How many Mini-Vans fit in our Drive?

I do love welcoming people, friends - women especially, into our home. Hospitality is one way I can reach out while still fulfilling my role as a full time Mama. I need to remind myself of this more often. as it is so easy to get busy with life and push things off "for another day".

Let me be honest. It takes effort. While I truly wish it wasn't, it is so worth the extra effort to tidy and throw some bread in the oven and e-mail everyone to come, bring a dish to pass, and let the kids play while us Mamas socialize. And then swiffer five extra times because the dog is shedding like there is no tomorrow.


The weather was absolutely divine. I think I might have cried a little had it not been because once we counted up the kids amongst us there were thirty. Thirty. My yard handles thirty much better than the inside of my home does.

So we chased poultry, pet a lamb, swung, gobbled up delicious food everyone brought and kindly shared, talked about home education, breastfeeding, parenting, silly stuff....


I tried to be diligent and invite several women who have asked to come over. I mean, how could I say no or not make a special day in their honor. They asked! They have more guts than I do. I love that. Having them here blessed my day and I am very humbled that they want to come hang out here. I think I'm pretty boring, actually, and it boggles my mind that women like to be here.



One thing that struck me was what a diverse group of women we all were, sitting there under the trees, chatting. So many differences among us, experiences, parenting ways, education ways...
Little man was glued to my hip while the older kids ran around with new and old friends. I often complain (to myself) of the lack of community or like-minded women, being a part of such a large church as we are. Here was community though most of us don't attend the same house of worship. I suppose this is a lesson to me to cultivate an environment for the community that I want to see.

I went back and forth about taking time to share something to encourage us in our role as mothers in front of the group but chickened out eventually since two of the moms and kids I had never met in person before. Darn introvert in me. Next time....


And now I have to tell you about the delicious salad dressing recipe my friend Summer brought (and share it too).

So make this:
Equal parts apple cider vinegar and sesame oil.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Cilantro and sesame seeds
Maybe a bit of maple syrup.

That's about the way she gave it to me and I made it tonight with the fresh lettuces and peas from the garden, with a dab of honey instead of maple syrup. It was so good.

Putting food by....

Friday night we all picked sour cherries together from a few of our trees, Papa on the ladder and the rest of us on tip-toes. It was late. Picked cherries also need to be processed.
Sean and Aiden stayed up late with me, popping out each little pit by hand, juice running down to our elbows. Pits to the compost bowl, cherries measured into the pot. Eight cups in all made into sour cherry jam.

Saturday Sean had a busy morning at church. I unloaded the deep freezer of berries and made jar after jar after jar of jam. They lined up on the counter and made happy little popping noises while I tidied the very messy kitchen.
There are still 12 quarts or so of rhubarb in the freezer and eight or so of strawberries but more room now for the cow headed its way. In a stroke of providence we have a 1600 pound grass fed cow hanging at the butchers, coming home to us in nice little packages of stew and steaks and roasts and ground to feed us all through the year. All this for the cost of the butcher.

This past winter we feasted on all the venison Sean procured, our fat meat chickens from last year, and lots of potatoes from our garden and my Dad's garden. It was all basically free food and since business was slow, it saved us so much in the way of groceries as I was able to produce several free meals a week, including our eggs. By winter's end I was craving beef, steak, anything that had once moo-ed and quite tired of all the delicious venison and potatoes and chicken thought I did not complain and was indeed thankful. But God knew. I smiled to myself and whispered a prayer of thanks when Sean told me the beefy news. I suppose next year this time I'll be tired of beef, don't you think?

Familia

I plan on enjoying plenty the wonderful fact that the field next to our home is planted with wheat. Such a pretty backdrop....

Just Photos...

Happy Father's Day to Sean...

I can't even begin to explain what it is like to see my children's lives being blessed by you, Sean. I love your strength, the covering and leadership you bring to our home. I love that you're such a hard, diligent worker, and look forward to coming home each day to see your kiddos (and me!).

I love the adventurous, outdoorsman spirit God has placed in you and I appreciate so much your sharing the adventures with our kids when doubtless it would be easier to be alone in the woods or on the creek sometime. Instead, you're content to have a baby on your back and overlook the occasional rock tossed into the pool you're fishing or take time to help a daughter wade past the rapids at the base of a waterfall.


Our daughters are seeing a great example of a godly husband and father. You are not a proud man and are always ready to ask forgiveness from the children if you need to. I love that about you. Every day that you have been a part of our lives, you've been leading our boys by example in prayer, hard work and love. I can't wait to see the men and women our children become because of your influence.

Sean, I hope this day is relaxing and special. I love you very much!
A Happy Father's Day to my Dad too. Love you much.

Compassion

(the kiddos and a little baby crow they found and cared for)

We finished.

I am still amazed that we had babysitters every week for our children and that they were welcomed into homes where I never had to stop and wonder if they were okay - loving, Godly homes of friends.

The final night of foster classes we sat in front of a panel of twelve and heard stories from folks experienced in fostering and adopting. It was an amazing night.

Hearing stories of two month old twins found in a broom closet weighing 5 lbs each, now flourishing, of a formally incarcerated father stepping up and raising his twin boys with excellence, seeing foster parents talking with grins on their faces about two year olds flinging poo and laughing about the horrendous antics of toddlers, hearing from a grown man, recently graduated from college, sitting and answering questions with his foster/adoptive dad, then heartbreaking stories too of children beaten, hording food, barricading themselves under the bed at night...

I sat there with tears thinking that whether or not these folks have a relationship with God - they are all much better Christians than I am. Their religion is better than mine. The room was warm and packed, so still and quiet as they took turns talking. I couldn't help but think that you could *feel* God's pleasure there that night.

Encouraged

Last night we walked, the older kiddos on their scooters, Chase in his stroller beside my friend's kiddos in their stroller and little miss Ella half walking and riding. The air and everything are so fresh and green after the rain and sun. We walked the country road.

I love my friends.

I love their passion for raising their kids. I love that I can talk to them about a rough day and get perspective or rejoice with them when we see improvement and change in a child's heart.

My friend that walked with me last night talked about working on their 3rd and 4th adoptions. Will you keep them in your prayers?

This week is our final foster certification class. Last week we finished our homestudy and I am much relieved that is over. God blessed us with a great homefinder.

Last week I talked with a homeschool mom who went through a nightmare working with the county to adopt and I was so discouraged after talking with her. But then something struck me. After three years working with the county and lots and LOTS of hassles, they adopted foster siblings from out of state. I *think* that maybe that was just what was meant to be. Maybe the hassles were meant to drive them to look out of state to find their children. I certainly can't speak for the family and say that but they are a beautiful family and I see that God has blessed the desires of their hearts.

As we walked last night, my friend Kelly told me about a family she just met with a six month old adopted out of foster care. The opposite.

I think Sean and I just need to trust and follow God's leading. People say to me all the time that they could not do foster parenting because they would get too attached to the children. Don't they realize that that is exactly what the child needs? Someone to attach to? How easy it is to place our comfort above compassion.