Winter Wonderland

Snow! Snow! While we swam early this morning our world turned white.

Yesterday we cut our Christmas tree in the rain, it was the quickest our famiy has ever chosen a tree! Now the tree is trimmed and the snowy backdrop through the window is just perfect. I have never had a Christmas tree and snow at the same time (at least that I can recall)...it is a welcome novelty.

The downside is that my daughter still needed to go to school and she has never driven in the snow. So this Mama is worried and my imagination is working overtime.

Siding

Every week brings new and exciting changes to our new home. The siding is about 70% finished, and I send a hearty thanks out to the poor siders working in the downpours of the past few weeks.

The electrical wiring is complete and the audio wiring is in progress. Oh yes, and doors! I think that once the house is all seeled up it'll be ready for the plasterboard. Do I dare move the count forward to three months, we've been stalled at four months for so long now?

An Early Morning Farewell

With sleepy eyes and sad hearts we made a very quiet drive to the airport. Most of our friends know our family to be extrememly quiet travelers under normal circumstances, but we are especially so at 5 a.m!
The week with cousin J went far to quickly. But the girls made the most of the time, filling their hours with music, books, Quiddler, and of course TEA.
Having J here was just like duplicating one my own daughters! And we're trying to entice her to move this direction someday. Only I don't know that I could face my sister again if she actually succumbed to our plea.
Now, we need to reenter the real world and catch up on all that's been set aside during this week of visiting. Big Sigh.

Windows!!!!!

Monday's Unexpected Visit

Good to see you J and W....next time under different circumstances!

Sweet Mama To Be

February's bride is now counting down the weeks until her own little one is safely in her arms.
Almost makes me want one more, just to feel that anticipation once again....almost, but not quite, I'm enjoying life on this side of motherhood!

And, of course, all the girl cousins want to share in the experience..where is little G kicking now?

Cousins, The Best Of Friends!

Iowa, Idaho, and Oregon Cousins...who will be the next to wed?


Please, won't you move to Oregon?


The younger set of little ladies.


So happy to be together again!

To Have And To Hold

"First Dance"

It was our great pleasure this past weekend to witness the wedding of my niece to her Marine. It's awfully exciting to see this next generation growing up, but a little scary too as I watch and wonder how long until my own daughters will be walking down that aisle? It just wasn't that long ago that I was sitting at the kitchen table doing preschool with my sweet little nieces while my sister taught piano lessons! And now they're both grown with homes of their own. How swiftly the years are flying by.

Slowly But Surely

The roof is completed! And progress is being made inside too. Pipes are in place, waiting for tubs, sinks, and showers. Electrical boxes are appearing everywhere. Windows are neatly stacked against the garage wall and doors have been ordered. It's good to see progress, regardless of how slowly it may come.
The rains have started in earnest now....and the house is still sitting atop the hill! That's good to see.

The Joy of Granting Little Wishes

It must have been nearly a year ago, Moonchild and I were enjoying a cuddle with a book about a trip to zoo. She began to ask what we might find in the zoo, if we went. I realized that this youngest child of mine couldn't remember ever visiting the zoo. And why should she? The last time she had gone must have been when she was only a year old!


But at that time we were in the midst of selling the house, packing up, and preparing to move. I quickly made a promise that when we were settled again we would make time for the zoo! Then the promise was pushed to the far recesses of my mind.


Throughout the year she dropped reminders and as her birthday approached the much longed for trip became fixed on our calendar. With great excitement we piled into the van, all eight of us available on the same afternoon (phenomenal these days). And made the journey into the city.


Miss Moonchild was delighted with each exhibit. And I was delighted with the time spent frolicking with all of our children. How many families have teens that still enjoy a day at the zoo? I am blessed beyond measure.


So, I thank you, my Moonchild, for your patience and for a wonderful family day. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to the zoo.

Ready for round two!

It is with great pride that I announce that Lavender Girl received her "Official Acceptance Letter" to our favortie home-town university over the weekend! She plans to study music and ..... her minor is yet to be decided.

The idea of four more years of study ahead is a bit daunting to her at the moment. I understand, she is a homemaker through and through, just like her Mama. But I know that she too will grow and thrive in this new environment, just like her big sister is doing.

Way to go, my sweet Lavender Girl! You are destined fill our hearts with beautiful music.

Quote Of The Day

"Oregon and tea are the best of friends!"
by Moonchild as she sipped of her warm cup over her math this morning.

A Moment for Stillness

The day had been long and productive. Two bedrooms were made cozy and comfortable again. The time had now come to sit with my girls over a peaceful meal at the end of the day. The lights were doused, the candles lit...on sudden inspiration a pile of leaves appeared from the basket collected earlier in the day. It was a moment suspended in time, a moment to pause and be still.

Highlights From Our Getaway

"The Spouting Horn"

"Contemplating The Majesty"

"Celebrating 20 Years!"

"500 Year Old Giant Spruce"

Happy 8th Birthday, Moonchild!

Autumn moon rising,
Glowing orange in eastern sky.
Soliciting rapturous cry of joy,
"See, Mommy, the moon so high?"
Every night the wonder continues,
As Moonchild gazes anew,
Upon the autumn moon.
Lori 10/19/2005

Heading Out to Celebrate

Twenty years ago today we started the adventure of our lives when we said "I do." Now we're off to celebrate the adventures that have been and the adventures yet to come!
I'll be back next week.....with pictures.

Autumn Beauty

Undecided?


Pathway


Trod Through Me

Entering Autumn

The season of my life is changing.

I'm not much of a country girl, at least not yet. My view of autumn has been mostly of falling leaves and the crispness of the air as the weather changes. But today I've been thinking more about the harvesting that occurs with autumn. Grammy has brought in her hay for the cows. Others are harvesting apples for cider and pies. And critters are putting away their horde of nuts for winter. What am I harvesting as I enter the autumn of my life?

I've been planting, watering, weeding, and pruning for 18 years. Beautiful fruit has grown and is ready for the harvest! I look back over the years and remember.... My Autumn Rain was only four when we welcomed our fourth child into our lives. I thought I would never sleep again! Then Ladybird and Moonchild joined us. We were into the thick of homeschooling by then. I couldn't imagine a life beyond babies and books. Now, on this side, I wish I'd been able to relax and enjoy the journey - one day at a time.

Now here is autumn slowly creeping up on my life. My oldest is voraciously devouring her new found life at the university. The next in line is busily perparing herself to begin her college days next year. My oldest son has got his first job and dreams of going to Cal-Tech someday. Another son is beginning his high school years. Fancy that, they are growing up as quickly as they arrived in my arms!

The harvest is ripening. And though it will be a few years yet until it is all gathered in, I know how quickly these years will pass! I want to glean the joy of this season.

More Progress

Things are slowly but steadily moving along. As of this week we have stairs and I can now look around the second story of our home. I went up the ladder once a few weeks back and had a terrible time getting myself back down again, so I've not ventured up there anymore until today! There are a few things that don't make sense to us and we're wondering how it's going work, but I'm sure the builder knows what he's doing...even if we don't understand it. That's a familiar place for me to be in!

It's Official

The much anticipated day has finally arrived. Tuition has been paid, student ID card has been activated, books have been bought, and a few new clothes as well. My Autumn Rain donned her new brown jacket, slung her very heavily laden laptop bag over her shoulder, and paused for brief goodbye as she headed out our doorway. WAIT! I need to take a picture of your first day. Which I promptly did, only it didn't turn out well and she would not appreciate my posting it. Too bad.

Now she's away and the house feels empty, even while the other 5 are busily doing their work around me. But I'll see her tonight and I'll repeat again how grateful I am that she's still living at home. I look forward to the stories we'll hear 'round the dinner table tonight, the very first of their kind told there!