"A Godly mother, their guardian angel, and dear to all as their own soul."  -Pg35

"Let God be supreme there (in the home): let His will preside, and streams of joy will emanate from that fountain head- streams ever deepening and fertilizing as the flow."  -Pg40

"...The necessity of training up a child in the way in which he should go; and to fit parents for doing so with calmness and consistency, the heart should be kept at peace with God;  the conscience should be pure; the life should be holy, the affections warm." pg51

"A mother is both the morning and the evening star of life." Pg 87

"The influence of a godly mother spreads like daylight over life." pg94

Rebecca emailed me and asked me if I could travel to do a wedding, and then she told me where the wedding would be and  I said "Yes"..Yes I wanted to go and see my Great Aunt Audrey and take Grandma with me so she could spend some time with her sister.  Yes I wanted to see my wonderful friend Shanda who lives there, yes yes yes.  I am so glad for all of it..I will do separate post later on the incredible wedding and my time with Grandma, for right now I wanted to show a few pictures of my time with Shanda and all that I loved about being there:

• When I arrived all the kids came spilling out of the house--most of the kids were barefoot when they gave me the tour of their property. They are "home grown" kids full of fresh country air, homemade foods and imagination.
• When she made me ham soup, she stepped outside to snip chives from her front garden to sprinkle over my soup!
• I laughed almost constantly.  I am so happy for her, for where she lives, she is truly living a dream, her life is so full and filled with joy.
• I want to bring my kids the next time I visit.
• We spent time out in her rocking chairs and when it was too cold, we would move over to the little table where the sun shines, and we would sip chai tea and talk about how if we ever become widows we will live together.
• One time when we were playing Pictionary her daughter Grace had a rabbit on her lap and then Ethan brought in Parker the dog, and Seth (the baby) was crawling around and the cat was somewhere and Caleb was sneaking a chicken into the house.  She has six kids and one more on the way and it reminded me of the happy business of having that many siblings growing up.
• I noticed the face drawn on the pillar of her front porch, I am trying to remember exactly what she said but it went something like this "Oh, I hope it doesn't fade--look how happy this face is, whoever drew this must have been feeling very happy!" I love her perspective on life!  She is like a pair of rose colored glasses, that I get to call friend.
• She took me to her favorite spots down at the creek, the clearing by the dam, the woods, after all these years I was able to take in her views, and to get a feel for how she lives, in her home.  Home is so private to me, it was so so nice to meet this home.  I have known her since college, but the last time I was in her home, Jeff was a baby and it was a different house.  Isn't it true that you know more about a woman after you visit her in her kitchen and stay for a few days and see her life behind the scenes?
• Since starting my own family I have struggled with finding a "new normal" I feel guilt where I feel I am lacking and not reaching the level of Godliness my parents had and also feel insecure in the areas where I am paving a new path and doing it different.  It is an  underlying feeling of "Am I doing this right?" and being with Shanda was wonderful because she sets a pattern to follow and gives encouragement just by her example.  I came home with courage to be the mom I already was, and to relax and enjoy it more!

"It is not merely by speaking to children about spiritual things that you win them over. 

If that be all you do, it will accomplish nothing less than nothing.

It is the sentiments which they hear at home,

it is the maxims which rule your daily conduct

the  likings and dislikings which you express-

the whole regulation of the household, in dress,

and food, and furniture-the recreations you indulge

the company you keep-the style of your reading

the whole complexion of daily life

this creates the element  in which your children are either growing in grace, and preparing for an eternity of glory

or they are learning to live without God, and to die without hope."  (Quoting Rev. W. B. Mackenzie) Pg 78

I feel like I should just have this quote hanging in front of me all day so that it can be a constant reminder and conviction, especially for the influence of my kids but also as a reminder that I am still growing and who and what I surround myself with effects my outlook, my choices, my awareness of grace and the deep deep love of Jesus in our lives.  It is one of the reasons Shanda is precious to me.

* All quotes are taken from a very old  Book,  the pages all look tea stained and are falling away from the sewn binding so as I read it, it is more like a loose leaf than an actual bound book. It smells like the attic, and on the first page there is a small quote "Home, sweet home, there is no place like home." The title is "Home" by Rev. W. K. Tweedie