Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Healing

The seasonal sickies are going through our house this week, so the focus is on healing and resting and washing and washing and did I say washing?

Nonetheless, a clean house and clean beds and clean children are always a good thing, right?

A special thank you to Aunt Lois for cheering our day with a fun box of clothes!

And to Grandma for dropping by with Gatorade and yogurt and cereal.  We love you!

Pretty Christmas dresses from Aunt Lois...can you see the puke bucket in the back?  :P
Oh the fun of dressing up!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Being Thankful

Goodness, I've been away too long!  Happy Thanksgiving friends! 
We hope you enjoyed a good day/weekend with the special people in your life.

We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving holiday with our own generous sprinkling of family and friends. A morning church service, a delicious dinner with family, and the togetherness of working with family and friends hauling wood for the winter rounded out our day. We are so thankful for the strong backs and willing hearts who have helped us with putting up wood for this winter's warmth. Black Friday and Saturday were put to good work, and we are nearly finished with Hannah's room. Her room needed a partial new wall and insulation in two walls, which will make it nice and cozy for her this winter. I'm so thankful for my dear hubby who has tirelessly worked on that project for many weeks. 

Also, being thankful can hardly encompass the depth of feeling for you all who remembered to wish me a happy birthday! It was overwhelming, the sheer number of family and friends who thought of me...thank you all so very much. To realize, just how many delightful humans the good Lord has blessed me with. I love you all.

Unfortunately, I didn't even think to bring my camera along for these events...and have to be content with the fact that some of life's most special moments go undocumented. 

A special congratulations to all of you who successfully hunted and harvested deer these past two weeks - good for you! And yay for the full bellies of your children and family this coming winter!

I'd love to share a couple photoshoots that I've been working on these past few weeks, but I will refrain from spilling the beans of my cherished clients, and let them be the first to share their family's pictures this holiday season.  I'm sorry friends, but you'll have to wait. ;)

Thus, I will leave you with a few recent favorites.
Enjoy this day the Lord has made.
And don't rack up too much debt this Cyber Monday.  ;)

The best seat in a chilly house...a basket of warm laundry fresh from the dryer.
Yes, they really do hug their chickens. Meet "Flo", getting the special attention this time.
"Ne-ne Buk" (yes, that's the hen's name) is a bantam size and has a gentle personality, perfect for little hands to love.
And my own hubby tramping off to try harvesting a deer for our own freezer.
 

Monday, November 19, 2012

{for my memory}

Hannah's pronunciation of "cookie":

"dooky"


Miles' First School Program

There's always a time for firsts, and this was one event Miles had been dreading for weeks. We studied and explained and practiced his parts, until he knew them in his sleep. We wanted him to be prepared and to have an easy time at his first program. All of you that know him have experienced him to be friendly, amiable, outgoing child, who loves people and easily to talks to anyone, adult or child alike. However, there was something about this uncharted territory of entertaining that had him terrified. Going through the practices at school, he said his parts perfectly, sang his songs with pride, and seemed pretty excited to be a part of whatever was soon to happen that had his fellow school-mates all excited. When it was time to begin, he calmly grouped with his friends and teachers and marched into the gym (where the event was held) with a smile on his face. There was no sign of the inner turmoil, and he had even his mother fooled into thinking that somehow he'd mastered his nervousness.

He sang all the songs with joy and pride, but when it was time to say his parts, he paled, teared up, and refused to say a word. Somehow, in his failure, he stole the hearts of every spectator in the crowd, his teachers and fellow students alike. 

My mama heart ached these past weeks, that every time we talked about the program (in a very positive and exciting way, of course) he got upset and nervous. I felt his fear, and ached for the burden his little heart was bearing. Part of me wanted to pull my mama-weight, and tell his teachers that my little son wasn't ready to perform. But yet, another part of me knew this was going to be a part of the learning and developing his little mind and body needed to experience...and we know our children will succeed at everything they set out to do, because we, as parents, are here to help them and support them every step of the way. It was also a great opportunity to teach Miles to place his worst fears and cares at the feet of his Lord in prayer, which he did daily.

A note must be included about his teachers and student-friends who so kindly supported him and loved him, and didn't judge. How they covered for him when he balked. There's nothing that warms a mother's heart more than when another child automatically reaches out to comfort and support when her child is upset.

I'm so proud of my sweet, smart son. No, he didn't say his parts, but he did know them, and he sang every song, every verse with a brave smile. 
Now isn't that winning? 

This photo is so special to me. It shows how pale (green) he got, and the instant supporting hands from both teachers and student-friends that reached out to comfort him, when mama was too far away.
Fighting tears and dear Mrs. Hause trying to help. :)
He liked singing the songs!
Our dear, oh-so-talented music teacher, Mrs. Stapel
The final song. It's time for cake!

Thank you to all Miles' family and friends who came and showed your support. We enjoyed having you, and Miles loved showing off his classrooms and projects.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

{devriend photography}

Aren't they sweet?
It was another windy, chilly fall day for this photoshoot, but the little troopers just smiled right through it.  You have to love that!



 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Monday, November 12, 2012

{devriend photography}

This little bugger-britches is my most valuable photography teacher. 

This nephew of mine is simply incapable of a "sweet picture smile", although he's full of them all day long when the camera is safely zipped inside the camera bag.  ;)  

So when I get that rare grin...it's a dance of rejoicing from me! 

Oh how I love him to pieces.




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Grateful

Feeling so grateful today...

1) For this lovely, quiet, misty morning offering a perfect opportunity to harvest the last of the garden's root vegetables.

2) My strong, willing, and helpful husband and son who did the majority of the harvesting 2 months ago.

3) The break from the rain but also the previous rain that made the garden dirt easy to dig today.

4) The energy to do the work, and the peace attained by working my body.

5) The gentle clucks of the hens who kept me company, scratching for the treats I dug up.

6) This delicious food that will fill our tummies and keep us healthy.

7) The precious blessings of our dear Savior who sustains and guides us, even when we don't deserve it. 

 
8) Homegrown carrots, sweet potatoes, and yellow and red potatoes
 
9) This beautiful girl and her cats


10) The fun this pet brings...always bringing a stick for a quick romp


11) Autumn Joy - need I say more?

12) Fireweed - lovely

13) Splashing in puddles

14) Fuzzy, fluffy snuggles

15) This cute pork face
 
16) This oh-so-pretty pair


{devriend photography}

Hot off the press yesterday! 
It was a lot of fun to photograph these two little sugars.
Aren't they sweet?







And one with their lovely mama too.  :)

Monday, November 5, 2012

Camping

Each year, my mom takes her grandkids camping at the beautiful Kohler Andrae State Park for a week. All parties involved LOVE the experience. One of the nights, Jesse and Heather and their kids met us there for a fun time together.  This was last August, but I'd like to share the photos anyways.  :)

The kids spend most of their camping time biking the paved paths around the campsite.

Hannah loved the skirt Heather made for her birthday.





Running down the dunes...who's getting to the water first?!




Sweet baby skin...
Capping off the night with smores around the campfire.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Ever Since...

Ever since we had fun with this...
Hannah thinks the only appropriate place to color is on herself.
Too bad it was a Sharpie last week. 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

{devriend photography}

These two girls made for a fun photoshoot a few weeks ago! 
It was a treat to photograph such fun and funky, creative and sweet, happy young ladies.