intentional living, little by little
Honestly, my first reaction when I read that sentence was “Quiet?! What is that?” This house is far from quiet most days. There’s pretending and sword-fighting, loud conversations and bickering. Someone always has a story to tell or lunch orders to demand. Needless to say, the moments of silence are few and far between.
“But within each child there is also an innate talent for listening that deserves to be honored and encouraged.” -page 105
One trick I’ve discovered lately is super simple: open the windows. We’ve had some amazing weather lately, so I’ve taken the opportunity to air out the house and shut off the A/C. But what I didn’t realize is how open windows would affect my children!
All of us, even little J, have stopped in our tracks to listen to the sounds outside. Birds chirping, a dog barking, the garbage truck rumbling past our house…each sound interesting and new. It’s been fun to watch the wonder in my boys’ faces as they process what they hear. What tricks do you use with your kiddos to encourage listening?
I love link lists.
There’s nothing better than word of mouth, so when a blogger recommends a
recipe, a new shop or a great read, I am all about it! Here are a few things
I’ve come across this week…
1. We love a good board game here at the Big White Farmhouse. Currently, our favorite game to play with guests is Apples to Apples…soo fun! My big boys are dying to participate in a game on their level, so I’m thinking of surprising them with Qwirkle or Jenga this summer.
2. I love the free monthly downloads that Amy offers on her blog, Let’s Explore. June’s list is awesome: I think we’ll be adding making a joke book and painting with water to our summer camp plans.
3. How cute would this cake pan be for a bumblebee party or baby shower? The ideas here and here are darling and this invitation? Too sweet.
4. This dog gate contraption (which would work perfectly as a baby gate!) is genius. Regular gates are too easy for my little monkeys to climb (ahem…), so I’m thinking this may be a better solution. Definitely tucking this away for when Baby #4 is on the move.
5. How cute is this baby gift packaging idea? I have bought from Little Sapling Toys for a gift before and the quality is amazing!
6. Pregnancy craving of the week: chips and salsa! Thinking about trying this salsa recipe to change it up a little (and it’d be awesome on tacos too).
7. More books on my to-read list: My Life in France and 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans.
8. It seems like forever since I’ve done any sort of artsy project! Decorating flour sack dishtowels seems easy and fun…and they’d make adorable gifts too.
hope:handmade was created with one goal in mind: to raise money for adoption.
Stacey’s story in her words: “In 2011, the Lord answered “no” to our plans for growing our family. Our hearts were broken, but then God gave us a new desire: to adopt. We began the domestic infant adoption process in December of 2011, and we can’t wait to grow our little family this way!”
What a positive and pro-life understanding of God’s will. I also loved this about them: “This shop is also an outworking of Stacey’s desire to not just wait, but to “actively wait,” expecting God to move and blessing others in the process. With each stitch we think of and pray for the little ones who will wear and use these items, and look forward to the day when OUR little one will too!”
