Just Random...

I figured I should post something new, although it seems not too much new is happening. We are getting ready to take a trip to St. Louis in the very near future and this will be the first time making a long trip without our motor home but gas prices are such that it would cost a fortune to fill that thing up. John contemplated even going but we are excited to visit his family there so decided to go ahead. John's cousin's family was kind enough to invite us to stay with them and the kids are really looking forward to that adventure. We do enjoy full houses of people and I hope they will too! :)

I came on my blog tonight to check how many weeks I am in my pregnancy. I can't believe I didn't know for sure but time sure gets away from me. So, I am 25 weeks today and baby is about 13 1/2 inches and is starting to get some baby fat. I am feeling good and I think baby is keeping his head down more so the kicking in the cervix has subsided for which I am very thankful. I feel like I am waddling already which I don't especially enjoy but I am trying to put a conscience effort into walking normal if that is possible. Baby moves around a lot and most of the children are taking turns trying to feel him kick their hand. It makes me smile knowing that they are enjoying this process too.

John and I taught Sunday School for Seppy's class last week which is always fun for me because I love to watch my husband with children. Sure, I see him every day with our children but with others it is different because it is an hour of making children laugh and enjoy learning. It reminded me so much of the days before we were married when we would babysit for children and they would be climbing all over him and having a great time. I am not anywhere near as fun, at least not in that way. Anyway, the children were wondering about my big belly and a few came away from class telling their moms that Mrs. Mason has a basketball under her shirt. One little girl said that I had a basketball hoop! Now that would be an interesting shape. Once in awhile it would be nice to have a basketball and take it out for a rest. This basketball is heavy! :)

Exploring Our Backyard

We went on a field trip last week with our Nature Club to an environmental park. We have been there numerous times and the fun thing about it is it is like exploring our own backyard except with guides that can answer all of our my questions. We enjoyed searching for nesting Bluebirds and Kestrels (a small hawk) with binoculars and Missy Blue was especially enamored to find that things were bigger when she looked through them. I was surprised that she was so interested and even answered a question or two in her quiet little voice but she is a bit more social than probably all of her brothers combined. We stopped and smelled Skunk cabbage and found other wildflowers like Bloodroot and Turtle lily just making their appearance. We ended our time at the pond where Tank found a granddaddy crawfish and Pete was able to catch it with his net. I found some the next day at the grocery store waiting to be eaten. :)

Bloodroot with a blurry Mayapple in the corner

 I have probably said it before but in my opinion we live in the most wonderful place to raise a family. I stand on our wrap-around porch and look out on our land and am blown away by the beauty of it, the smell of it, and the noises of nature all around (okay and quite a bit of noise from children too). I love the sound of the frogs mating calls from the spring down the road at dusk and know that when I hear it the warmth is on it's way. Oh, I am sure there are more beautiful places and definitely warmer places in the world but this is just right for us. Funny because growing up in the city I would never have thought I'd enjoy this as much as I do.

I so enjoy walking the paths in our fields or hiking the trails in the state forest right across our field to see what is all growing and to learn something new about God's amazing creation. Although lately my walking has gotten a lot slower and less frequent. The children enjoy exploring too. After our field trip we decided to see if we could find the same spring wildflowers growing here and sure enough, we did find a few. My favorite find was the wild leeks growing in the brush under trees. I would have never known what it was before as it looks a lot like a clump of ordinary grasses. But, now we know exactly what we are looking for so have dug them up a few times to add flavor to our meals.

Wild Leeks

Ah, now just to wait for the warm air so I can open the windows again and fall asleep to the crickets making sweet music and the lightly blowing breezes making everything smell fresh.

"When I bought my farm, I did not know what a bargain 

I had in the bluebirds, daffodils and thrushes;

 as little did I know what sublime mornings 

and sunsets I was buying."

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Celebrating 14 Years!

"The Puritan ethic of marriage was first to look not for a partner whom you do love passionately at this moment but rather for one whom you can love steadily as your best friend for life, then to proceed with God’s help to do just that." — J.I. Packer

Enjoy a reminiscing with along with me. (Updated a bit from the first time I posted). Pause the music at the bottom first.

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