We hope to call this home...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLWHw1qESwk

We thank you for your faithful support and prayers.

The Magic Hour Song Lyrics | Andrew Peterson Lyrics | Christian Music Song Lyrics, Christian Music | NewReleaseTuesday.com

The Magic Hour Song Lyrics | Andrew Peterson Lyrics | Christian Music Song Lyrics, Christian Music | NewReleaseTuesday.com

I cried when I heard this song today. I was running on the treadmill at the YMCA, with tears streaming down my face. I cried because Aaron and I have a dream about what we want for our family when we move back home. I cried because it's taken 12 years to get there. We have moved around a bit, enough to make a heart feel rootless. I cried because of the hope I feel when I think about finally settling down. I've always wanted that. I cried because it feels like we are almost home.

Art & Cookies

Sunday Cookies: (my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe)

1 1/2 C salted butter (hey...it's good for the skin)

1 1/2 C brown sugar

1 C pure cane sugar

2 eggs (yay, for protein)

3 t vanilla

1 C oat flour (here's the healthy part)

3 C white flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 C dark chocolate chips (anti-oxident right?)

1 C milk chocolate chips

mix together first five things together then add the rest. Bake @ 350 for about 12 minutes depending on your oven. let cool and enjoy! (we sure do:)


I haven't made one of these for a while...and it's a shame really, because so many of my dearest friends have had babies over the past year and a half. This one is for a friend and neighbor who is having a baby boy very soon. It was fun to create again.

Vermont again...

campfires...my favorite.
Who are these two big kids?

I love the way Daddy is gripping onto his baby girl in this photo.
Hey...we were just here last year right? But these big kids could not be ours???
Abby Sue at Ben & Jerry's...her heaven on earth. (love that she still has those dimples!)
Lottie...usually soaked from swimming in rivers and lakes and anything in-between.
Repeat photo op from last summer...but this boy is so much bigger!
This is the beautiful lake at our campground. Best swimming and canoeing...so lovely.
Sipping on some home-made root beer at the Burlington farmers market.
Blue-Grass in the park.
My latest camping creation...made out of some very unhealthy but delicious ingredients. (pillsbury biscuits, instant oatmeal, butter, and maple syrup)
This is a house on the way up to our campground that I love. I finally asked the (very-kind) owners if we could take a photo of it. Everything about it is my favorite.

We took the kids camping in Vermont again this summer. We visited the same campground, (Little River), that we were at last year. Every time we visit Vermont we say the same thing, "Isn't it peaceful here. Doesn't it feel a little like home?" I think that's why we keep going back. The people are friendly and relaxed. The countryside is open and layered in almost every shade of green. Bluegrass is king and farmers markets abound. I feel myself falling back into my bohemian ways and let my kids run filthy and free. Ice Cream is an art form and coffee is cherished. People in Vermont know how to say "Oregon" and even refer to it as "Vermont on steroids". As far as I'm concerned I think the two states and their people my favorite by far.

Encouraging this mom today...

"It may be on a kitchen floor,

Or in a busy shopping store,

Or teaching,

Nursing, day by day,

Till limb and brain almost give way;

Yet if, just there, by Jesus thou art found,

The place thou standest on is Holy Ground." (M. Colley.)

'The incidents of which Jesus' work was made up are, humanly speaking, very humble and unpretentious. Human details fill the compass of His vast experience and work...the most faithful cannot compare to Jesus in lowliness of manner: He taught only one woman at Jacob's well; He noticed a finger touch on the hem of His garment; He stopped to take little children up in His arms and bless them; even so small a thing as a cup of cold water, would yield its recompense of heavenly reward...Take God on thy route and thou shalt banish wrinkles from thy brow. Gethsemane itself shall not age thee if thou tread by the side of Jesus; for it is not the place of thy travel that makes thee weary~it is the heaviness of thy step." (George Matheson)

~selected (Springs in the Valley)

A Very New England 4th of July

Sara & Ben
Abby Sue and her fairy house
longneck steamer clams...delightful.
Emily & Zibby
The house our neighbors shared with us...for real!
The Carney's invited us once again to spend time with them in Westport over the holiday weekend. The days were filled with clam bakes, sunsets, fairy houses, bocce ball, fireworks, a glow stick dance party, and best of all...time spent with friends whose families have become so dear to us. I have learned a lot from these hardened New Englanders....I have learned that their hard hearts are made of gold.

Genius

Camping brings out the breakfast Picasso in my husband.

One ravenous morning last weekend in Maine, Aaron created these...

If you have never heard of a New England hot dog bun before than you might not fully appreciate the resourcefulness of this french toast finger creation.

They were bite size bits of breakfast bliss...and now a new camping tradition.

Good job luv.

(you can check out what the New England hot dog buns look like on link below:)

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/new-england-hotdog-buns-recipe

still life

I love that this girl can still sleep the afternoon away.

Never underestimate the power of a good nap,

for babies,

and their mama's.