A Messy Kitchen is a Happy Kitchen

We live in our house. I mean, really LIVE in our house. We do our major house cleaning once a week. Which means by Friday it can be disgusting. Last night, after making peppermint bark and fudge, my husband and I decided to make a Chocolate Panforte. He had bought the hazelnuts. When I went to roast them, I found they were still in their shells. Joyfully, I used the metal meat tenderizer to individually crack open each one before roasting and then rubbing off the skins. The shells were flying everywhere, the dog was looking cowardly for flying objects, and I was giggling incessantly. Note the dirty floor and the full counter of mess after mess. We decided not to clean up between projects and didn't really care. We would get to it eventually. Working hard for something tasty, filled with love, and making a mess in the process is quite fulfilling. Now, if we only had a maid...

No Chicken Soup Today

My husband kept jokingly threatening to make chicken soup if they didn't lay more eggs. He gave them a pep talk, "Ladies, if you don't start layin'..." I guess they listened!

A Touch of Autumn

Growing up in upstate NY gave me the gift of many a breathtaking fall season with vivid display of lavish foilage. This year I was desperate for it. I took my girls to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum for a taste.

Curls

This determined beauty is exploring the field of police work. Can you believe?!!

Inspiration From Little Britches

“There are only two kinds of men in this world: Honest men and dishonest men. ...Any man who says the world owes him a living is dishonest. The same God that made you and me made this earth. And He planned it so that it would yield every single thing that the people on it need. But He was careful to plan it so that it would only yield up its wealth in exchange for the labor of man. Any man who tries to share in that wealth without contributing the work of his brain or his hands is dishonest.”
― Ralph Moody

“Always remember, Son, the best boss is the one who bosses the least. Whether it's cattle, or horses, or men; the least government is the best government. ”
― Ralph Moody

There are jewels and gems all through this book. I love the weight carried by the words his father speaks. I think he was one of the few that meant every word he said. I want to be like that...especially as a parent. No empty threats. No venting. Just well thought out speech filled with truth, grace, and discernment for the moment. How 'bout you?

Photo Shoot

Here are a few of my fave's from Monday's photo shoot in downtown Chandler.
More to come later...

An Eye for Beauty, A Dramatic Flare

All photos taken by Alex or Audrey, make-up by Alex. Photo editing almost entirely by them as well. They do have fun together! Oh, the drama and beauty of life!









Can you guess what this is? Audrey couldn't resist photographing it during dinner one night...

On Chesterton

A little inspiration:

“Happy is he who not only knows the causes of things, but who has not lost touch with their beginnings.”

"The chief aim of the Christian order is to give room for all good things to run wild."

Rosh Hashannah

Last Friday we observed Rosh Hashannah (Jewish New Year), followed by the High Holy Days and Yom Kippur, in which we reflected on our need for God and personal repentance. We haven't followed every tradition to the tee, but enough to take it to heart. Notice, the bread for Rosh Hashannah is not braided like it is for traditional Sabbath. It is round, celebrating the fullness and abundance of God's provision at harvest and in the year to come. Traditionally, these feasts are in September, but as we were starting the school year, it fit for us :).

Sabbath

A few weeks ago we celebrated our first traditional Sabbath, complete with homemade Challah, a special Challah cloth, candles, prayers, blessings, the meal and wine. We have observed a Sabbath in our own way for years, but it was beautiful to join with the Jewish tradition in a Messianic way. Wow, Christ really is All in All, the Greatest Fulfillment.

On Children

"...Good children are an immense luxury, and to deny one's self other luxuries in order to raise them is not self-denial at all, but merely an intelligent choice of investment."

--Edward Sandford Martin (1904)

Saw this quote today and couldn't help but be encouraged and reminded, after a very long month and a not so admirable parenting day, that it is a privilege to work hard at raising my children.

Chicken Update

When my mom was here, she took over the main care of the chickens. She did such a great job!


Cassonade is my favorite. She is gentle, less skittish than the rest and is beautiful. She has a white head and a gray speckled body.

The Canyon

Isn't it vast?
And yet every detail is filled with beauty, color, texture...etched by water.

The Best Family Candids Ever!

Thanks, Matt, for catching our goofy moments!