Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion online supplement. had an article about the midcentury magazine covers of illustrator Al Parker. In particular the article highlighted his mother/daughter series. The author says:

The simple compositions often depicted the daughter learning something from the mother or helping her in some way. Everywhere I looked, moms and daughters were happily skating, swimming, making holiday decorations, or buying war bonds together. I guess there was no such thing as a generation gap in those days.

The illustrations are as wonderful as described. They made me think of my own daughters and how our relationship is growing and changing. Both of the older girls are becoming delightful young women. Both are eager and capable workers, one more domestically inclined, the other more at home outside. Both of them fall into step with whatever task I have at hand, quietly and confidently filling in where extra hands are needed while happy chatter passes the time.

Moira is my right hand in the barn. She never needs to be told, just quietly works her way around the barn feeding and moving stock in or out. We don’t need words as we milk together. We each know our part and can work together comfortably.

Alannah has become quite adept at seeing what needs to happen with homemaking and little ones. She took it upon herself to reorganize the little boys’ drawers and closet a few weeks back. I overheard her admonishing them to try to keep them up because “mom has a lot to do”. I snapped this picture the other day. I walked into the kitchen and she was sorting the drop pile at the edge of the counter without prompting. Now, I love my boys with all my heart but I don’t think it has ever occurred to one of their gender to stop at a pile and sort it on the spot.

All is not drudgery. We laugh and shop and pray and play a good deal. It is just a different relationship from that which I share with my boys and I feel so blessed to have both experiences.

We were firsthand witnesses to a massive grassfire this afternoon. It started near the highway just moments before Asher and I passed by. The nearby fields were already charred and smoke was billowing high in the sky as the flames marched relentlessly across the prairie fueled by 40mph winds.

Allen came home a different route and found himself right alongside the fire which by then had traveled many miles. He got these pictures which were sobering to say the least. As he was passing, a barn and home caught fire. It is shocking to see how quickly everything you have can be reduced to ashes.

911 has sent a number of reverse call messages today. We got the last a few minutes ago. The fire is finally contained some 7 hrs later after burning over 9000 acres. We are grateful none of them were ours but we mourn for the ranchers who lost so much. It was heart wrenching to see the stock trailers racing by to evacuate horses and cattle.

Overheard in the van….

Kieran: Hey Zach, do you know the (insert family name of neighbors)?

Zach: Yep.

Kieran: Well ‘cuz they’re pretty much all cowboys.

Zach: Yeah?

Kieran: Yeah. You can tell ‘cuz they got those big belts. You know, with the big silver where they connect.

Zach: Ahhh.

And there you have it. ; )

This is a really beautiful metaphor for Christian marriage. Set aside all the loaded arguments for leading, submitting, and who should be doing what and see the bigger picture.

Hat tip to my dear friend Jen.

Kris wrote a very insightful comment about vintage homemaking:

I think the thing that stuck with me the most was one blurb about them not having time to socialize except on Sunday’s…every other day they expected to be *tied* up with their homemaking chores. At the time it really blew my mind because it really sounded like they just didn’t consider doing anything but their *duty* during the week/Saturday. Such a difference from our current culture’s frame of mind. I think Anna has hit upon something that a lot of women don’t realize ( or don’t want to realize) that homemaking takes ALOT of time ( especially to do it well). It isn’t drudgery, just using your time to bless your family instead of buzzing about here and there and leaving it undone ( or half done).

I have thought about the same things many times. That same conversation came up this past week with our older sons. We have been talking a good deal about work ethic and going the extra mile versus just doing the minimum. We talked about going over and above and doing every job with equal gusto, not just the ones you like best. We talked about proper ratio of work and play in life and pointed out that God gave us “a” day of rest. For most of us, that means that, if we are doing things right, we will be doing them the better part of most days. Rest will come in fleeting bits through the week but we can look forward to Sunday to thoroughly unwind.

If your recall the Amish book mentioned waaaay back one of the things the author learned was that for the Amish the work wasn’t drudgery because each job was valued equally. Therefore there was no gritting one’s teeth through one job so as to get it done or get to a ‘better’ one. No putting off the ‘yucky jobs’ while reading email. The secret to their contentment was that they had learned to make peace with each activity and give it the same attitude as they will the one to come. This has the two-fold blessing of making tasks more pleasant and also keeping one focused and out of trouble.

I think so often about 1 Tim 5:13

And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

What so often happens in our free time is generally not a blessing to ourselves nor to others. We don’t live in close knit communities anymore where we linger over the fence while hanging laundry. We do have the internet however and the phone. We can go ‘from house to house’ in seconds without even the commute to slow us down.

I know, for me, it is much better to remain busy and spend more time caring for home and family than chattering about my fellow man – or woman. I so easily fall into that when idle. Maybe that is just a personal vice. I am coming to realize it is a blessing and not a curse to have my days spoken for. Housework and childcare are not burdens to be freed from but unparalleled opportunities to grow and develop character. What a shame they are so quickly shaken off in favor of words.

Now, lest you think I am insufferable lecturer I am going to print this off and paste it to my forehead. You know by now, I hope, that I talk to myself here first and foremost.

This one is for the grandma’s. : ) The children had their piano recital Friday evening. Tess wasn’t feeling well so I wasn’t able to stay and listen. One of Asher’s friends recorded all three of them so we could enjoy it at home. The video is done on a regular camera and the lights are quite low, hence Asher looks a bit like the headless pianist in places.

Asher –

Alannah –

Moira –

This won’t be breaking news for those of you who are up on your current events and your Oprah episodes. If, like me you end up getting tipped to the really good stuff when your friends share, take a moment and watch this video. It’s apparently been downloaded some millions of times so like I said you’ve probably seen it. I just saw it this morning when my dear friend Kristen sent it. Awesome way to begin the day because in the end life happens one day at a time. Have a great one. : )

Yesterday marked a big milestone in our family. Allen has been a long distance runner for years. As of this weekend he has a partner – Moira. He and the children had talked some months back about running together this year. Several of them have begun training though none quite as enthusiastically as Moira. She took to running with amazing ease. With the others she started that first week with a half mile, then a mile, then she kept going and going and going. Before long she was logging 3 and 4 or more miles. Her face glowing all the while. She confidently reported she could keep up on a 5k. And so she did, clocking in at 27minutes at the Sunday morning race.

Moira is literally our middle child. She is remarkably sweet-natured and easy going. She often finds herself in the odd spot of being too little for the big kid functions and too big for the little kids. She is never ever one to complain however. She is happy wherever she goes. Still, it warmed my mama heart to see her stand out and shine all on her own.

And so we finally got a new picture of all the kids together.