August Fields

brothers

hank and chichi playing with the manger scene.  i love how often the kids play with this each year.  

i

i really treasure the relationships my children have with each other.  over the years i have seen them grow closer together because we are home together all day.  i am so glad the big kids are around to see their younger siblings grow up…..

we have most of our “to do” stuff for Christmas finished and I am so looking forward to these last few days of a bit more peace and quietness.  continuing to prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

finding joy in the deepest of sorrows…..

countless times i have started this post in my head just to close my eyes and walk away from the computer.  some things in life are just too hard.  writing about the sudden and tragic death of my sweet 3 1/2 year old nephew is one of those things.  not just “one of”  but “THE” hardest ever in my life thus far.

he went safely into the arms of Jesus on Monday, September 16 after a valiant fight for his little life following a near drowning.

pleading to God, praying without ceasing, crying, and groaning all ensued throughout the time i found out about his accident to the time he went to be with Jesus.  such deep deep sorrow.

yet we have hope.  i am going to share a video and some of the many Bible passages that we shared among friends and family.  there is the greatest joy (knowing that ry is with Jesus) mixed with the very deepest of sorrow (that he is actually gone from this earth).  it is the joy that makes others wonder, “how can you move forward?” “how can you have happy laughing moments anymore?” 
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
God IS good.  He is the creator of all life and if we have no hope then life is meaningless.  end of discussion.  BUT…..when there IS hope, NOTHING is meaningless….. please watch the following video:

and the story behind the song:

we are closing in almost 2 months since he went to be with Jesus forever.  Life is different.  It just is and it always will be.

I’m not very eloquent with words yet I have so many I want to pour out.

Psalm 91 is a chapter that I prayed fervently during the days ry was in the hospital.  It is a prayer of protection and hope.

Super smiley.  So very tender.  His ears and his voice.  Gentle with babies.  Silly little giggle.

” I hold it true, whate’er befall;

I feel it, when I sorrow most;’tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” ~Alfred Lord Tennyson~

loss is hard.  this is hard.  we were never promised that we would never endure hardship.  oh Lord, my God, when I pray to You, I believe and know that You are the giver of life.  You created Ry and perfectly placed him with his dad and mom and siblings.  I am so thankful for his life, that I loved him.   So very thankful for each of my children, all my nieces and nephews and family.  God, you are my refuge and my fortress, my God in who I trust.

ry man, i’m so very thankful for the certainty we have in knowing you are with Jesus.  smiling and being loved on in such a tremendous way.  i love you.

summertime.

summer is here and we have a fun project happening!  we’ve dug up the yard and brought in the fun machines.  i.e. dozers and diggers.

its been constant entertainment for the last 8 weeks.

and can i just insert some cuteness here.  chichi is 10 months old!  he is completely adorable and spoiled.  i’m not even going to try to deny it.

back to the pool project.  we chose a square, dark gray slate tile for the top border.

the interior will be a hydrazzo finish in the color ‘french gray’.

back to some serious cuteness.  chichi loves loves loves his older siblings.  they tote him around and play constantly.

are you enjoying your summer?  
we don’t completely stop school…..we do a math lesson here and there, a full day of school here and there, but mostly just enjoy the outdoors and do Bible time (i’m using the apologia What We Believe Vol. 1 and LOVE IT!)  
remember…..you don’t have to “do it all”…..keep it simple.  Love God, Love your spouse, Love your kids.  Spend time with each of them.  Its the relationships in life that matter….not the stuff.  
hugs, kisses, walks, and holding hands.   listen.  appreciate.  

Happenings.

It’s been awhile!! I’ve been posting a lot over on Instagram and would love to have you join me.  

Chichi is almost 10 months old.  He is such a happy, cheerful baby. He has 3 teeth on the bottom and is cutting both if his top teeth right now.  
He loves the hammock and settles right down when we put him on it! 

We’re putting an pool in!  The kids are so excited.  The tools and equipment over the past two months have provided lots of entertainment for them.

The garden is in and the cucumbers, beans and sunflowers are all growing! I even saw the basil popping up yesterday.   Please tell me you remember how hot it was last year!! Well, I remember. I was hugely preggers, sweating constantly and the garden barely produced anything.  This year is going much better!!

Garage sale season is in full force and a few of our best finds this year so far are this playpen …..
A vintage crib toy….
And this desk for the girls bunk room! Have you guys found any good deals out there?

 

spring shelves. some bloggy and reader love and thanks.

while the snow is still flying outside, the springtime decor has sprung inside.  
i have been eyeing these cafe shelves for some time and i really really like the idea of having two shelves to change out the decor for the season.  sometimes thinking about decorating an entire room seems overwhelming in my mind and in reality two completely decorated shelves can make a better design statement.
here is what i chose for our spring shelves (everything was from shopping around our house except the owl and little tiny lamb, both from hobby lobby)
“be filled with joy” print by katie daisy.

and now for some fellow bloggy love!  this is a corner of our front foyer.  the micah 6:8 canvas is from the ever talented dee of red letter words. this particular scripture brings me back to my childhood and as a young girl memorizing micah 6:8.  it all seems so simple.  to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  but life happens and it can all suddenly seem so complex.  having Scripture hidden in your heart truly is a treasure and i need more of it.

i also think it is so important to mark your homes with God’s word.  we use index cards and handwriting assignments taped to the walls with Bible verses but dee’s artwork sure makes a pretty display of such strong truth.  and right in the entryway, to set the tone, to welcome, to remind us all.

and do you see the a. dor. able. michigan pillow??!!!  yes, i am THAT excited about it.  This was sent to me by a fellow michigander, Jill of Cora Anne Designs …..

too cute, i know i know.  and the back is navy and white chevron.  ahhh.  chevron just makes me happy.  and this pillow is quality work.  please, go visit jill’s blog, they are renovating a lake house right now and its super cute.

blogging has connected me with so many people from so many parts of the world and from so many different walks of life.  the idea that people take the time to read my blog is humbling, and that many of you take the time to email me fills me with sincere THANKS.

thank you for reading.  thanks for encouraging me through comments and emails.

fact:  just last week i was having a doozy of a day.  grey skies outside, not motivated, and not feeling like i was accomplishing….well, anything.  i open up my email to find one that began like this

“I want you to know that your blog has been such a tremendous inspiration and encouragement to my wife and me……..”

this gentleman went on to share their home building experience and thanked me for sharing my faith and life.  wow.  

thank you.

he (as well as all of you have emailed such kind words) was such an inspiration to ME.

to take the TIME to say THANK YOU.  to you guys, to people around me.  do you even know how many thank you notes i have written in my head?  i’m great about thank you notes for gifts but just random notes of encouragement, of thanks…..so many times i just let it slip by.

i’m going to try to be more faithful to say thank you.  do write a note of encouragement.  because i KNOW how much its appreciated!

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