Good Times

Here is a pictorial recap of some of our latest adventures:

Josiah has been building all sorts of trailers and things for his toy tractors. He "recycles" old cereal boxes with scissors and tape. I told Logan we'll that when he's a successful engineer one day, we'll look back on his cardboard creations with fond memories. :)

This is a disc that Logan helped the boys make.

Josiah's hay baler.

One day last week we stopped by the Animal Shelter. The cat room was especially fun, although there is no way in this owrld that I would bring a cat home...not to mention I am allergic!

Even Abbey enjoyed the cats. This one kept walking across Abigail and getting up close and personal with her.


Poor Miss Abigail is teething big time. Fever, upset stomach, and this adorable face.

We went to our friend Maggie's 3rd birthday party today, complete with bounce house!

Benjamin helped to blow out her candles, despite her protests!

The Railway Village is open again! Here we go again...we have our second home for the summer!

Not at all excited, as you can see. :)

If it hadn't been for Insomnia...

...I don't think I would have had a chance to update my blog! I was wide awake last night, so I finally got up at 3 and started uploading photos. I got two posts up and had the photos for this one uploaded when I suddenly felt very sick and went straight to bed at 4:15.

I'm not usually an insomniac. I have a lot on my mind as we are only one week away from opening the coffee shop, which I am managing this summer, and still so many things to finish up. I am having a blast preparing for the season though. Menu planning, working on a new website, updating the employee manual, planning for staffing, working on social media marketing, etc. So much fun! I have been sleeping a lot less lately, but don't usually have any trouble going to sleep once my head hits the pillow. Anyway, I wanted to share one last post:

Weekend Parties!

We had a birthday party Saturday for the boys' little friend Anthony, who turned 3. Josiah and Benjamin LOVE birthdays! They had a blast playing with all the other kids, chowing down on the cake, and trying out Anthony's new toys.
And of course Abbey got lots of attention at the party. She's turning into quite the socialite herself! I am so happy that my kiddos aren't shy!

Then on Sunday, we had our monthly potluck, this time at Dad's beautiful gallery. He'll be opening his doors this summer, so do stop in and check it out! You'll be quite impressed with his talent for painting as well as antiquing.

Paving Palooza

The boys were beside themselves when a paving crew went by last week! Papa had given them white construction hats, just like foremen wear, that they quickly retrieved, and then one of the men on the crew gave them both a pair of ear plugs. Very exciting!

Spring has Sprung!

Maine is beautiful right now...when it's not raining out! This week in particular has stranded us indoors, but I am hoping that we can get all our precipitation over with now before the coffee shop opens. Here's to sunshine in June!

Abigail went swimming last week for the first time (other than her baths). She was so cute in her swimsuit, splashing around!

Josiah designed and made this flatbed trailer all by himself!

And here is our chicken coop:

Mother's Day photos

Here are a few pictures from Mother's Day:
Danny treated us all to a special Mother's Day lunch at Ruby Tuesday's after church, but I unfortunately forgot my camera and missed getting a group picture. I got flowers from all my boys, even brothers Danny and Jonathan! Logan made my favorite cheese biscuits for breakfast and his annual potted arrangement for the front door. I felt very special. Grandma visited and we skyped with Matthew's family. Overall, a lovely day!

Mother's Day Musings

As a mother, everyday I fail at something. I lose my patience. I over or under react. I don't say the right thing. I am inconsistent. I don't get that stain out. I keep the kids inside too much. I don't feed them the healthiest food all the time. I let them watch too much T.V. I am busy all the time with no tangible results at the end of the day...just more dirty dishes and more laundry and more clutter and messes. It is an overwhelming and tiresome "job." Being a big picture person, I know that my kids are happy and healthy and I'm doing just fine...but I certainly don't feel successful on a day to day basis.


Since I have become a mother, something has bothered me about the Mother's Day church services I've attended. It's become a bit of a pet peeve for me. If I hear another sermon on the Proverbs 31 woman, I just get irritated. Do we honor mother's because they measure up to this standard, or shouldn't we just honor them because they are our mothers? What about those who haven't had a 'good' mother? I also pay close attention for all women to be honored, because every woman in the church is nurturing others in some way, and Mother's Day can be a very painful day for those who wish to be mothers but are not. God often chooses to give some women only spiritual children that they nurture in their walk with the Lord. I have had several spiritual mothers over the years as well as my very special and sweet Mom.

The service at our new church this Sunday was wonderful. The children led the worship, during which they had a time for mothers to come forward and receive prayer for rest and strength. It was good to acknowledge that mothers have the toughest job and they just don't get enough sleep. We need to receive our rest from the Lord.

Then Pastor John preached on the command to honor our mothers and fathers...not because our experience with them has been wonderful, but because God promises to bless us for choosing to honor them. He said we don't honor our parents, both physical and spiritual, so that they will get something from our honor, but so that it will go well with us. Living honorably towards others doesn't change them, it changes us. I was reminded of those people I know who had less than ideal parents, but who don't speak badly of them. Several weeks ago, I watched a sermon by Beth Moore where she talked about when Jesus told his disciples to "Bless those who curse you." In that verse, he used the word eulogia, where we get the word eulogy. We are to speak well of those who hurt us. If we choose to honor our parents, then God promises to reward us for living honorably.

I came away from our Mother's Day service feeling blessed that I do not need to earn my children's honor by being a perfect Proverbs 31 woman. They simply need to choose to honor me. And I can model a life of honor by treating others with honor, speaking well of everyone, especially in front of my children.

The History of Mother's Day

From today's Our Daily Bread:

When the US Civil War ended in 1865, more than half a million soldiers lay dead, the economy was shattered, and people remained deeply divided politically. The observance of Mother’s Day in the United States began with two women’s efforts for peace and reconciliation during this time of anguish. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe called for an International Mother’s Day on which women would unite in opposing war in all its forms. A few years later, Anna Reeves Jarvis began her annual Mother’s Friendship Day in an effort to reunite families and neighbors alienated by the war. There is always great suffering when friends and families are fractured and unwilling to forgive.

The gospel of Jesus Christ brings the promise of peace and reconciliation with God and with each other. When Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive a brother who sinned against him (Matt. 18:21), the Lord surprised everyone with His answer of “seventy times seven” (v.22). Then He told an unforgettable story about a servant who had received forgiveness and failed to pass it on (vv.23-35). As God freely forgives us, so He requires that we extend what we have received to others.

With God’s love and power, forgiveness is always possible.

Oh, what joy and peace we forfeit,
When forgiveness we withhold;
Fellowship with God is broken,
And the heart grows hard and cold. —D. De Haan


Forgiveness is Christianity in action.

Fisherman's Festival and Miscellaneous Fun

Last weekend, our town celebrated it's annual Fisherman's Festival. I brought the kids down and left Logan at home to work on reseeding the grass over our new septic field (actually, he was doing all the prep work--having dirt delivered and spreading it over the entire area to be reseeded.) We didn't get down to the harbor until a couple hours into the festivities, so I was happy to get the boys right down by the water for a front row seat to the crate races. I couldn't see a thing, but the boys had a blast. We met up with friends and enjoyed the sidewalk chalk, craft fair and tug-o-war competition as well before heading home for lunch. This was the most beautiful day we'd had for a long while, so we had our first "picnic", moving our kitchen table onto the deck and soaking in the sun as much as we could. Here are a few pictures from the Festival:

The boys really enjoyed having the yard torn up again! Especially seeing dump trucks and a bobcat at our own house! Very exciting!

Last week, the boys asked Logan to come to their swim class, so he went to work early and stayed a little late, making it possible to watch the boys in action. They only have two more lessons left. I try to give them a pep talk each week about listening to their teacher and doing everything she says. At least I'm better prepared from watching the class to help the boys get more practice on our own.

I took the kids back to Story Time at the library today. I have been house cleaning on Fridays all winter, but I bowed out of that so I could spend the next few weeks preparing to open the coffee shop. I'm going to manage it this summer, so I have a TON of menu planning/pricing to do, I desperately need to clean the shop, I'm taking a Food Safety class online, I need to work on scheduling and marketing, etc. etc. etc. So no more time for house cleaning! I'm very excited about running the shop though. It will be a good challenge and rewarding to have some work to do with tangible results.

Last weekend, Logan, Abigail and I, with our friends Scott and Bree, attended our friend Pam's student production of her play, "In the Shadow of the Cross." It was beautifully written and performed very well, so we enjoyed it immensely. Even Abigail enjoyed it! She would squawk loudly if we tried to turn her away from the stage! We followed the production with dessert at Moody's Diner...YUM!