Pumpkin Patch 2013

Here's to a gorgeous Fall day

and family

and kids who make everything

exciting 

and to Tessa who was 30

that day:)

Whew, we made it!!

My youngest child graduated from

high school this week,

by the skin of his teeth!

When he walked across the stage for 

his diploma I went weak all over 

with relief...

He has been blessed with 4 wonderful guys

as friends since babyhood 

and they all enjoyed a grad open house

together. 

Go Guys!!

1940's Picnic for Mother's Day and Birthday 2013

My blog was the inspiration

for the ideas my kids came up with

for this celebration...

from my favorite recipes to

vintage clothes to picnics to hikes...

They did a wonderful job of all

of it and it was a glorious perfect day

with the sun pouring through the trees

onto our picnic place.

My family including spouses and grand kids

 They are truly wonderful adults who love me

and support me and make sure I know 

that I'm special...

I am blessed!

Joy Comes in the Morning

Sometimes we know that our heart is 

different than it was the day before

and sometimes we are surprised 

to find joy has returned without

our even realizing it...

and it is always the gentle

Holy Spirit 

who comes and blesses 

us with joy again.

Three Things I love about being a Mom

Thank you to Quiet Ramblings

for nominating me for this award.

Things I love about being a mom

1. Motherhood is the refiners fire that 

changes you from a spoiled girl

to a woman who would do anything on earth

to protect her child.

2. Motherhood helps you understand God's

love in a whole new way, unconditional love

and love given even when there is no  reason

on earth to give it...you give it anyway.

3. Motherhood proves once and for all

that there is nothing we can't do, my doctor

told me once that a mother could be the CEO 

of the biggest corporation and do it better

than any guy...and he is a guy!

I'm passing this award on to 

Orangerie

Kenj has so much real practical ideas

for raising kids as a home school mom,

I think you'll enjoy her take on it.

My Lovelies

My children

My grandchildren

My sons-in-law

My daughter-in-law

My heart

Christmas Eve 2012

My Oldest is 30!

My daughter Shana turned 30 yesterday!

We spent the day in Silver Falls Park

hiking and watching the little ones

be so excited about waterfalls and

rivers, bugs and sticks!

Then we finished our day with a yummy

BBQ in the park.

Going down memory lane...

When I have a child reaching a 

milestone in their life I always end up 

in my photo cupboard, going through the 

boxes and albums and feeling kind of teary eyed.

 This was my baby girl on the day she went 

home from the hospital, all 5 lbs 11 oz of her, 

and I was barely 19, and not even feeling the 

least bit scared that I might not know how

to be a Mom!

Shana May

my "soon to be a bride" daughter,

WHERE oh where did the time go?!

Swimming into Summer's End

The hot days of August are winding down 

and I've been thinking that this is the first year

since 1986 that I won't be "getting" 

anyone to school!

My youngest goes into 11th grade and has 

a car, (and an alarm clock!)

so in other words I can go on 

pretending it's still summer as long as I want:)

My Birthday Post #3

We ended my Birthday trip with a picture.

My boys always give weary sighs,

when I say "okay, one last thing before we leave,

I want a picture of all of you!"

But they oblige me because they are

good sons who know it makes their Mom happy!

(the girls don't mind)

Thanks for traveling along on my 

Little Adventure 

and celebrating the big 48

with me!

It's Just Us Now

Life at my house has changed a lot

recently. We only have one son left at

 home and the supper table, house and yard

seem so quiet! 

I also have trouble remembering 

to cook for a very small family.

You Moms' out there who

have all your kiddos at home...

Love it!

Appreciate it!

Enjoy the noise and laughter!

All TOO soon, it's gone.

To Have and To Hold

My oldest daughter walked in the house last night

with an engagement ring on her finger!

Totally shocked me and I'm still in kind of

a daze...but I am excited to help plan

a wedding again...the new styles are so

gorgeous!  Plus it sounds like a fall wedding

and I can imagine how pretty that will be:)

(image is from Anthropologie)

Where, Oh Where did my baby go?

My Youngest on his First day of High School

Where did that Baby go who I rocked in the night when he was colicky?
Where did the Toddler go who got up in the middle of the night and pulled his dresser drawers out on the floor?
Where did the Little Boy go who would run and hug me tight after a day of Kindergarten?
Where did the Boy go who took his "Beary" with him every where?
He's a Young Man now Mommy...let him go to make his way in the world...Please, God, go with him every step of the way!