Happy Mother's Day and an Announcement!

What Did I Do Today

Author - Unknown

Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those windowpanes
Will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?

I held a baby till she slept,
I held a toddler while he wept.
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess that's true.
Unless you think that what I've done,
Might be important to someone
With deep green eyes and soft brown hair,
If that is true... I've done my share.

I had the priviledge of spending my Mother's Day Weekend away with my own special Mom http://elainewmiller.blogspot.com/ and Dad, my sister, and my brother and sister-in-law. What a special 48 hours it was, deep in the heart of amish country. I brought just the baby and enjoyed being able to dote on her for two days. There were sunny walks, rainy drives through the countryside, games by the woodstove and lots of silly laughter. And it made returning home on Mother's Day all the sweeter :) I was greeted by lots of hugs, homemade cards, a new gardening spade, and dinner lovingly prepared by Joe. A lovely weekend indeed. Happy Mother's Day.

The house we stayed in

The old mill and covered bridge on the same property

My brother- Sam, Sam, the fly fisher-man.

Amish working the fields right outside our door. A beautiful sight. And they were always smiling.

Grandpa and Charlotte

Charlotte and the claw foot tub :)

An old church with tombstones dating back to the 1700's

And... it seems we just can't get enough of all these babies. We found out a few weeks ago that baby #6 is on the way! Due to arrive in December sometime. I postponed announcing it here because my HCG levels were quite low and we weren't sure if it would be a viable pregnancy. But weeks have passed and I am comforted by the pregnancy symptoms I've been having and the fact that my clothes are already tight. I feel deliriously happy and nauseous all at the same time :) And I'm really struggling with fatigue. Not sure I've ever been more tired in my life. Planning to try taking it a little easy the next few months (if that's possible). I'm going to try to spend more time on the couch or sitting in the sunshine just reveling in the new life soon to become part of this boisterous bunch. Thank you God for your blessings too numerous to count.

Elizabeth

Raspberries and Hide-n-Seek

A dear friend was so generous in sharing some prolific rasberry bushes that were overtaking her garden. I am so thankful to have these. I've wanted to plant berries for several years, but after buying all our regular garden seeds (n stuff) every year, there's just never enough money left over for berry bushes. Thank you Robin!

I found the perfect place to plant them. Right next to our shed where our old chicken coop used to be. The earth is soooo fertile there after 4+ years of chickens! I tried my best to dig  around the many, many earthworms- a certain sign of healthy soil. 

And I won't even have to wait for rasberries because this dear woman also gifted me with several bags of berries, frozen from last season! Yay! I made my momma a Mother's Day rasberry pie. Can't wait to enjoy it with her this weekend!

And while I was planting these bushes there was lots of giggling going on around me, for Grandpa and Ava were having a game of hide-n-seek :)

Such perfect moments make me want to freeze time. But then, I'd never get to enjoy these peas that are growing nicely despite all the nasty weather we've been having :)

Tornado

No, we do not live in Alabama, but my heart and prayers sure go out to them down there. I experienced my first tornado last night as it ripped through our back yard and down the street. Our immediate neighbors have extensive damage. They've lost houses, barns, farm animals and valuables. The wooded cemetary with its beautiful, tall, ancient pines, has few left standing. Praise God no one was hurt. The only thing we lost was our trampoline. Amazing, considering the damage all around us.

 Ava has had a phobia of tornados ever since we mistakenly let her watch Twister with her brothers last summer. Every dark cloud, every strong wind, every rain and snow drop since, I have had to reassure her that, "No Ava, we are not having a tornado!"  I've told her several times we will likely never have a tornado considering we are surrounded by hills and frankly, New York state isn't real famous for its twisters.

Well we heard of the "tornado watch" on the weather channel before going to bed and I assured her once again as I tucked her in that we would not be seeing a tornado tonight. What do I know? Apparently not much. We heard it coming around 1:30 am, a wind that fiercely rattled my bedroom window and sent a chill through my heart. Joe and I grabbed the children, and ran for the basement. It was Ava's idea to pray first, and she was so calm. The Lord kept us, and really kept the whole neighborhood safe. Not one person was injured. When it was over and done Ava was giggly and giddy. We'd had a tornado and she'd survived it! If only all were that lucky.
I hope that will be the end of her phobia. Brave little Brenna just sat there on that cold basement floor, stunned and shaking. Garrett was concerned and hald asleep, Sweet Charlotte would've slept through it all if we hadn't woke her, and Connor was at Grandma's for the night. Though he's really bummed he missed it :)

Here are some pictures of the aftermath:

Standing in our driveway looking across the road. See that debris? That was a modular home.

Cemetary pics...

The neighbor's barn with our trampoline in the forefront:

Our neighbor's house

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

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Have a happy Wednesday!

May Your Easter be Filled with Your King...

Birthday Gifts

Some pretty wonderful ones were received this year:

An apron from my sister,

Feminine and bohemian = perfect! I've practically lived in it, as the (already) stains can attest to.

A beautiful bracelet and earring set from Mom and Dad:

The woman who made these lives in a single room in Bosnia. In the picture I saw, her smile sparkled as much as her jewelry :)

An azalea bush to plant (my first ever!) from my Mother-in-Law:

Plantable gifts are the gifts that keep on giving!

Grow lights constructed by my man:

three of them! And they work great- the little sprouts are already up and thriving in our dark basement :)

And with some money I received I gifted myself with this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735

I have wanted this book for some time now and simply can not wait to be inspired by it. I really hope to change my (and all of our) eating habits towards a more natural, raw, fermented, cultured foods diet. The benefits are said to be amazing. My concern is, and always has been whether I can realistically do this with a large family, on a very strict budget. But when I opened the book I was encouraged to find the first chapter all about raw, fermented and cultured dairy, with lots of healthy recipes to follow. I've already got the raw milk from ouir goats, so I've got a good headstart :).  Looking forward to devouring the rest... here's to a healthier me.

and... this adorable little barn plaque (can't think of the technical name for them- I know there is one) I found at the Salvation Army, ON my birthday, for a mere 99 cents! Doesn't it look cute on the goat house?

Now I must go sing a sleepy baby to sleep, and then go milk those goats. Have a great weekend!

Elizabeth

Boys, watch your sister...

so I can get a shower.

  That worked out well. Notice her entire hand in the honey jar.
And that would be a half a bag of rice she's sitting in.

 And the boys? Well, they were nowhere to be found...

Of course she had a similar experience with the pasta last month:

And I know I do myself no favors by taking pictures of these events while proclaiming how adorably naughty she is.

:)