Monday Thankfulness

#174...Mrs Thompson, Katherine's sewing teacher who has taken Katherine under her wing in the department of sewing. Katherine had a huge desire to learn to sew and Mrs Thompson has faithfully had her over to sew and learn almost every Wednesday afternoon for a year and a half!
#175...Soft pink peony's in a vase. (a huge splurge since we have so many great flowers in our garden right now, just couldn't resist the $5 price tag)
#176...all of us swimming together on an early Sabbath morning
#177...a quiet house this morning, for almost an hour I read, prayed, and had time to think
#178...surprise volunteer sunflowers popping up amongst the squash
#179...a whole house fan to keep the house cool and save money on our electric bill
#180...fun game learned and played with the older kids, great that they can play lots of our favorites with us now!
#181...K and E snuggled up in bed listening to a book on tape
#182...Myrna watching the kids overnight so Eric and I can get away to see a play and relax together. An answer to prayer!
#183...Lots of Apricots stored up in pantry and freezer. Girls and I canned 36 quarts, froze 16 jars of sauce and made 16 jars of jam...several crisps were made and consumed quickly. Plums are next to harvest!
#184...a new cookbook arriving in the mail today, so excited! I have wanted a copy of it for a long time and my very thoughtful Mom new it and sent it. Thanks Mom!
#185...that we have two precious four year olds, they love each other so much and they love life. We are blessed that all of our kids are happy, get excited little people!(Above picture at cousin Natalie's Wedding)



I remember when I was reading Ann's book "One Thousand Gifts" and she stated near the end of the book that the more you practice thanksgiving the more life becomes a natural thanksliving...that your whole life is lived out differently. I can see chnages in my life even though I have a long ways to go in truly "living it" moment by moment.

The Fireplace

I just have to share a finished project!!! Here are pictures of our fireplace/mantle/hearth/library etc etc in our bedroom. It used to be this dreary dark grey slate with dated, brass glass door on the fireplace (See the picture below). Every time I walked in our room it starred at me. I had been wanting to fix our room up, but the fireplace had stopped me from creating the haven I wanted our room to be. With five kids that keep us hopping all day long, I felt our room needed to be peaceful, a calming place for us to retreat too at the end of the day. A place for us to read, talk, sip a hot drink, and relax together.

Evan our wonderful and very talented painter worked his magic over the course of a week and a bit. He could see the stacks of books on the hearth in our room and by our bed so he suggested having recessed bookcases on either side of the fireplace. Love This!!! Also he suggested some sort of storage underneath. After he sketched several pictures of different options, Eric and I decided on open spaces that fit the lidded baskets from Pottery Barn. We didn't want to replace the whole fireplace, but hated the dated 80's look of the fireplace, Evan solved this by painting the brass detail black and also painted the wood handles black. The final look is much more sophisticated and updated! So here are the before and after pictures to share how it all turned out!!! We are absolutely thrilled. As we hang pictures and finish other areas, we'll post more pictures.





Here is the finished fireplace and mantle

Here is our new headboard from Ballard Design...it was on sale for $300!!!! I love how it looks against the natural cream walls.

4th of July

Some quotes to share from our Founding Father's...

"In matters of style swim the current;
In matters of principle stand like a rock."
Thomas Jefferson

"I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder,
as the opening of a grand scene and design of providence..."
John Adams

"Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience."
George Washington

"While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to him only in this case they are answerable."
George Washington

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."
John Adams







HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

We have had a relaxing day today! Washed the car, picked flowers and made bouquets, read some wonderful stories about our country's beginnings, talked to Nanna on the phone, and just plain enjoyed each other. Now little ones are napping, older girls playing a game, and Eric and I have time to relax in the quietness of the day. In a couple hours our good friends the Balli's will be here to BBQ and swim. So happy that Carolina and Thomas can both swim now. Just yesterday, Carolina swam across the pool! After four years of living here with a pool, I am very happy to say ALL THE KIDS CAN SWIM....oh happy days!!!

Monday Gratitude

#163...twins napping at the same time (no more binkies)
#164...quiet days at home
#165...an uninterrupted talk with MOM
#166...books strewn all over the family room, reading so many good ones right now!
#167...a happy daughter (K) chattering away to me
#168...twins riding their bikes around and around and around the pool!!!!!!!!!!!
#169...a newly washed car (a great surprise when I came home, Thanks Babe)
#170...a bowl of perfectly formed small green apples sitting in a bowl, Eric new I
would love them after he had thinned the apple tree
#171...boysenberry picking by all
#172...precious little fingers and faces stained purple from the above
#173...Carolina's freckles

Monday Gratitude and Camping

It's been a long time since I have written. A lot has happened, a lot of good, a lot of busy, a lot of sadness too.

First the Euchristeo continues...
#147...a safely returned wallet (Eric's) sent through the mail by a kind lady
who found it left on a beach near the campground we were staying at.
#148...Sweet peas in June
$149...mild, cool weather
#150...soccer being finished
#151...creative kids who make thoughtful gifts for each other
#152...white clouds in the blue sky
#153...a husband safely home from a trip
#154...camping together in one of the most beautiful spots in California
#155...watching the kids work together to wash up the dishes
#156...beautiful coastline
#157...a bagillion wildflowers on our treks
#158...watching the kids identify lots of the flowers found during our camping trip
#159...a husband who does things with the kids I would NEVER do, kids scaling tall
rocks that drop off into the ocean, even the twinsies! Carolina was a monkey
#160...for Sunset Magazine that shared this amazing camping experience, inspiring us
to reserve our spot of paradise 6 months ago
#161...my dear husband who kept us from floating away in the downpour of rain during
our last night of camping! Craziness....
#162...coming home to our own snug house and soft beds!

A Good Reminder

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."
Robert Louis Stevenson

Monday Gratitude

So this past weekend I finished Ann's book...One Thousand Gifts.
I have a huge desire to start it over once again to imprint some things permentently in my mind. I am not sure that is even possible to do so as I so quickly forget what I most desperately want! I loved the chapter on humility and grace. I am so glad I took the book VERY SLOW...

I also finished the Elizabeth Goudge book I was reading "The Herb of Grace" (one would think all I did was read over the Easter weekend!!!!) I loved this book and can hardly wait to read the next one in the trilogy.

So here continues my list...
#127...picking lots of roses from the garden for beautiful bouquets everywhere
#128...Eric reading the Ressurection Story to us from the Bible
#129...the beautiful views of the sunsets from our campsite above the ocean
#130...a safe camping trip with the kids adventurers and pathfinder groups
#131...a card from Mary full of encouragement (she didn't even know what was written in the card she gave me but it was PERFECT for the day!)
#132...clean sheets and Old English roses by my bed
#133...an uno game with Eric and his dad
#134...a clean car inside and out, (thanks Eric, Lizzy, and Mary)
#135...Gods goodness as I peek at the kids during prayer
#136...beautiful music at church on Easter Sabbath, John Rutter, Beethoven
#137...seeing Thomas in a suit coat for the very first time (one worn by my brother when he was four!)
#138...working on sewing project with Katherine, making Easter gifts for sisters and friends
#139...a table set with my china and sterling and candles lit too
#140...joy of twins this easter morning
#141...good friends who have us over for brunch each Easter morning
#142...quiet times picking flowers, trimming, dead-heading, and listening
#143...making strawberry jam with the girls
#144...peace of trusting in God for EVERYTHING
#145...hearing Thomas pray (w/o a reminder) for those who are facing trials around us
#146...just tonight Thomas being so excited for Waffles for Dinner, he'd been asking for them for at least three weeks now, so fun to surprise him tonight!!!!