Painting: Watercolor // Portrait.

This little painting was a birthday gift for someone dear to my heart who is the mother of four.

I absolutely love this quote from Saint Therese of Lisieux. While it is certainly applicable to my own dear mother, I also like to consider her words in light of our Blessed Mother, the LORD's greatest creation.

Journal: Minuaties of a Mother// July 13, 2021.

{reading}

33 Days to Greater Glory by Father Michael Gaitley // Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (read aloud) // Where the Red Fern by Wilson Rawls (read aloud)

{seeing}

my baby smiling on my lap // my boys coloring on my bed // my messy room 

{hearing}

boys telling me about the pictures they are drawing for their & our neighbors // back door opening and closing // baby cooing

{feeling}

thankful for all my extended & immediate family 

{smelling}

chicken cooking on the stove 

{eating}

breakfast: tumeric & ginger soaked oats + blueberries // lunch: pb&j + crudites + corn chips & salsa // dinner: rigatoni bolognese + sautéed green beans + crusty bread: it's #4's turn to help me choose and cook dinner :)

{drinking}

green tea // green smoothies // merlot

{wearing}

running shorts // teal t-shirt // house slippers

{making} 

a painting for my aunt

{praying}

"Let it be done to you according to your faith." 

Matthew 9:29

{thinking}

such a lovely visit we had with my family last week // how exhausting traveling is // how blest we are to be able to thank and bless the LORD in all circumstances // how wonderful it is to be home

{planning} 

to declutter and organize our home in with two goals in mind: to make it easier for us to keep it clean and to donate to those who need it more than us

. . . 

This is the day that the LORD has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!

- Psalm 118:24

Musings: Babies.

I've always loved babies. 

It started with my first 'baby', Mimi, the doll pictured above, whom I recently introduced to my boys.

The next baby that entered my life made an impression on me that has lasted a lifetime: my 'baby' sister. 

I cried tears of joy at the tender age of seven when my parents told my older sister and me that they were expecting after years of praying for another child. 

I can still remember her newborn smell that seemed to enchant anything that touched her.

For some reason that only God knows, babies didn't come easily in my little girl world as I watched many of the women in my family struggle with some form of infertility. 

One of the greatest perks of being homeschooled in high school was the fact that I was surrounded by babies, not to mention babysitting jobs!

I mother's helped, babysat and nannied my way through middle school, high school, college and even beyond. 

One thing I was certain of was that if I ever got married, I would make it my goal to have as many babies as possible!

At 22 when I realized that I would most likely not be getting married at 23 as my mom had, I decided to go to nursing school with the goal of becoming a midwife. That would be my back up plan so that I could still fill my world with babies. 

Well, that never came to fruition as I met my husband a year into nursing school and was married a year after that. 

Our first baby boy was born a month before our first anniversary, our second baby boy arrived twenty two months later and our third baby boy arrived twenty two months after that. We had a littlle break with two and a half years before our fourth baby boy arrived and then... miscarriages. 

We now have two perfect souls in heaven adoring God!

It was surprising and surreal after those two losses when we were able to see a very much alive baby sucking its thumb and squirming around on the screen at that first ultrasound. While we have always tried not to take for granted the ability to bring children into the world, there's nothing quite like a miscarriage to make that gratitude resonate. 

So, here we are, anxiously and joyfully anticipating this baby's arrival, curious to see whether God will bless us with our fifth boy or our first girl, and thanking Him so very much for entrusting us with another precious soul.

All for the glory of God!

Painting: Acrylics // Portrait.

This week was a tough one, especially for my oldest.  His much beloved chicken, Rhodey, whom he purchased with his own money, died. 

For his birthday I had painted this portrait of his little friend and I'm glad we have this simple tribute to remember her by.

Farm Life: Work.

Yesterday was in the 70's so my four boys and I dressed in our 'outside clothes,' propped open the coop doors, and went to work!

We shoveled, scooped, and scrubbed our chickens' cozy little home, so lovingly built for them by my husband.

While I can't say that cleaning up chicken poop is first and foremost on my list of favorite things to do on a beautiful day,  once I get started it feels so good to accomplish the task, especially with my four enthusiastic helpers at my side.


. . .


Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading. 

Saint Benedict 

Painting: Acrylics / Portrait.

Over the Summer I had the idea to paint a portrait of Saint Michael the Archangel for the boys' room since he is one of their favorites. September 29th, Feast of the Archangels, seemed like a reasonable goal at the time. Of course when that day arrived I spent the wee hours of the morning with a toddler on my lap, making the final touches.

The boys were thrilled with the result. I found a glittery gold for his armor and a shimmery cream for his wings. Those were their favorite parts.

. . .

Saint Michael the Archangel defend us in battle!

Farm Life: Neighbors.

Our neighbors truly are a blessing to our family. 

They are from Lancaster County, PA, one of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. Though they are not Amish, whenever I look at their garden I feel like they have brought a little bit of Amish Country down South.

They love our boys and invite them to work in their garden with them often, teaching them skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.  

Their grandchildren live out of state so they share the majority of their crop with my hungry crew. 

Could God be any more detail oriented? Placing a couple who loves to garden but cannot possibly eat all that their labor produces next door to a family who has not the time or resources to garden but loves to eat lots of vegetables! 

Potatoes, beets, cabbage, kale, peppers, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, onions, garlic... every few days we find a bucket full of bounty on our back porch... Just writing this I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for!

Cooking for 6: July 2019.

June 30th - July 6th

Suppers:

Sweet Potato Pizza + Antipasti Salad

Chicken Fingers + Green Salad + Sweet Potato Fries
Lentil Soup + Crusty Bread
Salmon + Broccoli + Risotto
Chicken Kabobs + Corn on the Cob + Potato Salad 

Quesadillas + Guacamole + Crudites 

Bison Burgers + Sauteed Mushrooms, Asparagus & Onions

Sweets:

Blueberry Hand Pies
Coconut Ice Cream 

Sips:

Holy Basil Sweet Tea

Strawberry Banana Smoothies

July 7th - July 14th

Suppers:

Burgers + Roasted Zucchini + Pasta Salad
Salmon Melts + Roasted Green Beans + Sweet Potato Fries
Grilled Chicken + Baked Potatoes + Garden Salad
Egg Sandwiches + Potato Hash + Watermelon
Grilled Salmon + Broccoli + Brown Rice
Lentil Soup + Grilled Cheese
Sweet Potato Pizza

Sweets:

Lemon Bars
Tandy Cake
Shoofly Pie

Sips:

Warm Turmeric Milk

July 15th - July 21st

Suppers:

Burgers + Potato Hash + Crudites + Watermelon
Chicken Drumsticks + Zucchini + Corn on the Cob
Tilapia + Rice + Broccoli
Hot Dogs + Baked Beans + Green Beans
Salmon + Garden Salad + Roasted Potatoes

July 22nd - 28th

Suppers:

Fusilis & Meatballs

Waffles + Bacon + Hash Browns

Chicken Cutlets + Brown Rice + Broccoli 

BBQ Beef + Baked Potato + Garden Salad

Quesadillas + Crudites 

Sweets:

Peach Pie

Sips:

Snapple

...


She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 

Proverbs 31:15

Painting: Acrylics / Wood.

Earlier this week I introduced all four of my boys to acrylics.

Oh the fun we had! 

For our first lesson I asked my husband to cut four squares of plywood and then painted them white.

The next day I timed our workshop around naps so that I only had one of my younger children painting at a time - Mama's only got two hands!

I let each child select two out of three primary colors to start with. Then I added white to the mix. Once they had mastered the concept of blending I let them choose two more colors to work with. 

I just loved seeing the different colors we came up with and I was proud of my boys for working together, sharing colors and complimenting each other's designs.

Once our new chicken coop is finished being built my boys' first acrylic paintings will be hung on the main door to the coop.

With that project completed we ended our week with an introduction to acrylics on paper that was recieved with even more enthusiasm than the first!

...

The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection. 

Michelangelo 

Inspiration: Perrenial Garden.

Flowers just make me really happy. 

Whenever I see beautiful blooms I feel the urge to paint, dance, laugh & pray all at the same time. 

Anyone else?