I also took the time to pray that the next two comedians would be a lot more suitable for this audience. And they were- they were really funny and didn’t make your ears bleed with their cussing.

Then we had another late night dinner of Chicago Pizza at Pizza Due. Delish.

May I say how very thankful I was that we turned the clocks back Sunday morning since I had to get up at 6 am the next morning to fly home?

It was such a great weekend with such dear friends and a WONDERFUL mommy. Thanks for treating me mom! I had a fantastic time!

And let me not minimize the overwhelming greeting that I received when I walked in the door to our home. It was so great- being wrestled to the ground and smothered with kisses from four bathed and happy children for ten minutes… and having an incredible husband who is so glad to see me and really conquered the weekend like a champ. I am so blessed.

Hanging Up My Apron

2010-11-03T12:34:00.001-07:00

Don’t you adore this vintage apron that my sister-in-law picked up in Canton the other day (for a dollar!)?

We have had so much fun with Aunt Margaret,
the kids adore her (although they asked several times why Uncle Josh couldn’t leave “college” and come visit too).

If you had a vintage apron this cute, you might never take it off.
But I am hanging up the apron and temporarily resigning from the post of short-order cook,
teacher,
nurse,
boo-boo kisser,
potty training coach,
snuggler,
storybook narrator,
& mediator…

And heading to Chicago for a few days with my mom!

Won’t be taking the apron on this trip no matter how cute it is.

He’s Clearly Comfortable With His Masculinity

2010-11-01T07:35:00.001-07:00

You know your husband is comfortable with his masculinity when he can wear leggings for Halloween…And wear those tights into the liquor store to buy a few bags of ice… And show up to a Halloween party with all of his buddies wearing tights.

For the first time in years, I dressed up for Halloween and went to a very fun Halloween Birthday Bash for my friend Olive Oil (Tonya). There were some crazy good costumes. Caleb and his sister Margaret and I were Peter Pan, Capt. Hook and Wendy.

I just couldn’t get the guts to dress as Tink on this 40 degree night!

There was a Mexican and his Piñata.

Colonel Sanders and his Bucket of Chicken.

A Samurai and his Geisha.

Some eighties nerds.

Olive Oil and Popeye.

A Scarecrow.

And Pippy Longstockings.

I love a party wear I can wear a mumu and no make-up- I am hardcore like that!

Check out this unbelievable piñata costume that my friend Kat made. She is incredibly talented and you can see her artwork on her facebook page.

We played a game where you had to use a straw and suck a pumpkin eraser to the end and then relay race.

And no east Texas Halloween Party is complete without a drive through the pasture in a monster school bus.

Seriously? How hick is this? I never imagined, spoiled little Vail girl that I was, that I would be off-roading in a short bus.

But it was really fun- notice the terrified looks on every face.

*****************************************************************************************

On a not-so-hick note- we celebrated my incredibly cute nephew’s birthday this weekend.

~~Zane~~ Charlie Brown turned one this weekend, and a costume party was in order.

At least for the kids. I think the grown-ups got their share of dressing up in on Friday.

Not that I would have minded wearing my nightgown again, but I am pretty sure Caleb wouldn’t put the tights back on!

Jon is a great cook and made Italian Beef Sandwiches and this delicious Buffalo Wing Dip, that perchance I ate a little too much of.And Oma made another one of her fabulous birthday cards. Don’t you just love them?

Leigh made this precious Snoopy Cake and big brother Wyatt decorated Zane’s individual cake… which he managed to devour entirely.

Group photo- miracle to have 6 children sitting and looking at the camera!Avery was a “stray cat” & Audrey was “Sho Co-Cake” (Strawberry Shortcake).

McClaine was batman!

Wyatt was a Centurion Knight.And Reecey was Tinkerbell (with quick access to jammies).

It was a great weekend, packed with fun. Even Gramps had a good time, and I am pretty sure he ate too much Buffalo Wing Dip as well!

Better Late Than Never

2010-10-25T19:57:00.001-07:00

So Monday is nearly over, but almost every Monday I think to one of the first blogs I started following. Krystyn does a really cute meme on Mondays called, “Mommy and Me Mondays.” For the LOVE of all things good I can never get my act together and post on Mondays, let alone do a post that has a picture of ME in it.

Last week I passed the camera duty on and this was the result.

Maybe you can’t quite get a grasp of the *perma-grin* that my brother-in-law Jon captured when he took this picture of me and Audrey watching Avery and McClaine’s Rose Tea Presentation. They had a school performance last week and it was A-MAZ-ING!!! Really, my face hurt by the end of it from smiling so much. They were showcasing all that they had learned the first two months of school and it was fantastic. They are so smart and this school is such a blessing to our family.

The next day Audrey, my nephew, Wyatt and I accompanied Avery and McClaine on their field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. In keeping with the rules of “Mommy and Me Monday,” here’s a picture of me and the kids-

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious? This meme is a great opportunity for you to get on the other side of the camera lens and capture you with your kiddos. Join up next week (since I didn’t give you quite enough time to prepare this week!)

And, since I am such a slacker and won’t likely post for another couple days, here’s a couple more of my favorites from the Pumpkin Patch!

Chances are good that the scarecrow tractor driver is a Rangers fan! Give them the claw!

I just can’t stand doing a blog post and only including pics of 3/4 of my children. So for good measure, here’s the EVER cute Reecey! She and Audrey have had a blast playing in the dirt lately and the evidence is all over her face!

Casting, Catching & Contemplating

2010-10-19T17:41:00.001-07:00

Caleb took the big kids camping a couple weekends ago. With each cast came a catch.

It is such a treat to see children catching fish- on their own.They are growing up. Casting and Catching on their own.

The casting and catching makes me contemplative. This parenting thing is tough. I mean it is tough enough when you are not really trying at it. But when you add in all the pressure of trying to develop children into thoughtful, compassionate, wise and God loving adults it is slightly overwhelming.

I have been engaging in some Facebook debates over the existence of God lately. It really hasn’t been as brutal as you might imagine- it has actually helped sharpen my faith. I love the verse from 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

The truth is, I am caught off guard so often- dismissing a gas station attendant’s comment on her recent divorce, not having the words to encourage a sister in Christ who is struggling with sin, or worse- not having the HOPE that I should have in Christ, let alone be able to give an answer. These passing conversations along with the overwhelming feat of trying to raise adults that glorify the Lord, has got me really contemplating.

How do I need to be investing my time? Shouldn’t I close facebook and get my face in His book, so that I can be prepared for the hope that I DO HAVE? And shouldn’t I have it? Shouldn’t my hope be overflowing from His Spirit welling up within me? I want the words that I use with my children to be instructing and kind and consciously chosen, every interaction an opportunity for me to guide them.

And I need His Word to direct me and motivate me in that way.

I was listening to a really great podcast of Ravi Zacharias the other day (click HERE to hear it) and there was a portion that really resonated in my heart. Speaking of a young man who came home to his parents and told them that his class had an ethical discussion that day, and he wanted to know what they believed about a certain topic. His dad opened the Bible and said that they believed this way because this chapter and this verse says this. The young man, though he may not have vocalized it, was thinking, “that’s great dad and works really well here around our dinner table, but in the context of the classroom, if I brought that argument in, I would be the laughing stock of all my peers.”

God’s Word is Truth, and it is awesome, don’t misunderstand me- but for so many people in our society that don’t consider it relevant, we better have a way to explain God’s existence, nature and purpose- without using the Bible.

So that is one of the things I have been doing, grounding myself in the Truth from His word and finding ways to express those truths to people who don’t know it is truth. As a mom, I find it so challenging and one of the greatest endeavors to teach my children about what is true, honest and how differentiate truth from lies.

I would encourage young mother’s out there to get your hands on some resources to equip you to teach your children Truth. Here are a couple really great places to start:

Let My People Think

Bible Studies from Grace Bible Church in College Station, TX- Learn how to study God’s Word on your own and KNOW what you KNOW!

And this is super exciting- one of my early mentors, Nancy Frost Simpson, along with a friend wrote this study for second graders and up. This study teaches children how to study God’s word on their own!

Now go make fishers of men!

SIX

2010-10-12T13:39:00.001-07:00

My baby girl turned SIX this weekend.

In keeping with the great inspiration of Lorelai Gilmore,
I tucked her in bed the night before
and proceeded to go into dramatic details
of the watermelon sized bundle that I could barely contain
And how for 4 days straight I labored
without a wink of sleep
Waiting for that precious girl.

So it was fitting to have a big party for her!

Avery Clair, you are a blessing! Happy Birthday…

Insert “Snuggling With My Honey in a Tranquil Field”

2010-10-06T20:52:00.001-07:00

Way back when, two months or so ago, I read in someone else’s blog a tip to increasing traffic to your blog.

Post often
Post about things that inspire you
Always start your posts with a captivating picture

Why in the world would I allow that to taunt me every time I sit down to capture the glorious moments in my life? Always start your posts with a captivating picture? That kills me, because that means finding my camera and the cord to connect and download pictures and then I just can’t leave good enough alone and I open photoshop and by this time I forgot what inspired me to blog.

Like my sweet Reecey eating handfuls of mud on a gorgeous autumn day in fall. Or the sweet pride that wells up in my heart when I hear my children recite God’s Word from memory. Or watching my talented sister in law transform a cheap garage sale wingback into a throne for someone special’s upcoming 6th birthday…

And really, do I really want to increase traffic to my blog? Do I not have enough “traffic” in my life as it is? It would make me feel committed to post regularly and then I would be trying to come up with captivating pictures.

When all I really want to do is sit and breathe deep the smells of freshly bathed children in slumber and rejoice in how incredibly blessed I am. Or run off to some sun-kissed field with my husband and enjoy some good grown up conversations and smoochin’. Praise God that my friend Laura captured this photo and edited it, so I can go on in and steal one last kiss from my snoring kids.

Giddy

2010-09-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

What will make a Colorado native living in the furnace of Texas giddy with joy? Fall weather. Hello long sleeve shirts and playing outside for more than 20 minutes without being sweaty and irritable!

Banished

2010-09-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

photo courtesy Laura LeBlanc Photography

Caleb had to pick the kids up a little early the other day. Upon arrival, he saw a classroom full of students working diligently and quietly in their desks. Avery’s teacher greeted him and told him, “Avery came up with a very big word. Today we were sharing words that begin with b and hard a. The students went around the room and shared words like bat, bad, back. Avery’s word was ‘banished.’” She continued by joking, “I was just wondering how she would have learned that at home?”

When Caleb asked her about her word while they were driving home she said, “banished means you banish something. Like if a cat comes sneaking in the door and jumps up on your white bedspread with muddy feet, she should be banished from the house.” She also told him that after she said ‘banished’ all the kids just looked at her like “what the?”

What a blessing it is to have Avery and McClaine in such a fine school where they are being challenged and taught to THINK! I so desire for my children to be life-long learners and this school has really given them a great start. Not to brag (because really I have been working with her on reading for a couple years now and it just wasn’t clicking), but by the second week she was reading, could spout off the planets and their order from the sun, recite poems about traffic safety and recite several Bible verses.

It is such a treat to see your children growing in knowledge and wisdom, perhaps I won’t banish them!

Just Make It Quick & Easy

2010-09-21T10:59:00.001-07:00

Last time I made over my blog, it was a HUGE process. Jumping around from one tutorial to the next, trying to make my blog cute. Have no fear, things are much easier, and praise God for that, because I don’t have that kind of time on my hands anymore. The following links have great, simple tutorials to makeover your blog.

Kevin and Amanda are the generous creators of Fonts for Peas, you can download all of their fonts, like the one in my post titles. She also has tutorials on how to make blog backgrounds yourself. Click on her link below. I designed my new banner in Photoshop using a really cute and *FREE* digital scrapbooking kit from The Shabby Shoppe. I also used the embellishment in that kit to make the post dividers. Click below and download it yourself!

If you want to add post dividers to your own blogger blog- click below for a really simple tutorial.

Thanks so much to all of these very generous bloggers!

Went Ahead and Did It

2010-09-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

There was something oh so haunting about that lovely “Spring 2010” banner at the top of my blog. Looming it’s vibrant daffodils over the very rare posts of September 2010. Do you recall?

Let’s pay no attention to the fact that the photo in my new banner/blog header is from the same photo shoot, I just made it black and white so the yellow spring blossoms wouldn’t clash with the harvest pumpkins.

Speaking of harvest pumpkins, do you think this banner will look slightly out of date come December? I am hoping that those of you perusing the Christmas Aisles at Hobby Lobby and sipping your pumpkin spice latte in the 95 degree heat won’t notice.

If anyone can tell me how to better coordinate the colors of my customized font, that would really be great!

Weren’t You All Thinking You Would Have More Time?

2010-09-12T15:00:00.001-07:00

For some reason I thought I was going to have more time to blog with two children at school and only two home. But the truth is, even on the mornings when Caleb takes the kids to school, I just can’t seem to sit myself down and get a blog post done.

It’s just that we have been so busy- you know, with Bella DancerellaEven Reecie finds it fitting to sport the tutu.We also started soccer practice and let me tell you, it is DANG hot at five o’clock in the afternoon in an unshaded field in Texas! And chasing three other kids around while one is practicing will wear a woman flat out. Let’s talk a moment about how very cute Avery is in her soccer uniform… Talk amongst yourself. We also had a birthday party for my brother-in-law Jon. These awesome hot dog holders are perfect for a Chicago kid, right? We had fajitas, Mexican corn, homemade Salsa Roja, and tomatillo avocado salsa. Muy Sabrosa! Jon wanted cupcakes for his birthday, so Oma whipped up some homemade ones with scrumptious frosting. We thought it would be funny to put 33 candles on the cupcakes.I am partial to my darling nephew, Zane, for good reason… He is a big boy. And his mama threw out her back a few days after this shot was taken… so last week Zane got to hang out at our house for a couple days! Reece and Audrey and Zane really entertained themselves while the big kids were at school, and we pretty much stayed in our jammies all day. It’s what you do when you have three kids in diapers. Here’s a bit of good news- Reecie has shown quite a bit of interest in potty training and has gone #2 on the toilet a few times now, which has been very motivating for her big sister, who was previously pretty uninterested. Wouldn’t it be special if I got ALL of my kids out of diapers in the next month or so? (The answer is “YES”). This is how far behind I am with blogging, I am putting three weeks worth of fun in one post!

On to Aggieland, the next chapter… We went to visit my brother, Ryan and his family in College Station. A brave babysitter took on our children for 7 hours so we could go to the game.

Even though we beat SFA big time, I must say that my favorite part of the game is watching the Aggie Band. Our drive home was so peaceful, the kids were great and the sunset was such a testimony to God’s great creativity.

Keep up with me, I am all over the map- next chapter, fall harvest. We have been harvesting beautiful stuff from the garden and Opa has been making his famous pepper shake of dehydrated peppers. I even gave an attempt at oven roasting peppers. After they roast and get big black blisters on them you put them in a bowl covered with saran wrap and allow the steam to help the skin separate. These would be pretty tasty in a salsa or pasta sauce. I am pretty sure they are in the freezer though, because clearly I haven’t had time to whip up any new recipes. What with capturing my third weekend in this one post.

On to the next chapter. Soccer Game- Here’s Avery with the pigtails and purple.

Wyatt came to watch his cousins play soccer. Yes, I did correctly say “cousinS” plural. You just may not see any pictures of McClaine playing because he spent most of the time sitting on the bench sipping his juice box, or chasing the annoying ice cream cart lady who found it appropriate to distract every four year old on the field with her wooing bell.

Finally, there is no better way to cool off from some intense heat at the soccer field than with a hearty game of Slip N Slide Wiffle Ball. There was a slip n slide leading to every base and it was a rule that you had to slide to base to be safe.

Wow. Check out that athleticism. Obviously this was posed- I had to pass off my camera as proof that I actually participated. In case the drenched clothes and fire ant bites weren’t proof enough!The kids stayed entertained in this awesome pool while we played wiffle ball.

Overall it has been a great past few weeks, super busy and full of fun. And blogging has kind of been on the back burner- but I will try to keep up better with it. Now the real question is, do I take the time to proof read and spell check?

It Was A Nail Biter

2010-08-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

I am sure y'all have been chomping at the bit, just dying to know where Avery was going to kindergarten this year. Well maybe you haven't, but let me tell you, I have! Up until yesterday at about 2:00, it was still undecided. We were waiting to hear back from Good Shepherd to see if she got a scholarship, meanwhile Caleb was thinking of how he could pull some strings to get Avery into the same kindergarten that he and his sisters went to (we live just barely out of district and found out just weeks ago that they weren't taking any transfers).

Well, yesterday in the midst of a very empty WalMart, deserted as most children filled classroom seats, I got the call. Avery received a partial scholarship and McClaine received a full scholarship, as they were needing higher attendance in Jr. Kindergarten.

Needless to say, he was not quite as thrilled to be starting school today!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Transformanything

2010-08-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

Oma and Avery pulled a bunch of Caleb's toys from childhood out of the shed and cleaned them up. McClaine calls this Transformer the "Transformanything."

Speaking of cute ways to say things, Audrey calls Strawberry Shortcake, "Show co-cake."

Hoping your weekend is transformanything kind of fun!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

When There’s a Drought

2010-08-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

I am finding myself with less time to blog than I would like these days. I am pulling photos from the archives that are not quite accurate of what is really going on.

The bell peppers are really more red than green this year, and I am about to get my roasting on.

The zinnias this year are more dramatic bursts of color amongst drought laden leaves, amber long stems, barely standing- a clear contrast from last summer’s vivacious green.

But even in drought, God’s faithful provisions are unceasing.

So he (Elijah) arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks ; and he called to her and said, "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink." 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar ; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die." 13 Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear ; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 "For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.' " 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah. – 1 Kings 17:10-16 (emphasis added)

Identifying with Elijah’s situation, I am in a slight drought these days. A blogging drought, an energy drought, a spiritual drought, a Type-A-organizational-control-freak drought. School starts in a few days for my first-born and (don’t mind my boasting) quite gifted child. And I have no idea where she is going to go to school. This is epic for me, the planning mommy that wants the best for my children mom that I am. Not only have I not yet purchased her supplies, I don’t even know which supply list to choose from. Not only have I not laid out her first day of Kindergarten outfit, I don’t know if she can wear street clothes, a uniform or possibly her jammies if she is homeschooled.

Really, I am finding that this whole situation is quite defining. As if the past year of living on little to no income, and having to depend on the Lord for the simplest of things has grown me into a person who KNOWS that God has a plan and a purpose and the PROVISIONS to carry them out. That bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty- kind of trust. And after a year of wondering how we were going to pay the bills, He has opened the floodgates of heaven and poured out so many blessings on us as Caleb’s career has taken off.

In His sovereignty and our questioning minds, Avery was not accepted to transfer into the district that Caleb was raised in. There simply was no place for her. But God has a place for her- of that I am very certain. We have applied for a Classical Christian School that is WAY beyond our means, but not HIS.

We are trusting that if God doesn’t choose to provide the finances to pay for this school through a need-based scholarship, that He will provide me with the wisdom, patience and fortitude to teach her here at home, according to the classical method, whilst I cook, clean and care for three other children and my awesome husband.

Then there’s always that district she is supposed to go to…

Praise God that the bowl of flour shall not be exhausted. Lord, give us wisdom.

Kicking Up Dust

2010-08-09T16:06:00.001-07:00

We’re back! We made it back from a glorious time in the West Texas Davis Mountains- gathering with loved ones, being challenged through God’s Word and kicking up dust in our boots. How fantastic is this photograph by my friend Laura? She is a peach and I am so thankful that she did a photo shoot of our family and one for Anderson Bean Boots. Don’t they make the greatest kids’ boots? The company which is named for my two great grandmothers, is a Texas Company and Texans know boots!

We were really encouraged to spend more time in prayer as we learned from godly men in the great tabernacle. And we were given the opportunity to put it into practice as our family came down with a nasty stomach flu toward the end of the week, making our 600 mile trip back even longer! Don’t even get me started on the laundry. I usually have 6 loads to do when we come back from camp meeting because there is so much rolling around in the dirt, but with the puking episodes, you can easily add three more loads to that.

So for now, I am off to “warsh,” comfort sick babes, and maybe edit a photo or two!

Before We Take Off

2010-07-31T20:43:00.001-07:00

Before we take off for camp meeting, these three watched some hot air balloons take off while the little girls and I finished up some last minute packing.

You may just be hearing from me afterall this week- I got the blogpress ap for caleb's phone. So be prepared for a hearty serving of cookshed cowboy beans!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Packing Up

2010-07-29T08:22:00.001-07:00

I didn’t want the cukes from the garden to feel left out of the week of packing. So I packed ‘em up.

In the midst of laundry and stuffing clothes, changes of clothes, sheets, towels and the like into suitcases, this big ol’ pile of cucumbers was looking to be pickled. It was my first shot at pickling and it was pretty interesting. At one point in time, I was filling jars with brine, guarding children from entering the kitchen, helping Audrey master the potty chair and saving Reecey from trying to escape the highchair. It was a pretty spicy situation!

My goal is to have the suitcases packed by tomorrow, so Caleb can pack the car on Saturday while I spend the day baking cookies, making Saltine Toffee Candy and Texas Trash. Generations have enjoyed homemade cookies on the porches at Camp Meeting, and I am resolved to spare my generation our usual fare of Easy Cheese and Oreos.

On Sunday we will take off on a six hundred mile trip to the beautiful Ft. Davis Mountains, where there will not be a laptop or TV in sight! See you next week with plenty of pictures.

Gearing Up for Fashion Week

2010-07-26T07:49:00.001-07:00

photo- fashion wire daily (but really I have no idea where it originally came from)

This week I am gearing up for Fashion Week 2010. Clearly I am a year behind as this photo, which will inspire my wardrobe, is from the Hermes Spring ‘09 line.

But I find this photo to be quite appropriate as the venue is the dusty and hot, West Texas, Ft. Davis Mountains- Bloys’ Camp Meeting. A gathering place for generations of God-fearing and God-worshipping fashionistas.

Usually decked in a t-shirt and yoga pants, I rarely fret about fashion. I find the comfortable clothes quite fitting for rolling around on the floor with toddlers and washing laundry like a champ.

My husband jokes that Camp Meeting is one of the best and worst things that he inherited when he married me. Blessed to gather with cousins and second cousins and three times-removed cousins under the aged oak trees of Skillman’s Grove, just as my great grandfather did with his cousins a hundred and twenty years ago, we join together to hear the Word of God and worship to hymns of old. He claims that it is a curse, in that it is one of the only times that my blatent insecurity surfaces as I fret over what clothes I will wear for the week. And not only my clothes, but his clothes, and our children’s clothes. And should it even matter? After all, Caleb doesn’t care, the kids climb trees and roll around in the dirt, and “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

I don’t know why I feel such pressure of comparison, perhaps it is reuniting with the people I love the most, and the desire for them to “approve” of how I am pulling off this thing called mother of four small children. Perhaps it is the fact that they all look so marvelous in their garb as they show up to the dusty Means Evans Cookshed to get a generous helping of steak and cowboy beans.

I am glad that the equestrian style is hot, because I do have a couple pair of fabulous custom made boots, and if I pair them with one of Caleb’s dress shirts, a belt and a top hat or helmet, I should be quite up to par!

Really, this week as I pack up sheets, towels, snacks, and a few pair of blue jeans, I am determined to work more on my heart than my wardrobe. Because the Lord looks at the heart. And I want to be pleasing to the Lord, and have a heart to worship him. And I want to LOVE the people that I love and only see but once a year. I really want to love them and encourage them, and inspire them- not just to be a fashionista, but to be a people after God’s heart!

Weekends Are For REST

2010-07-24T07:39:00.001-07:00

We just finished off FOUR weeks of swimming lessons.

And we finished it off with a hot day in the East Texas afternoon sun. We met some new friends That surprised us with their friendliness. And allowed us a little ride.

There were also some miniature pals that we got to meet.

Avery got carsick (which tends to happen) on the way there, so I dropped her by Oma’s to hang out with her youngest sister.

After two weeks of swimming and a day of riding, I am ready for a weekend of REST! I am getting ready to gear up for the biggest fashion show of the year. More to come on that later.

What do you have planned this weekend?

He’s Got Nice Buns

2010-07-13T20:59:00.001-07:00

From the moment the first one melted in my mouth, when we were still just engaged, I have been smitten for her rolls. Caleb’s grandma makes the fluffiest, butter melting-ist rolls in the world. When he saw that I crammed five of them down during one of my first meals at her house, he thought it would be easy to convince me to learn how to make those scrumptious sourdough rolls. After all, wasn’t this the woman who wooed him with a rib eye steak aside crab claws and fresh sautéed asparagus? Surely she could whip up some dinner rolls.

But the kids came and with them the laundry and the dishes and the constant food preparation and I just couldn’t get myself to “feed the starter” every blessed week. Weren’t four children, three dogs and a cat enough to feed?

So he took it on himself, and it gives me all the more reason to celebrate the goodies that HE whips up, from cinnamon rolls to pluckin’ bread to homemade jalapeño cheese hot dog buns.

He’s got nice buns.

The grown-up version, we named the Texas Style Dog (because we were lacking all the toppings for a proper Chicago Style)- a jalapeño cheddar bun topped with goodness from our garden, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, grilled pepper and mustard. The Asian Cabbage Slaw on the side is also with cabbage and green onions from our garden. Don’t you love summer?

And the kid friendly dog, plain ol’ bun and a good dousing of Ketchup.

My Caleb, he’s got nice buns.

For more Wordful Wednesday and to play along, click on the button above and join Angie at 7 Clown Circus.

The Good Life- I Craft While He Lays in Puke

2010-07-11T14:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday pretty much rocked. I got up and made french toast and sausage and brewed a hot pot of coffee. As our family sat down to a delicious and peaceful breakfast and just as Caleb put the last bite of french toast in his mouth I asked him if I could take a much needed day off. You see my inspection tag was three months expired and my oil needed changin’ and there were some groceries that needed gettin’.

Satisfied with that last bite of french toast and excited to spend some QT with the kids, he graciously agreed. So I took a leisurely shower, which in and of itself makes for a blissful day, and headed out to run some errands. Then I came home and exchanged the groceries for the two older kids and took them to see “How to Train Your Dragon” at the dollar theater (this is how I spend my days off- errands and taking a 5 and 4 year old to a dollar theater). It wasn’t in 3D, and frankly, for a buck each, I am glad that it wasn’t, certainly had it been in 3D, the end of this story may have been more dramatic.

When we came home, I added Avery and McClaine to the brood on the porch with Caleb and headed upstairs to edit some pictures. I bypassed the sink full of dishes and the dinner that I should’ve started and just sat upstairs. And honestly, it was very challenging not to haul my hiney downstairs and start dinner since it was 5:30 and I was leaving for Craft Night at 6. When I went back down my incredible husband was calmly making dinner while three kids whined and fumbled under his feet.

Craft night started with a relaxing spa party, trying all of our friend, Erin’s BeautiControl products.

Then we got crafty. I made this mod podge frame-And a couple applique’ onsies- Emily made this precious mirror for her daughter- Here’s the collaboration of our craftiness- Leigh does such beautiful stuff. These cards were made from old photos from our Great Aunt-in-Law, Dora’s old albums. Most of the people that were in the photos weren’t family, so don’t get all sad and sentimental wondering how she could ever sell Aunt Dora’s photos. She also made this gorgeous flower corsage (the photo doesn’t do it justice, I wasn’t really focusing on focusing!) Her newest creations are these Jar Cards. They are “cards” or little keepsakes that you can give people instead of a card. Hopefully she will have some samples in her etsy shop and you can order personalized ones.This is a little chipboard book that she made with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge.Another one of her flower corsages. Aren’t they lovely and gorgeous? They are all hand-sewn and made from recycled (and clean!) fabric. And hiding behind the corsage is Nikki. Nikki is in the process of Mod Podging this vintage suitcase as a gift for her cousin (or niece? I can’t remember, it is like 1 am by this time of night).Katriana is reworking this canvas that she had previously made for sweet Karleigh’s room. She has a new Shabby Chic decor, so Katriana was giving it a make-over. This is Romonia. She is a profesh photographer. I can’t wait to see her pics. I also can’t wait until I get my own DLSR camera! This is a little wall embellishment that Trina made for Karleigh’s room.

When I returned home in the wee hours of the morning, I found Avery and Caleb sound asleep on the couch. I woke Caleb and told him to go to bed and then he told me of how he spent his evening. Fighting the kids to chow down their leftovers. Working like a dog to get ‘em down for the night.

When peace came at 10:30pm, Audrey started crying that she had a dirty diaper. So he changed that and then put her back to bed, and in gratitude she proceeded to throw a temper tantrum which woke up Avery from her bad dream about Dragons. And when she came down to tell daddy about her dream she realized she had a stomach ache and then said she needed to throw-up. So he carried her to the sink and she started puking en route, which happened to fall right where Caleb was planting his left foot to round the corner to the sink. His feet went out from under him and he fell smack down on the tile. He caught Avery and she proceeded to puke on his legs. Then she got up and finished in the trash can, and in between heaves she said, “I bet McClaine’s up there having nightmares about dragons right now.”

And had we seen that movie in 3D, that may have been just the case.

The REAL Cause of Sleep Deprivation

2010-07-09T22:22:00.001-07:00

People say that newborn babies cause sleep deprivation for parents. And I can testify, I have lived through it- four babies in five years will cause a woman to become highly dependent on coffee. But there is a new caffeine that is seriously messing with my REM. Coffee Shop tutorial using the free action, coffee shop attic vintage and this free texture

I am pretty certain that sweet Rita over at Coffee Shop is serving up triple shots of espresso, because I cannot sleep. I cannot get off her blog. It is totally addicting. And unlike Starbucks, she is whipping out these fantastic creations for FREE. Free people. Can you imagine Starbucks passing you your Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte for free? Neither can I. But I have not had coffee since 8 am, it is 16 hours later and I am still going. And that is after an exhausting day that included four rambunctious children and a few loads of laundry.

She has dozens of PS actions, brushes, frames, storyboards and tutorials that are sooooo great! This was my caffeine fix for tonight-

I couldn’t resist giving Wyatt the Coffee Shop Vintage News action since he is sporting this old school tie. And while I was at it, I applied the same action to these two pictures (the first one of the kids is SOOC and the second one of Caleb is edited, but I can’t remember what I did)-

So after using the Coffee Shop Vintage News on all three of these pictures, I used this awesome storyboard, created by Rita over at Coffee Shop and inspired by Shadowhouse Creations.

Check it out. I am totally pumped.

And totally sleep deprived.

Oh, There You Are!

2010-07-07T21:46:00.001-07:00

It sure has been a while, it’s just that I have been at the pool so my little fishies can learn “proper” swim technique. I have also come across this FAB blog that has so many great Photoshop tutorials and FREE actions! Check out this quick little number that I put together in no time using this tutorial and this texture.

It is now 11:44 and I must go to bed.

Power Nap

2010-07-01T19:13:00.001-07:00

I think I would be better off if I were able to power nap like they do…

Or like they do....

A power nap may do me well!

Preserving His Love

2010-06-29T18:58:00.001-07:00

Fingers stained with His love and care, she is mindful of the attention to details that went into His creation. Clustered globes filled with sweet nectar.

Her example is good for me, I get lost in the monotony of chores and discipline and am more mindful of the seeds than the flesh that is refreshing and brings life.They don’t even mind the fire ants and the thorns, they are mesmerized by what is beautiful and good and perfect. I trip over laundry on the way to a sink full of dishes, not even thankful for the clothing we have and the food that once graced those dirty plates.

They remind me that God’s goodness is everywhere, if I am mindful of it.

Sometimes it is even in a dog’s kiss.
Or, maybe not.But even when I am too exhausted to give thanks and the kids are still needing to be hushed an hour after they were kissed goodnight, these are the memories that need to be preserved.

Literally. Because it is easy for me to forget the sweetness of His great love.

Father’s Day

2010-06-19T13:42:00.001-07:00

There are some things in your life that are truly just too good. Evidence of God’s abundant lovingkindness and grace-Caleb, my love, I truly cannot express my gratitude to the Lord for the incredible blessing of YOU. How amazing of God to bless me with such a wonderful husband and father to my four children. They are so blessed to have you as a dad and I look forward to watching them grow up and learn from your godliness and grace.

Here are a few of my other favorite dads… Ryan, it is so cool to see the little brother that I used to play in irrigating ditches with, grow up to be such a great dad!

Walter (Opa), you are a great dad and a great Opa. I am fully convinced that Caleb learned much of his great fathering skills from you! Thank you for all that you do for our family.

Daniel (Gramps), we love you! How kind of the Lord to give such a great legacy to this family through you! What a blessing that my children get to know their great grandfather.

Uncle Jon! We are so thankful that our nephews have such a great dad, and equally thankful that our kids have such a fun uncle.

And last, but certainly not least… my dad. I love this picture of my dad from back in the day, it captures that awesome spirit and drive that has been so influential in my life! Thank you dad, for the love that you have shown me and Ryan. Thanks for praying for us and for always encouraging us. Happy Father’s Day!

Renegade- In Pictures

2010-06-15T15:33:00.001-07:00

There are a few of you who read this blog! Just when I had about given up on those rare, “to be continued” posts, I got a comment, and then another, asking to post some pictures from the Renegade Festival that I went to with my Mona and Leigh a month ago. There were some gorgeous treasures and some great inspirational pieces that I thought I would share. Unfortunately, since a month has passed and I didn’t write down which artist created which piece, I can’t link the pictures to the artist. But maybe you will find some inspiration…

There were quite a few artists that had dressed up children’s clothes with cute appliqué.These reconstructed men’s shirts are given a great feminine flare with the sleeves made into flowers.

The Wonder Craft, a creativity lab in an Airstream, had a booth set up that taught you how to “Trick out some timber.” This is a great craft using simple transfer technique and decoupage, that would be really fun for kids 3 and up. The directions can be found HERE. This pin cushion in a tea cup makes me want to start sewing more often. Or maybe it makes me want to sit down, relax and have a spot of tea.
Just in case your children get as frustrated as mine trying to cram crayons into a box that has a bottom that is torn and doesn’t work anyway, you may need one of these from Baby Bolt. There were lovely and ornate hair accessories. Clips, bands, bows. Bright, ornate, brilliant.

These purses and handbags were some of my favorites- Reconstructed from recycled men’s suits and draperies. Note to self- don’t throw anything away and learn how to use a sewing machine. Leigh and Mona and I got a kick out of the journals that this artist had made from a slue of old hardcover books.

He had taken apart the books, filled them with paper and some of the original pages randomly scattered throughout the book and then bound them. Some of them had old library cards and people’s notes in them. These little journals were fun too. This artist had taken old postage envelopes to make covers and filled them with penmanship paper. These were bound by hand using needle and thread. There were a bunch of cool knick-knacks and owls were a common theme. And how very cute is this little diorama made in a make-up compact? It has a couple lounging and watching little deer figurines and the teeny banner says, “hello deer…”

I will definitely be putting one of these fab mixed-fabric dresses on my wish list!

Mud Day

2010-06-14T07:07:00.001-07:00

The rain came down last week, and so we found it fitting to take advantage of the new beach property that we had for an afternoon. During naptime for the littles, I lounged under my umbrella while Avery and McClaine made sandcastles.

Even the dogs found the water to be refreshing.

Aves and McClaine raced and splashed for hours.

McClaine sported a perma-wedgie.
That’s what happens when your pajamas double as a swim suit.

Even the stink bug took some time to lounge on a lily pad, courtesy of McClaine.When I explained to the kids that if it started to thunder and lightning, we would need to go in, Avery stopped in her tracks and prayed,
“Lord, please don’t make it lightling, so we can enjoy our mud day all day.”

And God answered her prayer and we played all day.
This is the kind of beach day you remember your whole life!

When It Rains…

2010-06-10T08:11:00.001-07:00

It Pours Making a perfect day to pull out Caleb’s old record playerAnd listen to some books. You will know it is time to turn the page when you hear Tinkerbell’s Wand. It also makes a perfect day to make some strawberry jam. Strawberries are on big time sale at Le WalMart right now. And since her birthday was Monday, I guess I can show you a glimpse of this awesome birthday card that my very talented MIL made for her daughter. The “Margaret” came from some wrapping paper that Mona got from a baby shower gift. How incredibly cool is that?

2010-06-07T08:10:00.001-07:00

We celebrated the 80th birthday of a very special lady, who happens to look fantastic in a paper sack birthday hat.

Caleb grilled some salmon using this fabulous recipe.

He also grilled a little chicken.
A pretty little white chicken- it kind of grosses me out, but it is the life of a farm-wanna-be family.
McClaine burst into tears and dropped the drumstick upon the slightest hint that his beloved chicken may not have wandered into the woods after all.

These food pics were taken a couple of weeks ago when he made the same salmon and we also made potstickers and Ital-Cal Asian Caesar Salad.

Does anyone else have a hard time keeping up to date with blogging besides me?

I don’t want to miss the boat on this though-

Someone else that we love dearly is celebrating her birthday today!
Happy Happy Birthday Aunt Margaret! We can’t wait for you to come visit next week.

Lounging Around

2010-06-04T18:13:00.001-07:00

We will be doing a lot of lounging around this weekend. And enjoying the great outdoors.

Harvesting vegetables in on the list too.We will also be running by Alley Fest in Longview to support my sister and her gorgeous handmade flowers.

Hope you find some time to lounge around as well!

It was posh. Period.

2010-06-03T19:41:00.001-07:00

Every girl needs a girl friend that she can just let loose with and enjoy the finer things in life. Like a spa getaway.

Meet Adrianne.The first time I met Adrianne, I was a new believer in Christ in college and I was at her house with her roommate, Kate. We exchanged a few words and she continued on her way, catching the rhythm to her dance tunes as she hopped on her treadmill that was inconveniently located right next to the couch that I was sitting on. It was the first time that I had really interacted with Christians that actually cared about their faith and incorporated it into their daily lives. Such were she and Kate, and I found them pleasantly odd, but cool. Kate and I sat on the couch after a stroll to her apartment following classes, and as Adrianne paced on her treadmill, Kate asked if I wanted to pray with her. Aloud. This was strange to me as I grew up in a pretty liturgical church where we didn’t really pray with others unless it was before a meal. But I went with it. I also found Adrianne to be very interesting for someone who proclaimed to be a Christian. She didn’t seem uptight and legalistic, in fact, she had just finished an internship with MTV in New York. So I also sheepishly accepted her wink and smile as she scurried out the door, late to her marketing class on West Campus. And as she hurried out, she handed me a little booklet that said, “Have you made the wonderful discovery of a Spirit-filled life?”

Why no. No I hadn’t. But I am glad I did- and thanks to Kate and Adrianne, my life would never be the same.

Fast forward twelve years.

You can imagine my excitement when the lady that taught me how to walk with the Lord, and allowed me to be her matron of honor a month after she was my maid of honor, and happened to have her two kids at the same time I had my first two kids, asked me to hang out with her for a relaxing weekend in Dallas- I WAS ELATED! Heck yes, I want to hang out with her and pray with her and learn from her and fine dine with her and go to the pool with her and enjoy spa treatments away from my darling children with her. Heck yes!

We stayed at The Joule Hotel in Downtown Dallas and it was super posh. The collage above shows the lobby, the street view and the standard room The two pictures on the right are from their night club that we hit at 8 pm. Needless to say we were the only ones there! We also got to check out the penthouse suite. This is the picture of the private deck and the Dallas skyline. The penthouse suite has hosted some real celebs, Martin Scorsese, Michael Jordan and Britney Spears. Lovely as it was, we decided not to upgrade to the suite after we heard that Britney stayed there!

The first night we went to the Dallas Fish Market and it was awesome. I love any chance I get to have great sushi.

The next day we slept until 10:30. 10:30 people. This is a record for me- I probably haven’t slept that late since before I was pregnant with Avery. When we woke up, we opted against the $33.00 bowl of Wheaties from room service and headed to the Urban Market and Cafe for French toast, eggs and bacon. There happened to be a Starbucks on the way. I love it when life just works out.

Later we had massages and then we dropped by the pool. It wasn’t much of a drop, since it is on the 10th floor of The Joule and a portion of the pool is hanging over Main Street. It boasted deluxe cabanas, gorgeous views and superior poolside service complete with cool, wet towels and frozen grapes.

This is the view from the pool. Crazy.We were starving after basking at the pool for hours on end, so we hit the Dallas Chop House for dinner. Oh. My. Word. That place is so amazingly delicious. Bacon wrapped prawns on a bed of jalapeño jack grits and a steak that was cooked to absolute perfection topped with Maytag blue cheese infused butter. So good. We thought about checking out the night life, but since it was only 8:30 and we were both stuffed and exhausted from our utterly relaxing day, we decided to put on our pajamas and watch Dear John on pay per view from the luxury of our posh beds! God is so good and I am so very thankful for the blessing of friendship and someone to share fancy weekends with!

While We Were Being Domestic

2010-05-26T07:12:00.001-07:00

Making homemade blackberry cobbler,

From just picked wild blackberries,

Learning how to embroider,

And dancing around in our big boots.

While we were being domestic, McClaine was wrestling baby alligators

For more Wordful Wednesday, hop on over to Angie’s blog

LOST in the Details

2010-05-24T13:05:00.001-07:00

*Spoiler Alert*

We pulled a marathon last night, the first one since Caleb and I started the LOST series three years ago when we jumped in late through Netflix. Our DVR’d series finale went into the wee hours as we awaited the fate of Jack, Kate, Hugo, Sawyer, John Locke and the other characters of that crazy and captivating series. You just don’t think about waking up at 6:30, changing diapers and cooking breakfast when the island you have been captivated by is falling into the ocean. It’s hard not to get lost in the details- they were abundant and there were some themes that just couldn’t be overlooked.

Though this great show was by no means an accurate depiction of the Truth found in scripture about good and evil, man and his desire to find peace, and the inevitable question of what happens after we die here on earth, I loved the spiritual undertones in this series. Here are a couple details that hold True in both LOST and the Bible.

Everyone is broken and flawed- The con man, the runaway convict, they interrogator, the pregnant mom out of wedlock, the rock star with an addiction, the surgeon desperately seeking approval- they made it quite clear that everyone that boarded Oceanic 815 was incomplete and struggling in their life. The truth is, there was no one on that flight, and no one ever that existed that is without sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
People want to know what is beyond this world and they want purpose- Why? Why am I here? Why were they on the island? Why were they chosen? What was their purpose on the island? The supernatural was emphasized on the island, but it is here in this world that we live in. Unfortunately it all too often is buried with material possessions, self-ambition and pride, but it is here. And people feel it. When all the stuff doesn’t satisfy, when all the gain and fortune and fame are not enough, people long for more. God designed it that way, He designed us to have an eternal longing for HIM! “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
There is Good and Evil- The black smoke monster showed the power of evil and devastation in a very vivid way- it would just storm in and freakin’ knock people around! Though Satan occasionally works like this, he is much more deceitful and heinous. I can’t imagine that the people on the island ever felt at peace and secure, they knew that evil was glooming around every tree branch. We should also be alert, knowing there is evil in the world we live in, and often times it doesn’t appear as a crazed polar bear on a tropical island. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Beyond this life- I loved how the last episode of LOST coalesced into one great reunion. I loved the awakenings that each of them had as they realized who they were, who the others were and what their purposes were. There was something awesome and ethereal when each person was awakened through the flash. It just resonated deep within, thinking of the powerful transformation when someone believes in Christ and becomes a new creation. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

There was also that scene, that in my opinion, was devastatingly lacking as far as a true picture of eternity. That final scene of all of them in the church and the great light streaming in. I imagine that hanging out in that church with Claire, Charlie and listening to Driveshaft singing, “You are everybody,” over and over might get a little monotonous - certainly there will be music, a great reunion, and a brilliant light (Rev 21:23), but I think there will be so much more(Rev 21 & 22). Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven, gives a really detailed investigation into the Biblical picture of Heaven.

And you don’t even have to survive a plane crash- praise God for that! Everyone on that plane came from a broken and incomplete life, and everyone needed to be fixed, just as is true in reality. The writers of LOST illustrated that through this plane crash and the journey on the island, one would be made whole. What a sad situation for the millions watching LOST, who want the same end- completeness, forgiveness, purpose, reconciliation, eternity and justice for evil, but don’t have the option of boarding a crash-bound plane departing from Australia. Praise God that the author of REAL life has designed a much simpler and a FREE means to that same end- through Jesus! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17 What a relief that God has provided a means to completeness, forgiveness, purpose and eternity by simply believing in Jesus!

The Dharma Initiative baffles me, but I would gladly answer questions you have about how you can receive eternal life through Christ!

Weekends Away Are Good

2010-05-19T14:10:00.001-07:00

There’s no doubt I missed the kids and my husband while I was at the Renegade Craft Festival and Junking at some hot spots in Austin. But let me tell you, Chuy’s is super delicious when you don’t have to feed a bunch of toddlers and can indulge on salsa and chili rellenos while they are still hot. And I have yet to put up pictures of the wonderful things that caught my eye while away, I just can’t find the time to edit pictures when this is right outside.

Not really the slugs, but the brambles of berries that are fun to pick and good to eat.Caleb told me that he took the kids out to pick blackberries and mulberries this weekend and collected almost a gallon of them. Then after they consumed more than half, he started to make jam with the rest. So after a very relaxing weekend that was free of diapers changing and nose wiping, I was very motivated to get out in the brambles myself.

This tree in our driveway is miraculous to me. I look at these gorgeous flowers on this tree, and the kids and I give thanks and praise to God for the wonder of His creation. I think it is called the Aster Florette Champagne Tree.

We also have some raspberries beginning to show up in our garden, just enough for Avery to eat three. She liked them just fine! Lavender is shooting up by the foot high basil.

Grapes are growing.

And squash is blossoming. I love love love the summer!

Renegade

2010-05-14T06:10:00.001-07:00

Today I am packing ONE bag and leaving behind pack and plays, strollers, diaper bag (not that I have used a diaper bag for years, but I will be removing all diapers and wipes and paci’s from my purse), four children, three dogs, a cat, six chickens, a washing machine, a stove, a dishwasher and a wonderful husband who has agreed to tend to all the aforementioned. (Thanks Caleb, I love you sooo much. Smooch smooch!)

I feel like such a RENEGADE. def- an individual who rejects lawful or conventional behavior.

It has been six years since I have left all responsibility and children behind and had a little time to myself. Six years. So this weekend does seem so unconventional to me.

My mother-in-law and sister-in-law and I are heading to Austin this weekend for the Renegade Craft Fair. I am sooooo excited to see this awesome Etsy party come to life right before my eyes.

And while I am so looking forward to taking a trip with no children in tow, part of me is just a teeny bit sad to leave them behind. Heaven forbid Reecey starts walking while I am away! She has been on the verge for a couple of days now and is slowly letting go of her inhibitions and the furniture to take 3, 4, 5 steps! I just don’t want to miss a minute of them growing up.

But then again, maybe just one weekend away will be okay. Wait for me Reece, don’t you start walking without me here to see!

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

2010-05-13T10:31:00.001-07:00

How does your garden grow?With radishes and zinnias and tomatoes all in a row

Clearly, Mary has nothing on Opa (my father-in-law, but better known by six little munchkins as “Opa”)

With lettuce, cabbage and squash galore…

Climbing spinach, jalapeño peppers and moreBells and okra, to name a few

Strawberries, blackberries and herbs, too!

The garden is gorgeous and flavorful! Thanks Opa for your hard work, we are loving the produce!

Blessed To Be A Mommy

2010-05-09T14:25:00.001-07:00

Blessings to all the mommies

out there!

She’s Chowin’ Down On The Cat Chow

2010-05-05T20:23:00.001-07:00

Life is in FULL BLOOM around here.

If you could just breathe them in.

But not this little boy. Boys are so stinky when they play outside.

So, what we do around these parts is play all day in our pajamas.

Pajamas and boots. Because we live in the sticks and WE CAN.

Speaking of living in the sticks, McClaine has gotten pretty comfortable with peeing in the backyard on trees and such.

No biggie, ‘cause we live in the sticks.

Until I go to pick the kids up at Mother’s Day Out and his teacher sheepishly informs me that he peed on the playground.

Sigh.

He’s got a long way until he fits into the the big boots of his daddy and learns when to properly pee in the sticks.

~~Here are a couple of mommy things that I wanted to share~~

First of all, the kids are doing well taking on a little bit of responsibility around here. We let them feed the cat and dogs every night, and tonight I made the great discovery of why they fight over who gets to feed the cat. It’s not that kitty kitty is particularly amicable- the one-eyed Kitzel can be down-right mean.

It’s just that the cat food taste better than the dog food. When I walked around the corner tonight to check on Audrey feeding the cat, I found her chowin’ down on the cat chow.

Yum.

When she later had a melt-down because I wouldn’t let her feast on the fancy feast, she sat on the porch and pouted while I brought the other kids inside. Then she really lost it, “Mommy! Don’t leave me! Pwwwweaze don’t leave me out here.”

I would never.

My heart breaks a little anytime I hear a mom desperately trying to get her child to come, “Do you want me to leave you here? I will. I’m leaving. Bye-bye.”

And a sweet reminder of the Lord’s mercy floods over my mommy heart.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8 (italics mine)

What a blessing as a mother to be able to slightly emulate that great, protective love that God shows to His people who are in and out of temper tantrums all the time!

So when my darlings refuse to come when I call them, and they do, I sweetly remind them that I will never leave them, but it is time to go.
So they can come with me, or I can take them.
But I will never leave them, even if their screaming is laced with cat food breath.

Faith According to Larry, Curly and Moe

2010-04-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

Sweet, heartfelt prayers out of the mouth of Audrey is about one of the cutest and loveliest things a mama (or in this case, daddy) has ever heard.

The other night when Caleb was praying with the kids, Audrey really got into it, praying for Pa-two (my dad who is having some health issues), thanking the Lord that her mommy’s eye is better, praying for McClaine’s poison ivy and on and on. And then she ended the prayer with “bee eye bicky bye bo boo.”

Proper theology straight from the mouths of some of her favorites.

McClaine is also showing that the gospel message may even be necessary for Pablo, Tyrone and Uniqua. When I was putting him to bed last night he expressed his love for me, for his daddy and sisters and Oma and Opa and Pa-two and Nana. And then he said, “who else loves me the most?”

As a mom who desires for my children to know the great love of God that was demonstrated through Jesus’ death on the cross, I reply appropriately, “God loves you the most. And do you know why?”

He answered right on key, “because He sent Jesus and he died on the cross.”

“That’s right McClaine! And do you know why He died on the cross?”

And this is the end of the attention span of my three year old.

“Mom, on the Backyardigans… and they went to Mars. And those clowns were shooted out of canons. Ha Ha Ha, that was sooooo funny.”

We’ll work toward spiritual maturity.

Avery, on the other hand showed great maturity when she took some time out of the day to pray for me.

Life gets a little crazy around here and I need prayer. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed that I have a hard time praying for myself, trying to manage this:

Reece trying to climb on every piece of furniture and attempting to walk, Avery and McClaine learning the fine art of negotiating, conflict resolution and playing nice, Audrey getting a little ahead of herself and thinking she can do all that her big brother and sister can do… not to mention a mess load of dirty diapers, sippy cup explosions, burned fish sticks, laundry galore and dishes abundant. I find myself struggling to operate in the Spirit. Short-fused. Tired. Impatient. Frustrated.

And after I cut short Avery’s craft project because I am about to lose it, I look into her discouraged eyes and ask her to pray for me. That I would have more patience. That God would give me strength and kindness and love. That I wouldn’t get upset because McClaine spilled chocolate milk on the floor and then used a towel to splash paint the rest of the kitchen.

She did. She just stopped what she was doing and put her hand on me and prayed right there. “Lord, I pray that you would give my mom patience and help her to love you and be a good mommy.”

It changed my day.

Bee eye bicky bye bee eye bo bicky bye bo boo, bee bicky bye bo boo.

Something’s Missing (besides regular blog posts)

2010-04-25T18:38:00.001-07:00

I find myself with less time to post about all of the wonderful things that are happening around here.

Avery finds herself with one less tooth in her mouth. Avery is growing up right before my very eyes.

Tooth fairies and Kindergarten Round-up.

Sigh. Reminders of how quickly life passes.

When I took Avery for round-up, Ms. Lowery did her assessments.

She looked right at her and said, “you know, I had your daddy in kindergarten. And your Auntie Leigh, and Auntie Margaret… AND my husband taught your GRANDPA!”

I wonder if she will be around to tell Avery’s daughter the same thing.

Then she said, “She got 100%! We will take her right now in kindergarten!”

Oh no you don’t! Not one day too soon.

I am trying to find that perfect balance of living in the moment, surviving the onslaught of duties that come with being a mother of small kids,
and capturing the memories here in this virtual place.

So here are a couple of those gems from the week.

How much does Reecey love her great-granny’s earrings?

These women are all about accessories.

Let’s take a close-up look at this precious hair clip that Leigh made for Reece? The leaves on it are vintage.

Now let’s take a close-up look at this baby that Leigh made. He is my edible, scrumptious nephew Zane.

Granny is really good at holding great-grandbabies. Good thing, because she has six of them!

She also gave Caleb a jar of sourdough starter and taught him how to make her homemade yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls.

I was not the only one dancing for joy over the pure bliss of homemade cinnamon rolls!

McClaine has yet to find a butterfly to catch with this net. So he is opting to make it into a sweet mask/weapon.
When he shakes his head from side to side, the pole swings in a path of destruction.

Look out, Wyatt! McClaine’s got Reece’s back if you mess with her toy too long!

Cooped Up

2010-04-18T19:53:00.001-07:00

These little guys have been cooped up in this little canary cage.

Now their “proper” coop is complete.

For the life of me, I can’t believe that I share a plot of land with a bunch of chickens.

I have been terrified of birds since I was a little girl, and now, we have them as pets.

I am trying to be a big girl about it, for the sake of my children and all the lovely yard eggs that will make wonderful omelettes in due time.

But I swear, if they so much as look at me with those beady little eyes, I will wring their necks and cook them up in a tortilla soup.

Rogie will protect me. He is just dying for some winner winner chicken dinner.

The garden received a nice shower for most of the day today- the perfect shower for newly planted crops.We had some of our great friends over yesterday for hamburgers.

As much as I love them, I was only able to capture a couple of pictures of them.

Something about great fellowship- makes you want to put down your camera and etch the memories deep in your heart!

Love you, Tiff, Shaun, CarolAnn and all those cute little kids of yours!

Backwoods Breakdown

2010-04-12T19:20:00.001-07:00

I nearly had a breakdown today.

McClaine snuck into my bed at the crack of dawn, snuggled up, snoozed and then proceeded to pee all over me and the bed. So I got up and changed the sheets, bathed him and then spent the next hour playing a short order cook for four children. And dressing them, and playing out in the yard, and washing sheets, and catching up on other laundry and washing dishes. It’s all good and fun, but totally exhausting. So by lunch I am tuckered out. Add the symphony of crying in the background and I find myself constantly begging the Lord for mercy and endurance and love and patience.

I don’t know what it is about a five year old, a three year old, a two year old and a one year old alternating screaming and whining ALL the live long day, but it wears me out.

Reece has mastered the technique of shrill screaming to get my attention. For everything.

One lil’ one was constipated and cried for 45 minutes until the suppository kicked in.

And for those of you who have not had to administer a suppository to a toddler, you just can’t relate with my pain.

And don’t even ask me why I gave Reece her dinner in a glass bowl tonight. I must have been delirious to think that it would stay on her tray and not be thrown to the ground and shatter in a million pieces.

*Sigh*

I bet you would rather I Breakdown our Backwoods Weekend than have a Backwoods Breakdown.

We worked on the garden all weekend. Rather, they did- weeding, tilling, planting, watering.

The thick, yellow pollen induces wheezing and sneezing in me, so I mostly spent the weekend changing out clothes for the summer! I really love switching out clothes, there’s something wonderful about pulling out that huge tub and looking through the memorable outfits. By the way, I really don’t recall putting clothes away in such sad shape. Do spit-up stains get darker while in storage?

*Robin, are you reading this? Thanks so much for the loads of hand-me-downs for the girls! Do you recognize any of the clothes in these pictures?*

Tangent.

The Backwoods are great for swinging high.

McClaine was down-right heartbroken that he couldn’t bring his new pet to bed with him.

Poor guy, toads just don’t belong in the house.

How cool is it that Caleb is teaching himself how to play the violin/fiddle?

Who ever thought that this Backwoods boy would teach himself Amazing Grace and Tennessee Waltz through YouTube videos on his iPhone?

He’s such a refined and technologically savvy hick!

Because Most of You are Outside

2010-04-09T20:44:00.001-07:00

And not inside reading blogs, I thought I would go ahead and post these Easter Pictures.

So my mommy can see how much my face resembles an Easter Egg one week after I broke a tree branch with my face.

And so she can see how cute her grandkids are hunting eggs!

Thanks for having us out, Granny and Gramps, We love you!

It was a blessing to hear Caleb’s recollection of hunting eggs in this same yard when he was a boy,
and now he is hiding them for his kids. So cute!

And here’s a couple cute pictures of cousin Wyatt for you, Auntie Leigh!

This is why…

2010-04-07T18:05:00.001-07:00

Four pair of big-girl panties wet through in one day, plus one pair of sheets from my bed.

Girlfriend is adding to my 12 loads of laundry that I have done in the past three days with her potty training.

She peed twice on the floor and once in Caleb’s boot and once on my bed.

Then she knocked a bowl of applesauce all over the floor.

And I am just a little tired because my left nostril still hurts and I can’t breathe unless I use my finger to pull my cheek up toward the outer corner of my eye, which is hard to do when you are sleeping. So I don’t.

Which makes the screaming matches between all four children a little less tolerable.

These are the days when venting just doesn’t cut it and I feel wholly incapable of the purpose that God has set before me.

This is why you haven’t heard from me.

Because I have needed to hear from Him.

Truth about who I am and how He has equipped me for this amazing, eternally significant purpose.

“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor 15:57-58

Remembrance and McFace

2010-04-02T05:42:00.001-07:00

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

~I am so thankful for the wonderful reminders of Christ’s death and resurrection that I have encountered this week.

~I am planning on making these with my kids on Saturday night to help them better understand what we are remembering this Holy Week.

~What are some of your favorite activities to teach your children about the Easter Season?

~Sorry for the lack of fluidity in this post. It is what a mother of young kids does- shifts from important and eternal to random.

~I have been wanting to rename my blog for months now. I can’t come up with a name.
There’s something about having “White” for a last name that seems kind of limiting. For example, Caleb wanted to name his business, “White Financial Services.”

Nope. That just doesn’t sound very PC and Equal Opportunity.

Then he suggested that I name my blog, “Whites in the Sticks.” You know, because we are all backwoods around here.

So I settled for “Life in the Sticks,” and made this banner.

Would anyone like to guess why McClaine’s head is so big? It is because I am just learning how to switch faces in Photoshop, and I am struggling.

Maybe I should name my blog “McFace”.

Or maybe I should just keep practicing and be satisfied that I have ONE photo in my whole collection with all four of my children looking at the camera!

~I pray that you and your family would have a blessed Easter weekend as you remember the great gift of God through His Son.

~I also pray that for those of you who don’t know the Lord, that your hearts and minds would be transformed by believing that Christ died for the sins of the world.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5