A Simple Mothers Day

We had a simple and lovley Mothers Day. I was showered with love, appreciation, affection, and tenderness from my darling daughters and my husband Scott. 

"I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in truth." 

3 John 1:4 

It was everything I needed to fill my heart. I spent the day thinking about how very blessed I am to be Anna and Abigail's mama. So very blessed indeed. 

I've written a lot about my motherhood over many years on this blog. From the days when I was home for 13 years with them, to toddlerhood, to letting them stretch their wings away from me in just little bits as they started elementary school, all the way through high school. I've written about how I'm never done, how I want to hold their hearts, their dreams, their feelings all of my days. 

Oh I have dreams still as a mother. I have read (and rearead and reread and reread)  every book from my favorite motherhood author, Sally Clarkson. I listen to her podcast. I belong to her membership. I identify with her having ideals as a mother. 

I still plan how to reach my daughters hearts, how to lead them still toward Christ in every part of their lives (even though they love the Lord with all their hearts already), how to listen to their feelings, how to strive and try to understand their place right now in the world. 

I believe in a lifegiving home and lifegiving words. I still plan on what to say I can say to them, how to give them words that will build them up, affirm them, filling them with my love and my heart. How to walk beside them, listen to, and be in their saddness, their stress, and their joy. 

They may be 22 and 18, but they are my daughters and I am not done. I will mother them forever. It is my prividlige, my honor, my heart, my life. Nothing is more important than that. 

And to have one whole day to celebrate that, to reflect on that, to be thanked for that, well that is just wonderful. 

Here are just a few pictures from our beautiful day together: 

Other Motherhood post you might like: 

Tiny But Big Motherhood Lessons 

Servant Motherhood Moments 

Motherhood Monday (oh my I just reread and it's so my heart still, even now 💕💕💕)

Motherhood and a Nurturing Home 

Motherhood is Divine 

A Freshman Year Done

There is so much I want to say about this year. So very much. I'll hold that for another post. But for now, she is home.  💕 She took her last freshman year exam on Friday morning, she packed, we drove down to her college and moved her out. And moved her home. ❤

It was a joyful day. 

She was mostly packed up - all of the hard stuff to pack was packed. She just needed a few more bags and we got her all set really quick! 

Her room went from this: 

and this: 

Then this almost done to done: 

A few last pictures of us in her freshman room for the very last time: 

To home where Anna welcomed her with open arms, a sweet card, and an evening with all of us together. ❤

May

There's a shift in the air as soon as the calendar turns to May. I think I feel it especially because I am a classroom teacher. Here in Connecticut we go until mid June but still, May feels different. I can't really explain it really, it just is. 

There is a shift in the classroom. I have to work harder to motivate myself and my students. The sun shines in and I just want to be outside (at home). 

So I've shifted my schdule and I get to school by 6:45 am! My class arrives at 8:30. That allows me to do all of my work in the morning and leave right after school. With these warmer days I just want to soak up some sunshine! 

I'm not "counting down" yet. Not even close. I'm just choosing to work more calmly, carefully, with intention and focus. I want to do this month of May well. 

Oh and getting long walks with Scott as soon as we both get home from our schools is just about the best May present ever! 

Today Looked Like

Here is what my life looks like today: 

1. Early morning Bible, prayer, journal time

2. Getting ready for work 

3. Out the door by 6:40 the latest

4. My favorite part of the school day, prep 6:50-8:30

5. Welcoming my class, Morning Meeting, teaching math (had to catch a spider on the window - dumped out my pens, caught it with my pen jar and piece of paper, brought it outside) 

6. They go to their special and I get to eat a snack and correct their work 

7. More teaching then lunch/recess 

8. A literacy lesson and a day that ended at 4:30 because on Wednesday we have meetings until 4:30

9. Home to eat, enjoy our home, enjoy family, and do a few chores

10 done. 

Weekend

It was a lovely weekend. There was lots of time at home. Lots of tea. 

And what was really fun was baking Abigail's favorite pie to bring to her! 

We wanted to hear her play at her college church before the semester ended and it was just the best! We hadn't been to Mass there since Family Weekend back in October! 

 

Seeing Abigail was the very best thing but next to that was being at Mass filled with young people loving God and loving their Catholic faith. It was so encouraging and so uplifting! I am so grateful for my daughter's faith! 

Finishing her First Semester of Grad School

Last night Anna went to her final class for grad school. It's her first year in a three year program to become a school phychologist. Here is the post on Anna graduating from college.  Back here is the post on why she chose Fairfield.  What a year it has been! It has flown by and I can't believe that she is done with year one! 

There are so many thoughts on her choice of Fairfield, the commute, the work she is doing, her passion, her future, her new friendships. I have so much I want to hold on to and remember: 

• Anna chose this program and it certainly wasn't the easy way out. She wanted to contine at a catholic university with a school phychology program that would support her not only in the three years but also as she stepped into a role someday as a psychologist. She made the right choice and we are so proud of her. 
• She commuted three afternoons a week since late August - the end of April. It's over an hour each way, many times with traffic. She was determined and commited. And just the driving was hard work each time!
• Anna made many friends in her cohort - they are all really close. She was particularly close to one friend as they sometimes carpooled
• I love the way she dove right in and gave it her all. Every weekend analyzing cases, writing papers and reports, it was really endless August - April. (even now, this weekend, one more part to do) 
• As her little sister is at the same college, Anna would sometimes deliver things if Abigail forgot. She was always there for her
• Anna worked 'almost' full time at a school in our neighborhood (acutally her own elementary school) as a math tutor, although she was quickly noticed by the administration, school social worker and school psychologist her her rapport with children. Anna dropped everything to help struggling children in her role as tutor. 

This picture came to my phone late Thursday night, and I couldn't be happier to see her smiling face. 

A successful semester in the books! Congratulations Anna; we are so proud of you! 

The Sight I Love to See

It has been a short / long week. Here's what I mean. My school week (I'm a fourth grade classroom teacher) flys by, it just flys by! 

But it's also long and by Friday I am tired and ready for some home time, my very favorite place to be. 

This is our back entrance from the garage. It's a laundry room and mud room. And to me it's welcome home and the sight I love to see. I have it stacked with magazines ready to ready on the porch swing once it warms up, a few spring framed prints and a collection of grab and go bags that are delightfully floral. It's the sight I love to see. 

 

A Spring Bedroom Refresh

During our April break week last week we had some glorious weather. And that made me want to tackle a few home things that I just needed more time for than a regular teaching week. This was one of them... oh how I couldn't wait to take off our red patchwork quilt that I love in the fall and winter! 

I changed it with an ivory colored one, much more cheerful (and plain) than what was on there. On the end of bed is another quilt (I love layering) that has some green in it. Simple, changed, spring. 

This hyacynth smells amazing and I love it by my bedside especially when I read at night. (favorite part of the day) 

It feels so good to freshen things up for the spring and summer to come! 

 Details in case you'd like them: 

~ Dream Quilt from Garnet Hill 

~ Victory Quilt from Lovely Lady Linens 

Tulips

 Right in the front of our home are these amazing tulips that Scott planted in November. They waited under the snow all of those cold, dark months. And they are so worth it. 

Week Recap

We had this past week off from school. We enjoyed the most amazing weather, had dinner out of the porch (breakfast and lunch too), enjoyed the tulips coming up, refreshed so many parts to our home that needed organizing. I decorated and baked and just enjoyed myself so much. We even went away for an overnight in Vermont. 

I love having a little treat for my family on this little spot in our kitchen. It makes home feel cozy, warm, and wonderful. These are cottage cheese banana muffins (for extra protein). I also made homemade donuts for fun too! And even lemon raspberry mini muffins. 

I do love what I do; teaching is a passion and the place God has called me to serve. But our family and caring of our home comes first, and I make sure to enjoy those blessings that God has bestowed. I sure did enjoy a whole week of being home. 

Other things from this week was that my dad visited Abigail on her college campus. She goes to a school that has a pretty cool story and tie to her grandfather. The land the college is built on was many many years ago his grandfather's farm. Yes, my great grandfather, Abigail's great great grandfather's farm. So my dad visited so he could see what he might remember. They had a precious afternoon and Abigail sent me this picture. 

This week Scott got a chance to play tennis (been playing since high school). On Friday we all went to daily Mass, confession and out for breakfast. 

 

First Warmth

Last night we ate dinner on our porch for the first time. The weather in Connecticut has been unheard of. This week we've had upper 80's!!! The sunshine and the warmth feels too good to be true but I love it so much! 

We know it's not here to stay. It's only spring and so that means we are back down to 40's all next week but I love a good dress and jean jacket teaching day too so that's ok! 

One thing this warm weather did was force all of our spring flowers out. I don't have a picture of all of the tulips popping in the front of our yard but I'll post those soon. 

This is our cherry tree and it's blooms only last hours it seems so I'm so glad I thought of getting a few pictures. This beauty of a tree was bought by my class when my Grandpa passed away and is the sweetest reminder of his love of flowers and gardening. 

Dinner on our porch feels so much more relaxing than eating inside. We love it so much. If we ever move I'll just pick up this porch and take it with me, ha! 

 

Looking foward to many many more days and evenings enjoying outdoors from his spot. 

A Little Visit to Our Favorite Town

There is a backstory to our favorite town. 

Years ago we had an adorable travel book. We picked it out in a bookstore together. I don't know if we were married, engaged, or dreaming of one day being able to travel together. The book was called, The Best Places to Kiss in New England. It was filled with the most romantic inns across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

One such place in this book as the Victoria Inn. 

So when it was our 1 year wedding anniversary (seems like yesterday but actually was 29 years ago), Scott and I booked a night or two at the Victoria Inn in a tiny little town called Chester, Vermont. 

And we loved it. We actually stayed there again just a few summers ago (that post back here)  We've actually been to Chester Vermont and stayed over with our girls (at a different place) a few times. 

One of our visits on the way home we stopped at Grafton Village and fell in love. The home, the hospitality, the inn, the restaurant, the general store... every single detail. 

And we've been back to Grafton a few times. Once last summer for our 29th anniversary (that post back here). We adore it there so when April break was coming up for us we decided to book a night in the lovely inn, go hiking, eat a delicious dinner, a country breakfast, and shop at antique stores. 

And so we did! 

Here are some pictures from the past few days:

Part 1: (no pictures of) 

We went to Chester Vermont first for antique shopping. I found a few fun pieces (mostly antique baskets) that I'm thrilled to have. 

Part 2: Grafton Vermont

We were ready for lunch and ate right at the general store overlooking Main Street. We ordered and split The Vermonter... the best sandwich ever! 

Then we were off walking in their trails through the woods. So fun! 

One place I really wanted to find was the home from Funny Farm. I've always loved that movie for the town (the town we were actually in), the inside of the home, and the beauty of the outside. Well we found it, just up the road from where we were staying. 

It was surreal to be standing on the road that lead to this charming home. 

This picture below is my favorite... it's like it's right out of the movie! I wanted the owner to open their door and invite me in a cup of tea and tour. 

After we walked back down and started getting ready for dinner. 

The inn is so charming inside with sitting rooms throughout the first floor. This was our room with a view of Main Street. Lovely lovely lovely. 

We ended up having enough time before dinner to go to church. 

Part 3: Evening in Grafton Vermont

We had the most wonderful meal and talked for two hours over a shared appetizer, dinner, and dessert. 

Breakfast in the morning was the Inn's Country Breakfast. Blueberry pancakes for me please! 

Before we checked out we had time for one more trail walk. 

We picked up some of the town's cheese to bring home and off we went. 

So grateful for this time away!