Adventures on a Horse Farm

We enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon visiting some friends of my dear momma's. There were barns to explore and horses to ride, sunshine to stroll in and fresh air to breath. This all made for some very happy children as well a delighted mother and grandmother.

Training a Child

"Training a child is the highest and holiest and most fascinating of all occupations. And it takes the most heart power and brain power combined of any, too."

~S.D. Gordon, 1859-1936

The Artists

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up"

~Picasso~ "Art is a fruit that grows in man, like a fruit on a plant, or a child in its mother’s womb."

~Jean Arp~

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."
~Henry Ward Beecher~
"The artist is not a special kind of man, but every man is a special kind of artist."
~A.K. Coomaraswamy~

*As a side note, may I confess my detest for crafts? I'm terrible! I dread the set up, the clean up and the mess that occurs between the two. I am learning. My children LOVE anything that even comes close to appearing to be a craft. So I drag out the arts and crafts totes and resist the urge to stand over them, wringing my hands and fretting. Instead, I sit down with them and join in. And you know what? We ALL end up having a marvelous time, each and every time. Also, may I confess my deep admiration for all of you mommas who do well in this area? I aspire to be more like you!

Don't Turn Your Staff In!!!!!

More thoughts on "shepherding your flock":

So what about those moments, even days, when a mother might find herself willing to trade in her staff for Starbuck's and her green pastures for a nice, hot bath? What about those trying times, when shepherding feels downright hazardous to your health, like an old warning on a cigarette ad? Or those occasions when exhaustion, emotional turmoil, physical discomforts, etc., make shepherding seem about as feasible as climbing Mt. Everest. Couldn't one such mother just temporarily hang her rod and staff, let her little lambs fend for themselves, 'freeze' her responsibilities to her flock for just a moment?

Well, certainly a mother CAN, and many a mothers do, but at what cost? A flock without a shepherd, especially a flock of little lambs, is truly the epitome of vulnerability. When a mother relinquishes her responsibility as a shepherd to her flock, she essentially offers them up to wolves and other predators, to hunger and dehydration, to becoming lost or at the very least, to mindless wanderings, to diseases and ailments, to treacherous terrain, and ultimately, to death. All of this likely not literally, but most certainly figuratively. Oh, no mother does this intentionally. And yes, I have taken it to the extreme. Or have I?

I am recognizing in my own life a selfishness, a self-pursuit, that is oh, so very subtle. But it lures me away from tending to my flock, tempts me to trade in that staff for a moment of peace and quiet, battles with my desire and ability to shepherd my flock. Sometimes it comes in the form of fatigue, sometimes in the form of a monthly storm that wages war on my patience and gentleness, sometimes in the form of feeling overwhelmed or incapable. At other times, it has come in the form of morning sickness or 'every child's sick all at once' sickness. Regardless of it's presentation, the temptation is the same: This shepherding business is too hard; it requires too much of me; I'm not fit to be a shepherd; I can't do it anymore.

Surely, shepherds get sick. They most definitely get tired. I'm certain they have bad days and stormy weather and sick lambs. But rather than handing in their staff and running for the hills, perhaps they have other ways of making it through those hard times.

Perhaps they enlist the help of their "Co-Shepherd" (in most cases, this would be our husbands!). Maybe their "Co-Shepherd" would tend the flock for a bit while they find refreshment for their weary souls (the Word of God beats out Starbucks on this one, but combining the two is a lovely thing!). Or maybe they take a break from their usual route and lead their flock to a lush, green field where they may romp and play while the shepherds rest beneath a shade tree and soak in the beauty of their flock. A shepherd can fight fatigue and other physical detriments with good nutrition, good sleep, and good exercise. In fact, a shepherd owes it to her flock to be as healthy as is within her control. If a storm finds the flock every month, the shepherd may consider its predictability a blessing and plan for it, fastening the hatches and tightening the sails so as to be as unaffected as possible by its raging winds and tormenting rains. And ultimately, the shepherd makes it through the trying times by clinging tight to THEIR master, who's name is The Good Shepherd.

Abating our privilege of shepherding a flock, absolving ourselves of our responsibilities to our lambs...it's simply not an option. It's too dangerous, too harmful, and they are simply too precious. So, mothers, hold fast to your staffs, take your shepherding up a notch, hunker down through the storm, and press on. These little lambs need us!

Innovative Resourcefulness

Noah, having recently learned to play Mancala, found himself in the 'unfortunate' position of being without a Mancala board. Or perhaps it was actually quite a fortunate position he found himself in! He went to work amidst Legos (nice and clean Legos, thanks to his youngest sister!) and created his very own Mancala board. We've all been enjoying his innovative resourcefulness! Good job, Noah:)

An Autumn's Stroll

Care to join us for an afternoon stroll in this glorious season we call Autumn?

Hugs

Sarah Grace, you've learned to hug. I mean, down and dirty, arms wrapped tightly around my neck, squeezing as hard as your little muscles can possibly squeeze, hug. Oh, it makes me giggle with happiness, which then provokes you to issue another one, and another and another. And I try desperately to memorize the way your arms feel, your little body snuggled up against mine. For you will follow the pattern of those who have gone before you.... and you will grow up!
Your hugs will remain treasured moments of pure sweetness, but they will become fewer in frequency and perhaps not quite as tight as they are now. They will not come in rapid succession but I will count myself blessed if you find the time for just one!
Your arms will grow and wrap easily around my neck where as now they must stretch to circle about it. Sooner or later, your legs will not dangle down during such an encounter. No, they will instead be planted firmly on the ground, daughter and mother closing the chasm between child and adult. And oh, how precious your hugs will be then, too.

I love you, Sarah Grace!