Sophia's Birthday~

Sophia turned 6 on May 24th...it was a fun day!

Birthday girl...Sweet Sophia Rose~

But I was still pregnant, overdue by 5 days at the time, and knew that I was limited in what we could do that day.  I still wanted her birthday to be fun and enjoyable, though...so we headed to the grist mill...with a loaf of bread, a net, and a bucket.

We enjoyed feeding the geese and seeing the goslings...they had grown so much in the 2 weeks since we had been there :)  

We made our way to the tadpole pond for some tadpole catching...which was fun, but not very fruitful.  Usually the girls are able to catch some of those wiggly critters, but that day they were sneaky and quick and hid really well.  The pond is full of bullfrog tadpoles...they are big.  Finally I was able to catch this one...he's a little guy compared to some of the others.  And Sophia, who loves to catch and look at them, was finally brave enough to actually hold one...a pretty big deal for my non-bug-or-anything-slimy girl :)

The Tadpole Hunter~

On the hunt~

Brave girl~

We did see a lot of frogs.  Usually we get to hear the frogs and see their splash as they escape into the pond, but rarely do we get to actually see as many as we did today.  We saw one that was huge...the girls could barely believe how big he was!  And Bella actually caught a frog...the first time she's ever done that...it was exciting :)

Kiss me, Bella~

Frog Prince?

Shortly after this picture, the frog managed to hop out and escape into the pond~

 Then we headed to the creek.  The girls always love to splash and play in the water...plus they needed to clean off their feet and legs from tadpole/frog hunting in the mud and the muck.  As always, it was a fun time~

Beautiful~

Splish, splash~

Later that afternoon, we ran a couple of errands.  One was to pick out Sophia's birthday cake.  We'll be enjoying birthday cake again when my parents are here later in the week, so I let Sophia pick out a smaller cake for us to enjoy on her day.  I know, slacker mom, but thankfully she thought it was fun to pick out her own cake :) 

That night we enjoyed dinner out at Ruby's Diner...Sophia's choice...and then presents, cake, and ice cream when we got home.  

Birthday dinner~

Cake and presents~

Make a wish!  Happy 6th Birthday!

It was a great day!  And later that night, my water broke~


Rach

Happy Birthday, Sophia!

My Sweet Sophia is now a 6 year old!  It is a wonderful blessing to be her Mommy...I am amazed as I watch her grow!

Sweet Sophia, April 2011~

 I've been teasing her for weeks that Steve and I had decided we just wanted her to stay 5, so we weren't going to let her turn 6.  For a while, I think she actually thought maybe we had that kind of power...it was funny :)  She also decided that if she ate well and healthy, she would keep growing, and we would not be able to keep her from turning 6...smart kid!

Sophia's creation at the Please Touch Museum in Philly, April 2011~

Love that smile!

So, here are some thoughts on her birthday. 


I am delighted with the heart that I see God growing in you, Sophia.  You have a tender spirit that desires to serve.  It, at times, seems almost natural for you to think of others first.  You are often wanting to bless someone and thinking about ways to help.  I can take no, absolutely no, credit for this beautiful servant's heart..you definitely don't come by it from me.  So I thank the Lord and He so often uses you to teach me.  Sometimes I imagine what His plans for your future are...I believe He is growing your heart for specific ways to serve His Kingdom.  

Sweet smile...such a treasure!

Sophia, you are a treasure and a joy!  We are blessed by you every day...every hour...every moment.  I love your cheery spirit and bright and hopeful outlook on life.  I love your smile and your talkative nature.  I love how you desire to learn.  I love how you desire to be a helper...in our home and to others.  


One of my favorite things, Sophia, is to hear you pray.  Your prayers inspire me.  It's hard to explain, but the words that God gives you are often beyond your years.  Once again, God uses you to teach me.


I pray you have a blessed birthday, my sweet girl.  We love you!

Love, Mommy~

Another Favorite Thing~

I decided to continue my Favorite Things category...simply because I want to record what our home is/was like...it's part of our lives, after all.

I think my "style" is Spanish/Southwest/Eclectic...that's a style, right?  I fell in love with the Spanish/Mexican/Southwest part when Steve took me out west.  Truth be told, it's one of the reasons I married him...I could really get away with some of that beautiful, warm, wonderful Southwest/Mexican/Spanish decorating if I became a Gonzales ;) 

Anyhoo, I enjoy art...and I love to have art in my home.


I think original art is especially wonderful...so, today I am sharing an original, one-of-a-kind piece of art I received from a friend back in college...and it fits in perfectly with my so-called style.   

Wire horse~

Isn't it wonderful!  I LOVE this sculpture!  It has always been displayed in my home...even though I lost touch with its creator for many years.  Well, along comes Facebook, and I've been able to reconnect with many friends...including the artist behind this creation.  

My college friend, Eric Vess, made this horse for me out of coat hangers and tire wire.  And I think it only took him an afternoon or so.  He gave it to me back in 1992...maybe '91...so it's about 20 years old.  

Eric went on to join the Navy and became a Navy SEAL.  He's married to his college sweetheart and they have 3 really cute kids.  Now he owns a gym in Asheville, NC called Gym Me.  I don't think I could hang with his workouts, but everyone who goes there seems to like his training style...and they get results...but I guess you should expect results when your instructor is a SEAL :)  Eric did tell me that most of his art nowadays is reserved for helping his kids with their art projects and some logo designing too.  Anyone need a logo...contact Eric.  

Well, Eric, it's been a long while since our Sigma Nu days back at Western Carolina, but this sculpture has always been a special piece of my art collection.  Thank you so much...I adore it...it's one of my Favorite Things~

Have a great day, friends...enjoy some art!

Rach

Waiting for Gracia Kathryn~

Well, well...I am 4 days away from my due date.  
 
I mostly feel good...the best I have ever felt this far along in a pregnancy, so I praise God for that...truly, I feel His grace.

Me and my three girlies...39 1/2 weeks~

I am very thankful for how well this pregnancy has gone.  The Fifth's Disease exposure is still something we're monitoring, but baby Gracia continues to look pretty good...thank you, Lord, for your protection.  This is the least amount of weight I've ever gained and it's within what's considered a normal amount for a pregnancy...I'm pretty jazzed about that.  This is the most active I've been during any pregnancy.  I was still working out at 8 months, but haven't been to the gym in a few weeks simply because of tiredness and the crazy swelling of my ankles.  I really miss the gym and my workouts...who would have ever thought that this girl would actually miss working out...maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks :)  

The cankle thing...I've never swelled like this.  Some days they are beyond cankles...I've threatened to call them kneekles because they are that bad.  Apparently, some of the swelling could be from the virus...it could also simply be because I'm almost 9 months pregnant :)

My love~

Sweet sisters~

I am ready to meet Gracia...I think we all are.  I am especially looking forward to NOT having to find the nearest restroom whenever I go somewhere.  Oh, and sleep...I could really go for some sleep :)  Yep, I know it will still be a while before I get to sleep through the night, but I am very much looking forward to it anyway :)  

Bella and Sophia have been so wonderful during this entire pregnancy.  They have been extra helpful and really good sports about understanding that there are some things I simply have a hard time doing.  They have been amazingly patient.  I can see God's grace working in them too.

Steve was telling me the other day that he can't wait to hold her.  You know, Babe, I'm ready for someone else to hold her too!  And on the days when I feel like I'm carrying a parasite more than a baby, he reminds me that Gracia is a treasure and thanks me for bearing our children.  I mean really, who can not love that!  

We are eagerly waiting for Gracia~


Have a blessed day~
Rach

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things~

Some of my books~

Books...books...and more books.

I LOVE books!

I especially LOVE old books, rare books, interesting books.  I love the beautiful covers and the tattered edges.  I love the sense of history.  I love wondering who used to own them and the journey that brought them to the shop or sale where I found them.

I love when they have names and writing and dates on the inside...I find it fascinating.

I love how they feel in my hands, the sound of the pages...and I enjoy reading them too.

My favorite book in my personal (and still quite small) collection is a book of Tennyson poems (discovered by my friend, Libby, when we were book hunting at a library sale right here in Media, PA back in 2009--thanks, Libby!).  

My favorite book in my collection~

Isn't she pretty!

A bit of internet research revealed that this book was published in 1886 or 1887. A handwritten inscription is dated 1888. This book, however, is not actually very valuable, but it is so beautiful and it is Tennyson after all. And its publisher (the John W. Lovell Company) has an interesting and controversial history.  It seems that Mr. John Lovell wasn't concerned with copyrights and just published anyway.  So, this book was technically an illegal copy at the time of it's printing.  But I LOVE my technically illegal copy of Tennyson :)

Have a great day...read a good book!

Rach 

Newlin Grist Mill

Steve took the girls to the nearby Newlin Grist Mill on Saturday.  They had a blast!   Meanwhile, I enjoyed a quiet house while I finished up Gracia's laundry.

The grist mill was built in 1704.  It stopped commercial production in 1940, but the mill is still operable...by water, not electricity.  They do have electric lighting in the mill now, but the actual mill-works are run by water power.  It is pretty neato!

The mill also sits on 150 acres of beautiful land.  You can enjoy walks in the woods, explore the tadpole pond, and play in the creek...we always enjoy ourselves when we visit.  

A bonus to Saturday's visit was that the blacksmith was fired up and working.  Steve and the girls got to watch him and were treated to a one-on-one history lesson...very cool.

Here are some pics from their visit...spring has definitely sprung here in PA~

The blacksmith workshop~

Tadpole pond~

Beautiful Bella~

Sweet Sophia~

Spring in PA~

The girls playing in the creek near the over 300 year old dam~

The girls and I headed back to the mill yesterday to join our co-op group for a tour of the actual mill.  We enjoyed a guided tour and they even got the mill running so the kids could see how it works...we watched them grind corn into cornmeal.  It is really something to be in this wonderful old original building and watch the mill wheel and grindstones in action.  We also got to tour the miller's home and the blacksmith again.  Then it was picnic and play time...another great day at the mill!

Here are some pics from yesterday's visit~

Learning about the mill wheel~

Grindstones~

If you didn't live near a mill, you had to grind the "old fashioned" way~

The Miller's house

Inside the Miller's home...all period pieces...no touchy~

Back at the tadpole pond~

Fun in the creek~

Awww~

Have a blessed day!
Rach