{the eastern sky.}

Recently, I have felt myself becoming overwhelmed with the dailyness of life. It is exhausting- trying to keep it all straight. In this house, we have 2 busy, busy littles. One of whom has just found his voice {excessive squealing} and is exercising the various pitches he discovered it can make when paired with an array of situations that range anywhere from extreme delight to pure frustration to simply a "demonstration" of his new hobby.

The other little has discovered he has a will that has need of enforcing. An opinion. A mind of his own. A way that is better than all other ways. And his way of "demonstration" would not run along the lines of "force" or even a "tantrum" of sorts, his "demonstration" is nicely masked with negotiations that appear in all shapes and forms ranging from sweet talking the current problem to determining that he can keep himself awake at nap time. Oh, yes. He can. {This momma is working on winning that battle.}

The last few weeks around here have been emotionally draining. And from what I can tell, this feeling is normal for a Mom in my stage of life. But I don't feel hopeless about it. I do occasionally feel frazzled and I do occasionally get on the phone to my own Mom and tell her I'm running away.

 

Sometimes, it can be so exhausting keeping it all straight:

Consistent parenting is the key! {But what about this particular incident? I didn't find it listed on page 42 in the handbook.}

Be on the same page as your spouse when parenting! {Well, YES! That's nice! But what about when your child has you mildly worked against each other on an issue you have not yet even discussed? Is it possible for a 2.5 yr. old to even DO THAT?!?!}

Keep the punishment in line with the misdeed. {How did I miss the publishing of this guideline?!?}

Use every opportunity to train! {When it seems every moment is an opportunity, that means... no rest, weary Momma.}

Always be patient! {Just simply go in the closet and shut the door to scream. That's all that means.}

PRAY! {Yes. ALL THE TIME, in fact.}

 

You get my point. It is just so overwhelming sometimes to try to constantly parent correctly, do the RIGHT thing in the EVERY situation, and always know how to handle the DAILYNESS that life hands you.

 

But last week. I had this beautiful revelation which brought EVERYTHING back into perspective. {I'm not saying that in my mind things haven't gotten out of perspective on occasion since this revelation.} I was driving along. My car was pointed perfectly EAST. Me and the boys were coming home from a quick jaunt to the greenhouse {A.K.A some fresh air for everyone after a stressful morning cooped up in the house}, and all of the sudden, my heart was completely caught up in this thought:

 

 

 As the sun rises in the East,

 So He shall split the eastern sky,

 Sword in hand upon the mountain,

 Fire of Heaven in His eye...

And every knee shall bow,

 Every knee shall bow,

 We kneel before Him now,

AND EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW...

 

 

 

 

 

HOW did I get SO FAR off track? Why was it such a REVELATION to have this thought? Why am I not more eternally focused on a day-to-day basis? Forget the laundry! I have WARRIORS to train in JESUS name! {Ok, realistically, life must go on.} But, seriously, when I looked up at the sky as I was driving straight East, and I pictured the sky SPLITTING, and pictured HIM returning for HIS people, suddenly the parenting stress I had been feeling just literally vanished. NOTHING else in that moment mattered except keeping my EYES on HIM, keeping my LIFE in perspective with eternal things, and training my boys in the ways of the LORD!

There are no easy answers to parenting. There are no easy answers to ornery little boys. There are just no easy answers to anything in this life.

But for me? I'm going to try to enjoy my temporary life more than ever, train my precious, precious littles to JESUS to the best of my ability with CONSTANT reliance on HIM, and keep my eyes focused on the EASTERN SKY.

 

{my lil men.}

Why I attempted a photo shoot with my baby boys, I cannot tell you. I am a terrible photographer. But, I braved it. And it was fun... and busy! {Seems to be how most activities go with them!!} Mostly, I wanted to get a picture of Layne for his 1 yr. picture... And I think I did get a good one... We're going to have our family pictures taken soon, so I may let the pro get some better ones. Especially of Miles... He does not love the camera. It's always been difficult to get a good shot of him. Layne, on the other hand... Turns into quite the charmer when the camera comes out.

{we started out with much enthusiasm...}

{and big brother wanted in the suitcase, too...}

{option 1.}

{fun and games are over.}

{as a matter of fact, i'm getting out of here!!!}

{we tried a new location to inspire fresh enthusiasm...}

{not looking at the camera, but a darling picture anyways.}

{option 2. darling boy.}



So, I'm taking a poll. Which will it be? Option 1 or option 2?
Did I mention how much I love them boys?!?!?  





{a little face lift.}

Since we moved to our home in June of '10, Matt has been dreaming on a daily basis of all the things he would like to fix up, work on, improve, face-lift, add on, change, tear down, cut down, etc...

You get the point.

Matt likes to be busy. It's no wonder I have such busy little boys!! Finally, in the last couple of weeks, he got to do some of the stuff that has been driving him crazy...

He painted the barn.

And he had the driveway sealed.

I didn't realize these things were driving me crazy, too. But it sure does look better!!! 

{the barn on an early day in September... note the driveway.}

{the barn... mid-project.}

 {my man, hard at work on his barn...}

{the barn... on an early day in October. note the driveway again.}

So, that's what he's been up to. And I'll have to say... It does look ALOT better around here!

{reflections.}

It's hard to believe that 2 years ago from right now, I was frantically packing boxes, organizing {as much as I organize- which is not much}, and preparing to make a move across the country. I don't wish for it to be 2 years ago. I look back on that time as pretty much blissfully horrific. Is that possible?!? It was the hardest thing I've ever done to leave somewhere I absolutely loved, somewhere my heart felt truly connected with the people who lived there, somewhere that it just felt "RIGHT"... I don't wish to go back to those feelings, those tears, and the constant pep talk to my heart to "BE STRONG!"... I do not wish to ever have to tell my best friends good-bye like that again... I do not wish to ever again have to say good-bye to the house my first child was brought home to from the hospital and spent the first several months of his little life in... But most of all, I do not wish to have to contend with the confusion my heart felt during the months that followed our move. Moving is a big deal. Moving out of state is a bigger deal. Moving across several states is an even bigger deal. And moving somewhere you don't particularly WANT to live, is the biggest deal of all. 

After the above, I'm sure no one is still reading... But just in CASE you ARE still reading... 

The last 2 years have been a huge growing experience. For those of you who are rolling their eyes at the dramatic paragraph above, read on:

-I have learned that whatever STATE I'm in, I can be content. 

-I have learned that as long as I have my husband, my children, and my Jesus- it is HOME.

-I have learned that no matter where you live, people are human.

-I have learned that even though I'll always prefer to not live here, I have found true peace in living here.

-I have learned that being close to my family is a splendid thing indeed. Something I can't imagine giving up now that I have experienced this luxury.

-I have learned that Ohio is a good place to live, too.

-I have learned, as a matter of fact, I really actually kind of like living in Darke County, Ohio. I kind of even like Greenville.

-I have learned that great friends are hard to come by, and I can maintain my friendships across the many, many miles even if it takes more effort on my part. 

-I have learned that new friends are incredibly hard to make.

-I have learned that even though I think of Washington, and our loved ones in Washington, every single day...

I am truly at peace with where the Lord has brought us. And though it's not always easy, I thank Him for bringing us to where He has brought us. We may never fully understand why we are here, but we are very thankful for His guiding hand and rich blessings to us.

The GREATEST blessing of all that has come from our move is being close to my family... The memories we would have missed by fulfilling something we "prefer" rather than something that has been an enormous benefit for our children...

{miles & pappaw pushing snow in the bob}

{ga-ga stopped by to bring miles a valentine's cupcake... a huge hit with jed, too.}

{fun with cousins...}

{pappaw & ga-ga- the greatest in my boys' eyes. and they made that move worth every tear.}

{a party for the lil man}

We celebrated Layne's birthday Sunday evening with family and a few friends. What started out to be a "circus" themed party turned into more of a "movie-theater" themed party, or so Matt informed me. I'm really not sure till it was all said and done that the party had any theme at all, but it sure was fun!

I had planned to do the celebrating outside on our patio... But it started to rain JUST as I was preparing to bring out the last of the food- AND snap pictures! So, there aren't any really good pictures of the props, in my opinion, but you can have a look and see for yourself.

Layne had a great time and behaved like any one-year-old does at their own party... A little confused about all the ta-do but happy for the attention... But I'm pretty sure Big Brother had the best time of all! We woke him (Miles) up from his nap once everyone got here (and he was STILL snoozing)... He sleepily marched outside and started playing. He had a very thrilled but dazed (and still a bit sleepy) look on his face... But he grabbed a toy and proceeded in the march/bike-riding/toy-pushing down the driveway sweetly greeting all of his friends and cousins...

Layne ate more popcorn than most adults would ever think about eating before the party actually even started... but what can I say- it was HIS party!! (And his Great Gramma was holding him- things like that are to be expected. And cherished.)

Let the party begin...

{i had just started putting the food/drink out... and it began to sprinkle...}

{lemonade with strawberry puree...}

{the elephants are really the only thing that made it "circus-y" in the end...}

{party is now INSIDE the dirty garage... if i had THOUGHT to have parties in the garage, i might have cleaned it out... *sigh. it did start a new brainstorm of how to restore this old thing we call the "garage" which is a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother time...}

 {more of the same...}

{dirty, embarrassing garage... but shelter from the rain for which i was thankful...}

{the older boys eating their movie-theater food...}

 {elliot doing what elliot does... chillin'... and being a cutie!}

{miles with gramma neenie the great- that has 2 meanings. she is great and she is the great gramma!}

{soon to be poked, picked, swatted, splattered, and squished...}

{momma, i really have no idea what to do with this...}

{but it COULD be potentially fun... Ooooh! and is that CANDY?!?!}

{this is really as bad as it got. he was mostly interested in picking the sixlets candy right off the top... fine by me, precious boy.}

{the proud parents.}

{and the worst thing about parties... cleaning up the mess.}

 

{happy birthday, happy boy!}

God knew just what we needed when He placed this little guy in our lives...



{precious layne asher- 1 yr.}

Layne has been an absolute blessing to us... He has spent hardly a moment of his little life fussing or grouching. He has been full of smiles starting at just 2.5 weeks old. He laughed- a big ole full laugh- at 8 weeks... {At his older brother, no less.} He has been sweet, adaptable, cuddly, funny, and SO happy since he was born just a year ago today!  He also has a very stubborn and contankerous side, but that's neither here nor there... Because today, we are just going to celebrate the life that has been given to us! We love you, Layne Asher! We cannot imagine our life without you!



{its only the beginning. the best is yet to come.}

{little boy adventures.}

My days have been busy, and time is flying by. Just like everyone else, I've been busy with gardening/canning/freezing. Our garden is pretty much done now, for which I am thankful. I was also thankful for the garden, too, but its good that gardening is a seasonal activity in my opinion. I go so overboard in the spring when I go to buy seeds and sometimes I plant things that I later wonder why on earth I would have planted that. Fall squash, for example. It seemed like a fabulous idea at the time! So I bought not one, but two kinds of fall squash. I don't even LIKE fall squash! Oh well, waste not, want not, right? It will get eaten. But it might just be the baby of the family who consumes it in squished up form. He seems to love squash. He's probably the reason I planted it. See! I knew there was a reason.

Our weekends have been packed with activities, too. There has been no resting around here! This past weekend, we did finally have a whole Saturday to just be at home and catch-up and work outside. This was the first in many Saturdays. We spent the day together just doing our chores and enjoying each other's company... And in the evening, we went to Bob Evan's for supper and then went golfing with Matt. It was so, so, so fun! I wish I had taken the camera, but I wasn't sure I could manage an ecstatic Miles, a curious Layne, a golf cart, AND a camera. It was one of those evenings that will be forever remembered and cherished. I'm pretty sure we have a golfer on our hands- Miles had the time of his life. At every little stop, he was out with a club whacking the ball! After the first few holes, he started telling me "Jest stand back, 'kay? Lemme hill {hit} it. Stay back." And after a few unsuccessful whacks, he would finally make contact and off the ball would go! It was a beautiful early fall evening with such a simple activity- and so far, one of my most treasured memories with our precious little boys. Except for when Layne fell off of the golf cart. The moving golf cart. That was more traumatic than treasured.

We went to Holmes County with my Dad & Mom a few weekends back... I actually TOOK the camera on that excursion but did not take a single picture. If I was a die-hard blogger, I would have taken a hundred shots and had at LEAST a thousand word essay to attach with glamorous photos. But I have neither. It was a really fun weekend, though, all 24 hours that we were there! Miles loved the "clop-clops" and being in "Counties". He had a great time swimming at the hotel and pretty much tuckered himself out. Layne was a sport although he's kinda at that age where he doesn't really seem to understand what all the commotion is about... He'd prefer his naps and definitely his meals on time. He didn't fuss one time though, and had as much fun as he possibly could! Such a trooper! Love them boys!

Miles has recently discovered pockets in his shorts and is quite taken with them. Before I get him dressed in the morning, he has to inspect the shorts to make sure they have pockets. If there are no pockets, the shorts are not going on him. No siree! Saturday, he found a frog... and with his recent obsession with pockets... you can only imagine...

{getting mr. frog into the pocket proved to be a difficult task. a task that required lots and lots of effort.}

Here's Miles wanting me to take a picture of  Mr. Frog...

{100% boy.}

Layne has been teething like crazy lately. It's been hard on the poor lil guy... and hard on his Momma, too. He has been cranky and sensitive... but that's to be expected out of a little guy whose getting somewhere around TWELVE teeth!!! He only has 2 currently, but his little mouth is full of bumps and gum blisters all over. I feel terrible for him! He still has plenty of time to get into just about everything, time to practice taking steps by holding onto things, and certainly time to charm the camera.



{i cannot turn my back to him for a second without turning back around and finding something similar to this...}





{sweet boy!}



{miles is quite taken with bike riding right now... we have no toddler seats for our bikes, so this is the most conventional way we have come up with. toddler bike seats are definitely on the Christmas list already.}

And just this morning, a cool, rainy, early fall morning... As I was folding laundry on our bed...

{what better place to read amelia bedelia?}

I leave you with this thought that I read this recently:

One thing scientists have discovered is that often praised children become more intelligent than often blamed ones. There's a creative element in praise. 

Lets praise our children for good behavior, for listening, for good manners, for smiling, just for being them! Our children should NOT hear us degrading them in any WAY to any ONE! Let's influence the future in a positive way and direct willing hearts to Jesus!

{a local event}

 A local event. A complete phenomenon for someone feeling mildly displaced in life. Maybe feeling a "part" of the community is not a big deal to you. Maybe you don't care if you don't know your neighbors. Maybe you don't care if you don't know anyone besides those you go to church with and socialize with on a regular basis. I do, however, care. I like to go into town and see a random person that I would not otherwise know except for some connection by way of a business transaction or the such like. It helps one to feel a part of the community. And I like community. I like familiar. Since our move in the Fall of 2009, it's been an adjustment. A big one. It seemed like in Washington, we knew lots of community people. Matt had lots of customers, one of whom was the Mayor of our town, and all of her neighbors on that same street. I worked for a family in Washington for a couple of months and that ONE connection has brought me so much joy... That first fabulous family introduced me to another fabulous family who I proceeded to work for for a couple of years... In which time I also kept working for Fabulous Family #1 {medical transcribing} all the while strengthening my bonds with Fabulous Family #2 and transporting their kids to and from school and activities therefore getting to know people at their school and places of activity, which in turn {yes, I'm going somewhere with this rambling sentence} led me to know lots of people in the community! And on and on it goes. I loved that. And to think- I STILL work for Fabulous Family #1. What a blessing a little connection can be.

A few weeks back, my Mom's business {Forest Hill Gardens} which I am actively a part of, was invited to be a part of a local event. {http://www.gatheringatgarst.com/} We spent much time thinking and planning our booth... dreaming and scheming how to be an attractive vendor... We loaded the truck and the trailer, not once, but twice, and hauled our wares to Greenville. We spent many hours setting up the display in the sweltering heat and I even made the comment to my Mom... "I would have been so happy to have just stayed home today."... We were completely unsure of what to expect as this was the first year for this event... and was all our hard work and sweat going to be labor in vain?!
Saturday morning rolled around... and what turned out to be a VERY fun day was off to a great start with the sale of a stone table and chair set she has had for quite some time. Matt was able to sell {2} of his fabulous reclaimed lumber picnic tables for a nice price, and also 2 other pieces he had built out of reclaimed lumber. {I am still bemoaning the source of the reclaimed lumber- an old pool deck here on our property. Yes, we could have had a pool, but rather we are the source of reclaimed lumber picnic tables.} The community came and went all day and acquaintances and small connections were made. Neighbors of ours were met and the feeling of "local" was strengthened. Neighbors I already knew came by and wondered if we had any extra tomatoes in our garden... I love that. As a matter of fact, next year, I might just garden for the entire neighborhood so that I can get better acquainted with them. People in this area are very nostalgic, I decided. When trying to "place" one, they ask where you live. When I tell them we "bought the old White Springs Garden Center place and are restoring it" they light up like the fourth of July. People remember a beautiful property that was let go for many years and many people are excited to see it being revived... which in turn, excites me that someone is actually noticing the heaps and loads of efforts we dump into our property to try to fix what others neglected.
It may seem like such a trivial thing to you, this community thing. But really, at the end of the day, it isn't such a small thing to be "community". I really think that God intended for us to love our neighbors when He gave us that command. How can we do that if we are not reaching out even if it IS by way of business transaction? It's really just as simple as the Bible says.

So. Here are some pictures of our local event. The one that has me totally inspired about living in Darke County, Ohio.

{from the front. *note* my fabulous hubby's hand-built table. pretty stylish for a picnic table, eh?}





{the side view.}



{another piece of my husbands crafty craftmanship. i can, however, take credit for the planting.}

{my moms handiwork. amazing if i must say so myself. she's amazing.}

{another of matt's tables with forest hill gardens loot. the combination makes for scrumptious appeal. don't you think?}

{regardless of my cheap camera... this is such a gorgeous photo. it helps that i love this succulent planting anyways.}



{campo de' fiori pottery. its italian. and it is absolutely the best thing. ever. a must collect collection.}

{an attractive little display, in my opinion.}

{the stone table and chairs that sold first thing.}

In other news:

{layne asher. this sweet, squishy little boy is getting into just about everything.}

{they are enamored with each other. and with boy things. its so amazing to me. and so heart-warming. really. nothing has probably ever touched me more than my 2 littles loving each others presence.}

{and there is no one as famous as daddy. not to be taken lightly- they do have the best daddy. ever.}



My days have been filled with gardening and canning. I have so far canned one batch of those dreadful 14-day pickles that Matt loves. I got about 30 qt. of green beans. And since I have slews {is that a word?} of bell peppers, I'm soon going to start chopping them and freezing them. I still have alot of "gardening" ahead of me: apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes...

I leave you with this thought in regards to my rant on community: see if you can find someone who is NOT in your church, NOT in your workplace, and NOT on your normal beaten path to bless this week. And I bet you'll be blessed.