...is being made. Slow and steady, we're knocking out box after box after box. I'm the type that has to empty every single box as soon as possible. Because I know myself well enough to know that if they sit - or heaven forbid, make it all the way into the attic - I might never open them. Needless to say, this method leads occasional chaos. You should see Poppy's closet. But let's focus on this room. It's close to finished. No piles on the floor of utterly random stuff. No tape stuck to the carpet. No cardboard. No reminders of all there is left to … [Read more...]

It's been a tough week. For several reasons. Eight of my kids are in varying stages of sickness. The good news is - I have not succumbed yet. The best news is - this sickness includes fever and cough only. No surprise excretions that compound sickness into a laundry/cleaning nightmare. My laptop had a most unfortunate run-in with a bottle of bubbles. The culprit, believe-it-or-not, was Poppy. She was trying to open the foil on the top of the bottle and it toppled over onto keyboard. Honestly, I still can't believe it. Had she not admitted it, I would … [Read more...]

We got it, y'all. Mounds of paperwork have been accumulated. Credit history has been checked. And rechecked. Savings has been drained. But we are set. And one week from today, we'll be owners. *note: pictures of the inside of the house will have to wait. I didn't take any. Sorr-ay... I guess I kind of forgot.* I had prayed before I went house-hunting - without my husband, oh my! - that I would have the sense to choose the best house for our family. That God would direct my path. And He did. In fact, when we saw this house - Asher, my mom and my … [Read more...]

Among lots of other things. The sun going down in the pasture - behind the vast expanse of pine trees - is spectacular to witness. We're about a month away from our big move. And I'm getting a bit sentimental. We have so loved this place. But we've *almost* got a new place. And there is a lot to love about it, too. Hoping to share the details soon - just a few more hoops to jump through. … [Read more...]

Up at 5:30. Breakfast done by 5:50. Lunches packed by 6:05. Kids on the porch by 6:10. Camera ready, with 15 minutes before the bus was supposed to arrive. Just one problem. The bus arrived 10 minutes early. I was still fiddling with my settings - in the stinkin' pitch black - and the bus pulled up. So this is all I have to show for my kiddos' first day of school pictures. I completely and totally missed it. It must be Monday. On the bright side, the day can only get better from here, right? … [Read more...]