one fish,two fish!

This male betta fish joined our household on the weekend.Jess used the proceeds from the lemomade stand, a portion of carefully saved birthday money and some gift money from a friend and his siblings.So we are now a pet owning family,somewhat to my chagrin. It's still better than a dog,or worse yet,a puppy,right?

A couple weeks or so ago, we attended our good friends' somewhat quarterly evening of celebrating the Christian arts of adoration.I hadn't been to one of these for quite a while. It provides a place for Christian songwriters and musicians,poets, storytellers etc. to be able to share their work. Since,I try to be very sensitive to friends privacy on my blog I'll just share some non-people shots!

flowers and light, and to think that God is even beyond this beauty!

singing by mostly candlelight!

white lights near our community center's origami branch....

And here is a stack of finds from a library booksale. We are collecting a lot of" school " related books these days!

We have helped put on a large baby shower, gone to late night tea, sat around eating French toast with family and friends, and tonight I went with my cousin and my daughters to see a homeschool family of 13 children sing. One of the children is now married so it wasn't quite 13,but it was still a blessing to hear and see them together.

And,tomorrow, Lord willing,we welcome October!

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

the paper children

It all started with the thank-you note and the reply letter to a cousin. I guess this mother and her children have a hard time doing things in a plain fashion....!
It evolved. It evolved a lot. Now I can hardly bear to place these beautifully colored paper children in an envelope. The design here is great if I do say so myself. Maybe we should go into the fabric buisness......
Well, maybe I shall beg at least one set from my brood.That could work.
Pilgrimama

homeschool glimpses

using watercolors in the sunshine....

lunchbreak music....

measuring clay snakes.

Yes, it's bits and pieces from our homeschool days. Art,music,math all represented here and we do it all quite naturally! Good times.

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

a lovely thrifted find!

"You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be-

I had a mother who read to me.

Strickland Gillilan

This was my best find probably when my gang took me thrifting on my birthday.How I like the imagery-a mother serenely reading with her little one. I want to be like her!

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

simple, serene

simple. sweet.

comfrey tea

I've found I am the calmest, the most efficient when I keep my home and space simple and uncluttered. It's ok if there's some "stuff" but it has to be kept contained and mostly out of sight.Preferably,simple, serene in coloring.

This afternoon,after some back to back busyness,I am reclaiming our home. Clearing out.Excess furniture is a big energy drain for me. Open space? Oh yeah! I have been known to stuff extra furnishings in the basement or give it away. Dangerous times for my family!

How do you keep your home clean and serene?

Pilgrimama

investing

Raising children is like making an investment in an orchard or some other business where the payoff happens quite a while later. Folks may think one is foolish for putting precious money and time into a project that will not benefit rapidly.There won't be instant gratification in other words.

It's often like that with the time we invest in our children's lives.

Purposely living in a way that leaves plenty of time to work and play and hang out together.

Saying no to that lovely sounding ladies meeting. Saying no to heading off to yet another Bible study. Saying no to cooking time consuming foods too often or crafts or you fill in the blanks!

There is only one chance to invest in our children's lives. Invest and invest some more.I don't believe you'll be sorry. And, unlike an orchard,you'll likely see some results before too long!

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

the lemonade stand

I really liked our handmade sign~I outlined the lettering and the boys painted most of the inside portions and added some artwork to my lemon picture.

a couple of the young entreprenuers...they made a nice amount considering we didn't get all the advertising we'd planned on done. Jess had an encounter with some splashed hot oil and that was an interesting twist to the long awaited lemonade stand plans. But did we let that get in our way? Oh, no! We came through with flags flying!

We ended the day comfily at the community center,watching Brother Sun,Sister Moon. It was a good homeschool day.

In His Love,
Pilgrimama

and i present~

the peanut butter cups created for a baby shower recently,mmmmm!Lots of us mamas and babes,gathered around the first time mommy-to-be,crunching on yummy cinnamon rolls made with freshly ground flour,veggies and a tasty green dip,these peanut butter cups etc. and sharing in conversation,some games,and opening our respective gifts of baby swaddlers to diaper bags. These passages that are so life changing in the lives of women,shared.Shared,as they are meant to be. The older and younger women mixing,learning. Sweet.

My dear mother has come and gone but she brings the "fairy grandma dust" into my children's lives, making them feel loved and valued by her and by their Maker.

What more could I ask for?

And,she brings us the best presents that fit our family's lifestyle so perfectly.This stack of books is just an example!

And now I must be off. I have stuff to do yet and a lemonade stand to assist with tomorrow!

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

amidst the fullness...

..of everyday life,there are moments like these. Moments of creativity,love, thoughtfulness.

They help inspire me through the hours of daily grind I walk through to keep a space open and available so my little ones can learn and grow.I find more and more of these moments when i pay attention.And even as I worry that blogging may be a way of displaying self centered thoughts,I also am thankful for how it helps me pay attention to all the ways I am blessed. Holy Spirit direct my writing here!

The face paints I brought home from Costa Rica are broken out after a long time of sitting idle.

And, now, I must go teach math and prepare soup and biscuits for a friend and a whole list of other thin gs that I will spare you the details of. Adieu!

In Him,

Pilgrimama

sparse sitting time!

My mom is visiting us right now. We always like to do lots of talking and eating and playing when our rarely seen mom and grandma is around so I won't blog much today.
Last night we indulged in a heap of sweet corn and a late night watching the Free Willy movie the grandma of the family brought. This morning was sleeping in and grandma's french toast and bacon and lots more talk. Now for some schoolish stuff and then more vacation mode around here! See ya!
In His Love,
Pilgrimama

almost wordless wednesday

One broken pottery bowl and a lot of work(and a date with my girls while we shopped)later, the baby shower is over and the laundry area in much better shape! I'm sharing some shots of us making addition problems with popsicle sticks today! Later,I'd like to post a shot or two of the homemade peanut butter cups I made for the shower!

In His Love,

Pilgrimama

welcome September!

Enjoying the last tidbits of summer....some coolness seems to be creeping into the air.

Autumn is stealing in. My morning coffee awaits me downstairs. Our old townhouse with it's frequent ailments is ill somewhere in the hot water department,so there's not hot water.
My toes are cold. I should clean the basement before the repairmen are called. The sink is piled with dishes. I have to go downtown to shop for the last of baby shower prep for tonight.
I have to take and make dessert for the shower. I have laundry piled up to wash.The boys' dresser fell apart and it's making their room organization a headache.I have no buisness sitting here. I think maybe another slice of coconut custard pie is in order. And,oh yeah,welcome September!
In His Love,
Pilgrimama