hudson – Skies of Parchment

March 20, 2014

Hello Spring!

spring fever quote

Ahhh, yes, hello Spring!
We’ve been seeing hints of your arrival for the past month, but this week especially we knew you were near.

This morning we woke up to beautiful warm sunshine, and it was the perfect start to springtime. All winter I was jealous of the snow in the north. But now? The north can have their snow. I’m happy to take Spring. :)

This little southern town is simply wreathed in dogwoods and Bradford pear trees and azaleas. It is the most beautiful time of the year here, and I always anticipate all the lovely blossoms everywhere.

There are little bursts of sunshine all over the house, and little touches that say,
“I’m happy spring is here!”

// In the kitchen //

Tulips in silver pitchers – I do the same thing every year, just cheap grocery store tulips in a an elegant thrifted pitcher. I love it so.

spring in the kitchen

// Dining Room //

First blooming Dogwood branches! They are my very very favorite springtime blossoms.
I just cannot get enough of them! They are dainty and soft, they are elegant and beautiful, they are unique and dazzling.

spring world

lovely spring

// Living Room //

Springtime mantel. It’s done very simply this year, with an oversized chalkboard with my favorite quote at present. It’s something I saw online, and I wish I could remember where, but I knew it must be in our home. Truly, the Gospel is all I have. Without it, I am nothing, and have nothing.

the gospel is all I have

spring mantel with fresh blossoms

// first bouquet //

Zoe is a little flower girl, always bringing in little ~~weeds~~ blooms and blossoms she finds. Then she carefully arranges them in vases and bottles of her choice. I love this about her. I found these two sitting right here on the patio table.

Zoe's first bouquet

// gardening //

Perhaps it’s more rightly called, “hopes of gardening” because there is no garden at present.
But, husband buys lots of tomato plants anyway. :)
And I am excited right along with him.
This post has me dreaming and planning… at least in my mind.

young tomatoes

// new discoveries //

On one of the first 80 degree days we had, we abandoned the house and spend the whole afternoon outside. It was glorious! Fresh sunshine does wonders for a human soul!

This little guy discovered the water hose, and I spent at least an hour just giggling at him. He was being such a little BOY, turning the hose on his sisters and hearing them shriek, and then he’d had to stop and LAUGH and laugh to himself at how much fun it all was.
Oh goodness, he just melts me in a puddle!

my darling son

hello spring!

spring beauties

// twirl //

There is something about little girls, sunshine, and twirly skirts that speak of innocence and delight, of how the world was meant to be.

One night after supper, when the evenings were getting longer and daylight stayed close to bedtime, Zoe and Olivia were running about the yard. They had chosen matching dresses earlier in the day “Because we want people to think we’re twins!!”. I looked out the window to see them laughing and twirling, arms stretched out wide, spinning until they tumbled, and then back up again, doing it all over.

I was mesmerized. It was so carefree, so uninhibited.
It was living fully in the moment, simply delighted with sunshine and each other and skirts that spin wide.

It was worship.
I want to live like that.

spring twirlers innocent happiness

Happy Spring, my friends!

Let yourself be loved of God today, and twirl.

May 6, 2013May 6, 2013

Hudson is One!

My son – our son – had his first birthday yesterday.

// Yes, he has killer blue eyes, just like his daddy. :) //

Hudson is One! 069

I don’t know HOW it is possible for a year to go by so quickly, for a little person to become so intricately interwined in our lives, for our love to grow so deeply, for our hearts to swell with love for a new little person in our family…

I tried not to cry, but I kept swallowing tears all day. I don’t want my kids to remember me as the mom who always cried on birthdays!! I mean, seriously! But I guess I am that very person. I just try to do it in private instead of in front of everyone. :)

I remember his birth, the excitement of a new baby, the thrill of a BOY, the tiny bit of ohmygoodnessit’saboy, i don’t know anything about boys!

I had thought three girls would be perfect; now, I see that, for our little family, the order of two girls and then a boy is what is perfect. So very perfect.

Hudson is One! 063

I never expected that Zoe and Olivia would be so thrilled with a brother. I thought it would be the parents who would be so excited about a new baby in the family; but it’s the girls who multiply the joy.

I never expected to love a little boy so much! It’s not more than my girls, but it’s a different kind of love. I can’t really explain it, other than I am hopelessly SMITTEN with him. He completely melts me.

I didn’t expect a boiy to be so sweet, so snuggly. He’s the kind that loves to play hard and make tractor noises, but he can also give the best kisses and loves some good snuggles. ♥

Hudson is One! 032

Having a son has given me a bigger vision for godly manhood than I had before. Not that I can or will do this perfectly, but by God’s grace we want to raise a son for the glory of God. Not a pansy, not a man who always takes the easy route, but a man who follows God and obeys Him and loves Him no matter what, a man who is a leader in the Kingdom of God, however God should chose to use him and place him. Leaders are not always out-front kind of men, but leaders are always influencers of other people; sometimes quietly, sometimes more strongly.

I get excited about Hudson being taught by his daddy, about being a servant-leader as his daddy so clearly lives out, about respecting the women in his life and treating them with honor, about having a heart for the weak and helpless, about rescuing the defenseless…

I don’t know the plans that the Lord has for this little man, but his father and I will do our utmost to raise him in kingdom ways, in the fear of God, and then to release him to fly. That may be scary, we just talked about that a few days ago. The “safe” men are easier to raise, easier to release. It’s the daring ones, the adventurous men, the ones willing to take risks that are more challenging – as boys, as men. But what this world needs is real men! I have seen them, I am married to one, and I am excited about the plans of God for this little one!

We had a little party for Hudson, with emphasis on the little. :) A person turning one does not understand what is happening, and much money and time spent on that particular birthday will not necessarily go down in the annuls of ‘feeling loved by mommy and daddy.’ But, there are two big sisters around here who are wildly excited about birthdays and parties, so it was more for their sakes than for Hudson’s that we spent time preparing and crafting and baking and sewing [tie shirt and ‘1’ bib]. But, in the words of Zoe, “It sure is a lot of work getting ready for a party!” :)

Hudson is One! 078

The Tomkat Studio is a more recent-found favorite go-to place for party ideas and such. It was a great save for this last-minute party planner! :) Hudson was a Cinco de Mayo baby, but I wasn’t really into the whole Latin theme party, so we went with a bit of mustache and color – something that was on his birth announcements and I’ve made shirts for him with mustaches and it just seems to fit him.

We crafted paper medallions, which were ever so much fun. I was going to do a tutorial on them, and then after we were finished I realized there are many other sites with super great tutorials and pictures, here and here, for instance.

Collage

The cake was going to be for Hudson to dive into, but for the sake of our dinner guests, we allowed him a cupcake to demolish instead. :) He loved it!

Hudson is One! 025 Hudson is One! 030

Little Man, how we {{{ LOVE }}} you! I’m so glad I get to celebrate the gift of your life!

signature

September 20, 2012March 19, 2013

The Shaping

The Shaping.

“Our natural reason looks at marriage and turns up its nose and says, ”
Alas! Must I rock the baby? wash its diapers? make its bed? smell its stench?
stay at nights with it? take care of it when it cries? heal its rashes and sores?
and on top of that care for my spouse, provide labor at my trade?
take care of this and take care of that? do this and do that?
and endure this and endure that? Whey should I make such a prisoner of myself?”
What then does Christian faith say to this?
It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant,
distasteful and despised duties in the spirit,
and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval
as with the costliest gold and jewels.
It says, “O God, I confess I am not worthy to rock that little babe
or wash its diapers,
or to be entrusted with the care of a child and its mother.
How is it that I without any merit have come to this distinction of being certain
that I am serving Thy creature and Thy most precious will?
Oh, how gladly will I do so.
Though the duty should be even more insignificant and despised,
neither frost nor heat,
neither drudgery nor labor will distress me
for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in Thy sight.”
[Martin Luther]

“There is no nobler career than that of motherhood at its best.
There are no possibilities greater,
and in no other sphere does failure bring more serious penalties.
With what diligence then should she prepare herself for such a task.
If the mechanic who is to work with “things” must study at technical school,
if the doctor into whose skilled hands
will be entrusted human lives must go through medical school…
how much more should the mother who is fashioning the souls of the men and women of tomorrow,
learn at the highest of all schools and from the Master-Sculptor Himself, God.
To attempt this task, unprepared and untrained is tragic,
and its results affect generations to come.
On the other hand there is no higher height
to which humanity can attain than that of a converted, heaven-inspired, praying mother.”
[unknown author]

Having three kids… I’ve really been conscious of how much kids have to be taught.
They come into the world as a blank slate, and have to be taught everything!
Obedience,
how to respond cheerfully,
how to be kind.
How to hold a fork,
how to cut with a knife,
place the napkin in your lap.
Remember to include your younger sister,
sisters should be great friends.
Manners, phone etiquette, even polite voice inflection!
“Yes ma’am” “No sir” and “I don’t care for that” instead of “eewww! that look gross!”
How to hang your clothes up neatly.
Place the spoons with the spoons and forks with the forks.
How to put the pillows back on the sofa as they were.
How to hold a pencil.
Please don’t throw your clothes on the floor.
Pick up the toys after your bath.
God is One God, but He is a Trinity.
We can’t be good enough on our own; that’s why we need Jesus.
God is in Heaven, He holds the world in His hand,
and yet He wants to live within us.
Please apologize to your father for being disrespectful.
Oh, and did you know your knees are ticklish?…….

It it really an endless list! But it’s actually been rather exciting to me.
Rather than becoming frustrated by things, I want to take the opportunity to teach.
There is an exciting world out there to learn about!
And in character training, not to become exasperated so easily,
but show them the better way of doing things.
Goodness, how being a mother is refining!
Patience? Gentleness?
It takes on a whole new meaning when, instead of one, there are four of you! :)

I’ve recently read The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot,
and it is one of the best books I’ve read on intentional parenting.
The teaching/training encouragement I’ve felt is due to that book,
and the quotes are all from there.

“It’s much easier for the parents to pick things up themselves than to call the child,
show him what he has left lying about, tell him where to put it,
and see that he puts it there – and remind him the next time.
“Much easier” only at the moment, I mean…
It is a sort of ‘severe mercy’,
for the parents are sparing themselves endless pains when they take the trouble to teach,
and, far more importantly,
are sparing the children the frustration and confusion of disorder for the rest of their lives…”
[e. elliot]

Hudson, pictures at 3 months [though he is now 4.5]
Stats at 4 months:
-15 pounds -26 inches (so therefore grew 6 inches since birth)
– is the biggest eater we’ve had, since 1 month he’s drinking 4-7 ounces of milk at a time,
every three hours
– loves guacomole, rice & beans, salmon, mashed potatoes…
let’s just say he completely skipped the baby food stage and went straight for the real deal.
He cracks us up
– the girls were never even interested in food until at least 6 months.s
– rolls over from tummy to back and is extremely frightened by that ability
– goes into fits of laughter when his sisters talk to him
– recognizes his bottle and a spoon coming toward him, and is almost beside himself with excitement
– still goes by “HUT-son”
with emphasis on the “HUT” according to his two sisters, from birth to now.
They sounds like they’re either
a) from Holmes County, Ohio, or b) African-American.
Neither is a bad thing, I guess. :)

I can’t believe that he was still inside of me 4.5 months ago.
That we didn’t know him, we wondered what gender he was.
Now he really is a part of our family, and we absolutely adore him!
I never knew a boy could be so much fun.

SO MUCH FUN.

Hudson - 3 months 118

My husband’s take on his outfit: “We’re rednecks, and you make him look like he’s an Englishman!”
My take on the outfit: “I don’t mind bringing some class.”
:)
Hudson - 3 months 117

Zoe and Olivia.
Summer of Twenty-Twelve. Turned 3 and 5.

Olivia Caroline.

Dimple Girl.
Recently discovered she loves to color.
Has a mischievous sparkle in her eyes at almost all times.
Is a snuggle bunny. Is also like the energizer bunny.
Has a personality that is full of drama.

DREADS naptime so badly all morning she has a hard time focusing on the present joy at hand.
“Is it time for my nap yet?” she’ll ask multiple times before noon.
Naptime is only okay when I lay down beside her and we pretend:
one day we’re cats, the next we’re birds, the next we’re bunnies.
“Now Baby Bunny, we have to be quiet in our little nest so the foxes don’t hear us!”
And then mostimes the joy of pretending overshadows the dullness of naptime.

[and please don’t laugh at my amateur attempts at sunflare. ;)
I thought of all the amazing photographers I’m friends with
who would have made this perfect lighting even more perfect, and groaned within myself… ]

Zoe Grace.
Deep thinker.
Is Mama #2 to baby boy.
Began Kindergarten this year, and most days loves it.
Loves to draw, to write, to do anything involving paint or drawing.
Has began to like putting outfits together.
Has a very sensitive heart to the things of God.
Is very happy to graduate from Naptime to Quiet Time within the past year.
Is extremely ticklish and LOVES to be tickled.
Daddy’s Girl.
Very athletic, and can run as fast as the boys.

The Sisterhood that is my Daughters.

Some days the best of enemies. Most days the best of friends.
I’m so glad they have each other.

credits:

Hudson
hat: H & M
outfit: gift from friend, Ralph Lauren
basket: junk store
old quilt: Goodwill
baby: straight from Heaven

Zoe and Olivia
boots: Goodwill and re-use-it shop, one given from my sister Claudia
dresses: gifted from my sister Ervina
gumball machine: husband bought at an auction in February
headbands: My Faire Lady (facebook)
little girls: straight from God’s heart to ours

~ enJOY this day!
clarita

May 6, 2012March 20, 2013

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

What are little boys made of?
Snakes and snails, and puppy dog tails.
That’s what little boys are made of.
–author unknown

We are absolutely thrilled to announce the arrival of

Benjamin Hudson

he was born less than an hour of twelve days late
11:05pm, May 5, 2012
weighing in at 8 chubby pounds plus 10 more ounces
20 short inches