Cousins

Dancing, popsicles, gladlands and pool.

These dears can't seem to be pried apart.

Concerts, weddings, hiding in the woods and fancy swords duel.

Bliss, happiness, XOs and pure joy.

Music, leisurely walks by the canal, lively lunch on the porch.

The happiest ever-stair stepped cousin girls and boys.

Random Conscious Thoughts Thursday

This week I have been so busy enjoying my family, visiting with dear in-laws, kids' swimming lessons, witnessing the magical result of cousins enjoying each other's company, running, and so much more, that I haven't had time to get on my laptop, and I LOVE it. Living real life. Not an alternate online one. I've had no desire to even get on the Internet or on the computer, just relishing in the pure bliss of children completely spellbound by enchanted moments, spending time with and investing in people close by and within arm's reach. 

I'm so excited for my husband because this weekend he is heading to the great outdoors, his second love in life, for some good old camping, hiking and man time.  He and 4 friends are heading up to Hyndman's peak on Friday and will be gone until Saturday night.  I love seeing my Main Man get some refreshing down time, doing the things he loves. It makes my day, month, no, make that my year. My heart is mega full of joy when I see him doing the things he loves.

Oh my gracious, I'M SORE. Played softball on Sunday, and it was awesome, but just as I expected my years are beginning to show and I can't just go out and do some major physical activity, that I haven't done in years and not expect to pay big time for it the next few days. It was so very worth it, though.  Go Calvary Chapel Softball TEAM-Calling all women in the surrounding nearby area-if you've ever played softball, watched softball, even if you've only ever seen an actual softball once-come on out and join the team-we're short a couple of ladies!

My 5th blessing is completely adorable. But she is in this stage of yelling and grunting and screaming, throwing her arms up and whining and even rolling on the floor throwing fits when she wants something. I've had one other child, I believe, who went through this stage... though, for the life of me, I cannot remember who it was!  Hmmm, pretty sure it was one of my girls...darn, that only narrows it down by one... anyways, I'm working on words and sign language with her, but this transition period is draining and needless to say grating! It's neat to see the ways the Lord uses our children and the training of them to train us, their parents as well. Always growing, always learning, patience being stretched, never getting comfortable.  That's the place we are most moldable, useful and effective. God is good to always bring us back to that real place.

I watched a really good movie "Bright Star" (2009) last night with my husband. I would label it a 'tragic romantic drama' that takes place in London in the 1800's. It's based on the true story of renowned Poet John Keats who tragically died at the young age of 25. A true tear-jerker, pleasingly romantic and exceptionally clean!

I will leave you with one of his moving poems to mull over for the day.
To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

~John Keats~ written while in Winchester, 1819, published 1820

Wordless Wednesday

Horsing around

Literally. And not literally. And literally not.

The kids and I recently went out to visit some great friends who have horses and ponies and dogs and goats.  

They we're so sweet to us to give us rides on their horses!  My kids only get to do this about once a year but they look forward to it every other day of the year with fond memories and joyful anticipation.  In fact, last time we were out at Sherl's was 3 years ago,  my second in commmand would have only been 4 years old but by golly she remembers that day as clearly as if it were yesterday.  She's quite the romantic spirit and anything that is close to her heart or anyone who makes a great impact on her life will be remembered with joy forever and a day.

Every time we saw miss Sherl, my little Missy would walk up to her and talk about what a lovely time it was riding her horses and how she wants to do it again sometime... for 3 years!!  Finally Sherl said enough is enough and we had to get that girl back on those beloved horses.  So we made a date!

Sherl's(the lovely owner of the horses, ponies, dogs and goats) daughter Sheila was there visiting as well with her two sweet little boys.

Little Brogan. Quite the handsomest little cowboy around if you ask me!

My little man waiting his turn.

My little angel being her sweet, carefree self.

My little man was having a blast riding a bouncy horse. Not a real bouncing horse but a fake one.  You know, one with springs?  Anyway, he was getting a bit too rowdy I suppose and came down on the top of the horse with his lip. It became quite fat pretty quick but he was a trooper and because of the distraction of real horses tromping around waiting to be ridden, he recovered quickly.

That big horse makes my little guy look even littler, sweet thing.

I really think that dog Maya thought she was a horse, too.  She was walking right in line with those giants!

We even got to feed the goats, who we're constantly fighting over the food we were giving them. You could definitely tell who the dominant in charge goat was as he was quite a bit bigger in size and for the most part, wond the food fights. They would butt their horns(?) together in unison to decide who would get to eat the prized yummy food pellets.

My little guy was getting a bit tired at this point and I think his hurt lip didn't help the situation at all.

Miss Maya.

My first-born loves dogs. She would love to get a dog but I already have 5 children thank you very much and until she's a little older and/or we have a bigger backyard, she's just going to have to enjoy visiting the many dog friends that we have.

Sherl has many puppies whom she raises to sell.  My kiddos adored them and wanted to take some home. They were pretty convincingly cute but mommy gently reminded them again of ALL of the work a little puppy takes from their owner, needless to say money and they agreed it is best to wait a little while longer.

He was still distraught about his lip at this point in our day, but trying to smile nonetheless. 

Miss Sherl.

This dog was cracking me up.  He just ran right up to me and propped himself up on my knees and looked at me as though he was smiling and saying "Hi, how are you today, I'm happy go lucky!"

And the infamous springy fake horse my little man was horsing around on while waiting to ride the huge real horses.... that gave him his big fat lip.

Despite ordinary mishaps, what a fun filled day this was.  Thank you Sherl and girls!

Lord you have blessed us abundantly!