Gardening and Motherhood.

This is my first year having a "real" garden.

And you know what, I'm realizing the striking similarities to parenting:
*picking a plot to settle*
*tilling the soil*
*planting seeds*
*building a secure fence with a gate*
*watering*
*sunshine*
*pruning*
*harvest time*
*storing away for the future*

I guess when it comes to parenting we don't really "pick our plot", it's more like our plot picks us! Our children were created for us, just as we were created for them. We are the perfect match for one another just as God saw fit.

Then we have the honor "tilling the soil", to me this represents pregnancy or any other way of becoming a parent. Hard work, watching something form before your eyes. Laying the perimeters and preparing your ground. "Planting seeds" starts the moment we begin caring for our babies. Some of the seeds I plant in my kids take more time to harvest, some seeds that we thought were so important never sprout, some multiply with years. What kind of seeds am I planting in my children's lives?
On the "good" days I pray the seeds take root and on other days I pray those seeds WON'T take root!

Next we get the opportunity to "build a secure fence with a gate."
Sometimes I'm not so sure about the "with a gate" part, it's a crazy world out there!! Man, it must be hard to open that gate and let them walk out. We're not there yet and I do believe these are the "good ol' days." I won't lie, sometimes I want to open that gate and let them out for about a week or two!! We'll grow into that I'm sure and then I'll be looking for ways to draw them back in, right?! Oh, silly circle of life. When we dedicated Tyler on his 1st birthday we planted a tree. Our whole family was there and each member took a turn to "water" his tree. It was beautiful. I think the "watering" part has to do with the people that surround our children right now. Who is influencing them? Encouraging them? Showing them what the true Jesus is like? We as parents run dry and it's important to have other adults in their life that LIVING water flows from.

"Sunshine"~one of my favorite things is sunshine on my face. If I'm sitting down and I see a stream of sun coming thru the window, I'll move to it and turn my face right into it's dusty rays. I want the memories we make to be like sunshine in my children's lives. The everyday memories. Don't get me wrong, there are dark, dark, stormy, cloudy, hail, blizzardy days, but the sunshiny ones outweigh the fierce ones, (I'm sure they do in your home as well, don't be so hard on yourself)!! I hope our children will turn their faces toward their childhood with joy. Then there are the "pruning" days. This is more for ME then for them. I am pruned while I teach/train/discipline my kids. I can get ugly and the sign in my bathroom goes right down the toilet~"Be Beautiful Inside" it reads!!! Why is it that on these days I FEEL so pitiful and terrible and inadequate? I think it's because I'M BEING PRUNED. It hurts, it makes me mad, it's tearing away the ME out of ME!! It's not easy pruning or being pruned. It takes courage & patience. I open my arms to it...there's no turning back now.

What a great experience to walk to the garden and see "harvest time" sprouting everywhere.
The rewards of labor.
The sweetness.
The fresh filling.
The relief of tilled, well-planted, fenced in, watered, sunshiny, pruned ABUNDANCE!!
It's what I work for. I read once that children are the living messages that we send to a time we will not see.
"Storing away for the future", that's what we're doing with our children. We're sending these little lives, these souls into a time beyond us.
The next generation sitting on our laps.
That's sobering.

God of harvest~give us the strength we need to toil in what sometimes feels like the hot sun of life. Help us find refuge in the shade of Your guidance and leading.
Let Hope be our anchor and Wisdom our Guide.

A taste of our Summer

Memorial Day~2010. The beginning of Summertime.

the local parade to start off the season.

Luke helping Daddy work on the carriage house.

working diligently to finish the home for his Mom, (Grammie).

playing our new favorite game~Uno. They play this game no less then 10 times each day.
It's hilarious~~when the boys are eating something and only one bite remains they will shout, "UNO" to each other!

We've been ENJOYING & SAVORING this Summer....

I'm sure you've heard it said, (or said it yourself), that you can't believe it's July already!
We're right there with ya....where is the sweet Summer of 2010 going??

We celebrated Tyler's 5th Birthday.
I made him a "snowy mountain Thomas cake" at his request.
It was a really special day for all of us.
(as I say quite frequently....I'll post more on that later....it might not be until this December, but nevertheless, I will post pics at some point)!!

Jake and I have made some great memories this Summer with our "dinner club."
We meet on a monthly basis, bring lots of delicious food to the table and chat until the sun sets and our belly's ache from so much laughter. Beautiful nights.
Here we were at my cousin Orpha's house. She and her husband Dave have a lovely home among the rolling hills of Chester County.

Isn't this a darling bottle of wine?

Lying on our hammock....looking up,
this is what you'll see.

Sunday, a day of sweet rest especially for this man, he works so hard on our behalf!!!

The garden is growing. And with this heat wave we had and now the heavy rains,
those plants are showing us their love by sprouting up!!

Last night we ate new potatoes, corn on the cob, fried eggplant & tomatoes! Delish!!

For Tyler's 5th birthday he received a tent.
He was delighted to "camp out" in our backyard for several nights.
It really doesn't take much to make memories....just time & energy, (which at times seems in limited supply).

"Rest is not idleness,
and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day
listening to the murmur of water,
or watching the clouds float across the sky,
is hardly a waste of time."
~John Lubbock

Paisley's walking.

(Paisley at her 1st birthday party....
more on that later.

sweet pictures of our sweet girl)!!

My Baby is walking.
Precious little pigtails stumbling toward me.

Stop it!!!!!

I can remember vividly one sentence being said to me alot when I was little,
and now I understand why, "stop growing Janelle!!" my siblings would say to me.

I get it now.
I said it to my girl this morning.

She walks without fear. If she falls she doesn't cry. She gathers herself and she's off again.

She loves to be where her brothers are and will stand by the door and cry if they are outside and she's not. She gives kisses with her big ol' mouth WIDE open....teeth everywhere! She has most of her teeth now. Seven sprouted at the same time. Darling girl. She hardly cried or fussed although you could tell she wasn't herself....she was much more clingy. She would lay on my chest for hours at night, (which she hasn't done since being a newborn). We are in love with her. So thankful she is ours.

"She is my joy and heart's delight."
~Robert Wever~

becoming a midwife

Don't you think it would be the greatest thing, to become a midwife?

I do.

I love my midwife Maribeth.
She was there with me when all 3 of our babies were born.

There's a connection with someone when that happens,
a deep, forever connection.

My niece left last Thursday to move to Perth, Australia.
She'll be there for one year, but I just like to say "four seasons",
that doesn't sound quite as long!!!!

She's in school to become a midwife!

I love my family.

"The impossible is often the untried."
~Jim Goodwin~

Happy Birthday America!!

We're looking forward to a fabulous weekend,
and hope you are as well.

And like last year
I may or may not drive thru the local McDonald's on my bike.

Wear some red, white and blue and despite your political outlook....
look UP and thank God for the freedom we have.
Pray for wisdom to hold tight to that which was given us.

Put on some faded blue jeans, your favorite t-shirt,
pour yourself a cup of lemonade and listen to some Johnny Cash.
Look up at the stars and remember those who are far away
fighting and dying and forging ahead.

America is changing there is no doubt.

And I wonder deeply how this land will look thru my children's eyes....
but while it is called TODAY I will celebrate the GOOD that is ours.

She is still beautiful despite her flaws.

"Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble?
Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country,
but men don't follow titles, they follow courage.
Now our people know you. Noble, and common, they respect you.
And if you would just lead them to freedom,
they'd follow you. And so would I..."
~William Wallace from the movie "Braveheart"~

North East, Maryland

We were LONG overdue for a date night.
LIFE can catch up with you pretty quick and suddenly your more like roommates, then lovers.
I'm not okay with that.

We wanted something different, some new scenery, and as my hubby said,
"let's drive on a road we've never been on!" Sounds good to me!

Just take me away Baby!!!!!

We headed to a town one hour South of here called North East, Maryland.
This is what we saw when we got out of the truck.

Darling, darling town.

Sweet little shops.

Vera Bradley HEAVEN.

the.most.amazing.food.

and the.most.amazing.company.

I got to color on the table which is always fun.

Can't you just SMELL this place? They had the biggest supply of coffee beans
I've ever seen. I purchased some called "creme brulee" and it's so delicious I may
just drive back to buy some more!

After dinner we drove to a local park and laid a blanket along the banks,
we watched the boats come in and looked at the latest pottery barn catalog, (in which we steal ideas and try to reproduce them for little to no money). It was glorious, just him and I and the sun setting. It's been way too long since we've done something like that.

Took me back to those good ol' days when we were dating in Florida.

We'll be back to this place soon I'm sure.

If you live locally, give it a try, it "feels" far away, but isn't.

"If a June night could talk,
it would probably boast it invented romance."
~Bern Williams~

I'M HERE, PURGING MY HOME!!!!

This blogging once a week thing is getting to me.
I'd post everyday if I could!!

With all my "extra" energy I'm going through every nook & cranny in my home
finding stuff I *like* to make room for stuff I *love*.

The ad I placed in our local paper looks great! It's huge and has a big, bold polka-dot outline.


It reads like this:

STRASBURG~MANY VENDORS
6/25 4pm-7pm and 6/26 7am-2pm

MASSIVE BARN SALE!
shabby chic~vintage decor,
furniture, area rugs, new baby swing,
toys, boy clothing, (newborn-5),
girl clothing, (newborn-10).
PRICED WELL & ORGANIZED.
Don't miss this one!!!

I just have to tell you I have entirely too many
*pillowcases*
*purses*
*teacups*

Come and buy them from me!!

And my Mother, oh my Mother~~~~she's bringing car loads of dishes, antiques and goodies!!

COME ON BY AND BUY!!!!!!!!!

I better go, I have a Dr. appointment this morning for Tyler.He stepped on a bee and the swelling isn't going down. I hope it's nothing serious,but better safe then sorry with all he's been through this year with his staph infection.

Also, I would just like to point out that my friend Ang S. was right when she said that my garden will be ready to harvest at the.most.inconvenient.times.

Like yesterday and today.

random quote that has nothing to do with this post, but I liked it:
"The past is a guidepost, not a hitching post."
~L. Thomas Holdcroft~

Annual Garage Sale NEXT WEEKEND!!!!

Hello Friends,
it's that time of year again.....

GARAGE SALE FEVER!!!

Just wanted to let you know that NEXT WEEKEND is our BIG OL' SALE!!!

And I'm not kidding when I say BIG!! There's gonna be LOTS of Mama's here, (we're up to 6 vendors right now) with LOTS of well-priced, organized, ready to sell goodies!!!

FRIDAY, JUNE 25TH 4PM-7PM

AND

SATURDAY, JUNE 26TH 7AM-2PM.

If you know where we live just come on by,
I won't be placing our address on my blog,
you know,
just in case you're the boogie man!!!!
*you may email me personally for directions if you'd like and verify you are not the above-mentioned~jj9702@Juno.com*

p.s. this is SO me.....sad, but true!!!! (mute music at bottom of page first)!


"Look what happens when I hold this up~PARTY TIME!!!!" ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!

Sweeping up Woody

I like to have piano music on during the day, (grooveshark.com is nice or pandora.com) and if possible, have a good smelling candle lit in the corner. These actions are put into place usually first thing in the morning....right along with the smell & sound of coffee being made! Hey, someone needs to create some peace in this environment that can be a little crazy at times. These are just two small things I do to keep my world calm & inviting!!

The other day during one of my numerous daily broom sweep ups I swept "Woody" out of his hiding place. Paisley was munching on what was left of "snacks", (a dry ice cream cone).
A grocery run was imminent.

The piano music was playing softly and I could hear my thoughts as the boys were playing nicely outside. I looked out the window and saw Tyler enjoying the day on his tire swing. I thought back to when we were in the hospital with him, so many questions. As WEIRD as it sounds I've been "missing" those days just a bit. Not the actual physically being in the hospital, but the natural, effortless, beautiful ALIGNMENT OF PRIORITIES that a hospital or desperate situation produces. Perhaps it was the music, the moment or pms, (or a combination) but I got a little choked up. This won't be the picture of my life for long.... Sweeping up toys and having my children within sight. It was a MOMENT and I hid it away.**
Then my green-booted boy came to the door to wake me from my thoughts & plead his case.
"It's my turn now Mom!"

"Carpe diem quam minime credula postero"
"Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future."
~Horace~

**disclaimer: lest you think I live and Mother in "la, la land" I have an upcoming post entitled: "Confessions of a Yeller!"

How many things can I do?

"How many things can I do.....and do well?"

This question has been repeating itself in my head again and again the past few days. I feel like there are so many parts of me that I want to keep in shape, that I want to work at so they don't get all fat and mushy! (We're not speaking literally here folks)! That's for another post! A big, ol' FAT post!!! :)

I'm talking about the strings of life that pull....some just a slight tug and others a more strangling type. Some that when knit together in the right way, create one-of-a-kind treasures. Still others that create webs that quickly and easily entangle us. Crazy, twisted, knotted Christmas lights entangled. And then suddenly you're that fly that Charlotte caught and it's too late.

I don't want to be a fly caught in the web of life.

The *weirdest* thing has been happening to me the past few months. When I walk into Paisley's nursery the SAME song is playing and even more odd, it's the SAME part of the song that is playing, and EVEN MORE CRAZY....it's the SAME SENTENCE. It's happened at least 7-8 times now and I'm not exageratting, (something I am gifted in). Do you want to know what God, (via Celine Dion) has been singing to me?

"Life is what happens to you
while you're busy making other plans!!"

It's been a beautiful nudge to my soul, this little quote. Something that stops me in my hurried pace to go-do-finish-go-do-finish. Well, I should actually say go-do-start-go-do-start, because I'm not very good at finishing through on things, I'm a starter! I have great ideas and then they are replaced with greater ideas, none of which ever hit the drawing board. Unless, for instance, one day I decide, (usually in the middle of making dinner or some other HIGHLY inconvenient time) to start something new!!! You know, like rearrange the entire living room and paint a quote on the wall while I'm at it. Not that this has ever happened to me or anything.

So, the question is: how many things can I do and do well? And I don't know the answer to that. ALL is know is that my children aren't a part of my "doing." They are to be a part of my "BEING"! Part of the nitty-gritty everydayness of life. They aren't my projects. They aren't the side show at my own personal circus, (well, sometimes they are)!!!! And on the other extreme, they aren't my LIFE either. There's a balance hidden somewhere in there and I'm on a quest to find it because, as said before, life IS what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.

Our pastor said a few weeks ago,
"God's a hand-crafter,

not a mass-producer."

Hand crafted things take time. Slow, purposeful time. I hope we are able to find/make some time to slooooow down and taste the sweetness of life this Summer. That's something I want to be mindful of. And I guess the question has now changed to~how many things can I NOT do? How many things really don't matter for eternity? Don't even matter for NEXT week? Lord, please open my eyes and my heart to the people and things that REALLY count in life.

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."
~Lily Tomlin~

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BOY TYLER!!!!

HaPpY 5th BiRtHdAy to you TyLeR!!!

The age old question rings loud & clear today~
"Where have all the years gone?"

From the MOMENT you entered our lives
you brought us SO MUCH JOY!!!

And not much has changed during the last 5 years!!

I LOVE the ZEST for life that you have!!
And even though you and I are the most similar in personality
we get along quite well, (for the most part)! I feel like I'm truly getting to know you, to hold long conversations with you, to talk about your feelings and thoughts and opinions. I like the way you think. You hold such a close place in my heart~my first baby! You made me fall in love with being a Mommy. Sometimes when we are holding hands I can't believe how big they feel inside mine. I know that in no time at all your hands will be bigger then mine. I think it's precious how you like to hold your hand to mine, palm to palm, while you marvel at your growth. "I'm growing super fast Mom!" Yes, indeed you are. I'm dragging my feet buddy.

And it's been so amazing watching you grow into a wonderful big brother! Luke loves you so much and misses you when you are apart even for 30 minutes! You lead him on adventures he would have otherwise never found, in the "jungle" and along the Thomas train tracks. I pray that the two of you will be best friends for life....putting each other before yourself.

And your sister adores you and smiles and coos at you unlike ANY of us!!
You love her so well and you're showing her how a lady is meant to be treated.
You grew up a lot this year and you were SO BRAVE during your stay at the hospital
when you had a staph infection. We treasured those days with you....just you and Dad and Mom and the healing journey! You took it all in stride and reminded us again that it's the LITTLE THINGS about life that bring true joy!

I'm SO EXCITED to watch all that you will learn this next year.
I count it JOY to be called YOUR MOM! We were made for each other you know!

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY DAY TO YOU!!!!!!!

You're a whole hand-full now!!

"Children are the living messages
we send to a time we will not see."
~Neil Postman~

P.s. I'm really sorry for dressing you like a reindeer on your first Christmas.
Won't happen again, promise!!!

MAMAS ON THE LOOSE!!

Several weeks ago as I looked up,
this was my view.....

and when I looked in front of me,
this was what I saw.

and to the left was this lovely Lady.

And to the right was this!!

We were driving in this darling bug..... We weren't quite as cool as this dude
who obviously gets out way more then we do!!We didn't care though, cause we were
headed here!!!!!

We lounged around and talked,
entire conversations at ONCE.

We went out to eat again and again and again,
feeding ONLY our mouths and cutting ONLY our food.

We took beautiful pictures....
and crazy pictures..... We ate candy....
lots and lots of candy.
Candy that we did not have to share with our children.
We acted like teenagers,
because we could!!!

WE WERE MAMAS ON THE LOOSE!!!!!!

But then we settled down again and decided to come back home
to rescue our husbands and the 32 children we had left behind!!!
"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."
~John Leonard~