a little sprout

growing together..... "I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought my God, but my God eluded me. I sought my brother and I found all three." ~Author Unknown A slightly different twist on this song-- but even so, I think it fits ..... Follow You Follow Me By: Genesis Close at hand, oh I'm better for the smile you give And while I live I will follow you will you follow me All the days and nights that we know will be I will stay with you will you stay with me Just one single tear in each passing year there will be I will follow you will you follow me All the days and nights that we know will be I will stay with you will you stay with me Just one single tear in each passing year...

So this past weekend was a bit hectic; full of last minute shopping, baking and getting all those things in that seem oh so important just before the holiday is upon us. I was supposed to spend Sunday at my parents home with my mother and sister baking some of our favorite Christmas cookies. No kids or hubby's allowed! This was to be "my time" with my precious mother and dear sister. Yeah, right. I call my husband to get a recipe I left at home and I can hear screaming in the background; my boys coming unglued about something. But my husband's voice goes up as he says "don't pick it!" and then yells "I gotta go hon" and slams the phone down. OK... don't panic I'm thinking.... I wait for a moment or two and then the phone rings. "Merek has a lego stuck up his nose, its bleeding and it won't come out!!" he shouts. Thankfully we live only 10 minutes now from my folks' house, cause I'm out the door in two seconds and...

Oh so thrilled its the holidays! The kids are screaming, fighting over who gets to ice the last cookie... the hubby isn't helping at all with anything and we still haven't started shopping! Ugh! No really, I'm kidding... sort of... This is such a wondrous time of year, I can't help but mindful of the lovely memories I have of growing up. Every moment is magic during the season and I honestly feel very nostalgic being back in the area I grew up in. I'm so happy our boys are living so close to the mountains and even more important, closer to their precious Grandparents. We went to look at Christmas lights the other night and it was absolutely joyous- even with the little bit of silly bickering in the car! We stopped by my folks as well. Their warm and cozy house smelled of spaghetti and oregano. Mom was cooking and hadn't finished decorating the tree yet. There were boxes everywhere and the second I came in I wanted to cry and hug both my parents for making it see...

Settling into our new home this festive season has been such an incredible treat. I look around our place; gazing at the decorated tree, the lights going up the stairs, and the nick knacks of mini Santa’s along with splashes of red and green highlighting our bookcase and I'm full of such peace. The smells that come from our kitchen of cookies we have baking send hopes throughout me that the aroma will linger forever in my boys’ hearts and memories. I feel like a bit of a ham (and feeling ashamed as well) saying this but a year ago, or less even- I might have turned my nose up on this charming little townhouse we now call home. It’s very dated to say the least. None of the appliances in the kitchen match and most of the tile flooring is so behind the times you’d think it was 1983 around here. The carpets are all newer, but all the wood work is of the same 80’s era. But here's the thing; don’t get me wrong- with all of that being said, I absolutely and completely adore this place...

A Winter Eden by Robert Frost A winter garden in an alder swamp, Where conies now come out to sun and romp, As near a paradise as it can be And not melt snow or start a dormant tree. It lifts existence on a plane of snow One level higher than the earth below, One level nearer heaven overhead, And last year's berries shining scarlet red. It lifts a gaunt luxuriating beast Where he can stretch and hold his highest feat On some wild apple tree's young tender bark, What well may prove the year's high girdle mark. So near to paradise all pairing ends: Here loveless birds now flock as winter friends, Content with bud-inspecting. They presume To say which buds are leaf and which are bloom. A feather-hammer gives a double knock. This Eden day is done at two o'clock. An hour of winter day might seem too short To make it worth life's while to wake and sport. Winter-Time by Robert Louis Stevenson Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour o...