hold me

darling, and together we'll scare away the storms that rock our sometime-world.  breathe softly on my neck and warm away the chill of night, and sing deeply to me as we await the sunrise that shimmers hope across the horizon.  hold my hand, love, and lead me by your side through the tall grass maze of choices and happenstance and Calling that make up this temporary life.  draw close our little ones, soul-friend and faithful lover, and together let us dance a joyous rhythm to heart-songs sung in family-harmony.

a day in the life {florida wedding photographers}

i was finishing a recent engagement session gallery when i came upon this image my hubby grabbed.  normally we don't take Little on sessions, and usually only the ones who love photography will take turns shooting/assisting.  because of special circumstances, we took all five to Orlando's UCF campus for this session with the really awesome Paige & Tim duo.  i was in awe of how well everyone did, and this image makes my heart smile... he was so patient and respectful and interested in the goings-on.  :)



her first (solo) pie {kids in the kitchen}

she had a craving for strawberry pie.  so she made one.  it is winter here, but we had lots of strawberries frozen from our summer adventures.

best cookbook. (cheated on the crust.  this time.)







yum.

paddlewheel boats on the intercoastal {florida homeschool adventures}

we've been studying the invention of the paddlewheel, among other advances and inventions of the industrial revolution.  despite the foot injuries incurred, we decided the adventure of sailing in the intercoastal waterway near our home was worth the walk.  it's a good thing the baby brothers were napping, because that might've been just a bit too much adventure.

this makes me giggle; when you homeschool, isn't it all homework?

coyote footprint?

the launch party.

this boat had a live passenger!

they all float!  yay!

we learned that paddleboats were used for transporting cotton (among other items) along the rivers between the states and territories.  i loved that a-girl loaded her boat with cotton.  :)

this boat designer was a teensy bit more nervous cautious than the others about the launch site.

one of my favorite things about homeschooling is the friendships that are formed without age/grade barriers... i also love that when we partner with other families with multiple siblings, there is a natural connection between them.

(special thanks to our favorite meat manager at Publix for supplying the styrofoam trays!  :)  )

yes, Papa, it's all yours.

halloween (which is REALLY reformation day...)

i've shared before what prompted our family to dive into the halloween tradition.  it isn't that we love it so much (and i'm astounded every year by the way grownups with no kids around get so into it!), but that were convicted a few years ago that we would leave our home on the one night when all our neighbors were guaranteed to visit.  we don't generally get to share the gospel, but we build relationship, and it makes my heart glad.  and it's a time when we totally let go and say "have at it!" for as much candy as they feel like... uggh!  :)

some might say they're too old, but we wanted to let them be kids as long as they can.  the four oldest sewed their own costumes from patterns they found online for a dumb cartoon they all like.  :)

we did meet one family while trick-or-treating who said, "we call it reformation day..." which led to a sweet moment of fellowship.  in discussing it with our oldest, he said, "mom, did you notice we never say 'happy halloween,' but rather, 'merry Christmas' or something like that?"

How about you - what do you do at this time of year?  Hide out, reach out, or just hang out and let it all ride on by?



silly and fun...

love the crazy-laughing-in-the-wind that only happens at the beach... a was helping with a session and very nearly got blown across the gulf, i think!  :)