Really. It's True.

...she's never watched a game show.

No, It's Me

While shuffling through some papers on our dining room table ( I do that a lot, always defying that "only handle a piece of paper once" advice), I came across this adorable drawing.

Me: Jedediah, did you draw this?

Jedediah, with a sheepish grin: Yeess.

Me: He's so cute! What's his name?

Jedediah: Jedediah

Me: Oh, so it's a self-portrait.

Jedediah: No, it's me.

First Day of The New School Year

The first lesson of the day was for me. It was a loud reminder from the Lord that I'm to make my plans and then surrender them to His. Sometimes our plans are the same. More often, they're not.

So, after a bit of a fight, I just took a deep breath, remembered the beauty and flexibility of teaching our children at home, and did the next thing.

Cap'n looks a bit scared, and Sarge looks like a Sarge.

And for a bit of FUN:

With love,

Trisha

Thankful Thursday~The Celebration

I'm thankful to celebrate ONE again. I'm thankful that I've learned my limits, to know that frozen pizza and store bought cupcakes have their place, too, in the midst of homemade and handcrafted and that what our children remember most is the atmosphere. Is it joyful or stressed?

I'm thankful for children who love to celebrate and who rejoice in the little things, who say "thank you" around the dinner table. I'm thankful for homemade pancakes and a baby who loved his balloons more than his gifts.

I'm thankful for fields of wildflowers and the color yellow. I'm thankful for cameras and buttercream frosting smeared on the tip of Sarge's nose. I'm thankful for the birthday cards and packages and birthday wishes and for the people in our lives who take the time to show they love us.

I'm thankful for the unexpected circumstances yesterday that reminded me of God's sovereignty. I'm thankful He's transforming my thinking so that I view disappointments as opportunities instead of roadblocks.

 

I'm thankful that every day the Lord lets me taste and see that He is good.

With love,
Trisha

Sarge Behind the Wheel

The Many Faces of Claire

The Inchworm and the Covenant

I left Elijah on our bed for a few minutes, making sure he wasn't near my book, 'cause books and drooling babies don't mix well. When I returned just a few minutes later, I discovered he had inchwormed (of course, that's a word) his way to The Presbyterian Doctrine of Children in the Covenant. How can you miss the beauty of THAT? I'm sure his smile was declaring, "Great book, Mom. I highly recommend it."

(C'mon, my credo friends, you can laugh at this, too.)

With love,
Trisha

Smashing and Dashing

...when your head grows to fit your driving cap, and all the ladies think you are simply smashing, and the gentlemen think you are dashing.

Happy Four Months, Sarge!

Tonight we sat around the table and shared with each other what we love about having Sarge in our family. The answers?

"chubby cheeks"
"his dimples"
"holding him"
"he's cuddly"
"the way his eyes light up when he sees you and you know he knows who you are"
"the reminder he is of God's goodness and mercy"

Before we know it, his fingerprints will be on the walls, and he'll be saying "Dada" and getting into his siblings' stuff. But for now, I'm thankful for every bit of babyhood that's still left, and I'm determined to savor every minute of it.

With love,
Trisha

Notes from Home~12/14/12

 It's been hard to focus on lessons this week, especially when I have more pressing things to do, like figure out how to capture the lights on our Christmas tree. After I tried at least 50 times, my Beloved got it right. I discovered that even with step-by-step tutorials using the same camera I own, I still have to tweak the settings. But, isn't it pretty?

 He's the first. Out of nine precious blessings here on earth, Elijah is the first baby to just fall asleep like this, no rocking or nursing required. I've heard about this phenomenon, but now I've seen it for myself. Perhaps it makes life a bit easier, but easier isn't always better, and I have not one single regret about those many hours I've rocked and nursed my babies to sleep.

 It's official. Sarge is a thumb-sucker. My thoughts on this development? No comment.

 When some of the children and I got home yesterday from errands, this is what greeted us. Cap'n threw quite the fit about going down for a nap, and then later decided he could resist the sandman no longer. What you don't see is how he fell through the chair (it needs repairs), and then, when trying to get up, fell backwards into the cabinet doors and had one of those fall on him (because it needs repairs). Quite the rude awakening in a construction zone. :)

 In happier moments, Cap'n was decked out in snow gear... at night. He couldn't understand we were still "waiting" for the snow. But, it looks like snow play is in the forecast for today.

 I love desert sunsets. Isn't this amazing?

Isn't this wonderful? World Market. 28.00 with coupon. Perfect for the guys' room.

A friend had the great idea of taking a picture of your children on the 12th. We opted for a group shot and were able to take this at 12:12 p.m. :) Yes, Cap'n would have preferred looking for candy canes on the Christmas tree...

Right now, the snow is coming down harder. The older boys and Mountain Man are off to see The Hobbit, and and I hope to tackle projects around here and finish lessons in between the Littles' winter wonderland play sessions.

Have a beautiful weekend!

"Like wines on the lees our gratitude grows stronger and sweeter as we meditate upon divine goodness."
~Spurgeon

With love,
Trisha

Talk to Me

Those first moments and first conversations with Grandma...

Chinny-chin-chins

Every baby needs a place to put his double chins.

Delight-full