Me and My Shadow

I'm told that when I was little, my favorite thing to do was to follow my Grammy around.  My Mom called me Grammy's shadow and I have always enjoyed that title.  I know I wasn't the only grandchild to tag along with Grammy anytime there was an opportunity; but I'd venture a guess that I was in her shadow more than most because my family was blessed to live so close to her and Grandad.  Now I have some of my own shadows from time to time and there is nothing sweeter.  I love each and every one of them more than life itself.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 17:8)

Grammy's Teddy Bear

When I celebrated my 15th birthday some years ago, Pop was my boyfriend...not my husband just yet.  He gave me a big teddy bear for that birthday that I still have and the old guy has shown some wear and tear lately..the bear...not Pop. The grandkids have had different reactions to this teddy bear that Pop named Albert all those years ago...Albert is not so plush and cuddly as he once was and his red felt tongue mostly came off a long time ago.  To add insult to injury, one toddling grandchild chewed most of his nose off.

Just the other day, our Superhero grandkids were visiting at the farm while their folks went on a date and tender-hearted Supergirl had several of the Four Sisters Farm stuffed animals out to play and noticed Albert had a rip under one arm. She came asking for help and of course I was happy to oblige. After all, we can't have animal stuffing falling out around here!

We checked Albert into our makeshift teddy bear hospital (my sewing space) and got to work stitching up the hole under his arm. Supergirl and I were joined by two of her superhero brothers who were interested in Albert's well being. One commented that Albert needed his nose fixed and the other that he needed a smile where his tongue had been.

We fixed him up and now I regret that we didn't get a picture when he checked in...but we did take a picture after his makeover with the superheroes for the world to see and sent pics immediately to the Four Sisters to let them know that Albert had undergone plastic surgery and they all replied...but Pretty Princess really cracked me up with her response.  She said, "Ha ha!  Roarnoplasty seems to be the latest in bear plastic surgeries these days!" All the Four Sisters make me laugh but they know one of my favorite things is a good pun.  Nicely done, Pretty Princess! 

Driver Education

Pop and I recently had the two youngest of The Growing Table family for several days when their parents made a trip out of town with their two middles (the big boys were with EJ's folks) and one of the highlights for them was driving our two little battery-powered jeeps...BUT...I have to tell you that keeping these fellas headed in the right direction is an activity requiring hands-on adult supervision!

Then there are the bigger fellas riding the dirt bikes (also battery powered) and keeping them on a larger and more free path while steering them away from dangers like barbed wire fencing requires nerves of steel (which Pop has but I somewhat lack).

Then there is our oldest grandchild, Lou Lou who is driving with supervision now.  She only scares me when she is fiddling with the radio.  Ha!  She really is developing into a fantastic driver; but still, supervision and instruction is intense in the beginning!

Sometimes the task of guiding children can be overwhelming and feel like disaster is looming large.  The task of guiding children...whether driving or in general is a hard job.  Kudos to all the parents out there (my daughters and sons-in-love included) who stay vigilant and lovingly guide their children.  May God multiply your efforts and bless you richly!

Unconventional Summer Fun 2015

The Unconventionals live farther away from Four Sisters Farm than any of the other Four Sisters Farm families so we have to plot and plan to get one on one time with Lou Lou, Bub, Southern Gentleman (SG), and Ladybug.  Doctor's Wife (DW) was so good to be flexible as we invited the Unconventional kids out all at once and then one at a time.  We met up in various places to exchange kiddos and it did this momma's heart good to see and hug DW multiple times in one week.  And now, at the risk of being "that" Grammy, I'd like to share pictures from a few memorable days.

Every Pop and Grammy should be so fortunate to have a granddaughter whose personality is larger than life. Ladybug finds excitement in everyday life and has a contagious laugh and expressions that draw us into the way she sees things.

Digging for leftover money from the Fourth of July and making
a sand kingdom were fun for Ladybug and Grammy.

Ladybug made a special yogurt, strawberries,
and whipped cream dessert on her day!

We bounced...

we played bingo...

we upcycled plastic bottles into bracelets...

and of course, we swam!

Southern Gentleman is a walking commentary on life...there is never a dull moment when he is around.  He has an incredible imagination and weaves scenarios all day long.  He brought along a ziploc bag with everything he needed to make a delicious dessert for us...turtles!  He went to work after dinner and visited with Pop and me while he made the treats.  We played outside a lot and he collected an "evedince" bag full of feathers...now every time I see a feather at Four Sisters Farm I think of SG and his bag.

Of course we swam...

we ate SG's specially made turtles... 

SG and Pop hit the cards hard... 

we looked really hard for skipping rocks but didn't find enough... 

we played "Go Fish" after swimming and each won a game... 

SG contemplated his moves in Chinese Checkers against Grammy... 

and enjoyed building a Trio Block racing ramp and cars. 

We packaged up farm "evedince" and sent them home with him.

Bub is a tough but tender-hearted guy.  Pop might say Bub is a "complicated man" like him.  While Pop was at work, I enjoyed my time with Bub. We talked about important things like the upcoming school year and playing Cougar football.  He is a joy to have around and when we played an improvised ring toss game in the the pool (credit to Ladybug for making up the game), I laughed harder than I've laughed in a long time.

Bub worked on his marksmanship...

swam (of course)... 

modified SG's Trio Block racing ramp and cars... 

and I haven't put away the BB gun in the mud room yet...
when I see it I think about how much fun we had.

Then there is Lou Lou.  Sigh.  Our oldest grandchild.  She is a beauty inside and out.  She loves fashion, animals, and music.  She is a delight to spend time with.  Pop and I especially love that her guitar comes with her to the farm and our porch is transformed into a stage and filled with music.  Pop and I both feel so blessed to spend time with her.  She brings a presence when she comes that reminds Pop and me that she is a lovely young woman now and we can't believe it has happened so fast.

Lou spend a tremendous amount of time trimming
clumps of hair off Snowball who decided she really
did appreciate it. 

She tried out a fat tire bike when we went for groceries...

took selfies so I wouldn't wreck the van trying to take a
picture of her with the sunset out her window...

made delicious blueberry mufffins... 

and ate them with me... 

then she got a facetime from her mom who gave her good
news that her application was accepted and she will
attend the high school she was hoping to attend. 

You can see DW on Lou's phone.   

We went to the mall and did some quick looking and a little buying... 

this shirt is on her "wanted" list...
it really is "her".  It says, "First of all, no. Second of all, no."
I love her independent spirit and I love her.

If you are still reading, thanks for humoring me as I've shared our Unconventional Summer Fun!

Sixteen Kiddos at the Zoo

Just recently, I met up with the Four Sisters at the zoo.

1 Grammy + 4 Sisters + 16 Kiddos = 21 Happy Faces!

The Sixteen Grandkids at the Zoo

Pop likes to sing silly songs to the kids so talk about the zoo trip brought this song out of Pop at the dinner table with the farm hands...just like the four sisters, the grandkids were certain Pop was just making it up but Farm Chick and I had Pop's back on this one.

The Animal Fair (these lyrics are considered alternate but are really close to the actual words - so that no monkeys are harmed during the singing of the song).

I went to the animal fair.
All the birds and the beasts were there.
The big baboon by the light of the moon
was combing his auburn hair.
You should have seen the monk.
He sat on the elephant's trunk.
The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees,
and what became of the monk
the monk, the monk, the monk,
the monk, the monk, the monk?

At the Zoo by Simon & Garfunkel...Click on the link to listen to the song...it will make you smile.    This zoo song has been noted on our blog before by Farm Chick.

Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo.
I do believe it, I do believe it's true.
It's a light and tumble journey
From the East side to the park.
Just a fine and fancy ramble to the zoo.
But you can take the cross-town bus
If it's raining or it's cold.
And the animals will love it if you do.

Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo.
I do believe it, I do believe it's true.
The monkeys stand for honesty.
Giraffes are insincere.
The elephants are kindly but they're dumb.
Orangutans are skeptical of changes in their cages
And the zookeeper is very fond of rum.
Zebras are reactionaries,
Antelopes are missionaries.
Pigeons plot in secrecy
And hamsters turn on frequently.
What a gas you got to come and see
At the zoo.

Another Little Princess

Well...the Four Sisters Farm Family welcomed another little princess into what Grammy calls "The Royal Family (comprised of Romeo, Pretty Princess, Bitty Princess and the newest princess who does not yet have a blog name).  If you know us, you may have seen pictures on facebook already but we hadn't put out a blog post just yet.

She came in December on the birthday of her cousin Spiderman...he is very proud.  If she had waited 13 minutes, she would have shared Supergirl's birthday.  We now have a December birthday club of five family members now! 

Romeo and Pretty Princess decided to do a home birth this time with the assistance of a midwife and it was a wonderful experience. It was a calm, peaceful way to welcome a new baby.  As it turned out, the sisters were all present for the birth...when they heard Pretty Princess was in labor they began to arrive.  

Pop waited downstairs and Grammy stayed upstairs to help.  The sisters were up and down the stairs fetching things and relaying progress to Pop.  In my estimation, Pop had the hardest job waiting.  Bitty Princess was asleep in her room through the whole thing and was very excited to meet her baby sister the next morning.

First time in Daddy's arms.

Just a few days old...Daddy took this picture.

Bitty Princess is a very proud big sister!

Pretty Princess and The Unconventional Doctor's Wife (DW) with the new arrival.

The Aunties telling the newest royal family member how much she is loved.

All the Four Sisters and Grammy with our latest blessing

Proud Pop!
It will never get old seeing Pop with our grandbabies.  
I love him more now than ever before.

Celebrating grandbaby number 16!  God is SO good!

Proud parents...and they should be! 

Such a sweetheart and so loved by the whole Four Sisters Farm family.

Love and Longing

"...as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings..." Matthew 23:37

As I drove into town a few days ago, my mind raced.  I had errands to run, daughters to visit, and grandchildren to play with.   Then suddenly, my thoughts pulled off the busy highway of my mind and I was overcome with the longing I often feel to be in the presence of those I love.  I thought about how I long to be in the presence of my mom and dad...I long to be present with our daughters...I long to spend time with my sister and brothers...relatives and friends...I long to share life with them...not for a big event or anything special...just an ordinary day...just a cup of coffee or tea...just a sandwich or a snack and some conversation.  But we all have lives to live, work to be done, responsibilities to fulfill.

Sometimes the intensity of that longing brings tears...sometimes sweet memories and smiles...sometimes I make myself a promise to make a phone call so I can hear the voice of one I love.

I wondered if God longs for us that way...and I believe He must.  "And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters", says the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:1).  God is the author of family.   Isaiah 66:13 says, "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you..."  And Isaiah 49:15-16 says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."

It is easy to see that, since we are created in God's image, we bear resemblance to our heavenly Father.  We have multiple roles...we are children, siblings, parents, grandparents...and His love runs in and through each of those roles...teaching us, loving and helping others through our gifts of time and service...always drawing us to Himself regardless of which role we currently play.  

I am learning to be free in love.  Free to love and be loved.  Free to allow God to orchestrate and direct my days and free to trust Him to lead.

This kind of freedom makes me want to run to God just to glimpse His face.  To see Him look at me the way my parents looked at me when I was a child...to see unconditional love...and to feel that love completely.  Then, in turn, I want my others to see that same love reflected on my countenance when they see me.

I'm grateful it is a process...and I'm grateful God is in control of it!  1 John 4:12 says, "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us."

Love on, my loved ones...love on.

One Year Photo Quilts

When Lou (our first grandchild) was about to turn one, I got the idea to make her a photo quilt.  I figured that given advances in transferring photos on to fabric it would be easy...and it wasn't hard...edit photos, print, sew, bind, tie.  What I could not have known then was that we would have a lot more grandchildren fairly close in age and that the precedent I set with the first one would need to be carried on.  When Bub was born three years later, I made his quilt for his first birthday...easy peasy...then we had a family explosion.

"Spiderman" with his 1st Year Quilt

Bubba came a little more than a year after Bub, then Superman followed seven months later, SG arrived three short months after him.  Four months after SG, Wubba was born, followed by Spiderman eight months after that.  Then we slowed down...over the following three years, we welcomed Ladybug, GB, and Q.  Then we had a dry spell followed by a deluge...of Bitty Princess, another Super Hero, and Lil Ruthie all born within three months!  Yikes!  Five months after that deluge, we welcomed Baby D and Baby E who were born five months apart...and lastly (at this point), we added another princess to the Royal Family.

The Littlest Superhero "sharing" his first year photo quilt
with Lil Ruthie and Bitty Princess 

The photos on the quilts fade as they are repeatedly washed...but they are still loved.  Some of the kids call them their "Love Quilt", others call them "Grammy Quilts/Blankets".  I'm so glad they are used and that these precious ones will have memories of the warmth and comfort they feel wrapped up in them.

I am not a true quilter in the sense of perfect piecing and quilting (either by hand or machine) and I am still learning.  It seems that each first year quilt takes on a life of its own...the mommies pick out fabric colors, patterns and photos and I go to work.  The final product is as unique as the one year old receiving it.  I began by printing the photo blocks on special paper that is then ironed onto fabric and as technology has improved, I printed directly onto the fabric.  The photos for the latest quilts have been printed onto fleece by Shutterfly and I cut the blocks out and sew them into the quilts...so far, the photos have been best preserved by this latest option.

What an honor to remember our sweet kiddos and their first year with the Four Sisters Farm Family!

A Lesson Learned from a Little One

Pop and I love our grandchildren beyond any love we could have ever imagined and have learned a little bit about the nature of God through our children and grandchildren.  

As we gathered for Thanksgiving this year, Rock Star's and PhoJo's only daughter illustrated a truth about God that I will always treasure.  

You see, there is something special about our little Super Girl...something very quiet, very sweet, something that draws you into her world.  She shares herself in a way that children seem better at than adults.  She is open and transparent.  She is kind and gentle.  She gravitates towards the babies and sweetly talks to and touches them. 

She also has a heart for her Pop that is just precious.  When we are all gathered and there is total chaos all around, she makes her way to her Pop and climbs up in his lap to visit with him.  Nothing big.  No production. No wanting her own way.  She just wants to be close to him.

"Thanksgiving Pilgrim Super Girl"

So in the crazy time before we sat down to eat, Pop asked the grandchildren to share their favorite thing about Thanksgiving.  He started with the oldest and worked his way down the line.  We heard sweet things like "coming to the farm" and fun things like "I'm thankful for the pilgrims who settled in America."  When Supergirl's turn came, the bigger kids were ready to move on to eating and were not so quietly listening...

While Pop and I tried to hear her (be still my heart), she stepped over close to him with her eyes locked on mine (sniff), she leaned in and wrapped both arms around Pop's leg as he leaned against the kitchen counter, gently laid her head on his thigh and said what she wanted to say...confident that she was being heard by both her Pop and Grammy (tears falling and lump in my throat).  That sweet image is seared on my brain and heart forever.

As Pop and I talked that night, I related that I saw in that moment a full-color illustration of  what our relationship can be like with our heavenly Father.  When there is chaos all around us, all we have to do is lean into the Father.  We don't have to worry.  We don't have to compete.  We simply draw near, knowing full well that we are welcome and loved and heard.

Hebrews 4:16 (Young's Literal Translation) puts it this way "...we may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of the grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace -- for seasonable help."

One of my favorite authors of late, Ann Voskamp who ties being thankful with being in God's presence put it this way in her book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, "The practice of giving thanks...eucharisteo...this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes.  We don't have to change what we see.  Only the way we see."

I want to be with God the way Supergirl is with Pop.  I'll keep watching and learning from the children.  They have much to teach me. 

Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Super Girl with her Dad, Mom, and brothers