Daddy's Day

Yesterday, we celebrated Father's Day with a few more little people than we had with us last year! We reflected on our fathers and those men that have shaped our own lives. We also participated in the child dedication service at Orange Baptist Church yesterday. Our church family is so precious to us and has been so good to us ever since we moved to Virginia, so we thought it was fitting to share this experience with them. A few weeks ago, I read a poignant verse that says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." Psalm 127:1. Our prayer this Father's Day was this: Build this house. Protect this city. Watch over Henry and Harper as they become mobile. Guard Maddy's heart as she grows older and is exposed to more in the world. Equip us as parents to do the right thing for our children.




The whole family with our pastor for the dedication.


Henry grunted and tried to grab at things the entire time!


First little Bible.

Reading the call and response.


These babies are all SO lucky to have this guy!


The whole gang!

My New Favorite Blog

While looking up a craft idea a few days ago, I stumbled upon a new blog. What a treasure! It is called How Does She? and it is amazing! Three bloggers, Shelley, Missy and Alison are the founders and primary contributors to this fabulous resource for women who are looking to manage and balance their marriage, children and household while making time for their creative side. I LOVE it! Sign up for their weekly newsletters, and get some fun free downloadable labels. And check out other freebies on their blog as well on the Run Her Household? link for great penny pinching ideas. Enjoy!







Turn your kiddos pictures into a storybook.



Family chore chart!



I love the fashion section!


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Back to Nature

Summer is here, and all this time we're spending outside is bringing our family together in new ways. After watching the city workers pick up our trash a few days ago, Maddox started asking questions about where the garbage goes once it leaves our house. After a thorough explanation of landfills, breakdown of trash over time, and all of those other important matters that my four year-old evidently thinks about, we decided we needed to become a family that recycles. Frankly, we don't have a lot of extra kitchen space to store our recycled paper, plastic and aluminum, but after a trip to Target for some cute bins, we made it all work. There. We are helping the earth.

Yesterday, we had a grand time at the farm that supplies our summertime harvest share. The owners invited all shareholders to a cookout. Lamb sausage was the main course, (um, yum) and everyone brought a side or dessert. Let's just say that the majority of people who purchase a farm share can cook REALLY well, so dinner was wonderful. We took a tour of the gardens, saw the chickens that supply our weekly eggs, and even got to check out the week-old piglets. The weather was perfect and we had a fantastic night.

Finally, this morning Maddy discovered an injured baby bird on the ground below one of our big trees in the backyard. After keeping an eye out for a while, we guessed that Mommy Bird wasn't returning and began to try and take care of this poor little thing. Gerald, as Maddox has named him, has been getting water from an eye dropper throughout the day along with some birdseed. Cross your fingers that he makes it through the night! I think I may have a heartbroken kiddo if not!

How is your family getting back to nature this summer?


Mad and I outside our garden in the backyard . . . just kidding. . . this is the garden at Retreat Farm! :)


Little vegetable lesson from Daddy.



Nothing liked a fresh-picked strawberry!




Maddy and Gerald. Graham caught her having a full on conversation with him before dinner!