today and such

9:11 pm.

Last load of laundry in and running.  House is clean, save a few random piles and the fact that the rugs need to be vacuumed.  Jeremy is up at the church helping his parents get ready for the annual winter silent auction tomorrow night.  The kids got in bed a few minutes early, after I gave Hailey a bath and read to Shea for about 30 minutes.  I have finished the last of the dishes, washed the bathroom and kitchen rugs, swept and mopped the floor, cleaned out the chicken box and replenished their food and water and am now just waiting for some shortbread chocolate truffle bars and biscotti to finish baking (for the desert auction tomorrow night).  Phew.  I am tired, and normally in bed shortly after this time.

Today I also finished two backpacks and a scarf for my shop, worked out, helped Jeremy plant our three new fruit trees (we bought three different semi-dwarf apple trees from Costco last night - we have been talking about doing it since last year, and they were only $12 each!), and wrestled through a day with Shea. It's been a good, productive day at home, but I am tired.  My body is sore and I barely got any sleep last night, or the night before, because Hailey has had a cold and wakes up every hour because she can't breathe. We have also been working through some difficulties with Shea during the day that have been very draining.  If you think of it, please pray for us.  I am at my wits end trying to stay calm and figure out the best way to handle these situations.  I am up late in bed just praying and praying for Shea.  He is such a sweet and thoughtful child, and even Jeremy's mother comments on how special and unique he is compared to the other grandchildren.  Almost everywhere I go people notice it.  He just has this brightness and friendliness and charisma that attracts and kind of astounds people.  I'm not trying to brag here, either, there is just something me and Jeremy both feel deeply, that Shea has the capability of doing something really...amazing when he is older.  With that comes such a great burden on my heart...how do I train this boy to above all else be a man who honors and loves God?  While he is capable of being a sweet and incredibly obedient and loving boy, lately he has been so very defiant.  All I can do is turn to God and try to hand over control and ask for strength and wisdom to love Shea the way I am supposed to.

Ah well.  Anyway.

I snapped a few pictures today.  Even though there were many crabby moments (Hailey is a crank when she doesn't get sleep), there is something priceless about the every day at home with kids.

Shea got out his paints while Hailey was napping.  He said that this was a cave he was painting.

All my beans soaking/sprouting right now.  I am making a mushroom black bean soup for the dinner at the auction tomorrow night, so I had to soak a lot more black beans than usual.

Our chickens!  Every day they have more feathers.

That one is the tall scrawny one, and there is another one that is bit more runt like.

This is one of the backpacks I finished today.  I went ahead and cut out double and made two of them, since it only takes a little longer to do at a time.

Oh and the blue/red fabric is a circle scarf I made.

And, Jeremy is home and my desserts are out of the oven!  Time to relax and get in bed.  Goodnight, ladies!