In the last couple months...

Isaiah has been growing and developing by leaps and bounds. Here are just a few of his firsts.

Grabs his sweet little toes at 5 months.
Sits in his new high chair at 5 months.
Gets up on all fours at 5 1/2 months.
First two teeth at 5 1/2 months.
Sits and crawls at 6 1/2 months.
And for some reason he loves to slap the tops of his hands when he's excited.

All these new things are so precious and such a delight to witness. And even though I'm sad to see him grow up so fast, I am also so grateful that he is so healthy and happy. Each new stage has it's fun things and I really wouldn't want to have to have it any other way.

Simple Pleasures

Sometimes it's the simplest of things that bring me the most joy and contentment.

I am finding so many little pleasures throughout these last few days and thought I would just make up a small list of them here to remind me of the peace that can be found in quiet and basic homemaking activities.

-listening to jazz and many other favorites as I putter about my home.

-folding laundry warm from the dryer.

-Exciting conversations with dear friends about all the new things we are learning.

-Lighting a candle while reading to my children.

- Vegetables grown local, purchased at the Farmer's Market.

- Savory, pure steaks from grass fed, organic beef barbecued to perfection... a treat for him on Father's Day.

-Being able to provide whole, real, often organic foods to my family. And having them say, "Mmm... this is GOOD, Mom!"

-Opening the fridge and pantry and seeing them full with nature's gifts, His Provision.

-Seeing the bread dough rise to perfection.

-Kneading that dough by hand.

-The aroma of baking bread that fills the house.

-Eating this again for lunch.

-Preparing a wholesome vegetable soup which now simmers in the crock pot.

-ridding our homes and our bodies of toxins and packaged, processed and refined "foods".

- having the energy to do my work as a mother and housewife and to find excitement in it.

There are so many more things that I could list, I am just so thankful and can think of so many things right now that bring a smile to my face, but I will stop here. What are some of your favorite pleasures today?

And I am in Love.

My heart is full, overflowing,
basking in moments,
tender pockets of time,
strung together throughout
the quiet, simple days of my life.

When three small boys
snuggle in close
cheeks resting on shoulders
of one next to them.
Anticipating, imagination kindled with
words I read from classic books.
Entreating voices,
"Just one more chapter!"

When I snuggle in close
and my cheek rests
on muscled shoulder
after long day apart
And when his fingers
gentle, but strong,
travel up and down my back
during slow hug hello

I close my eyes, smile,
breath deep heart swells
And I am in love
with this life, these children,
this husband, His Grace

****

Just thinking about Valentine's Day and all the thoughts of love it brings with it and how I am so blessed to be able to celebrate life and love with those special lives in my home. Those ones I hold close to me each day of the year. May I never forget or take for granted the beauty and treasure of what I have.
May your February 14th be filled to overflowing with love that continues all year. Enjoy your Valentines!
Instructions for the Valentine Heart Garland

In all things...

"Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I five to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" John 14:27 Amplified Bible


"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1Thes.16-18 NIV


And so i give thanks:

For joy over new life within,
For peace that He has given,
For His Word that chases away fear,
For quiet hope in the Lord
And for faith that His promises are true.

For health and strength,
For beauty in the every day,
Streaks of crimson against morning sky,
Little boy voices talking together, playing contentedly,
The opportunity to raise these young ones for the kingdom,
For worship music in the home that calms the soul,
And for the ability to learn new things.

So many endless gifts bestowed upon us, i am humbled by His grace.

I'm Seeing... Noticing...

The sun shone brightly that whole Sunday afternoon, so

bundled up against cold wind, camera in hand, I headed out unto the prairie to see what I could see...


...to find beauty in nature and to praise God in the beauty.

As I walked... and looked... and listened, I kept sensing His Word from within,

"The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands" Ps. 19:1

From the icy patches of frozen crystals hovering upon golden strands...

...to the skies of blue where the winds stretch clouds across the expanse like lengths of white cotton candy.

I see.

When I close my eyes and face the wind,
ice cold against rosy cheeks,
and I lift my head to catch rays of light...

I feel...

He is here... the whole earth is filled with his glory.

Wandering over drifts of snow, hardened into icy mounds six ... even 8 feet, at times... above the ground, I am amazed and in awe of the way the wind has sculpted these flakes into different waves of beauty white.

I stop often and gaze far out into the open...

across the fields to the horizon, marveling

at the freedom these wide spaces allow me to feel...


... then down at my feet where goose down feather is captured amongst the tangle of matted grass.

I peer close, upon my knees, to see in detail the soft white... the movement

as it struggles to escape.


I freeze the moment within my lens, then pick it up and let it fly on wings of wind

for seconds in time before it drifts again to ground below.

That little burst of flight causes my breath to catch...

so much like I feel right now.

Outside, alone...

in the silence, wind and sunlight.

I love this...

...this seeing which adds so much depth to my days.

I'm seeing things along this walk that I have passed many times...

but for the first time I am noticing.

Two perfect rows of trees.

The round of barbed wire, forgotten under grasses grown tall.

A weathered barn, framed by branches stark against the winter sky.

The rusted red chipped paint of bygone days.

And I thank my God for this opportunity to open my eyes and take in the wonder that surrounds in simple every day things.

I need not go far... to places unknown, for he has provided in every place, in every adult and child, in every sense...

beauty.

:::::

Related posts:

Laure's "The 9 o'clock evening hour"
L.L. Barkat "writer must see"

Gratituesday

I am thankful:

1. for warmer weather yesterday so that the boys were able to go play outside together.

2. for sunshine on my shoulders as I tidied up the front porch.

3. for the sound of wind chimes through my bedroom window.

4. for the sparkle of snow when the sunlight gleams on it.

5. for seeing the beauty of the full moon casting it's glow upon drifts of white.

6. for unexpected meals brought over from friends.

7. for warm hugs from my beloved just when I need them most.

8. and for his compliment of "you look nice" as I'm putting dinner on the table yesterday evening.

9. for the happy sounds of Marcus whistling while he plays.

10 for my dear loving friend, a cup of tea, and warm conversation.

11. that Jayden is such a willing little worker... eager to keep his room neat and organized.

12. that Allan says "I love you, too, Momma" to me so many times a day, whether I say it to him first, or not!

13. for the cuteness of his little boy talk... especially that he says, "Huh, Mom?", after almost everything he says to me.

14. And for this wonderful award, given to me by my sweet friend Rebekah. If you have never stopped by her blog, please do so! It is called Rebekah's Beautiful Day... and it's just that, BEAUTIFUL!

So, this award is called the Lemonade Award and it is for blogs which have great attitude and/or gratitude.

Thank you so much for this and I'll try my best to live up to it as much as possible! : )

I would like to pass on this award to some of my favorite blogs that have these qualities...

1. White Oak Lane
2. Momma Bug's Blog
3. A different Drum
4. Such Things
5. Useful or Beautiful

Be sure to pass these on to whomever you wish (up to 10 people) and let them know you've done so! Enjoy your day!

*****

Heavenly Homemakers is hosting gratituesday and its the first time I've joined. If you want to read more, just check out their blog! : )

*****

1000 gifts list #'s 81-95

On a Quiet Evening Walk

No, this is not me though I wish it was... the streets where I live are not as beautifully treed. I really like this image, though, because this is what I do on winter evenings... I go out by myself for a walk in the cold.

Pondering His Goodness while out this evening and Thanking Him:

65. For the awesome expanse of starry skies above.

66. For the clearness of the Big Dipper.

67. For icy cheeks.

68. For the feel of fresh cold air in my lungs.

69. For the ability to take deep breaths.

70. For health that allows my to be out walking on nights like this.

71. For the bright colored Christmas lights that light up the neighborhood.

72. For the glow through the windows of trees lit within.

73. For people who leave the blinds open while they gather
around the table to eat so that I, who am walking by, can see
the beauty and loveliness of "family".

74. For the warm coat that my dear man bought me last winter which withstands temperatures of 40 below quite tolerably well.

75. For the delight that my children show me when I come back
into the house after only twenty minutes of being gone.
"Mommy, you're home! I missed you, Mom!"

76. For the warmth pouring from our fireplace that warms me when I come in.

77. And for the warmth of loved ones surrounding me.

78. For my DH who so generously tucks the boys into bed each evening.

79. And that he takes the time to pray with them and talk with them before turning out the light.

80. For a nice slow Saturday of being home... together as a family.

*****

In the Good and the Bad

"At all times and for everything

giving thanks

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

to God the Father" Ephesians 5:20

I am finding it easy to thank God for what I consider to be good things in my life and I know that's what He wants... That we acknowledge that we know all blessings come from Him and that we thank Him for it. But how about the times that we consider things to be not so good? The bad times. There have been a few tough things in our lives right now and I want to learn how to thank him in everything... to learn to see the good in everything and when there is just no good that I can see, to thank Him anyway, because He is in control no matter what.

So here are a few of "the bad" things that I am thankful for:

The Bad: This mess on our driveway of construction materials ... The Good: Shows that I have a hardworking husband who cares so much about our financial future that he took on this huge project of bringing in a house and renovating it from top to bottom in the hopes of making a good profit on it. The Bad: Said house is still not sold!... The Good: This has taught us some major lessons in trusting God for his perfect timing and for His provision in our lives while the finances are tight.

The Bad: Longing for another child and not having that longing fullfilled... The Good: Again, learning to trust in Him for His perfect timing. And thanking Him for the three wonderful boy blessings that He has already so lavishly bestowed upon us.

And on a lighter note: )

The Bad: Piles of Dirty Laundry needing to be washed: The Good: That I have 3 messy, happy boys and a large yard where they can run and play and get dirty.

The Bad: A stack of worn towels... The Good: We have clean water to bathe in daily, a nice bathroom and shower and at least we have towels! Also, a washing machine and dryer that are probably the culprits of this but I'm sure thankful I have them!

The Bad: Holes discovered in the knees of boy pants while folding laundry... The Good: That said boys have the energy and health to be so rambunctious.

The Bad: The sometimes grating sound of stumbling fingers over piano keys... The Good: That He has given us music and the sense of hearing to enjoy it. That the boys are so eager to learn new songs. That we have this beautiful old piano to practice on.

The Bad: Sticky fingerprints that show up so easily on my red cabinet doors... The Good: That there are little fingers in this home that put them there. That we actually have cabinets to put our food in. That we actually have food that causes the sticky fingerprints and that I got the red kitchen I've always wanted.

Gift List #'s 48 to 64

Special Moments

Continuing gratitude:
36. For the view from my bedroom window this bright November morning.
37. For the mature trees on our yard that provide privacy
and a place for the children to climb and play.

38. For quiet moments with Allan when he comes to me for a cuddle.
39. That it happens often.
40. That he sucks his thumb when he sees me and is planning on coming to sit on my lap. It's like he associates me with comfort and I love that.
41. For the chair that I moved by the window so that the winter sunlight could fall in on whoever sits there... usually me when I am cross stitching or reading or just relaxing with my kiddos.

42. Sunlight falling on His words that give me strength for the day. Psalm 145 and 147 are really helping me lately.
43. The rocking chair in my room where I can come for moments of peace and quiet.

44. My children playing outside in the sunshine this morning.

45. The amazing warm weather that we have been having off and on this November. Each warm day has been a blessed surprise, so unusual for this time of year.

46. Sheets hanging on the line, flapping in the breeze, for what will most likely be the last time this year.

47. Ice skating with Jayden this afternoon. Just me and him... special time together.

I joined the Gratitude Community and will

be continuing my 1000 gift list that

I started a few months back,

(listed to 35 and so will continue from there)

cultivating a heart of thankfulness to my Lord.

As Ann says "Let's Give Thanks to Him who

Gives and Gives and GIVES!"

Will you join us?

Pumpkin Carving

Continued list of Thanksgiving:

1. Pumpkin carving the other day.

2. Daddy helping the boys so that I could take pictures and sit back to enjoy the scene.

3. Marcus saying, "I'm so excited!" as he carves out the seeds for roasting.

4. The glow of anticipation on his face as he waits for Daddy's help with his pumpkin.

5. The happy glow of pumpkins lit in a row on the steps.


6. And a marshmallow roast with friends last night in our backyard.


7. The sound of children running and playing in the dark.


8. The swirl of light as flashlights held by little hands swoop back and forth in the night.


9. The warm glow of firelight and wonder on smiling faces as marshmallows turn golden at the ends of twigs pulled from trees.


10. Tired 6 yr. old saying in a soft sweet voice, "Can I go to bed now, Dad?" as friends pull out of the driveway.


11. A hug from said boy and a whisper of, " I had lots of special things today, eh mom?"



"Yes you did, my son, WE ALL DID."

"Gayety of Spirit"

“Seeing our Father in everything

makes life

one long thanksgiving
and gives a rest of heart,

and,

more than that,
a gayety of spirit, that is unspeakable.”

~ Hannah Whitall Smith

A walk to "the pond" for a picnic in the crisp cool air.

Jayden exclaiming over the table we found hidden in the trees where we decided to have our lunch, "This is so cool!"

Me enjoying the excitement on their faces as they run around looking for nature things to put in the paper bags that held their sandwiches.

A gentle reminder from this book to get out into nature more often.

Picture taken of my boys in 2007 at "the pond".

Inner wild

This beautiful book was given to me today by my dear Sister. (Thanks Tracy!)

It's all about encouraging us to live more outdoors. So I spent an hour outside this afternoon flipping through the pages and exclaiming over the GOR.GE.OUS pictures within.

I love love love it and am planning on reading it from cover to cover. There are so many good ideas within! I hope to share some with you all as I make my way through it.

For now, here is a quote that I found on one of the pages:

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life."

~Mary Oliver

Hmmm...

Row of Bouquets

These are making me HAPPY this morning. Who knew that a row of three mason jars filled with flowers could bring me so much pleasure to look upon?

They are just so bright and cheerful as they sit on my counter top... inspiring me to keep it clean and tidy. Remember the bouquet that my dear man gave to me about a week and a half ago? Well it was looking a little sad and so this is what I did with it.

And I am sure they are smiling at me now, just as much as I am smiling at them!
I'm not crazy or anything... Really. :D

On Being Together

I love the fact that I can be at home with my children.

Today was a wonderfully full day at home in which the boys and I tidied up together, read together, home schooled together and did yard work together. The weather was gorgeous and I am so thankful for being able to spend this time with my boys while they are still young and willing workers.

Just a cute thing that the boys did today:

We have a large patch of tall weeds that are dried up but still standing where our vegetable garden should have been (needless to say, our vegetable's didn't do very well this year *wink*) and the boys found out that they could make trails within them and little "huts" to live. They played for a longtime this afternoon amongst these weeds and I so enjoyed watching them with their spears/sticks hunting for "animals" in the "forest" and crouching together inside their abodes. *smile*

And who said weeds were "good for nothin'"?

Not my boys, obviously!

Day 14 Blessing

I got to spend the whole day at my sister's place organizing and redecorating. I absolutely love doing this sort of thing and am so thankful for the opportunity to bless her in this way. As a result, though, I am exhausted and am going to bed! :0

Busy day tomorrow... plan to do a bunch of yard work as "they" say the weather will be nice.

Have a good evening!

Family Treasures

I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart;

I will show forth (recount and tell a loud)

all your marvelous works and worderful deeds!

I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits;

I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

Psalm 9: 1&2 (Amplified Bible) For He is Good...

On Canadian Thanksgiving Day:

Thanking the Lord for our Heritage from Him (3 sons).

Thankgsgiving Sunday '08

After sunday morning worship we went home to enjoy turkey dinner with our dear friends, John-murdo and Debbie and their son, Samuel. We had a wonderful time of sweet fellowship together and when they went home at 5:30 we decided to go for a walk as we were not near hungry for supper.

So we bundled up the children and strolled down to the bird sanctuary to see what the geese where up to....

Allan checks out some rosy red rosehips.

I was so thrilled to get this shot. I've been wanting to try for this a long time. :)
Marcus finally knows how to ride a bike with training wheels! Yeah! (He's so proud.)
Beautiful blue-eyed boy. Marcus (4 3/4)
The moon and its reflection on the pond.

Allan takes a ride home in the crisp, cold dark on Daddy's shoulders.

I am so thankful for my health and that of my family that allows us to go out on walks like this in the chill of the evening. It is so special just to be together.

"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise unto him..."

Psalm 95:2