Christmas Sunrise

Am I Ready?

The count down to Christmas has begun in earnest, it's just 7 sleeps away!!!! Tomorrow the Grandparents arrive, which will herald the beginning of our festivities.

Not that we haven't been celebrating already. We've decorated and begun baking, hosted a couple of parties, watched the Sunday School program with our adorable Ladybird and Moonchild participating, and made a few forays to town for shopping. I haven't done all that I wanted to do. I didn't make my photo pages to send out to family...yet, maybe they'll go our for New Year's. There is more baking to do and packages to wrap.

But I'm ready for the pace to slow. I want to savor the days shared with parents. I want to anticipate the arrival of my brother and his family coming to welcome the New Year with us. I want to enjoy the lights on the tree, the abundance of music in my home, cuddle up and read our Christmas books (now out of storage) with any children who want to join me.

I enjoy preparing Christmas for my family...but I love celebrating it with them even more!

Ending The First Term

I neglected to post a "first day of school" photo for my Lavender Girl!!!!! So to make up for it I'll put up this "last day of the first term" instead. My girl who went off to school dragging her feet is now completely sold on higher education and talking of graduate school. Her Dad knew what he was doing!!!!

Golden Autumn

We've had many a rainy day so far this season, but for a few brief days this week we've seen golden rays shining over the valley below.

Happy 9th Birthday to our Moonchild!

Another Vibrant Start Of Day

Praise of Created Things
St. Francis of Assisi

Be thou praised, my Lord, with all Thy creatures,
Above all, Brother Sun, who gives the day and lightens us therewith.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
Of Thee, Most High, he bears similitude.

Ladybird Turns 12!

The Birthday Child
by Rose Fyleman

Every thing's been different
All the day long,
Lovely things have happened,
Nothing has gone wrong.

Nobody has scolded me,
Everyone has smiled.
Isn't it delicious
To be a birthday child?

Rise and Shine

Second Cousins

My Family, My Friends

A little weekend getaway to Leavenworth, WA. The perfect way to enjoy some of my favorite people....mother, sisters, cousins, nieces, and an adorable nephew. We shopped, we dined, we talked, and strolled leisurely by the river. We relaxed and caught up on each others lives. Life is rich!

Musings of the Moonchild

"If all the world was fighting over the last watermelon...I wonder who would get it?"

I know who she hopes would get it! And I'm sure she would like to have the last one all to herself.

Cotton Candy Clouds

Magical Morning

Happy 18th Birthday, Lavender Girl!

1st Day of School

The day arrived and I must admit that I wasn't feeling nearly as enthusiastic about beginning school as I was last week at this time. I was quite reluctant to give up what remains of the the lazy days of summer. But I'd promised we would start today, so start we must or I'd have some very disappointed little girls on hand.

All in all it was a good start. The day flowed smoothly, we enjoyed the routine, and we finished everything on time! We enjoyed having new books to savor and new thoughts to ponder. The new school year is looking very promising.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

One Week To Go

The new school year is very quickly approaching.

Are we ready???? Maybe not physically...I haven't bought new paper or pencils, or organized my teacher manuals, or copied schedules for the kiddos....but mentally YES. We are ready for that blessed routine to infiltrate our existence once again. We are ready to wake each morning and know what's before us. Bible time, history, math, and new language arts and science to explore.

I'm excited to have a fresh start. The past two years were disjointed with moves and house building. Now we are home at last. Feeling settled and comfortable even if not completely unpacked.

School sounds just right.

Introducing Chesterton

Country life just wasn't quite complete without a puppy
and besides who could resist this lovable guy?
He is certainly not lacking for attention in this home and maybe
his need for exercise will motivate me in the need for mine!

Thanks for visiting, Dear Friends!

Reunion Weekend

It was different than anticipated this year. I've never spent our reunion weekend like this before. We arrived Wednesday evening after a long and pleasant drive through the gorge. And we were greeted exuberantly by the early arrivers. Over the next few days more family trickled in to the Qualls' Nest. Friday I waited and worried as my two teens drove themselves to the gathering from home. Finally around noon they were there and I could relax, enjoy the rest of the weekend, laugh with my sisters, love on the new little ones in our clan.

Or so I thought........
I'd changed to go down for a swim when my Autumn Rain came looking for me. "Mom, I think M needs help." I found her upstairs shaking and incoherent, in obvious need of help. We hauled her downstairs and out to the car for the scariest ride of my life. I really thought we were loosing her. I prayed and willed her to hang on until we arrived at the hospital twenty minutes away. The staff at this little country hospital are my heroes. What a relief to hand my young charge over to their care. They knew what to do, what tests to begin, and knew that she needed more care than they had to offer. So into the ambulance we went and off to a bigger hospital with a pediatric care unit.

For two days I played "mom" to my niece as we waited for her own mom to arrive. It's an uncomfortable place to be in, making decisions for someone else's child. I just had to do what I would do for my own. She's being treated for Meningoencephalitis, but the cause is still unknown. She's still in the hospital 6 days later waiting to be strong enough to travel home to Iowa.

So the weekend was different, but I'm glad I was there for my niece. I know she won't look back on the time with fondness, but it will alway be a special memory for me. No, I don't have pictures to share this year. But I have a beautiful niece who is getting well!

My World

The days have busy in my world....

A week of VBS for several of us.

A mission trip to CA for Lavender Girl and Techno Son.

A visiting cousin!!!!!

A trip to WA with the big girls to see the Mama Cousin and baby.

A visit to DMV with Techno Son who is now sporting his license!!!!! YIKES

And now we are madly washing laundry in preparation for our annual trip to the clan reunion and many, many cousins to hug on, read with, show off license pictures to, swim with, picnic with, stay up late and talk with.......it's going to be a grand weekend.

I'll be back with a fresh supply of pictures next week.