Look To The Sky

aware

i'm trying to be more aware of my responses to my children.   do i show care and concern when there are things that bother or even excite them?  do i respond carelessly to their cares?  oh, yes i do. i humbly admit it.   it is a trying thing for me, personally.   not all the time, of course, but when things are trying to get done or cleaned up, yes.   like today, when i was directing my sweet daughter with cleaning her room, i went overboard on how i would clean her room and mentioned all these (silly) little things that (mattered) to me.    i won't list them-  they are just standard kid things, but that is a sore spot for me- ridding up rooms.    i get in this mindset and that is all i can concentrate on. i caught myself and ended up trying to nicely help my wonderful daughter with her books, clothes, toys, and closet stuff.    i know she appreciated it. i apologized.   she was smiley.    she ended up after all the room cleaning tonight saying her room is a secret clubhouse and she made rules up. lol.   i saw her make up her bed with delightful pillows, soft blankets, special dolls, cuddly animals.   she placed her new library card where she won't lose it.    she refound her dress up items (and shared with her brother later on).   she let her baby brother come in to investigate, too.   she told me that she will take care of her room even more than she usually does. i think she will. now if I can only practice what a preach. i told rich tonight i help everyone else and then look at me! i have my own clothes to put away STILL.   life.  

i am more aware of  when to push my firstborn son with his education.   he enjoys writing letters.   knowing and seeing that he is learning important stuff. having special books for his learning.  we started a steno notebook with the words that he knows. so far, cat, pan, Philip, fork, bag.  LOL.   oh, there's more yes but that's how many he wrote in there.    he made his own little book too with some construction paper and also my hole puncher, and my string stash.   so did ella.   it was a fun project to see them do. they also spread out all the cushions of the couch to make "beds" for themselves and their animals. will david  had a blast with that!   he also waved and waved and waved his little hands alllllllll day today. and i mean, alllllllll day. to all of us just sitting around. to the window. to cars outside. to daddy coming home and then leaving again. to noone in particular while he was eating in his highchair.   just such a cute stage of life that i want to bottle up and never ever let go. 

i think that is why i decided to blog tonight. there were so many things the kids did today that struck chords in my heart.    yes, there were some trying times, but for the most part, a delightful regular homeschooling day.  

a very sweet and contemplative little boy wearing a favorite little spotted-eye, brown floppy eared doggy!  i can't believe how much he's changed the past two weeks.   it's exciting even though it is bittersweet to me.  a mommy's heart goes through a lot, and this is one thing that is very difficult for me- to see him growing up, my baby.  

blessings....
 
 

tired

i've been just downright tired these days. last night- 4.5 hours of sleep due to unsettled baby.   so you'd think i'd go to bed now instead of blogging! well, considering it's been almost two weeks of not blogging, i decided blogging would win the vote tonight.  rich has been tired too, these days.   all the shoveling of snow has really fatigued him.   that man- God bless him.  he works hard all day and then does that, for neighbors, too sometimes.  and then plays with the kids. then gives me a few moments of tender hugs, too.  we've been tired parents, but very blessed parents.  i think i'll end on that note. no photos right now- but i have some to share. ella had a special party for her doll this weekend.    will david and philip have been pretty good to each other for the most part.   homeschooling is coming along.  trying to plan for next year- with ella AND philip.   philip is no longer enrolled in preschool- he is home with me.   i am so glad- i think that it will bring some smoother days to our world now.   so, yes, i will end on those notes. next time, i hope for a more inpspired post with photos, scrapbooking, and Etsy crafting.

blessings!

gifts

 
my dad is getting a canoe!  my uncle told him he could have his canoe, he just has to come get it.   THIS is so exciting. i see many many many sweet adventures for the Snyders and Russells this summer!  what a blessing!

rich and i were able to sneak away with our kids (yes, i call it sneak away WITH them because we love them so much!) to our favorite hotel this past weekend.  they swam their hearts out. wd got his first taste of swimming in a big pool. he was a bit intimidated i could see, and he kept getting a bit chilled, so he and i didn't stay long for that first and only swim the WE had. lol.  the kids and rich went a couple more times.    this hotel, which is in charming Sugarcreek, Ohio, has a sweet temptation for me...a baby grand piano.  i got to play it a couple times. wish i had more time to do so, but with having the children, that's impossible.   before i share photos of the piano playing, which i coerced rich to take for me, yay!,  i wanted to share a special blessing....a man that had completed the near 2200 mile Appalachian Trail hike and had written the book, Hiking Through, was there at the hotel Saturday night to speak of his journey, which encompassed an emotional journey, physical journey, and spiritual one.   we purchased the book and before we give it to my dad, rich and i are taking turns reading it. it is SO very well written.  we are super impressed.   the author, who calls himself on the trail, "the Apostle," had lost his wife to cancer and then went on this hike...i love the imagery he uses, the interesting people he meets, what he learns, what he teaches his readers....a MUST read. espcially if you are an outdoor kind of person. a MUST read! 

so here are some photos that my sweetie took at the end of our stay.   silly me had left my camera charger and battery in the hotel room and these pics were taken after we had officially checked out so he had to go back and have someone get us into the room. lol.  i told him it's a given now that everyone is responsible for my camera battery and charger because i am so prone to misplacing those two things!   

if you can't tell, being able to play this piano at a hotel was most certainly a gift.   piano playing is what i love.  i thank God that he has given me the ability to play....it's truly a gift from Him that i always want to make sure i use in the best way!

blessings...
 
 
 
 
 

 

perfection

i love tea.

most people who know me know that.

i love to share tea, make tea, buy tea, drink tea.   and when someone shares with ME, i feel so blessed! recently, someone DID share tea with me. and it was such wonderful tea, i feel the need to share where to get some!  

so, here's a  new favorite tea, from Tea For All Reasons.  Marsha's etsy shop is HERE.  my new favorite is ROMANCE, and i believe it is a specialty black tea.    also pictured is the lovely tasting, SWEET HEARTS.

and here is a closer work to the delicate mixture...i love the miniature chocolate (i think!) chips and little pretty beads...and the flavor? divine! out of this world!  delicious!  when my rationing days are over, i shall indeed make my own purchase.  

so, i sip and relax, and think of my new sweet friend, who sent me dozens of cups of perfection!  i just love to LOOK at the infuser partially filled with the tea...and SMELLING the tea.   my goodness.   smelling is even better!   everything about the tea is delightful.   i have some to share if anyone stops by! ;)

thank you, Marsha!   God bless you for your kindness!

blessings....