Rainy Day View

Thick gray clouds and a driving rain blew through our neck of the woods at noon today... just in time for us to feel cozy while eating lunch by lamplight. In a burst of musical chairs Little Brother seated me at Big Brother's table place which afforded me a fresh perspective. I love a new view as much as I love lunching with little people on a cozy, rainy day.

November Day

With the warmth of Thanksgiving behind us and the glow of Christmas not quite upon us, my feet reluctantly found the floor this morning. Carpool lines, backpacks, lunches, laundry... Getting the day started proves to be the hardest task; there is an energizing rhythm found in routines and patterns, in the mundane. The baby naps, dishes are washed, beds made, meals planned, grocery shopping {in the rain}, schoolwork. The day remains wet and gray... November chill... soon enough all will be bright.

God, My Hiding Place

You are my hiding place;
You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7

My Thanksgiving Bouquet

As you go through this day, look for tiny treasures strategically placed along the way. I lovingly go before you and plant little pleasures to brighten your day. Look carefully for them, and pluck them one by one. When you reach the end of the day, you will have gathered a lovely bouquet. Offer it up to Me with a grateful heart. Receive My Peace as you lie down to sleep, with thankful thoughts playing a lullaby in your mind. from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

And so, I add to my bouquet of thanks...

191. New tires on my car.

192. Sock feet sliding on smooth floors.

193. Wind, with showers of falling leaves.

194. Seeing what God is doing in the life of a friend.

195. Answered prayers, both large and small.

196. More sickness... Ephesians 5:20

197. A faster recovery than last time.

198. Listening to Baby's first happy coos each morning.

199. Sunlight on golden leaves.

200. Warm days for being outside, cool nights for being snug.

201. The lengths the professor went to retrieve Big Brother's remote controlled boat that was caught in the middle of a pond. He borrowed a canoe and a truck... in doing so he turned the week's biggest drama into the week's biggest adventure!

202. Watching the boys enjoy their grand adventure with dad.

203. A comical woodpecker pecking in our bird feeder.

204. Laughter.

205. Time to enjoy family.

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.

Psalm 75:1

She and Me... All Three and Me

captured by the professor

Weekend Moment

This was just one brief moment out of many from our weekend; it's simple, it's the five of us and I love it. What a joy it was to have my dear friend Rachel visiting with us for a few days, sharing life, love, and memories while creating and capturing simple, sweet moments.

King of the Nations

Who would not fear Thee, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Thy due! For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like Thee. Jeremiah 10:7
For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations. Psalm 22:18

She Reads

Brown Bear,
Brown Bear,
What do you see?


I see a Strawberrylooking at me!

Giving Thanks

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise...

181. Little Brother's quirky, jumpy jig when he's happy or excited.

182. A lunch of grilled chicken ranch sandwiches with my Rachel-friend.

183. Weekend house guests.

184. A fruitful conversation with the boys about Hebrews 13:15-16.

185. Kind words from a neighbor about how much the boys enjoy playing with each other.

186. The changing autumn leaves against a gray sky.

187. No classes next week for all three of my men.

188. How Baby flutters her lips while she sleeps peacefully.

189. The opportunity to purchase a quarter of a cow, thus filling our freezer with high quality meat.

190. A house that is being put back together after the roar of renovations.

A Wood Floor Glimpse

There will be dancing at our house this weekend; we'll push back the furniture and spin some records on the hi-fi... then we'll put you to work painting and installing trim!

Like Candy

When germs drop in uninvited, as they have done a lot lately, I bring clementines home by the crateful. They're packed with potassium, calcium, vitamin C, and fiber which are all good for ailing bodies, but the real reason that we eat them like candy is because they're just that sweet and delicious.

A Sneak Peek

The slate floor in the kitchen is finished and we are slowly piecing the room back together.


While the rest of the house is still in an uproar {we are mid-installation with the hardwoods!}, I'm happily rediscovering peaceful corners that I love.


And laundry, I am doing a lot of laundry, because, really, there is no such thing as an empty clothes basket when the washer and dryer have spent a week in the dining room completely disconnected!
But, oh, how we are loving our new floors; the mess and the chaos are completely worth it! There's more photos coming once we muddle ourselves out of the current dust and noise...

Our Helper

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever...

John 14:16

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 14:26

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words...

Romans 8:26

Mercies

This week I'm thankful for...

158. A few moments to lay down and rest.

159. Computer math drills for Big Brother... because I can't feed Sister, cook dinner, read aloud, and hold up flash cards all at the same time.

160. Baby's health when the rest of us were sick.

161. Eight hours of sleep.

162. Three healthy, full-term babies. This week a high school classmate's baby was born at only 26 weeks gestation; he's so tiny and they have such a long road ahead of them.


163. Sporadic middle-of-the-night feedings. Yes, they're hard but I'm thankful for a growing baby {juicy thighs!} and quiet cuddles.

164. Making it to church on Sunday after three weeks of staying home with the germy family members.

165. Our new kitchen floor.

166. A husband that chooses the right way even when it's the hard way.

167. The smell of woodsmoke.


168. Little Brother crawling into my lap so that we can read together.

169. A short-lived stomach bug.

170. Watching a yellow butterfly flutter around Little Brother's bright bicycle helmet.

171. The men and women who bravely serve to preserve our freedom.

172. A quick, easy, and inexpensive repair to our noisy, rattle-y heater.


173. A morning walk with all three.

174. Confusing struggles.

175. Exhaustion.

176. A burst of enthusiastic generosity from the boys.

177. Our noisy house filled with life and energy.


178. Warm, golden November days with open windows.
179. Creative at-home dinner ideas despite not having a functioning stove this week.
180. Laughing with Big Brother.
May your weekend be full of warmth and delight.May an anthem of praise and thanksgiving be ever on your lips.

Ten on Ten: November

It's time for the November edition of the Ten on Ten photo project! We are in the midst of installing new flooring throughout our entire house so things are messy and chaotic and very... not pretty, but this is real life and this is what my life looked like today.


Morning solitude.


Post-breakfast chaos in the midst of floor renovation chaos.


The refrigerator is in the living room, the washer and dryer are in the dining room, the stove is in the office... a quick assessment proves that there is no hope for finding order today.


Laundry collected to wash at my in-laws' house.


Ahhh, a bit of tidying and a lot of windex give the illusion of order.


A cheese sandwich for lunch because I desperately need to grocery shop.


One reason for the house chaos... a new slate floor in the kitchen.
The hardwood flooring for the rest of the house should be delivered tomorrow...
More chaos and noise to come!


Afternoon stroll.


Sacked out in the carpool line.


The shadows start to grow long. The day is nearly done.

November Days

Kitchen Floor Progress

The Lord is There

The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, 
The Lord is There.
Ezekiel 48:35

Bedside Water Glass in Morning Light

Quietly Thankful

This week I'm giving thanks with a grateful heart for...
142. Warm muffins, fall leaf butterflies, and a morning with Miss Brown Eyes.
143. Cozy scented fall candles.
144. Red leaves.
145. Chicken pie in an iron skillet on a damp, chilly night.
146. Needed antibiotics. How easily I forget that for many in the world it's a struggle, if not impossible, to get basic healing medicines.
147. Quiet mornings.
148. Conviction.
149. The humble, servant-heart of my mother-in-law who so faithfully calls and asks, "How can help? Which carpool line shall I navigate for you?"
150. The happy anticipation of Thanksgiving plans.
151. Watching him enter their world... in the tree house, playing space ships.
152. A day off from laundry.
153. Christmas music. I know it's early but I love it so.
154. The kind-hearted man at the barbershop who not only gave me a quarter but stepped outside and fed my parking meter when I didn't have any change.
155. A changed plan.
156. Soup from a friend.
157. A cold snap.

Sometimes...

Sometimes all is not right in his world. Sure, preschool was fun {and exhausting} but now mother won't allow a lunch of lemonade and candy corn or an afternoon video marathon. Melt down.
"It's time to lie down for a rest," I tell him. {Sometimes mother knows best.}
"I won't go to sweep," he replies with hot tears. {Sometimes all is not right in his world.}
"That's okay. Just lie down and listen to the soft music," I urge as I pull off shoes, because sometimes mother knows best.
Eyelids grow heavy. Peaceful sleep creeps in quickly and quietly.Yes, sometimes mother knows best, and sometimes all is right in his world.

Seven Months Old

{15 pounds, 0 ounces}
Even in the hard moments it's been seven months of bliss, Little Girl.We praise God for you.

Our Pumpkin...

Looking pretty in the evening light. And then we had fun carving it.
{Collage photos by the professor with the G11.}