Category: Musings on Life and Beauty

This little girl is eight years old, and there couldn’t be a sweeter 8 year old alive.


She has a blend of qualities that continually leaves me wondering at her.  She’s a unique combination of playful and serious, innocent and mature, intense and sensitive, self-motivated and obedient, brave and fragile.


One thing is certain:  she is wise beyond her years.  She intuitively knows things that take others years to understand.


She’s also the best diaper changer in the house.  (The only one, I’m afraid, excepting Mom and Dad.  The oldest three all bring the little ones to her for diaper changes.)  She’s a born nurturer.


She’s also quite a monkey.  The other night I said to my husband that I don’t think she’s capable of going upstairs for bed without yelling.  His response, “Well, she is nearly perfect in everything else, so don’t hold it against her.”  I laughed.  He’s right.  She’s an absolute delight, and has been since her birth.


What a path she has ahead of her!  We’re honored to be her parents.

Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Love, Mom

We drove up the canyon recently to enjoy the beauty of early fall.  As parents, this meant both enjoying the beauty of nature and enjoying the sight of our family together in a tranquil setting.  This post is people; the leaves will come next.


On outings such as this, I find myself falling to the back of the line.  I enjoy watching my children from behind as they walk, observe and interact with one another.
















The little one, who slammed her head on a piece of furniture as we were walking out the door.  When I heard the thud, I was sure she needed stitches, but somehow it didn’t split her forehead open.


While we were eating, she helped herself to an uncut grape (prior to this I had always sliced them in pieces for her) and when we learned she could chew them up well, we permitted her to help herself.  She camped out by the grape bowl for the evening.












I think this little guy was ready to go conquer someone when I snapped the picture.










These people are my favorite people in the world.  Spending time like this with them means everything to me.  In a season of craziness with all their sports activities, homework, church activities and lessons, a night like this speaks peace to my heart.  I love them all so much!

Note to myself:

I went home that evening feeling great about the time we spent together enjoying such beauty.  Yet when I reviewed the pictures, I realized that once again my oldest three did a REALLY good job of evading the camera.  They’re all in a picture, but I’ve got to find a way to take more pictures of them when they’re unaware.

Jennifer