Our Place of Refuge

I've written about our lake before.  And you all know how much we love to whip out there and spend some time in the sun...

But yesterday,  we had some introductions to make.

But Mom, Little Dude has been to the lake....

What a difference 3 months makes. Now he walks, and explores.
Back then, he nursed and slept.

He had not made a real friendship with our peaceful haven, yet.

But yesterday... he ventured out.  We even took off his shoes and let him feel the water and the mud. (yes, it's Texas... icky mud) He wasn't thrilled, preferring to stay on the pebbly sand.

He watched his siblings as they wound their way along the water's edge.

The lake level was low.  Very low. Nothing like getting back to nature to witness how bad the drought is, firsthand.

The kids examined the newly exposed sand, and what emerges when the layers of water are peeled back. A sobering experience, to be sure. But nature is always beautiful, and they came back jubilant with their treasures.

Fall in Texas is a time of brown colors and long shadows. Even in the height of the afternoon, the light is slanted and the sun has whitened.

This old Mama is learning, though. I'm learning to enjoy the seasons as they come.
I'm learning that we don't pass this way again.

We need to pause. We need to breathe it all in with everything we have.

:)

Daybook: My Crazy Life

I started this post on Sunday. 

It is now Friday.


What an appropriate title.

:P


I'm listening to~

Little Dude babbling. He says "ba ba ba". Exciting, isn't it? Yes, I'm hopeless when it comes to this kid.


I am wearing...

JEANS. Glorious, LONG JEANS. And a flowy LONG sleeved top. High of 86 today, folks.
FALL IS HERE. (ya'll will have to excuse me, I live in Texas)


I am so grateful for...

Misunderstanding.  Thinking that something is the case when it's not. I think too much. Period.


I'm pondering....

The life of the heart. How to make it grow, how to preserve and protect while it grows. How to take chances that don't wound too much. Sometimes the wounding speeds up the growth, sometimes its detrimental. This goes for all ages, and all stages. It's a tricky balance.


I am reading...

Innocent Blood for book club. Not sure if I will be able to finish. Not because of time, but because of my sensitive soul. :)  In Conversation with God, The Bronze Bow, and It's So You. There's a line up for ya.

:P


I am thinking...

Of soccer and friendships. Of school and friendships. Of life and friendships. Friendships are a very good thing.


I am creating...

New bedrooms. Still ongoing. Everyone is in their proper places, now we just need to tweak it. More storage in one room, utilize what we've got in another... New curtains for all. I have lists for each room and will buy as needed. I hope we will be completely finished by Christmas. If not, sooner?


To live the liturgy...

We need more prayer in this house. In order to do that, I need to be more organized. Homework finished before soccer practices, so that after we can gather for our rosary before showers and bed. I know we can do this. I just need to make it a priority.


Towards a real education...

I loved loved loved this post. You see, I've always been a reluctant homeschooler. I read all the stuff and bought into all the ideals and convinced myself that it was the only way to go, and then threw myself into it and constantly felt like I was totally failing at it. So I would re-double my efforts and still feel like I was a failure. So, we put 3 kids in school this year. 
I'm not convinced it's the ideal choice. In fact, the only thing I'm convinced of is that there really is no ideal choice. We are not in some heavenly utopia here. But we know our kids, and the ones in school need to be there. It's better than them being here all day.
There, I said it.
For them, at this time in their lives, it's better that they are not at home all day. We may change our minds, and I sure do miss them, but for now, this is their real education.
:)
(See? I think too much)


Towards rhythm and beauty...

Ugh. I have two lives now. Homeschooler and drive-the-kids-to-school, schooler. My house reflects the chaos I feel. Poor DH. I have got to figure this out.


I am hoping and praying...

For a beautiful beautiful gal who is so close to my heart. She has been going through a rough time for so very long. God needs to do something, and fast. Praying that His will for her life be made known and all the pieces fall into place quickly. And that we all have peace and joy in the process.


I am learning...

That I need to let go a lot more often and with more grace and trust than I am used to. There is very little I can control. From my own kids to other people's opinion of me and my children... or my house, car, clothing... it's so trivial, and yet to some, it is so essential. I need to step away from that kind of thinking.


Around the house...

The laundry beast is out of control. All the uniforms for school, P.E. and soccer is just killing me. Yesterday was "free dress" day (thank the Lord... and also? Thank the Lord for uniforms all the other days! Yikes on the fashionista front!) I was able to get the uniform situation under control. Most days I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants... or, pj's, as it were.
:P


From the kitchen...

No idea. Lol. We'll be making banana muffins for sure. Dinner will be meatless, but that's all I know. I stink at the no meat dinner ideas. And my family hates tuna. :(


On my iPod...

Haven't listened in ages. Really.
But I am looking forward to this. Because I am a rabid fan. Still.


One of my favorite things...

Hot coffee on a brisk fall morning. It has been way too long...


A few plans for the week...

Weekend soccer games, Homecoming week for the school kids (lots of fun events planned=lots of mommy work... but it's all fun) more bedroom work.. organizing and de-cluttering so we can make it all more functional!


A picture thought...

Gratuitous Little Dude photo...


:)

Autumn Babymoons

Autumn is babymoon time for me. All of my children were born in late summer, early autumn. (And so, by default, Spring is morning-sickness time.  Unfortunately, I feel inexplicably ill on certain spring mornings... my body's way of remembering, I guess...lol)

 
There is a slight crispness to the air as I recline in bed, nursing Little Dude to sleep.  The curtains dance in our bedroom... and the evening is quiet.

I hold Little Dude close, smell his babyness, and sigh, remembering....

I remember how fragile I feel, just home from the hospital.  That first evening home I made it as far as the chair in the front living room. It was Halloween, and I wanted to see the comings and goings in the neighborhood, wanted to see my own peanuts as they waltzed out the door, and their excited faces as they came racing back in with their Dad and Grandpa, spreading their bounty on the floor, eager to share....

I remember not realizing that by parking myself in the front living room, I'd made myself available to the sweaty, make-up laden teenagers from down the street eager to see and (eek!) touch my precious 3 day old babe.... their wonder and excitement was contagious, though. And I discreetly wiped the.. erm... fake blood from Little Dude's cheek. 

And later that night, piling pillows all around, laying in my own bed... struggling to care for this littlest life, I remember the hot tears. The recovery is always difficult for me, and caring for such a helpless one while feeling so helpless myself compounds my hopelessness. The hot tears are cooled in the night breeze, the strong arms around me calm my heart, and the babe's wails are quieted. The soft sheets on the bed are a welcome respite from the rough hospital linens.  My legs gingerly explore the cooler spots on the surface, every movement reminding me of my frailty.


I remember the slow descents from my upstairs bedroom to the living room. Eventually I was able to do it without help.  Then I was able to do it while carrying Little Dude.  Every day I made that descent, unwilling to remain isolated in my bedroom.  I joined in the family life, parking myself in the corner of the longest couch, able to see and hear all.  And when I would fall asleep, the kids would tiptoe around me, or snug in while I nursed Little Dude, holding him in my arms while he slept, not wanting to put him down.

(my "corner spot"... notice the sweats? comfort is a must!)

I remember how everyone rallied. How the kids did laundry and dishes. How my DH would come home from work and start on dinner. He would clean the kitchen, sweeping and mopping, and then he would take a wailing babe for a walk outside while I attempted a shower. Everything centered on our family life.  There were little to no outside distractions... (well, except the occasional soccer game, of course)

Now Little Dude is walking.

What a difference 11 months makes.  I knew it would come.  But I honestly didn't think it would come this quickly.  He squirms out of my arms and I set him down.  On his sturdy little legs he toddles off, eager to see and do, just like everyone else. Put a soccer ball in front of him and he moves double-time.  It's quite a sight to see... the ball is as tall as his legs are long.  But he moves it, first one foot, then the other.

He fits right in.

Perfectly.

:)

Daybook: Second Week of School

I can't believe how quickly the time is flying by now. We are just starting our second week of school for all of the kids, even the homeschooled ones. Little Dude is walking, and I'm able to be away from him for a few hours at a time now, if need be. And the weather has finally turned. Finally. More on all of this throughout my daybook. 


Outside my window~

Sunshine. Blue skies. COOL temps. High of only 84 today... yes, only. We went from 100's to 80's in 2 days.  Lows at night in the 60's. Fall is here!!


I am listening to~

My two homeschoolers fighting. Oy. It's snack time, and apparently making the lemonade is sending them over the edge.


I am wearing~

Khaki shorts and long sleeve melon-colored v-neck shirt. Bare feet. Of course.

(on the ferry heading up the Georgia Strait)


I am so grateful for~

Cooler weather. After over 65 days straight of triple digits, the cooler breezes seem miraculous. Indeed, they are. I am SO grateful.


I am pondering~

The balance of homemaking.  Specifically, a home that is kid-friendly, but neat. Our house will never be Pottery-Barn perfect. Our furniture is mostly hand-me-downs... and when I have toddlers running through it hither and yon, I'm glad for that. I can let go of my worry about our things and focus on our company.  However, I also know that children love beauty and order. How to balance both. How to not obsess but be organized. It may seem like a no-brainer, but this is hard for me.


I am reading~

Just finished The Help for book club.  Highly. Recommend.  My goodness, what an amazing read. 
I'm now reading Innocent Blood for book club, and The Children's Homer for the Lit class I teach.


I am thinking~

About my school kids. All day I think about them, checking their schedules, seeing what class they are in, and I pray for them.  They are doing so well at school. I can hardly believe it. 

(excuse the early-morning, Papa-in-a-hurry shot)


I am creating~

New bedrooms. DH and I, side-by-side. Boo and Love's room is finished.  We painted the boys' room yesterday. DH is building lofts. It's slow, but we are making progress. What a crazy time. 


On my iPod~

Lots of painting music.  :)

(view from our bedroom at the beach house... sigh)



Towards a real education~

Our co-op is going really well. Little Dear's classes are more challenging this year, but not overwhelming. It's a good balance. We went on a nature walk this morning. It was glorious. I think we need to do that a bit more this Fall. 


Towards rhythm and beauty~

Less kids at home mean less mess. It's really true. But it also means less hands to help if I need it. Little Dude is so much happier now that he's more mobile. I can get some chores done! And also? I can write more. How I've missed it!

(Little Dude at the beach house)



I am hoping and praying~

For Suzanne, and Charlotte, and many other intentions. 


In the garden~

Need to re-plant. I can't wait until this weekend when I can go and buy fall blooms!!


Around the house~

The smell of paint and wood stain. How fun!

(missing our family in Canada... right Little Boo?)


From the kitchen~

I've been baking. :)  Apple pie and carrot cake, for starters. The promise of fall brings out the domestic side of me.



One of my favorite things~

Yummy kitchen smells. :)




A few plans for the week~

Our calendar is starting to fill up. Soccer practices, Irish step dance, Night out for mom, soccer tournament this weekend, a coffee get-together... it's nice to get back into socializing again!



A picture thought~

(from our trip to the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada)


:)

Overflowing

My inbox, that is. (along with my Facebook wall)

And, consequently, my heart.

:)

Thank you so much, my very dear friends, for all of the notes of encouragement and promises of prayer for tomorrow. With each and every note and e-mail, my spirits are lifted and my wary heart is strengthened. You have no idea how much it means to me to read this constant outpouring of love.

I am so excited to hold this little one... to behold his face and have his fingers curl around mine.  To know him and name him.  At long last.

Miraculously, I have been able to accomplish every task set before me this past week. Including confession today with a dear old priest who is a champion of the local pro-life movement and simply overjoyed at the impending arrival of our little guy.  He sent us on our way this morning, laden with graces and prayers and handmade rosaries and lots of extra blessings. 

It's been a beautiful week.

And tomorrow is going to be a beautiful day.

:)

With Great Honor....

... comes great responsibility.

(Or something like that)

Little Boo (after soccer practice last night):  Coach said I am the captain of the team!

Me:  Really?  All-time captain?

Little Boo: Yup!

(recalling Little Boo's tendencies to be a bit...erm... vocal to her teammates on the field) 
Sports Fan:  Yeah, but it doesn't mean you can boss people around!

Little Boo:  I won't.  I'll just tell them what to do.


Lovely.

Dictatorship at the hands of an 8 year old.  Should be an interesting season...

:P

Welcome Fall!!

Tomorrow

 

Forecast:

 

 

Sunny 

 

Temperature:  76°

Chance of Precip:  0%

 

Wind: N at 9 mph

:)

Seven Quick Takes... Vol I

No, I've never ever in my blogging years have done this quick takes thingy before.  But my brain is fried and my house is a mess and we are all still wishing we were in Colorado at my parents house sipping hot tea in the freezing cold mornings and watching the deer nibble on the grass outside.

~1~

Yes, we took one last summer trip to the Rocky Mountains to terrorize see my parents last week.   13 hours there, 12 hours back.  And 8 glorious days in humane temperatures.  We warned the kids that there would be no. special. trips. once we got there.  Only unlimited outdoor playtime.  The first day was a bit rough, with sleep deprivation and the whole not-used-to-playing-outside thing... but after that, they made full use of the woods, tree house, and hot tub... along with movies and board games and coloring and playing with Grandma's stash of kid toys. I got a lot of school planning done, and it was just simply heavenly all around.

~2~

Oh! But we did take them places... never fear.  My mom and I drove 2 hours with the kids to the Hot Springs to spend the day in the spring-fed river, pools, and water slide.  It was awesome.  The kids had a blast, and I loved the unlimited water/sun-minus-humidity combo. A stop at the ice cream store on the way home was the cherry on top. The next day, my folks took all the kids out so DH and I could go get lunch by ourselves.  That, too, was amazing.  And much-needed.
:)

~3~

As much fun as it was, we may never go away again.  :P  Upon arriving home, we noticed that our cat was covered in "dirt"... which was quickly ascertained to be dried blood... which was quickly traced to his tongue... which had been cut on his cat food can... which we had told the neighbor to just open for him every day.  Well, apparently by the end of the week, he had somehow attacked the can with a vengeance and split his tongue.  Off to the vet DH went (after driving 12 hours that day) to shell out a small fortune to have the cat put under general anesthesia so his tongue could be stitched up.  Antibiotics and 2 days later, he re-opened the wound and we'll just have to leave it.  Totally worth the original $500 we plunked down, dontcha think?  Ugh.

~4~

The second day we were home, the upstairs bathroom had a bit of an overflow problem.  I got the phone call from an oh-so-calm Sports Fan as I ran errands around town.  The first words out of his mouth when I answered my cell phone were:

OHMYGOSH MOMCOMEHOMEQUICKTHE  (mumble mumble)WATERPOURING (mumble)CEILING(mumble) HOMESCHOOLROOM(mumble)FLOODING!!!!!

Yes.

That was just what I wanted to hear.

~5~

DH's initial reaction to this incident is not blog-approved.  However, by the time he came home from work, he actually hugged the offending party and assured the person that it was fixable, not to worry.  Then he stood there with his hands on his head staring up at the ceiling for a long time.  Which made Little Boo pronounce him to be in a "bad mood" so no one should talk to him.
:P

~6~

Soccer season is upon us!  Little Boo had her first practice yesterday, after watching Lil Sis' first game.  Sports Fan is also playing this year (different team, different field, different organization altogether... sigh) But the two of them have been practicing together non-stop.  I am constantly yelling at them to pick up their cleats and shin guards and will they please put their socks in the wash?  But I do love this time of year... it means Fall is on the way!  And who doesn't love Fall?

~7~

Which leads me to my final "take."  Little Dude is set to make his appearance (via c-section) Oct 29th. He's growing well (and so am I, thankyouverymuch).  There are still times I look down at my stomach and can't believe I'm pregnant. (I know, my grasp on reality is stellar) But it's more of a joyous disbelief.  I still worry, believe it or not... and I know I will, until we both come out of surgery with clean bills of health.  If you think of it, between now and then, would you mind offering a prayer up for us?  I really really hate this surgery... and this will be my fourth time going through it.  I need peace.. in my heart and mind... that all will be well.
Thank you, friends!


Go visit Jen at Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes.

:)

Weather Words

There is nothing that lifts my sinus-clogged spirits like these words on my weather page:

Abundant Sunshine


:)

Rhetorical Question

So, how much schooling do you think is being accomplished today?

:P

Thankful Thursday Thoughts

Playing along with Barbara today, this gorgeous sun-and-cornflower-blue-sky day!

I'm thankful for:

~THE SUN. Yes, I know, but really. Our back fence was getting moldy. Moldy! But this past week has been absolutely gorgeous. Deep blue sky, warming sun. I spend the afternoons schooling on the back patio. Everything burns orange.

~Good true friends. A bit of disillusionment going on over here. I am just so grateful for those people who listen to understand, not condemn. Think about that for a moment. It's invaluable wisdom to ponder, especially for us bloggers. Take that into the real world, and you've got yourself a mission for life.

~ My family, near and far. Connectedness keeps a person grounded. Even something as simple as watching the Yankees win the World Series... I knew my entire extended family would be watching (and I imagine some of them were in the stands at Yankee Stadium) I could almost hear my Uncle Frank: "Geez, Pettitte! Can you believe that? I'm tellin' ya, 'Meg." lol
We need family. It shapes our world.

~Busy fall days. Every week during this month we have an "event" hosted here at the Nut House. I love it. It keeps me accountable, it keeps my house clean, it keeps me busy. Not to mention it always involves bringing loved ones together.
















Here we are at the very soggy State Fair of Texas last month.


:)

Wednesday Lessons

It's another rainy day here. We've had a few days of glorious sun and open skies, but now it is time for the return of the dreary side of Fall.

We've had our share of rain, and after an entire week of being socked in.. fog and misty rain do not belong in a Texan's vocabulary yet here I was all ready to purchase hip rain boots and parade my way to Starbucks like all the PNWer's... we needed more sun. That's my own personal opinion, of course, you can take it with a grain of humidity.
:)

Hauling ourselves out of bed this morning, I groaned as the rain poured down. Today is our "stay home" day of the week. No one has gym class or scouts or any other activity. We annoy the hell out of enjoy each other's company all. day. long.

Lovely. Couldn't. wait.

Yet... here I sit. Dinner is in the crock pot. Sports Fan made pumpkin muffins (supervised) while I popped ingredients into the bread maker and switched it on. The girls are playing "store" in the front living room, Action Man is scheming something with his matchbox cars and Lil Sis is napping upstairs. All this while Martina McBride croons in the background.

It is lovely. I'm so grateful to be shown that, for this moment anyway, rainy days and staying home days can be peaceful and productive. Maybe I won't dread it quite so much the next time around...

Like in a few months.

:P

My Heart's At Home Daybook: The Flu Edition

Outside my home...

Cloudy cloudy day. Storms and mugginess are in the forecast this week.


I am listening to...

The girls play Barbies. They are all on the mend, with Little Love still sporting a low grade fever despite the fact that she was the very first to get sick last week. Our school today will be sporadic at best.


I am wearing...

Jeans and a tank under a lime green sweatshirt. My hair is up in a messy bun, although that has to change before I venture out into the world of mankind... to get more medicine, of course. :)

















To be fit and happy...

Of course I've fallen off the wagon, but just for the past week. Yesterday I went for a brisk walk around the neighborhood, and tonight I will run. I'm determined that this healthy lifestyle will become permanent.


I am thankful for...

Nebulizers and Tamiflu and MucinexD and Motrin. I would be in a panic about my children if it wasn't for these wonders of medicine. Especially for my asthma-prone kids... we're keeping a sharp eye on them during this sickness.


I am pondering...
Patience. And keeping connected. Specifically with my children. One of my kids is drama incarnate while sick, and the hysterics are enough to drive me over the edge. My calm demeanor is sometimes the only thing that holds us together...

















I am reading...

Just finished State of Fear (for book club) and am still re-reading Hold On To Your Kids. It is the only parenting book worth buying, IMHO. I can't even lend it out, I'm so glued.


From the kitchen...

It's been McD's and pizza for those well enough to eat. I'm too worn out playing sick nurse and disinfecting the house. Hopefully I'll be able to throw something decent together for tonight.


I am creating...
Beauty. In my home and most specifically, in the master bed and bath. Lil Sis and I are doing paintings, and I am organizing and re-decorating. It's nice to live in a grown up space.

















On my iPod...

Nothing new, yet. I gave a list to Lil Sis and she made me a cd. Somehow in the next week, the two shall become one. :)


I am hoping and praying...

That the children recuperate before company come on Friday, and that DH and I don't get sick. It's imperative that we don't. And so we are willing our way around this airborne virus.


In the garden...

Mr. D next door promised me new flowers soon. But in the meantime, the stuff out there looks great! (did you seriously expect me to remember the actual names of what I planted out there?) So, I am not too concerned at the moment. The torrential rains this weekend made our yards look amazing.
















Around the house...

Fall decor has sprung up, though not in full force yet. It's hard to put out the scarecrows and pumpkins when it is 85 degrees. Although I know it is fall. The sun is slanted and everything burns orange...


On keeping home...

Nursing sick ones and reading to feverished children has enveloped my days. However, DH and I have really gotten quite a bit accomplished in and outside the home. Nothing motivates you like expected family in town! We are thrilled that Andrew's sister is making the trip south. The weather looks promising, and the hope of health keeps us going.

















One of my favorite things...
Hot coffee on a cool, cloudy morning. And everyone home, safe and sound. DH is working from home today and Lil Sis hasn't left for school yet. The house is bustling, but quietly. I love it.



A few plans for the rest of the week...

I believe we only have one plan for the rest of the week... GET. BETTER. :) With lots of cleaning along the way.



A picture thought I am sharing...















Behold... our "sick room." The kids don't like to be banished to their rooms when they are sick. Instead, we spread sheets over our furniture and assign each sickie their own "bed." The kitchen overlooks this living room, so they have easy access to Mom, medicine and food. The TV is also in this room and entertainment abounds.

This is where the action is these days.

:)

My Baby Turns 5 Today!

And I promise I'm not crying about it.... well, not too much anyway.

:)















I just adore this picture of Little Boo holding Little Love...



In all seriousness, how could I be sad?
When remarking to Little Love yesterday that she is not a baby any more, that she is getting so big and lovely....
She replied quite wisely and in her seriously lispy way:

Of course I am, Mama!

And then she skipped away.




















So, that's what we're about today. Skipping about and issuing wise proclamations on the passage of life.

And playing Barbies and eating lots of chocolate cake with pink icing.


My Little Love delights and amazes us daily with her quick intellect and funny sayings. As the youngest, she definitely sees the need to make her wishes known... often quite loudly. (We are working on this.)
















We are so blessed to have this littlest one in our lives.

Today I am going to revel in God's wonder and wisdom.

:)