"Let the rain kiss you......

...Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."
~Langston Hughes

It's been raining here the past couple days...and after being blessed with some truly beautiful days...I am happy for the rain to come and encourage us all to stay nestled and cozy at home....I have housework to do....make some cookies with the children, books to read, knitting to knit and such. The rain seems to help slow the pace of a day, doesn't it?

I thought, since I had some time, that I would share some pictures from the days of sunshine we had previously. Each of those gorgeous days, the kids were so anxious to finish their schooling so they could get outside to play in the leaves. They raked leaves and jumped in them, rode bikes and did lots of swinging on the swingsets! :)

Watching them play just made me smile. As I sat in our front schoolroom the other day, working on lesson plans for schooling, I watched out the front window that is right in front of my desk and the kids worked hard to rake up leaves into a big pile. I sat with a very big grin upon my face as they put down their rakes...ran to the "starting point" and counted 1...2....3.....go! And off they went....running and then jumping right into that pile of leaves!

Since Daddy had gotten more logs cut and into the back of his truck....the kids decided to *help* once again and roll the logs into a pile for Daddy! They work hard at it! There is nothing better than seeing someone, especially a child, cheerfully do a kindness for someone...just because they want to.

I'm not sure where you are as you read this...but here in PA...we have a severe case of ladybugitis! We've got ladybugs everywhere!!! The picture below of our back door just gives a glimpse into the amount of ladybugs we are infested with. It's kind of funny...they just look like little black dots there don't they?

The *girls* and the *clique* are doing just fine. Just their fun and fiesty selves. :) Their greatest responsibility is to eat....isn't that wonderful? :) The kids collected the eggs the other day...and came in with this itty bitty one! I have one of the normal eggs we collect next to it. We haven't used it yet...I think the kids want to save it...hehe ;).

I did a little rearranging on one of the nice days as well. The kids were out playing and it was the perfect time to move a few things. I like to sometimes find different homes for things. I enjoy decorating and making my home cozy and a comfortable haven for all who enter. My decor aren't expensive items....just things I have gotten over the years that I feel add to the warmness of our home.


I have my knitting in a basket next to my chair. I like to have it there so anytime I sit, if one of my kiddos haven't crawled up to snuggle, then I can just reach over and grab it and knit. Sitting in those oversized, super soft and super comfortable clouds that we call recliners....is so relaxing. I like to be able to keep busy when I sit in one so that I don't get *too* comfortable and just melt into the chair! ;) Have you ever just gotten overly comfortable before and after some time felt discouraged that you had just *sat* so long? I like to be comfy and also be able to accomplish something at the same time! :)

The kids have fun playing in the yards...front and back...but they also really enjoy the basketball court that is beside our backyard. It's kind of hard to see in the pic below...but it's back there! Some of you may already know about this...but for those who don't....we have some of the most generous neighbors! They made this basketball court years ago and we are allowed to use it whenever we want. They actually encourage us to! They also have a pool that they let us use anytime through the summer. Basically...any of their friends, neighbors or family at all is welcome to use the basketball court or pool at anytime! I truly love the place we live. Our home may be humble and we may not have a lot of *stuff* in the world's terms....but we have good friends, family and lots of love around here and that is the *best* in my book!!! :)

A boy and his cowboy boots....hehe...I love when his pant legs end up like that because of his boots! ;)

Last evening was trunk or treat (people dress up as Bible characters and hand out treats and tell the story about themselves...to be held outside but because it was raining...was moved indoors) at our church. I was to go and paint faces.....well...I locked the house door and closed it behind us...we all walked through the rain to the garage and loaded up into the van. And then....I realized.....I locked the keys in the house. My car key and house key are on the same keyring. *gulp!*

I did a mini-panic and then called Chris *so glad for cell phones*...who was in the next town with his dad and brother at a football game. He has a key....but by the time he would have drove back to let us in the house to get my keys...the trunk or treat would be over! So I paced a bit and then tried to break in our house....no luck. Good to know our locks are *quite* strong...however, bad when you have locked your keys inside! So....I called my mom. Her and my dad were having supper at their preacher's house...but after they all had a good laugh about it...as I could hear through the phone....mom happily said she would come take us to the church. I was crying. I felt so frustrated and embarrassed with myself that I locked my keys in the house! I know accidents happen...but it just threw me for a loop! My kids hugged me and told me it was OK. They were so incredibly sweet and it warmed my heart as they tried to comfort me. We got to the church and all ended up OK. We were only a little bit late and it wasn't the tragedy that I felt it was when I first had realized I had locked the keys in the house! :)

After Chris got home from the game...he came and picked us up. What a night! Luckily, all turned out well! :) Have you ever done anything similar? I would love to hear about it....it would make me feel a little less embarrassed, I think! ;)

So that is an update from me....if you have the time and have *taken* the time to read my long-windedness (is that a word?)...then I thank you! It's much easier to take the time to sit and blog when it is raining outside. :) But alas, the laundry won't fold itself and I don't think the other housework will finish itself either...so I should run.

I thank each of you who takes the time to stop and read and even sometimes comment. Your warm and thoughtful comments are truly appreciated! I hope your days are full and bright. I hope you will come visit me again soon...your friendships are dear to me! :) Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
~Galatians 5:22-25