Category: Musings on Life and Beauty

In the middle of Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus Christ, placed between verses describing the experiences and reactions of the shepherds on that history-changing night, twelve words sum up Mary’s response.  “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19, King James Version) While Mary’s experience is undoubtedly singular, I believe that the experience of keeping things to ponder in our hearts is a common one for women.

I have found that each of my children, at times, enter new stages of growth which offer me a rich harvest of little things to ponder and marvel at.  I do not speak of daydreams or hopes about how so-and-so will turn out, but about moments when I clearly glimpse the eternal soul inside the growing body and am awed by it.  It happens at different stages with different children, but I’ve found that it is always a precious experience.


This little one is in such a stage now.  With the big kids home for the summer, she visits me often during the day to get a hug, read a book, or spend time in the kitchen with me.    I welcome these interruptions.


She followed me outside before church on Sunday when I tried to get some pictures of the baby.  The baby wouldn’t cooperate, but I took a few of my toddler.  No prompts, no poses.  I just followed her with my camera for a few minutes.


She was so calm and serious, as if something was on her mind.


These pictures make me wonder what she was pondering, and remember all the conversations we’ve had together recently when she told me far more than a two year old usually can.


She is precious to me.  I love her dearly.


Are you pondering one of your children right now?  If so, take a minute and write it down… you’ll be glad you did!

Hopeful Homemaker

Balance.  It’s one of the great, all-too-often-elusive things we search for in life, especially as mothers.

One of the great challenges to achieving balance is how we schedule our time.  I freely acknowledge that our family is very busy, sometimes too busy, with extra-curricular activities.    Yet this summer I feel like we just might have found it.  A few activities and LOTS of down time for old-fashioned play.


Minutes ago I witnessed an eleven year old sister and four year old brother building blocks together.

Here’s the conversation:
4 year old:  “I forgot how old you are.”
11 year old:  “Almost 12.”
4 year old:  “Oh.  How old is (big brother)?”
11 year old:  “Nine.”
4 year old:  “How old is (big sister)?”
11 year old:  “Seven.”
4 year old: “Did you know that means that you are TOTALLY older than them?”


They used every last block we have to complete the masterpiece, then ran off together in search of more “guys” to populate the castle.


They’re building so much more than block structures.  They’re building a relationship, memories.

We must be doing something right. (As opposed to yesterday when I thought I was probably doing everything wrong because a few of them insisted on fighting. All. Day. Long.)

It makes me happy to observe them, and oh, so grateful for days when we can just STAY HOME.

TOGETHER .

Hopeful Homemaker