Snow!

At least a couple inches…

enough for a few snowballs,

 a shovel-load or two for fort-building…

and a snowball fight before dusk.  

{occasionally, even a direct hit!}

Rejoicing today in wintery gifts-- and a child's sweet prayer…

Thank you, God, for snow!

Ice and snow...

Snow and ice.  And more to come tomorrow!

For today, the sidewalks are clear, thanks to my big and little helpers. 

As for tomorrow-- we'll just wait and see :)

The canoe

Uncle Donnie owned a canoe... a beautiful wooden canoe.  Years ago, he rescued it from a neighbor's front yard, and a couple weeks ago, he passed it on to us. It needs a fair bit of work, but since our boys are budding outdoorsmen, Chris and I thought they might be up for the challenge!

The wooden behemoth is currently living in the workshop

where it waits for the bitter cold days of winter to chase the boys indoors.
And who knows? Perhaps by summer it'll be water-worthy! 

And because my youngest can't resist a silly face for the camera... these pics.

And my youngest with a few of her own :)

Yep, she's fitting in just fine!

The waning days of summer

Three days ago, my eldest son boarded a plane for Colorado. The night before had been filled with packing & organizing & re-packing & chatting about the week to come, so when the clock blared loud at 3:15 a.m. (who flies out at 5:30 anyway??!), his demeanor was tinged with both excitement and exhaustion, anticipation and... hope.

Several hours later, he landed in Colorado Springs with a few of his fellow teammates, and from there they made the short jaunt to the Olympic Training Center where they're working hard this week, training for a dream.

Parenting truly is bittersweet.  On the one hand, children are supposed to grow up! God designed them that way, after all, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But when I watched my oldest babe stroll out the door-- suitcase in hand, adventure on face-- the tumult churned anew. Because the big girl in me was jumping up and down, cheering for all to hear... here comes my boy, and I am so, SO proud. But deep down inside, where no one but the Lord could see, a terrible ache spread slow... because my son is growing up.  All too quickly... growing up.

Thankfully, we live in the modern era.  Praise God for cell phones-- he called!-- and we talked long, and oh, how I rejoice in the gifts of the Lord!!

As we await his return, we pack and play and run and swim-- anxious for summer's last hoorah.  Back to the beach we go (as soon as we pick up our sure-to-be weary traveler from the airport), back to the glorious expanse... where earth meets sky, and the heavens truly declare His glory!

There are days when I wish summer would linger forever-- days on the sand, days that move slow.  But then I remember the beauty of seasonal change-- my favorite being next in line-- and I breathe deep the provision of the Father.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8

Around here

Or... more aptly titled-- What Next? Because the last few days have been... challenging. Interesting. Tricky. And... amusing. Here's why.

So school. Yes, school. It comes around every September, but for some reason or other, it completely caught me by surprise this go round. A crazily busy summer surely didn't help. Nor did my decision to read only for pleasure these past few months (note to self: a little school prep-work truly is necessary before the calendar flips to September. Now I know :). So currently I find myself volumes deep in the Great Books, Ancient Egypt, latin declensions, and algebra 1... all of which are more than my overly tired brain can handle on any given day. I think I'm in deep. Very, very deep.

Costco. I {LOVE} that place. Love, love, love, love, love. But really. Christmas decorations? On the shelves? Smack dab in the middle of the warehouse? Seriously??? And why?????

And that's all I have to say about that.

The family room carpet. Beautifully clean (thank you, Stanley Steamer). For one night. Because sometime while we slept, the dog got sick. In three different spots. Ugh.

The laundry room. Probably my least favorite room in my house. Now... surely my least favorite. Why? Because five days ago my washing machine died. In mid-cycle. Right before the first rinse. Soaking wet sheets and towels had to be wrung dry (Chris handled that one splendidly :), the water had to be emptied from the basin (again... Chris), and those sopping wet linens-- I had to dry them in the dryer so that I can re-wash them tomorrow when my new machine arrives. Hallelujah! Still, anyone care to wager a guess at how many pounds of laundry a family of six can generate in the span of 6 days (in addition to the bits & pieces that came home dirty from the beach)? I'll tell you this much... it's a lot.

And finally, I now have this beauty-- tall, proud and black-- dominating a

portion of the boys' bedroom.

Uncle Donnie offered it to them a couple weeks ago; I was told they were inheriting a punching bag. You know, something easily stashed in the corner or even under the bed if necessary. Evidently, we experienced a minor miscommunication. I'm thinking you won't find anything even remotely similar in the Pottery Barn catalog.

Big Man later created this sign and attached it to the top of the "Big Black Beast"

...so that I might find its presence a little more appealing :)

How can I argue with that??!

And that's about it. For now.

Tomorrow may find me back on Everything-is-fine-and-dandy Street. Or it may not.

Either way, I'm reminded that I have a choice:

Whether I soar through the day with the wind at my back OR struggle just to keep my head above water as the hard times roll, I can grumble. Or I can praise. I can complain. Or I can give thanks.

I must choose... because I simply cannot do both.

I must choose.

And remember...

that even when things don't seem to work out quite right,

ALL IS GRACE.

All.

Every little tidbit. Every single breath.

ALL.

Thank you, Father.

Thursday morning observations

Last Saturday, Chris took all four kiddos to the mountains to visit with Grandmom and Pops (and to do a little work on a shared rental property-- they were *excellent* helpers!). I stayed home with Fergie, who is still not allowed to play or romp or otherwise actively socialize with his favorite companions, Mosby, Beau, and Sam. On Monday morning then, Chris returned with Lollipop in tow, but our three musketeers chose to spend their spring break with G-mom and Pops. Work, play, work, play-- their to-do lists were filled to overflowing with possibilities. And, while they were terribly excited about the laundry-list of possibilities, this ever-so-tired momma had equally exciting plans of her own (sleep, for instance, sat at the very top of MY spring break to-do list :). I mean, don't get me wrong-- my children rock my world, but every now and again, a different pace is a welcome sort-of thing.

Well, they've been gone now for 5 days, and I've got to tell you-- their absence has left quite the mark on this camp. For instance:

~ a house minus one wild pup (Mosby has been lounging at Camp Grandmom ever since Ferg started his heartworm treatment) and 3 energetic boys makes for one incredibly QUIET homestead. Serene, even. Calm. Still. Slow.

~ the laundry basket... the bane of my existence... is empty. Has been empty. And will remain empty for two more days. Ah, blessed relief!

~ I've shopped for groceries ONCE and only once, and we've had plenty to eat. We've run out of nothing, and we've even had left-overs. Crazy, I know :)

~ the normal night time routine has been transformed now that there's only one kiddo to tuck under the covers before calling it a day myself. Case in point: on Monday, Chris and I managed to get Lolli down by 7:15, watch a movie-- in its entirety--AND climb in to bed ourselves by 9:45. Clearly, the norm in old town VA departed some time long ago!

~ I have not picked up a single wet swimsuit from the kitchen or laundry room floor this entire week. Nor have I washed a single beach towel. In addition, all goggles are present and accounted for... another striking oddity around this joint.

~ there have been absolutely NO contests/arguments/debates/"discussions" regarding TV time for days. Lollipop has had the set to herself, she's chosen her show (she's loving the Leap Frog series on Netflix right now), and she's enjoyed her 30 mins or so in relative peace. Yes, peace.

Still... this current arrangement, I'm concluding, is not my preferred cuppa tea. Yes, a day or two on my own is quite the delight, but my chillins are... my chillins!! They're my sanity (in an otherwise insane world), they're my motivation, they're my inspiration to press on, to run the race, to obey... to seek Christ in all things so that others-- notably THEM!-- might see Him in me. And without them here, I'm just not the same.

Today, as Lollipop and I strolled the block alone, she randomly announced, "I miss my brothers, Momma! I miss my brothers..."

"So do I, honey, so do I..."

And that's all I could muster. Because even though the work load has been less, and even though the house has been blissfully calm, I miss those wild & crazy young men. The Lord truly does fill the heart and bless the soul and redeem the lost through relationship. And even though possible, relationship via the distance is not quite the same as relationship HERE. Now. Across the table. In the yard. Up the stairs. By my side. In my arms.

Oh, how I truly, truly appreciate the extreme generosity and thoughtfulness and love my parents pour out on those young'uns of mine, but I've got to tell you... I can't wait 'til they come home!

You know you have a problem when...

*** you hear cries from the kitchen at breakfast time, "Mom, the ceiling is leaking!!"

*** you open the pantry door (after placing a towel under the leaky spot) and immediately notice a very large puddle on the pantry floor, three shelves that no longer hold DRY cereal and cracker boxes but splattered and soaked ones instead, and a steady stream of water dripping from THAT ceiling... drip, drip, drip.

*** you assume a bathroom/pipe leak directly above and call the plumber, who in turn slices a hole in the kitchen ceiling to take a "peak." This, in turn, results in a gushing waterfall of sorts-- straight from kitchen ceiling to kitchen floor. Evidently = no minor leak. And this of course, inspires your favorite two-year old to happily proclaim, "Mommy, it's raining!" Yes... outside AND inside. What fun.

*** that same plumber climbs into the overhead storage space (in the adjoining hallway) and all you hear him mutter is, "Oh, wow."

*** you (along with the plumber) realize it's NOT a plumbing issue at all but a roofing one instead. So as a result, you call the roofer. Once he arrives, he carefully examines your situtaion (with a look of profound confusion on his face) and then slowly declares, "I don't know HOW that happened."

*** you then continue to hear words from the roofer (and his coworker-- the one he's since called to come join him in the search for the source of the leak) such as "puzzled," "I don't know," "I'm baffled," and "How on God's green earth did it GET there?"

Yep, that's when you know you've got a problem. A BIG problem.

Funny that I would know :)

This morning

It's been one of those weeks. Well, not a full week, really. Just a few days of running, running, running. Laundry, laundry, laundry. Dishes , dishes, dishes. Mess, mess, mess. And I'm tired. Tired of the constant. Of the never-ending. Of the repetitiveness of it all. How many times am I going to wash these same dishes? Scrub these same pans? Repack this same cabinet?

Oh, I could sit and grumble for hours. I could pout and grump and grimace all day long (and sometimes, truth be told, I think I have). But this morning, the Lord reminded me... through the servant heart of Ann in this timely little post-- it doesn't have to be perfect. The house is not a museum. It's not on display and the Queen of England is not preparing to stop by.

No, it's our home. It's where we live and play and learn and forgive. It's where we accept and nurture and embrace and serve. And it's where LOVE abides. God's love-- pure, unadulterated, selfless, sacrificial... perfect from start to finish. Forever.

And... praise God!... when LOVE abides, the mirrors don't have to be spotless. The counters don't have to be clean. The windows don't have to sparkle, and the floors don't have to shine. Because He lives here... in all His wonder, in all His grace, in all His beauty, in all His strength. And when He abides, we are complete, we are whole, we are safe, we are free... to dance and laugh and sing and play... to accept the lego-covered floor (because busy, creative minds flourish there), to understand the always dish-filled sink (because ever-growing bodies put them there), to look past the mountain of under-bed and bed-side books (because lifetime learning happens there).

This morning I am free to remember that this house... the Lord didn't provide it as a showcase to the world. Instead, He stretched out His hand and offered this place... for us. To live securely and peacefully and fret-lessly and joyfully... to embrace life-- true Life-- found in His heart, His truth, His ways. And as I focus on that, as I remember why I'm truly here, the rest just sorta slips away.

Spring Cleaning

So, winter has officially passed and spring is here to stay! The flowers are in bloom, the trees are bursting forth with new growth, and the warmer temps are now the norm instead of a very rare treat. The gentle spring breezes blowing through my windows are an absolute delight, and the sound of my children enjoying the great outdoors is truly wonderful!

Of course, with the changing of the seasonal guard, so to speak, there is a bit of a downside.

Pollen. It's everywhere. On every table, on every window sill, on the chairs, in my car, on my counters. Ugh! So as I daily run a dust rag across almost every single surface in my home, I 'm reminded-- it's that time of year again. You know, time for that ever-dreaded task-- spring cleaning! I know some folks don't see this chore as a necessity, but as a self-proclaimed organizationally-minded neat freak, I gotta tell ya-- the job may be absolute drudgery, but it feels so good once it's done! And, for any other list-makers out there... it's one more giant task to scratch off that ever-growing list! And I love scratching things off my list :)

So, for the good news. Simple Mom (I love this site!!) has decided to make spring cleaning a little more fun (is that possible??) She's throwing a Spring Cleaning Party and has provided all sorts of fantastic tips and helps to make the job a little less overwhelming. A whole schedule is available (I pasted it below), and here's the real beauty of it... bite-size pieces. Instead of attempting to tackle the entire house in one fell swoop, Simple Mom has broken the task down into manageable chucks... one room at a time. I'm going to give it a shot (the cleaning's gotta get done anyway), and we'll see... perhaps the "party" really will make the job more fun :)

Here’s the Spring Cleaning Party schedule:

Monday, May 4 - a clean sweep
Tuesday, May 5 - the living room, part one
Wednesday, May 6 - the living room, part two
Thursday, May 7 - the kitchen, part one
Friday, May 8 - the kitchen, part two
Monday, May 11 - the bathrooms
Tuesday, May 12 - the kids’ rooms, part one
Wednesday, May 13 - the kids’ rooms, part two
Thursday, May 14 - the master bedroom
Friday, May 15 - the front entry

Mission Organization

For quite some time, I've had a not-so-tiny bee in my bonnet. You see, when we moved a year ago, we downsized tremendously, but crazy enough, our belongings did not. Add to that the fact that both Chris and I are pack rats, and you've got yourself a very crowded, stuffed-to-the-brim reality. So, with a new year upon us and some spare time on my hands, I decided to tackle a few of those long-neglected areas.

My mission: declutter, streamline, simplify, and organize.

Fortunately, super-cooperative Chris helped, and as a result, that niggling bee is not nearly so annoying.

• Before recruiting Chris, I tackled our pencil drawer in the kitchen. Now to most, this might seem a very miniscule thing. To me, however... a very type-A, orderly, perfectionist sort, this was a huge deal. I open that drawer a gazillion times a day, and every time, a muddled mess is what I find. For too long I've been forced to ignore that unsightly scene, but now? It's a mess no more! I accomplished my mission and that drawer is now a thing of beauty.
• Next, I dragged Chris into my whirlwind and together we attacked his closet. Everything came out, and only a select handful returned. The rest, stuffed inside a massive garbage bag, found itself at our church's clothing ministry shop on Saturday night. Woohoo!
• On to Chris's dresser-- same process as above; same result :)
• The boys' room-- aahhh, the boys' room. That one's going to take a while, but the mission is underway...
• Thanks to Pops & Grandmom (thanks, mom, for the hooks, and thanks, dad, for your help), the knoll post is no longer home to all our jackets and coats. Nope-- my row of hooks is now hanging in the hall outside our laundry room and it looks fantastic! I've been anxious to get this little project completed ever since last winter (call me crazy-- I just don't care for a mile-deep pile of outerwear stacked on my banister or littering the floor beneath!), so its completion is actually a big deal to me :)
• The laundry room-- mom and I rearranged and organized that monster before Christmas. Chris finished the last brutal step on Friday and now I can wash our clothes in peace. It's the little things, you know?
• I have still have a bit to do (like the the linen closet, Lollipop's closet, and my school supplies cabinet in the family room), but that's ok... the prospect of more projects for this organizationally-obsessed gal is invigorating!

Time for a make-over

In two days we leave for vacation. The day after we return, we start school. That very same week, swimming and soccer resume, and between those 2 sports alone, we have a practice or a game every day of the week. On top of that, Big Man starts preschool and all 3 boys start AWANA and co-op. The perfect time to undertake a new project? Why not?!

It's time for a make-over, and no, not for me (though it does sound like tons of fun!)... for the kitchen. It's time to finally rid this house of the 1980's floral that's been adorning the kitchen walls and the busy blue vine in the adjoining hallway. Mom and I took the plunge yesterday and started peeling like crazy, and hubby even joined in the "fun" last night after work. We started off on a high note as the border strip and the striped kitchen paper came down very easily. The vine in the hallway, however... not so much. Progress there has been painfully slow, but we're making progress nonetheless. (Sorry, G, that I wasn't able to save any for you-- I know you've had your eye on this stuff for a while!)

In this little hallway, we're only taking the top portion off as beadboard will cover the rest. It's amazing just what a difference a little bit makes-- I can actually see white walls! Oh, I can't wait 'til it's done!

Here's Mom, always the hardest worker in the bunch. Thanks, Ma, for all your help-- I wouldn't be getting this project done without you!

Nannie is completely unphased by the work in progress. Wallpaper is coming down all around her and still she sleeps.

So, there you have it. Lots still to do, but that's ok; we're getting there. Wallpaper-be-gone will surely be the theme of these next two days. Well, that and packing.