WayfaringStrangers

In just 5 weeks or so, the spring peepers will be singing from the creek beds. The past few days reminded me of that, with the warm breezes and open windows. Today it is winter again, and I'm sipping tea, reading, and embracing quiet. Last week, we traveled to Delaware to celebrate the life of Behn's grandmother, Ruth. She was a lovely lady. I'm glad I was able to know her these years that I've known Behn, and that all 3 boys knew her, too. I'm glad we are within driving distance so that we could be with family. The house is 'decorated' with Lego toys and Star Wars ships. The boys have played well lately. Samuel is pulling himself up to stand. It won't be long now, before he's walking and the baby year is over. I'm sad about that, but I do love to see him crawl quickly around the house, trying to keep up with his brothers. This band of boys is a gift. You can't help but live life when life pulls you out of bed each day, life has constant ...

February, to me, is the longest month. March sure can stretch on, too, but at least the crocuses are coming up in March. A few things lately are helping me keep my sanity. And they are... 1. Early bedtime. Like, 8:30 or at least by 9:30. I just never know how many times I'm going to wake up for roll myself over (because, belly) or get up to use the bathroom. It's hard to feel rested, and I know it's only going to get harder after the baby comes... 2. Tea. I started drinking tea a few years ago, and have really enjoyed it this winter. The perfect afternoon pick-me-up (even though decaf) or evening wind-down. What's your favorite tea? 3. These books: A sweet friend gifted me with The Quiet Place by Nancy Leigh DeMoss for my birthday and it is a refreshing devotional. Highly recommend. I ordered Roots and Sky by Christie Purifoy recently and am enjoying that book as well. It's her testimony of the first year living in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse, and t...

It's a perfect day to sit down for a minute and write. We are grateful to be warm and cozy (and with electricity) during the Blizzard of 2016. The boys are making a blanket fort and I have this Chicken Enchilada Soup simmering in the crock pot while the snow continues to fall outside. Graham is enjoying the snow- sledding, trying to build a snow tunnel, making snow angels- while Patrick has not changed from his pj's and is completely happy inside the house. Behn and I have taken turns outside with Graham and the cold air is refreshing. We have yet to see a snow plow today, so we may be here for a while...I think we are up to 15 inches! We have already had hot chocolate, watched The Snowman,  and played Chutes and Ladders. Happy snow day. [We will see if I'm singing the same tune when we are still snowed in 5 days later]. I'm now 27 weeks (6 months) pregnant, and feeling it. Baby boy kicks and moves all the time and it's hard to believe that h...

Yesterday was lovely. When it's been 16 degrees for a week, 43 degrees feels like a summer day. In the morning, we discovered our driveway and road were quite icy from a squall the night before, so we stayed home from church. I walked on the treadmill and Behn and the boys played quietly while we listened to John Piper. Later we went on a family walk. I did insist the boys wear coats, but they might have even gotten away with a few layers of sweatshirts. The snow as melting and other neighbors were out walking their dogs and children. Graham walked next to me. Then he said, "I like all this- the snow and woods and it's warm. Can we pray and tell God?" Yes, my boy. Let's walk and pray and give thanks. So we did. Graham's young prayer life is better than mine in many ways. He sees things and is becoming in the habit of saying little prayers. It is precious. Now, before this gets too sappy, also note that he wipes his boogers in Patrick's hair. On p...

A week or so ago, it was warm enough to take the kids to the park in the late afternoon. For such a beautiful day, it was disheartening that they were the only children there (take your kids outside, America!). But as they were alternately throwing rocks onto the frozen pond and running from an aggressive goose, I realized we've made it into February. And then I gave myself a high-five. Somewhere along the way of adulthood, I went from a glass half full girl to a glass half empty girl. Or at least to an exact halfway filled glass girl. So when November came and another inevitable cold winter was looming, I felt some dread. If you've met my kids, you know why. They are 2 wild boys! No kids like the be inside, but these 2 have a real case of needing to run and jump, throw and build forts. So they do that: inside. I tolerate it. It's just the way it is. But here we are, the winter has flown by! So I high-five myself, and all the other mama's who are stuck insid...

I was inspired by this post from The Elliott Homestead to write out my garden goals. After all, what else is there to do in January? Last year I had to start from scratch. The "garden" was just a spot of crab grass in our hilly yard. Behn and I dug it up, added some compost, garden soil, and eventually, a fence around the garden area. I planted a simple and small garden of squash, tomatoes, a few herbs, cucumbers, peppers, and some perennial flowers. It went pretty well. There were beetles. And weeds. And the soil is still quite poor, but stuff did grow and I enjoyed my project. The garden area is plotted out much better this year, and I plan on tripling the vegetable garden. I learned a lot last year; when to plant, where to plant, how to treat the plants. I hope to add some nice stepping stones and some pretty touches, and on planning my plot out more carefully. I hope to add many potted herbs in little spots around the property. I have mentally plotted where I'd ...

A new year, a cold winter's day. I scramble for quiet, and have a long list of to-do's. I love the beginning of the year, with fresh optimism and possibility. I started writing a new year's resolution post, but it was so boring I deleted it. The only read resolution I have this year, really, is to try raising chickens. Maybe in the spring. And now before us the cold and dark of winter. The long days with stir-crazy kids and trying to think up something to do, and all the while just feeling sleepy. But it will be ok. There's chili in the crock pot and clean laundry to fold. I am blessed in the monotony and my cup is full. (Literally. Cup is full of coffee. I'm going to go drink it now.)

It's been a long and cold winter. Heck, it's spring now and it snowed all day yesterday and last night. Everyone is complaining, including me. I want it to be warm, too. I'm tired of boots and sweaters and coats. So are the kids. We are over it. But in a way, the winter hasn't bugged me too much, and still isn't bugging me. Here's why. First of all, snow is still pretty. I was driving home in the snow showers last night, and the big, fluffy, swirly flakes were pretty. They are still delicate and fresh. Sure, I wish they'd visited us more in December and less in March, but I still think it's pretty. But the real  reason I don't mind the cold weather is because it's kind of been keeping us indoors. I know, I'm Little Miss Outdoorsy, right? Yes, I love to be outside. I like to take the kids to the park and on walks. But we are in a not-great stage right now where they both just take off. They basically have unlimited energy and so going outs...

I snapped these photos just this morning...a glimpse of life here. Kitchen table. A bit small, always cluttered, always caked in food. That's life, right? Snow on the deck. It's been so cold here, I can't even take the kids outside. Our kitchen sink pipes froze, but thankfully did not burst (mercy upon mercy!). Still, the snow is pretty. Winter collage. Sweet poem, photo of Lexington in the winter, tiny mitten, birthday card from my boys, Bible verse, a tiny nest. Philippians 4:4-5 *Nerd Alert*  Behn and my January tradition of watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy has come to an end. Ah, I almost cried when it was over, having looked forward to it all year. It's so fun to watch it, all cuddled up under blankets and sipping hot chocolate and munching popcorn. It's just so epic. Anyway, I've had the soundtrack on repeat all day. Trying to get a photo of the boys. They just keep growing... ...and squirming! Silly little bro...

I guess blogging wasn't among my resolutions, huh? We've just been reallllly busy! Sitting down for a minute to reflect on January, the longest month of winter. The world is looking so gray. BUT we did have a lovely sunny and warmish day yesterday! I don't really mind winter, but it does seem to drag on. The kids and I get bored and antsy. We have been blessed with very good health so far. Winter can be cozy, too. It feels right to light more candles and brew another pot of fresh coffee. We make popcorn and cuddle under blankets and read more. And Behn and I have a tradition of every January, on cold winter nights, watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I LOVE this tradition and look forward to it every year. Anyway, I wanted to elaborate more on one of my goals. We are really trying to rein in our food spending by planning, eating all our leftovers, and shopping wisely. It is hard.  I have read blogs of women whose food budgets are like $200 a month for a family of ...