hello again

Oh I have not written here in over a year.
 most been reading me over here...
I felt a little update was in order...so, since I last wrote...

we moved home to CA,
are having baby 7 in December,
enjoying the beach,
the palm trees,
the smiles...

Have a wonderful summer!

Beautiful visitor

Sometimes beauty seeps into your life
A beautiful person that brings joy
Someone that makes life stand still
that makes the sun shine...


This past week, we have been touched by that beauty
in the person of my sister, Hanna.


Tears fall now that she has gone.

But the joy remains, in talks about her, in laughter, in memories...

A best friend, a sister, an aunt.

And symbols of hope right over our roof....

15?

Happy Birthday Ian!


I met you when you were that sweet little six year old.

As soon as I met you you asked me, "Are you going to be my mom?"


As soon as I was your mom you asked me, "When do I get a baby brother or sister?"... little did you know you would have MANY baby brothers and sisters



How can you be 15 now?



I am so grateful for you.
You are an amazing person.

These days of spring...

are filled with rambunctious, beautiful, silly little twin girls...



with sweet, growing baby...





with brother and sister who still find a best friend in each other...


with nature walks and an abundance of color...


with love, with laughter, with games, with chores, with imperfections and with grace, with longing, with peace, with tears, with joy!

I hope your spring is marvelous as well,

Amy

Books for all ages

We have a family filled with readers. We read to our babies before they are even born, and in turn every child has grown to fill their days with wonderful, inspiring and sometimes challenging literature.

I have been asked for book recommendations for children and thought it best to let my children do the recommending. I asked them to write down their favorites, I also gave them a limit because I knew they would go on forever.

Book recommendations from a 6 year old boy

Winnie-the-Pooh and House at Pooh Corner A.A. Milne
When we Were Very Young and Now we are Six A.A. Milne
Old Mother West Wind Thornton Burgess
Adventures of Peter Cottontail Thornton Burgess
Adventures of Danny Meadowmouse Thornton Burgess
The Bible :)
The Wizard of Oz Frank L. Baum
Mr. Popper's Penguins Robert and Florence Atwater
Stuart Little E.B. White


Book Recommendations from 7 year old girl

The Melendy Quartet Elizabeth Enright
The Little House Series Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pollyanna Eleanor Porter
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald
Caddie Woodlawn Carol Ryrie Brink
Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery
Wild Animals I have Known Ernest Seton
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carrol
Favorite Poems Old and New
Jack and Jill Louisa May Alcott
A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens


Book Recommendations from 14 year old boy

Kidnapped Robert Louis Stevenson
Three Muskateers Alexander Dumas
The Spy James Fenimore Cooper
Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys Louisa May Alcott
In Freedom's Cause G.A. Henty
My Side of the Mountain Jean Craighead George
David Copperfield Charles Dickens
Johnny Tremain Esther Forbes
The Robe Lloyd Douglas

Those were their favorites, but I thought, why stop now?

Books I read to my littlest littles

Ox-Cart Man
The Very Last First Time
Make Way for Ducklings
Uncle Wiggly's Storybook
Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories
Curious George books
Beatrix Potter books
The Best Nest
Frog and Toad books


Books we love to read aloud

The Wonder-Clock
Lang's fairy books
Burgess bird and Animal books
Among the... People series
The Complete Peterkin Papers
The Little House books



Mama's favorites

The Original Homeschooling series Charlotte Mason
For the Children's Sake Susan Schaeffer Macualy
What is a Family? Edith Schaeffer
The Hidden Art of Homemaking Edith Schaeffer
Ragamuffin Gospel Brennan Manning
Life Together Deitrich Bonhoffer
Keys to the Deeper Life A.W. Tozer
Mitten Strings for God Katrina Kennison
Charlotte Mason Companion Karen Andreola
Walk in the Light Leo Tolstoy
The Hiding Place Corrie TenBoom
Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe
Jayber Crow Wendell Berry
Hannah Coulter Wendell Berry
Jane Austen books
Jane Eyre Charlotte Bronte
No Compromise Melody Green


Daddy's favorites

Books by:

A.W. Tozer
Deitrich Bonhoffer
C.S. Lewis

This is just a small sampling of books we love.
Hope you find something to enjoy!

Things that make me smile

Family

Love

Joy

8 weeks

brothers

sisters

new life

Spring

May your spring be delightful as you rejoice for our Risen King and enjoy the things that make you smile!

Amy