Outside my window:

Fog most mornings, as is common to autumn in Germany.  I watch the sun rise most mornings since it is getting later and later.

From the kitchen:

Amish Friendship Bread.  Friends gave Alannah some starter several weeks ago and she made her loaves up this weekend. It multiplies.  Trying to think of ways to rehome starter ; ) 

Thinking about these words:

 "In our big, active family, it seems there’s a major or minor crisis about every thirty minutes, but most…  get resolved according to our most frequent advice: wait a minute; it’ll pass."

– Jim Bob Duggar, A Love That Multiplies

Stuff happens.  If you have a good sized bunch of kids you are nodding right now. Sometimes it helps to know its not just you. <g>  I have revisited Michelle's story of her gallbladder trials and emergency surgeries lately.  Meantime, one of our son's broke his arm (not badly) at football practice.  I thought that meant our schedule would open up some, but now all his school lessons will be oral or with me transcribing.  'Cause why?  Cause this isn't heaven folks.  We work now and rest later.  And it helps me a LOT to read about strong women doing just that with a good attitude.  Keep fighting the good fight. <g> On that note…

Book Basket:

The one book I read this past month was Joyce Swann's homeschooling memoir.  I was so excited when it arrived.  It might just be my era.  I am guessing younger homeschoolers have no frame of reference here.  Joyce was my homeschool hero though.  She took her ten kids through master's degrees at home by their teen years.  (largely because they worked 3hrs/day and went through summer so she didn't have to reteach concepts each fall)  Every. One. Of. Them.  And she didn't meet another real homeschooler until she had been at it for EIGHT years. 

Their family life, which began rather comfortably, eventually endured longterm unemployment, premature birth, life threatening illness, and her near fatal accident.  It's all found in her book and her daughter's.  They have gotten their share of flack over the years for acceleration, but you have to admire determination in face of daunting odds.  Bottom line, they have ten great kids, a strong marriage, and a good story to tell.  

You can find more of Joyce here and here. 

(more from sunrise)

Picture inspiration: 

(shared from Ali Edwards) 

This may well go down as the most unusual twist on our weekly theme's at Snapshots Around the World. ; )    

Our firstborn arrived in Germany on Wednesday morning.  Warms my heart.  Due to paperwork glitches and his college schedule it's been way. too. long.   He is now back in the fold for a time.  We have joked that we have "Annoying Orange – the Colin Edition" going on here. ("Colin! Hey Colin! Colin! Colin!")  

With all this excitement and our travel of days before, I ran late linking up to this week's theme of Tree.  That actually is a fine thing because this tree is far more interesting than those in my yard.  Let me back fill a bit.

I was raised with significant input by my grandmother who was quietly opinionated.  One of the things she felt most certain about was that tattoo's were a bad thing.  She rarely said much about it but usually would offer something softly (ie under her breath, with a smile) about "fools names in fool's places…"   Forever after, whenever the subject came up, someone would repeat this refrain, which was echoing in our heads anyway.  

When my own sons came of age we had many discussions about this. I confidently tossed out the same self-assured comments my Gram had made and my sons were…..unimpressed.  They offered back theological and medical defenses.  I returned with very compelling arguments such as "I MADE that skin!" <g>  

Truth is though Colin doesn't have a rebellious bone in his body.  He waited until he was out of the house and had discussed it extensively with us.  But this was one thing he really felt strongly about and in the end he made his own decisions, which we support. After all, this is about growing strong, independent adults rather than perpetual children who are afraid to voice their opinions if they differ from our own. We know they can be respectful and parent-honoring without being little copies of us. 

Now that it's all said and done – and not just one son but two so far - I admit their choices surprised me.  They reflect their beliefs and their passions.  Zach chose his favorite motto in latin and the biblical definition of his name.  Colin has, ahem, a lot of them, all of which are deeply symbolic of his faith and life. One of the most interesting is from a favorite childhood book, The Giving Tree.  I admit it was not one of my favorite reads back then and often I found the plot very painful to work through. (they are quite accustomed to Mom pausing during some of our read alouds to collect herself)  But Colin knows all about pain and suffering and offering both freely and peacefully.  He was born with Spina Bifida which has left him with lifelong challenges which he bears with stoic grace. 

When I think of "tree" I will forever now think of this tree…