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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Summertime Dinner Club

Seriously, this school business is for real.  I.am.tired, (thus the lack of blogging, it's the last on my "list" to say the least). It's the adjustment to routine I guess, it's totally exhausting me. Sounds so stupid when I actually type it out, but it's the truth.  Somehow the days just fly by and before I know it, it's bedtime. Perhaps it's the half day thing, (Tyler's only at school until 11:30 everyday), or is this what I have to prepare myself for?  Is this the way it is, how life flies by?  One school year at a time? 

    This I know, it goes by one season at a time as well.  This past Summer we hosted our monthly dinner Club out in the gazebo.  Come join us and relive it all over again.....
"The Colors of Summer"










"Each day, awakening, are we asked to paint the sky blue?
Need we coax the sun to rise or flowers to bloom? Need we teach birds to sing, or children to laugh, or lovers to kiss? No, though we think the world imperfect, it surrounds us each day with its perfections. We are asked only to appreciate them, and to show appreciation by living in peaceful harmony amidst them. The Creator does not ask that we create a perfect world;
He asks that we celebrate it." 
 
~Robert Brault~

Thursday, September 22, 2011

waiting here for You


Came upon this song via another blog this morning and just had to pass it along.
REPEAT AND ENJOY! (you'll have to mute the music first at the bottom of this page).

He is EVERYTHING HE PROMISED!!!! 

Friday, September 16, 2011

A little bit of this and that

Hi There. 
We're still here and all safe and sound. Grateful for so much. Max and Ruby is on in the background, the kids are tucked on the couch, cozy blankets wrapped around them.  I'm considering starting the first fire of the season in our woodstove. There's a definite chill in the air and it feels quite refreshing.  However, I will wear my flip-flops as long as possible into this Autumn weather
Not gonna lie, I'm really not into Fall being here already.  This has been one of the best Summer's in a long time.  We did so much together and all the children were a bit older making outtings and overnight stays that much easier.  Two years ago Paisley was a newborn, last year Jake was working all Summer on the carriage house, this year we just lived and enjoyed life.  It was sweet and treasured!  Sometimes it feels like I'm just flippin' the calender and I don't like that feeling.  Like I'm living life and it's passing me by all in one moment.  The constant of life.    
Made some grape jelly today with grapes from our vine.  That smell takes me right back to my childhood.  Standing under the arbor in our back yard.  Reaching up on my tippy-toes to pull down some of those sweet treasures.  Sucking the skin off and spitting out the rest.  I know that's not really how you're suppose to eat them, but the fear of getting a super sour one kept me from even biting into it.  I still eat them that way!  Not that you really care!  :)
a lovely picture i found online, sorry, i don't remember where.

It's "Fair" season around here.  My belly is growling just thinking about all the yummy junk I will partake of!  It's going to be cold tonight so maybe I'll pack some hot chocolate to go along with us.  That might be a nice surprise when we get back to the truck to head home. Worn out kids and warmed up bellies go well together.

We're adjusting to Tyler's new Kindergarten schedule.  I'm coming to enjoy it and not feel so bound to it.  It's only half day which means my day is really broken up, so it feels.  The mornings are going well and our routine is working.  Get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, sneakers on, watch some TV until it's time to go.  TV is the "reward" to getting everything else completed in good time.  Needless to say, Tyler is loving school.  He bounds in there each morning, calling out his friends names and waving to them from afar, catching up and chatting away, (and that's all I see until he reaches the front door).  He loves people and it's a joy to watch.  Knowing that he is making friends is wonderful and scary at the same time.  Kids can be mean.  Each morning as we approach school I say to him what was said to me my entire childhood, "have a fun, fun day and be kind to everyone."    

Chopped my hair off last week. It was just growing and growing and I called it my mane. Each evening I faithfully braided it before bed like a prairie woman so as not to be caught up in the web that was my hair. It was getting old. I should have done this a long time ago.  It feels so light and free. Locks of love on our 9th Anniversary.  That was special.  And my one sister had her hair appointment BEFORE me and my other sister had her appointment AFTER me.  We didn't even try it!  Loves it!  I missed my hair for the first few days and wondered what I had done.  Now I'm really liking it and making it my own. 



Hope you each have a lovely weekend.  I am sure some of you won't, given the circumstances you are surrounded with.  And yet, even in the midst of that, I hope you can see one thing beautiful. 
another great online find.  again, don't remember where. dear copyright people, please don't sue me
"A whiff of woodsmoke on the wind, the first chill in the air, the woods just edged in gold.  Light the first fire, time to put the 'home' in 'home sweet home'."~Susan Branch~    

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

9 years with Mr. Stoltzfus

My stomach is a little nervous, excited-nervous, not scared-nervous.  I get like this when I think of the journey that my husband I share.  It is so deep and takes up so much of who I am.  And most of the time I feel completely undeserving of this amazing man that I call husband.  He brings me joy unmatched here on earth, (don't be fooled, we can tick each other off too)!  He takes me just as I am.  He encourages me to be more then I am today.  He believes in me. He loves me.

He is one of the most gracious humans I know.  He works like a lion and loves like a lamb.  I don't know how he does it all.  How can he keep loving me so?  And it's only been 9 years today, just a drop in the bucket of life I pray!    

I am so in love with my husband.
I'm not afraid to shout it out from the rooftops, (or computer monitors)!!  And Lord, my desire is to whisper it in the daily actions of life.  I've got a lot of growing up to do.  A lot of self left in me, so much at times it feels impossible to be the true me.  I want to bring him JOY all the days of his life.  I want to bless him.  Encourage him. Love him good.  But I'm just a woman and I can't do it alone.  I am not a good lover when I'm out of touch with my Lover.  There are attitudes and reactions and just yuk! that needs some attention.   Thank you Jake for not giving up on me, on us.  For loving me just the way I am.  You deserve all the good that life has to offer and I hope to be apart of that goodness......may the Lord watch over us, protect us from the arrows of life and sing songs of deliverance over us!!!!     
These pictures were taken last Sunday by my friend Michelle.  She had a homework assignment, (she's in photography school) in which she needed to interpret a poem.  She needed a couple and she called on us.  Jake is such a good sport and went right along with it.  I didn't "make" him do anything.  He's a man, not my child! (Just wanted to clarify that to any scoffers out there)! :) It was a special hour together to say the least.  She took some "real" pictures too, in addition to the more posed ones for her assignment, thank you for that Michelle.  I dressed in the same outfit I wore 10 years ago during our engagement shoot. You can click here if you'd like, to see the rest of the pictures and to meet Michelle.
"My greatest fortune
in a life of brilliant experiences
has been to find you,
and to lead my life with you...."

~Winston Churchill~

Monday, September 5, 2011

13 Balloons for Tyler

Suddenly this idea popped into my head.  I couldn't wait to make it happen.  13 balloons for Tyler, one representing each year of his current and future schooling. 
Every year he'll release one less balloon.

And then on the first day of his senior year, (seems like forever from now) there he will be with one last balloon.  Makes me tear up just
 thinking about it!
 I love his facial expression here, my little Superman! 


 OH, that face!!!!  Such delight!!
And so we're off...let the journey begin.
xoxo.

"You are you.  Now, isn't that pleasant?" ~Dr. Seuss~

Friday, September 2, 2011

Martin's Bread Truck

 Several weeks ago I spotted this beauty.  Of course I had to turn around and snap a few pics of her.  I'm tellin' ya, if I had to drive a truck, I would want it to be THIS ONE! 
 She's even cute looking with her doors hanging open!
Love the robins-egg blue color and the big old pictures of bread in a bag.
 I can see it now, me cruisin' down the highway in this baby, windows open wide and music blarring! 
You know, that's just how I'd roll! 


"Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly."
~Author Unknown~