each day's doings

 ian is fighting an ear infection so we've had the ritual of thieves on the feet and elderberrry syrup down the hatch each few hours during the day.  the anti biotics are on standby in the fridge if worse comes to worse.  i am hoping the oils work their magic.

the girls have been slightly off as well, pink cheeks, mild fevers and general grumpiness.  everyone is getting anointed with oils. including me.  i'm fighting off a sinus infection and i think i may be winning.  (oh please let it be true)

here is some life over the past few weeks. 

lego party with one of the world's best dads.

ashton set up a "story time" for ian in the play room.  

we walked to the park and they rode around in circles on the basketball court and it was beautiful and quiet and such a lovely day. i sat there wondering if it was possible to take in the beauty of it all. 

dinner helpers. 

ashton is helping cut up the brussel sprouts and ian is using my chopper to chop almonds.

it's always a little dangerous. 

such happy mail.

the discussions that are coming after we read out of the child's story bible have been fantastic.

this is such a great story bible to move into after your kids have memorized every last word of the jesus story book bible. ;)

you guys, ian is tall enough to ride the whit's end slide!?! say it isn't so. 

happy for him, though. ;)

this was a sweet moment that i'm glad i caught. ashton fell off of her bike and avery took the lead in the neosporin and bandaid department.  ian stood by for moral support and my heart just bulged, almost out of my chest. 

master bike rider.  she's been riding every day. 

a table full of coloring pages and puzzles and mozart on youtube.  

i have many, many pictures of the 3 of them gathered at this one little spot above the retaining wall. 

it's where all of the mud gathers during summer rains.

they can spend hours with this little mound of dirt and imagination. 

have i said it here before how much i love unrushed days at home just me and my 3? 

because i do.  

i think that managing my relationship with each of them and then each of their relationships with each other is quite enough for me.  adding other relationships in the mix is often too taxing.  

i do believe that finding the balance between community and focused time at home during this oh so short season of raising kids will be a continual dance. 

it is work to be obedient in the daily.  there is so much that my hand and heart can find to do in each day that is before me.  i am so thankful for the reminders to be faithful in all of the things that i already know he wants me to do.

i was reading in first kings the other morning and chapter 8:54-61 really stood out to me and encouraged my heart.  specifically verse 61....

1 Kings 8:61 And you, your lives must be totally obedient to God, our personal God, following the life path he has cleared, alert and attentive to everything he has made plain this day."

it makes me think of a story my grandma elsberry told me when she was a young mother with 4 wee ones at home.  she was wanting to do a great work for the Lord and asked him one morning "oh Lord, what would you have me do??" and she laughs at this part because she is just sure that he replied, "well, you can start with the dishes, elaine."

i'm halfway through mitten strings for God, by katrina kenison and it has be such a wonderful reminder of the simple and beautiful joys available to us.  toward the beginning she quotes one of her mentors "olive ann":

i have learned to quit speeding through life, always trying to do too many things too quickly, without taking the time to enjoy each day's doings. i think i always thought of real living as being high.  i don't mean high on drugs--i mean real living was falling in love, or when i got my first job, or when i was able to help somebody, or watch my baby get born, or have a good morning of really good writing.  in between the highs i was impatient---you know how it is---life seemed so DAILY.  now i love the dailiness.  i enjoy washing dishes.  i enjoy cooking, i see my father's roses out of the kitchen window, i like picking beans.  i notice everything-- birdsongs, the clouds, the sound of wind, the glory of sunshine after two weeks of rain.  these things i took for granted before. 


it's inspiring isn't it? to think, we can choose to be fully present and alive in whatever it is that is before us.  in this way, each day's doings can become sacred.