April 2020

  My actual birthday day was gloriously sunny for the most part and we went on a picnic on our favorite mountain. I wear 'house clothes' almost every day and have not worn a dress for probably over a year....SO I decided to shock everyone and put one on. Honestly it didn't really fit BUT everyone was so sweet with their shock at how pretty they thought I looked.

My girls dressed up for the picnic (my one daughter does not love dressing up in dresses but her sister adores it and so sometimes she does it for her...and they match).
Sometimes it still amazes me that I have three daughters!

They are all so different from each other but each of their hearts brim with sweetness. I hope that when they are older they will be dear dear friends that support each other and go through life together.

Here is the crew. They are ageing me like nothing else, but they are also growing every part of my heart and soul in every capacity and I could not ask for more.

 I am so close to age forty but there are still a few short years here in my thirties. Let me not waste a second.

My Birthday

  The day before my birthday was rainy and grey. I never love those days but it was what it was. My daughter was working at her new job and had asked my husband to pick her up. She had a surprise to bring home for me. When she asked me to come out to see it I was beyond surprised. She had bought me a Wisteria tree. Never have I thought about getting a Wisteria tree and when I saw it I wondered where it had been all my life. This tree was whimsy and delicacy and beauty all in one. I was smitten. My daughter mentioned she thought I might not like it because it was not practical enough. I didn't quite know how to reply but I guess I saw a bit of myself the way she sees me. However she didn't let the worry of my practicality stop her and I am so glad.
   
                                                                Just look at this color!

                                                      My birthday cake and the creator

Decorating by my thirteen year old son early in the morning before I got up. We had no decorations so he improvised with tissue paper.

The table I woke up to AND, might I add, children who were all dressed and ready for the day without my harping on them to do it...see I KNEW they were capable.

                                               April was all it needed to be for me.

                                                                 Ferns ~ my favorite.

                                I am now in a new year of my own life ~ and forward I will go.

A Victory Garden Update

 Victory is my word for the year over my family ~ and I have decided that this is the word that I will speak over the course of the next many generations of my family. Victory! There is much power in that declaration.

  We have our victory garden going in full swing and it has continued to bring us joy.

All the seeds planted indoors managed to sprout other than the ones that cats ate or smashed and the ones we forgot to water.

It was amazing to literally see them growing inches each day.

My husband has done all the planting. I know full well that in a month or two he will probably not be doing much gardening and the rest will fall to me. So I am enjoying him doing as much as he will do. He has done a great job.

                        The Spring blooms in the other parts of the yard are my favorite.

We look forward to kale, beans, peas, beets, carrots, zucchini, cucumber and more, and each bite will hold the taste of victory.

As May Ends

  Here I am feeling a little more able than usual. I have been getting more sleep and for me that is always an anthem of my life since having children. If I get some sleep I start to feel like I am rising from some fort of ash heap of exhaustion and depression.

  It is the end of May and my baby has all her teeth except the eye teeth that she will be getting for a little while. She has been starting to walk, sleep better, and talk so much more. When there is a baby in the house everything revolves around what baby needs and so much of who I am is wrapped up in that.

  While I revolved around the baby and she is my sun the rest of the family is still shining brightly and reflecting much of her sunshine and being suns themselves.

  The Corona Virus has sort of wrapped itself up here where I live but many are still full of fear and not able to return to the innocence of before, of viruses being just normal every day things we dont think about that often.

  We are going into Summer mode and I am wrapping up my homeschool year. It is especially glorious this year (this wrapping up of homeschool) and I am so excited to be in Summer mode.

  As you carefully step out (or burst out) of your social distancing, or your time of being quarantined, or lock down, or if you are still in that state ~ remember that there is still a beautiful world out there just loving you and blossoming, shining for your enjoyment. Remember that people are there to love and adore and enjoy alongside you. It might be feeling easier to not have to 'deal' with real relationships and to stay hidden away in your home now. I think living life with others, even though there are challenges, is vital. So that is what I hope to be able to do this Summer. xo

Corona Moments

During this Pandemic we have had lot of 'Corona Moments.' Here are a few.

There is a movement to put hearts in your window to express solidarity in the situation and so here are ours.

We are putting in a Victory Garden. There was a rock hill here with  massive trees on it just a few weeks ago!

          We have started all sorts of seeds in the house to prepare to plant many treasures.

                            All the parks are closed, as are trails, lakes, beaches etc.

Children remain busy, creative, exhausting and themselves despite any situation!

    This guy sewed his own burrito stuffy all himself. I am so proud of him.

This little one continues to grow and bless us with her presence. She is not quite walking yet but just on the cusp. She can say many words and express herself quite clearly.

We have gone for many walks. Many many walks. They keep us sane.

                         Her sweetness and her love ~ it all brings us so much joy.

No one is too big to appreciate Easter Baskets and that makes my heart happy.

The creative ways to be with friends and maintain social distancing has forged stronger friendships and brought much deep joy for my oldest.

This pandemic has not been too challenging for our children in many ways. They have adapted to the changes and remained quite happy most days. For my husband and I there have been very stressful days with so many unknowns, so many worries, so many people struggling, so many losses. Our hearts are with so many people out there that are suffering.

We keep on ~
xo