Blast from the Past!!!

I am noticing lately that as I add more and more to my days, I instead, tend to be losing a great deal more. More commitments renders less time to serve my family. More expectations...less energy. More "hobbies"...less enjoyment. More connections...less quality friends. Certainly, it isn't all bad, but I really want to live on purpose and not wake up one morning and feel like my life just happened. "Ready or not, there it goes!"

I am also realizing the immense amount of energy and dedication it takes to serve my husband and raise a family. With that in the forefront of my mind, I want to use my efforts to make our lives, enjoyable, peaceful and fruitful. How?! I can't boast to know all the secrets, but I'm going to try, perhaps the opposite of what I'm doing now: ). Simplify! Slow down!

So, to merely flirt with the possibly permanent idea, I am going to disengage all my Internet communications for a month!!! I will, however, gladly accept telephone calls, letters in the mail, and especially, unexpected visits. If you choose the latter, we will delightfully forgo our previous agenda, put on a kettle for tea/coffee and enjoy your company for as long as you care to stay...even if it's overnight! This may seem silly, but I truly mean it! Our lives are getting much too spread thin, much less relaxed, and very rarely personal or face-to-face.

I have already lost precious time, potential friendships and vital opportunities fulfilling unnecessary engagements and ignoring the bits of life that happen right in front of me. Besides, who doesn't enjoy a handwritten letter in the mail, or a spontaneous visit with friends (without worrying weather or not they are too busy or would welcome your "intrusion"), or a call to see how life is going? I for one, certainly do!!!

My "trial" will begin somewhere around the 15 th, so if you wish, please make sure I have your phone number and mailing address and vise-versa.

With much love,

Melody

Pictures!!!

We've been busy having a pretty fantastic summer, though I haven't had anything to show for it so far....here are the pics from our last month! First trip to the beach this year...Hike up saddle Mountain...County Fair...another hike and trip to Short Sands with our friends...It's been fun!!!

This was our first trip to the beach. It was super foggy, but warm and tons of fun. Benjamin absolutely loved the water and even after getting knocked down and washed over by a few waves he was very distraught to leave. The other boys spent plenty of time in the water, but also couldn't go without getting buried up to their wastes : )

We had so much fun at the beach we decided to take up hiking the very next day. We got a back carrier and headed up Saddle Mountain....it was a little too ambitious with young children, but we made it to the top safely(really!!! It was pretty scary at times). I carried Ben the whole way and the older boys took turns riding with Kiely...note the picture of my hunk of a man pushing the gigantic boulder out of the way for us to pass : )

The next week was our county fair and after almost a whole year of the boys waiting to go "Ride the Horses we finally realized (at the fair) that they did not mean real horses, they meant the carousel...we have one in seaside that's open year round....Ahhhh, communication!!!

The weekend after the fair we took a MUCH easier and child friendly hike to a little beach called Short Sands with our friends Brett and Stephanie and their handsome little man Augustine. We had a BLAST and the weather was perfect.

Life just wouldn't be life without a few accidents or medical situations which Gabriel usually takes initiative to fill. : ) This time it was a few outrageous bug bites, spider bites, or just a reaction to mosquitoes, we're not sure, but this is what happened to the side of his face...fortunately, with the help of some great healing salve, echinacea, lots of vitamin C and a few applications of red clay, the swelling went down and alas my beautiful boy returned!!! : )

Lastly, Kiely and I were able to celebrate our 6th Anniversary by taking a weekend trip to downtown Portland all by ourselves. Though, we don't have pics, we did lot's of leisurely shopping, went to a Timber Soccer game, ate at great restaurants, then visited a potential church for when we move to Portland!!! Grandma and grandpa watched the boys, and even though Benjamin is still nursing, they all did great! The next day after I returned Ben would spend the first minute or two of each nursing just smiling and making Ummmmmm sounds. We love our boys, but it was Sooooo nice to have the time to ourselves...Verdict?! We still really, really enjoy each others company! : )

Smile!

“Men are highly attracted to smiles;
That includes your husband!”
~”Created to Be His Help Meet”

SMILE FOR HIM TODAY!!!

Few Favorite Recipes

I am almost constantly reading; usually about some aspect of health or child rearing or spiritual topic. My latest infatuation is with a particular author named Adelle Davis. She died a number of years ago, but has amazing information on health and nutrition...that was well before her time. My biggest focus has been on her book "Let's have healthy children". To say the very least, I've picked up a few fun summer recipes (if they can even be called that), that I have no qualms about giving to my children nearly anytime they ask.

Our New "Chocolate" Milk:
(really, there is no chocolate, but it's rich and creamy and my kids act like its a huge treat...really, it's just extra nutritious for them!!!)
base recipe:
1c milk
1/3c powdered milk
extras/optional:
blended banana
1tsp flax or cod-liver oil

Popsicles:
1c plain yogurt
3-4Tb 100% frozen juice concentrate
splash of milk or cream
mix together, pour into popsicle molds...enjoy when frozen!

A Nephew!!!

This past week my brother and his amazing wife had their precious little boy:

Tristan Maximus
22in - 7lbs 15oz

The labor began on Tuesday morning and wasn't concluded until Thursday barely past noon!!! My sister-in-law and my brother are so amazing and I will proudly brag on their birthing efforts...nay accomplishment!!! Not only is it physically exauhsting, but mentally as well, and they stuck with it! Here is where I get to boast a little on midwives and homebirth, as most of you know, my passion!!!

If it had been under different circumstances (i.e. the hospital, or possibly even a different midwife) she would have ended up with a C-section and instead delivered beautifully, healthfully and completely natural! I LOVE homebirth! Even despite the waves of excitement and determination and discouragement, as soon as it was over, she proudly exclaimed it was "absolutely worth it!!"

It was such a great experience to be a part of! Thank you Angelo and Anya for inviting me to share it! You have a beautiful and perfect little man!

Melody

To All of You

I am just finishing my usual routine of getting on the computer for "just a minute" to check emails before bed...which turns into reading a blog or two...and eventually all of them in my favorites tab! Because it is already much later than I should have gone to bed(I'll figure that out one of these days), I often end up just reading and not leaving any comments.

So, for all the times I do so...I just wanted to say how much I love reading about your lives, seeing your adorable pictures, learning from your life-moments and almost always gaining a larger appreciation and satisfaction with life! You are all fantastic and I feel so very blessed!

Thank you~

Things I learned while packing...

Things I learned while packing...



Kiely has 3x's the clothes...and shoes I do. Now what is wrong with this picture???


I wish we had a LOT less stuff


The sun starts to come up around 4:30 these days. Oy!

Coffee can be useful (and maybe a little yummy), but I prefer sleep

My children can be happily entertained with only ONE toy set...for a whole week (perhaps my opportunity to get rid of some stuff)

Sometimes things fit better out of windows than trying to move them down narrow stairways (he-he)

RJ's raspberry licorice will suffice in place of a cough drop...even when stale. Evidently, I like them more than I thought. hmmm

I wish I owned less stuff!!!

Sharpie pens are unaccustomed to staying in ones pocket...yet are CRUCIAL when packing!

Again. I WISH I OWNED LESS STUFF!!!

Phew! It's over, (until September that is). For now I am thoroughly enjoying living with Kiely's parents. They are pretty fantastic in-laws and grandparents!!! Thank you.