Marbles

We took a mini-vacation to Barry's farm.

Always such fun fishing, riding in the pastures, and spending some time going to yard sales with my love.

On Labor Day, mom and dad came up.  We found a jar of marbles in the shed and dad spent some time teaching the little ones how to play.

During the fun fishing time dad accidentally hooked a duck in the wing.

Here we all are trying to help get the hook out.

The duck was fine.  Those wings have some very tough skin.

My Little Stair Steps...

Here we are on one of our hikes during our trip to 

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

We spent a week in the mountains the first of June.

This was a great family friendly hike that we hiked three years ago

with only four little ones...we went back this year with six little Quicks'

Silly Nina

Little Nina made us laugh so hard with her crazy hair and peanut butter face...

This Little One...

with the blonde hair

and teeth peeking through

and those blue eyes shining

He always makes me smile...

Being still...living today

(Here you are with your best hunting buddy at your birthday party)

The years are fleeting.

It is haunting me today...

as I look at that oldest boy needing a haircut

eyes green and clear

dirt on his face...smiling up at me.

Soon I'll be the one smiling up at him.

He measures us often now...waiting for the time he can say...

"I'm as tall as you!"

I was thinking the other day...

only 9 more Christmases until he is 18...

9 more spring gardens

9 more summers swimming in the creek

9 more birthdays...

I am grateful for all of the days in between.  The days that all work together to

build him into the man he will one day become.

Those beautiful days of loving him and teaching him and training him...it has been hard...

but it has been so good.

He has driven me to my knees and he has amazed me with his insight.

I am so grateful that I have been able to be the one

to teach him...

to turn over a rock and find a host of critters

to write his name

and read a book

to bask in the beauty of God's creation.

I Love...

sword fighting boys

and

little

mommies

and messy haired girls...

 and girls on gators...

and a boy with with his dog...

and baby boy napping with daddy...

 and silly sisters playing...

and funny dress-up clothes that make me laugh;-)

More pictures of the birthday girl...