Eeeeekkkkk!

You know by now how I love to give you a clear mental picture of my stories. There is no turning back. The following story may may be one that you think…finally…she is human and made a mistake. (Not likely that that is the one you will choose.) OR you may think…okay, she is a freak. Stick with me to the end, or stop now. Lol!

My husband recently installed a new wood stove. Super excited for that. ‘Free heat’ he calls it. ‘Hard work’ is what I call it. Not complaining…just stating a simple, truthful fact. Anyway, a few weeks ago on a wonderfully gorgeous Sunday afternoon here in PA…we decided to go up to our woods and bring in some wood for the dreadful winter I keep hearing about. We live in the snow belt…why?! I have no words. Lol!

The kids and I were loading the truck with a stack of wood that my husband had made in the woods a few weeks ago. At one point I picked up a small log and uncovered…

 

Look up. It is on the trunk of the tree. What, you can’t see it? Let me get closer for you…

Look just below where my camera focused on the bark of the tree. It is a fuzzy brown blob.

A MOUSE! It was a mouse! I squealed at the thought of it almost touching my shoe. Things that make you go…*imagine me shivering as though completely grossed out here* From that point on, every time I came back to pick up another chunk of firewood…I would check to see if the mouse was still there. What I failed to realize, is that he might have friends.

 

Picture this. Place yourself in my mental story. (Okay…by mental I didn’t mean to imply that I am mental. Aw well…think what you must. ;)

You are carrying wood.

You are a mom so you are used to trying to make the least amount of trips as possible, no matter what the sacrifice. You can only load your arms so far…then you need another pair of hands.

That is where your 7 year old son can help. So he bends over (while you hold the stack of wood in your arms) to get more. And what to your wondering eyes should appear…he uncovers FOUR MORE MICE!

Much screaming…not from him…from you, the mother. They scatter and you don’t know which way to turn as if not to be scared by another. All of a sudden one crawls across your shoe.

More screaming. Then, one brave little mouse attempts to climb your pant leg.

At this point, flailing accompanies screaming. (Keep in mind…the stack of wood you are holding…and that 7 year old that is standing close by.) When the situation settles and that 7 year old is holding his face crying…one can only assume that he got hit in the face with the wood that the mother was once carrying.

Whew…glad that didn’t happen to me. *Nervously laughs as eyes shift to the floor and I stare intently and sheepishly at nothing.*

Soooo, my son was fine. And I recovered too after such a traumatic event. Thank you for your concern. ;)

 

Isn’t it funny that something so small can do so much damage. Just a cute little brown mouse…upset our whole afternoon. The once quiet woods were no longer. The once cheerful, beautiful, sunny, fall afternoon was now tainted with uncertainty. The face of a 7 year old was slightly bruised as a result of uncontrolled, ridiculously unnecessary fear?

Gossip…is a little brown mouse. Seems harmless…but can upset the calmest of Christians. No matter your physical strength, mental overpowers. The enemy whispers and you repeat. Once you’ve done it once, it is easier to do it again, and again. Ugh…the seemingly sweet brown face with it’s beady black eyes…are from the pits of hell.

Gossip! Just a few “innocent” words and yet…they destroy. Tear down. Frustrate. Divide. Mock. Worst of all they infuriate the Father! Oh how I hate to disappoint Him. We’ve all done it. You have that check in your spirit before you speak. You let the hurtful words spew forth anyway. What comes next is the same feeling that comes

Every

Stinkin’

Time!!

Guilt. You know you’ve sinned…and you wish you could take it back. Why does sinful nature have to temporarily feel so good?

That is all that the enemy has. Temporary. Everything he promises WILL fade. It will be short-lived. If you are looking for eternal promises, you must keep your eyes off of things that will rot or fade away. You must consciously choose to focus on things that Reign. Want to know something…it is not difficult. If you think it is…right now…you are falling into the scheme of the enemy.

Our fear of the enemy is ridiculously unnecessary. Really! He has no power over us. He is beneath. He is weak. We serve THE King of Kings. Our God is All-Knowing. All-Powerful. Omni-Present. Alpha. Omega. And He loves to see us finally get something we’ve been struggling with. Let’s set out to defeat gossip one Christian at a time! Go!!!

Proverbs 16:28 “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends".”

Am I a Member of Obsessive Picture Takers Anonymous?…YES I AM!

Morning all! How is your fall treating you? If you are in a place where the leaves aren’t changing, and your nights are not getting cool enough for a pumpkin latte and a blanket…I am so sorry. Fall is my fave…and I often think about all it has to offer. Backdrops for pictures, check. Jeans and sweaters, check. Cuddling under a blanket, check. Pumpkin everything, check. FALL BACK time change, coming soon! ;)

So the other day I decided it was time to get some good shots of my children before all the leaves are gone…and the cool days turn to bitter cold. I had gotten some good shots of my daughter the other day, but I needed pictures of my 3 sons. They may or may not be a large part of Christmas gifts that I plan on doing. *wink wink*

My oldest son recently started the swim team…so I had to hurry and get his done first. I made him carry the box I wanted him to sit on and everything. I told him…”Oh, just one more spot.” After I had said that about twenty-five a few times…I was testing his patience with me. He just kept smiling and saying…”MOM!”

This first shot is in our front yard by one of our big maple trees.
 

I love that he is willing to do what his mother asks of him. He really has such a sweet, caring spirit.



This one I call Aiden’s ‘model shot’. I just happened to snap the picture at the perfect time. Love it when that happens! Such a handsome little man he is! (Says his clearly unbiased mother! Ask my grandma, my mom, my aunts, my great aunts…they will all say that same. Hahaha!) This picture is taken in front of our garage door. It is funny that it can be such an eye sore on the building…but makes a great rustic back drop for my pictures!





My second-born…my only baby girl…was a mess this day. (Which is expected…and normal for her!) I thought maybe her messy waves would work well for the outdoorsy windy shots.
Not.
So.
Much.
I got a few that I am pleased with. Not super excited…but satisfied.
I do love the sun on her face here. She is obviously gorgeous no matter what! ;)


She brings joy to the people that she is with. She loves simply. She encourages often. She sings all day. She laughs easily. She smiles a LOT! And I would be lost without her in my day!




I will save my favorite pictures for last. So we will move on today my baby…Levi. He is not so much a baby anymore. He is two now, and he has his own little agenda. First on his list of things to do…
Stand up. Sit down. Stand up. Sit down…(Need I continue?)
Here he is half standing, half sitting, and very much laughing at his big sister. I love his hands in this shot!


Next on his agenda…play with that stupid…stinkin stick. That face though, I can’t stay mad at that face…


Here, he clearly was not as patient as his siblings. This was our third walk to a different ‘backdrop’ on our farm, and he was not going to pretend to be happy. (I actually love it though. He makes me smile…even when he tries to look grumpy. It usually makes me laugh. Only thing that would make it better…if he had crossed his arms. LOVE that!)


Final check off his list…pretend not to hear mom and jump, both feet, as high up as his little legs would carry him…
into a mud puddle.



Soooo, for the last year or so…my middle son Titus has been very frustrating uncooperative during my photo shoots. I would literally take 45 pictures of him with the same grumpy face saying…
I
don’t
want
to

It is very upsetting to an obsessive picture taker. Luckily with children, most things come and go in phases. Whew…I am so happy that that phase seems to be OVER!

Here are my favorite pictures of the day…


I am so happy to have my handsome, happy, brown-eyed boy back!


He has a killer smile! And he smiled as long as I wanted…at each stop…without complaining. LOVE!


And my favorite of the day…


Drum roll please…………………………………………………………………………………………



I tend to be drawn to black and whites. Not always…but when I edit my pictures and I find one like this… It puts all the focus just where I want it. The subject. And it just makes my day!!


Have a blessed day all! Enjoy your family. Tell them how much you adore them. Encourage them in the gifts God has placed within them. And love without condition. It is the only way to love…in the imitation of our Father!

Fall Photo Shoot

So, the other afternoon I was waiting for my husband to get home…and I decided it was an excellent day for a photo shoot. =) (The day actually wasn’t that good. I LOVE FALL, but the sun was not at all shining…but I was in the mood…so I pressed on.) The results…make my day. Seriously…I love to take pictures of my kids. I love to edit pictures of my kids. I love to look at pictures of my kids. And I love to scrap pictures of my kids. And these…are so going to be in their scrap books. Maybe even on my walls!! =)

 

 

My gorgeous princess Ariel. She always smiles. She makes other people smile. She is quirky and fun. I love everything about her. (Okay…maybe I don’t LOVE the screaming it takes to brush those blonde locks..but everything else for sure!!)

 

 

 

 

This is my new spot. I want sooo  badly to get all of my children on this branch. I will need a ladder. I will need a (willing) helper. And I will need the sun to be shining from behind them. Is that too much to ask? Lol! Aiden stepped on my shoulder and hung out while I snapped a few shots of him. Lol!

Must

Have

More!

 

 

My kiddos…a little awkward. (Although I do love the hand holding in the front row!)

There…that is better. That is my children! Always on. Always wrestling. Or tickling. Or chasing.

 

But ALWAYS loving each other!! =)

 

 

They do this stuff without me even asking. I love it!!

 

So that is all I really wanted for today. I love my kids. I love catching glimpses of them being sweet…and showing love.

 

How wonderful it is…to see them grow and learn.

How awesome it is to hear them pray.

How amazing it is to know that the world gets to experience them…and to be influenced positively by them.

That is what I teach them. And that is what I pray for!

 

Enjoy your fall! I know I am. I had an amazing pumpkin dessert tonight. Yes…I made it…but it is really sooo good! Then I had a homemade pumpkin latte. Followed up with a horse drawn carriage ride with a bunch of amazing people…with a hot cup of wassil in hand!

Did I mention I love fall? ;)