Thankful for.....my children

This week is all about thankfulness...and to start off my list of thankfulness.... I'm thankful for my children...

...the sweet, the sassy, the nearly going-cross-eyed from boredom, and the cool ones...

...the four reds of varying shades and textures....

...my four...

I'm thankful for days off from school where we can enjoy time at the science center....

... and watch a rat-snake eat a mouse, and dig for dinosaurs in the lentil pit...

...where big boys can stretch their minds and work out puzzles...

...where little boys can find distraction from the trauma of nibbling rats...

...and Momtogs can play with mirrors.

I'm thankful for this crazy crew...and the adventures we share.

His love....

He said, "Come away and be my love....

....and share this life with me."

She took his hand...

and together... 

...they explored, and believed, and shared, and loved.

He took her face in his hands....

and kissed her breath away....

until their love exploded into great, rolling waves....
of unquenchable laughter.

{You + me = love}

{Happy Anniversary}

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

(one for each year)

all papers, frames, and templates from {Sassy Designs}

This....is my life

This.... is why I relish being home with my children....

...is beauty personified...

...is why God gave me the chance to be a mother....

...is why I live and breath and guzzle coffee every morning...

This..... this is my life....

Light in the Dark

(f22, ISO 800, 1.0sec)

Sometimes it takes the deepest darkest night.....

(f20, ISO 800, 1/6sec)

....to really appreciate the light.

(f22, ISO 800, 0.6sec)

Sometimes it takes changing your firmly held stance...

(f22, ISO 400, 1.0sec)

...to see the light in a new perspective.

(f20, ISO 400, 0.4sec)

Sometimes... finding the Light takes time... and patience....
...but always worth the wait.



and

Tuesday's Unwrapped at Emily's
(button is not working today)

Penewawa Peaches

Down along the Snake River...

...nestled in the Penewawa canyon...

...is a pretty little orchard...

...where families can pick sweet peaches...

... and work together...

...and play together...

...and munch on fresh, sun-warmed peaches...

...and consider the differences....

...that we all bring to this peck of peaches we call a family...

Today, I'm celebrating all the sweetness to be found in the little things in our everyday lives.

Metamorphosis Uninterrupted

i watch the changes..... the metamorphosis unfolding before my eyes....

newborns to infants...
infants to toddlers...
toddlers to preschoolers...
preschoolers to kindergartners....
kindergartners to gradeschoolers....
their former shells hollow and abandoned for new skins...

and my heart aches with pleasure for the beauty i see...

...and aches with bittersweet sorrow for the changes i dare not interrupt...

...the metamorphosis necessary for wings...

grow, change, fly my little ones...
((((i love you))))
bittersweet metamorphosis uninterrupted

p.s. but please fly home now and again

Joining the fun at



and

More Palouse Country

Awhile back, I posted some photos of canola fields and the rolling hills of the palouse.
Here are some more images of my country....
...dried peas in the foreground and winter wheat in the background.
We do live in a land of plenty....

"Oh Beautiful for spacious skies....."

Peas and wheat....
Did you know that you can make your own gum by chewing on wheat kernels?
The gluten in the kernels forms a loose sort of gum when chewed vigorously.
The kids love it.

"...for amber waves of grain...."

"America, America... God shed His grace on thee!"

Today I'm thinking of all the blessings in my life.... and thanking the Provider.