Weekend

Today is Monday. It is sunny here in Connecticut. And only 62 degrees. Pure Heaven on Earth and just what we look forward to when we think of October.



Right now there is so much normal all around me. So much goodness.

Scott is mowing the lawn. His back is still in pain but the surgeon said today that there is really no surgery that can fix what he deals with. And that is good. Who really wants surgery?

And upstairs I know they're playing Bitty Baby and American Girl because I can hear it. And that's good.

All of us home on a Monday is pretty wonderful.

They'll be messes from lots of time and free play with great imaginations to organize and clean up. They'll be tired by then and thinking about 'what didn't get done' later on.

But right now it is so good.

I folded four loads of laundry and I can hear the last load finishing up in the wash.

I experimented with creating / making whipped cream because after 7 years with EoE she still has never tasted the taste of whipped cream. I still don't have it right, but I'm getting closer. And even though this trial batch is too liquidy it sure tasted good on my mid morning snack of brunch leftover pumpkin cake.

We had a brunch this weekend.


















With good friends.



They kind that build you up and when they leave you feel happier than when they came.

We watched The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

We shopped at an antique store and came home with a desk for Anna's room.



We explored this sweet town with colors on leaves just starting to arrive.











I am in love with light in autumn.  It's lower now and oh so pretty on the Farmington river and just starting to change leaves.  Glistening sunlight captures my heart.











We cooked homemade pizza.

We read books. (Beverly Cleary The Mouse and the Motorcycle)



And worked on this puzzle. (this is Leah at our house for brunch... she did more on this too hard puzzle than the four of us did in a whole evening.)



Motherhood and beauty are one and I view what I do with and for my little family as divine.



What I do each day is a privilege and I see it as a privilege. Being a mother who wakes up each day and teaches her girls (not just does the day) all about faith and love in the Catholic church and love for Jesus.

I love that I am walking in His plan for my life. There is such fulfillment and beauty in it when I open my eyes to see that planning a meal, cooking a meal, cleaning up a meal isn't just cooking. They are just moments; moments in His plan and will for my life.



Today I want to remember Abigail's heart. They way she woke up and wanted to do for Anna something because she had a cold. She settled on breakfast in bed. And she tried to sew her a handkerchief. Another beautiful moment. And a gift to me.





Eternally grateful for my life, this journey, today, my husband, and my daughters.



oh, and baking because I just can't seem to do too much of that!



For inspiration... this video.

Maine in September, part 2

One of the best parts of Ogunquit Maine is the beach. Sprawling, wide, stretched out to the ocean. (and it doesn't hurt that it's surrounded by the sweetest town ever)



I've done 'formal' photo shoots with my girls on the beach, outfits all planned out. I didn't this year but love these (and their outfits) still the same.



The beach is cool in September but empty and we love that part!





I love this little family of mine!!!



Exploring



Love the light and the ripples in the sand.









After the fair (yesterdays post) and the beach we zipped up our jackets and shopped!





And after a relaxing night (and more shopping) we walked Marginal Way in the morning.









Love my JCrew husband in this one!



And then we had to head home... back to 'real life'. Excpet that it wasn't that bad because it's fall and fall in New England is just the best!



Maine (summer) 2012 

Maine (fall) 2012  and here 

Maine (fall) 2013 video 

September in Maine and love for their Grandparents

Last weekend when we were at the Family Program (religious ed) at our church friends of ours asked the girls, "so what was the best part of Maine?"

Without skipping a beat Abigail said, "Grandma and Grandpa"

Grandma and Grandpa don't live in Maine. It's not like we only see them when we're in Maine. But this tradition of heading to Maine for a fall weekend in Maine has become some what of a Grandparent oasis.

She has them all to herself. For like... overnight...

Sure, they like Maine but we could probably be anywhere.

It was a wonderful weekend.

Can I tell you a little bit about the coast of Maine?

It's beautiful.

We stay in Ogunquit. It's just the sweetest town. You pull up, park your car and never need to be in it again until you head home.



There are walks along the coast, afternoons on the beach, window shopping on Main Street. It's kind of a Norman Rockwell painting. It's just the best.

My pictures don't do this town justice. Next time for sure I'll take a walk with my camera so you can see...

We stayed at the Cove House this time. And I loved that we were all in the same house.







There was lots of room for everyone (and extra rooms)



The first night we had a lobster dinner. So so good! (excuse the iphone pictures mixed in)







And the next morning we got up, went to breakfast here.



It was a beautiful day and waiting outside for your table was a treat!



That afternoon we went to a fair. We had no idea what it would be like. Little, old fashioned, New England fair.





We got to walk around (all weekend) in our sweaters and jean jackets.  I love that about fall.







We met a children's author and she signed our book



There was a horse ride (her hair matches the horse's hair)



Something about her face here... getting so big



It was such a lovely afternoon.



.. to be continued...

Ode to Tuesday

You test my patience like no other day

You have me going in a million directions

I feel tired and long for my pjs and slippers from noon on

My house feels icky because chores can't get done

You make my girls rush and me say hurry up like a broken record

But the good news is that you only come once a week

And Monday is better and Wednesday is so close behind

You make the other days feel like weekends

And deep down as their pursing their dreams of a bow on strings

And enjoying the stepping of Irish Dance

I'm pursuing my dreams too

The one (the biggest and only one) of being their mother

And wearing myself out (on just this day) to make it all happen

But I'm glad you're nearly gone and I won't see you for seven more days

(and a random picture from 2004 becuase it's Tuesday and I'm too lazy to download any from my camera... but this one's pretty good!)

She was loads of fun (AT A RESTAURANT!) (ps... that's my brother)



And this quote. So true. Especially on a Tuesday.

It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. ~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Weekend

Music (which also happens to be a powerful video)

One of my favorite things is to turn off the seasonal kitchen tree lights, lock the door and walk up the stairs to our bed.   The counters are all wiped down and the kitchen is closed for the night.  The last of the piles of 'stuff' is picked up and put back (or almost back) to where it belongs.  I look forward to talking with Scott and feeling deep peace.  There is contentment in the tiredness of the day.  The feeling that above all I served God in my little 'assignment' He has me in.  Raising these girls of ours, loving Scott, learning and growing in my own faith, that is where He has me.  (and teaching reading to sweet little ones in the school I'm in)

My assignment.  It sounds like a powerful word.  But it's simple, really. I pray, He answers, and I do what He asks.

Sometimes I want for something different.  Like a baby on my hip again.  Sometimes I try to convince God that I could do it again.  Sometimes I ask the way Abigail wines and asks for a new toy or more playtime at the end of the night.  Sometimes I think if I ask enough He'll move and we'll be on our way back to China. But more than 'getting my way' I want what He wants for my life.  I want that deeply.  And I have that.

There's comfort, really, in knowing my assignment for today.  Just for today.  It feels good to know that being their mother and his wife is wooooonderful.  I want for nothing and I can't wait to start each day a new doing what God has for me to do.

So this weekend, thank you for your prayers.  It was beautiful. And next time in the spring I'll take pictures.  This time you'll just have to believe me.  Although it was an engaged/ marriage prep day it was wonderfully a marriage retreat day for Scott and I.  We sat though and often times I was on the edge of my chair during the talks on communication, spirituality, intimacy, faith, finances.

One of my favorite parts was when we were in the church.  Fr. Tom asked us all to come up to the alter. Stand facing our spouse, hold hands, and whisper the answers of his questions to each other.  It was sacred standing up on that altar.

From 9 am to 4 pm we had the retreat, then all of the couples and the team attended the afternoon Mass.  Back in the Urban center after Mass there was a reception.  Anna and Abigail met us at the Mass and were there in the Urban center after.  Anna snapped this of the candle lit closing prayer of the day.



And this is what my happy girls were doing all day with Grandma and Grandpa.  Yes, the perfect day.





On Sunday we attended/participated in the Family Program at our Parish. It was three hours of wonderfulness. And our presenter asked for everyone to take a selfie and send it to her so that she could get to know everyone. So here we are...





It was an inspirational weekend for sure. I am grateful to God for sure.

Coming Up

This weekend I could really use your prayers.  For the first time Scott and I are part of the Marriage Prep Team at our church.  It's all day Saturday, starting at 9am.  After many sessions, talks, teachings (and lunch) we attend the 4:00 Mass together and then back to the Franciscan Center for wine and cheese. 

I'm excited about spending the day with Scott, especially since our 'theme for the day' is marriage.  I know that its to prepare engaged couples but we could really use a refresher in so many of the talk topics ourselves! 

Guess what though?  We're not at all ready.  Our talk, "blending two families" has only been touched on while drying dished, putting girls to sleep, and making lunches for the next day.  This week Scott had "events" at his school every. single. night.  And Friday night he has Physical Therapy for his back.  Sooooo we'll have to pretend we're back in college and 'pull an all nighter' on Friday night to prepare.  See?  I need prayer! 

Here's what is done... our bio for the program.  It's only done because it was due last week.  It was weird and kinda funny to fit the past almost twenty years of marriage into a few paragraphs. 

I'd rather have just given them a link to this blog but thought that might have been too long!  :)

Scott and Tara Baker

Thebakerfamily4@sbcglobal.net

Scott and Tara met and began getting to know each other in high school.  They dated in college and both became teachers.  They were married in 1996 by their beloved college priest and started their journey of life together nearly twenty years ago.  In 2002 God began to open their hearts toward the miracle of adoption and in 2004 they traveled to Chongqing, China to meet their baby girl.  Three years later they welcomed a second daughter into their family, this time through the miracle of birth.  They feel so blessed to have been given the gift and the joy of knowing both adoption and birth.  Tara left teaching ten years ago to stay home raising their girls and Scott became an elementary school principal.  During this time their youngest daughter was diagnosed with a digestive disease; a chronic disease that brings many hospital visits and special care at home to avoid the pain associated with it.  They have learned and grown in more ways through this and other challenges in being parents.  Now that their children are no longer so little, Tara has returned to part time teaching.  Their daily lives are full of the fun and adventure that a busy family brings.   And although their family journey was not what they would have guessed standing at the altar nearly twenty years ago they can only look back with complete gratitude knowing God’s hand was guiding their steps and directing their paths.