tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post607499510949808659..comments2024-03-25T09:47:40.771-04:00Comments on Clover Lane: December DaysSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-63365302075393923462016-01-26T13:35:14.354-05:002016-01-26T13:35:14.354-05:00This really pulled at my heartstrings. Especially...This really pulled at my heartstrings. Especially the picture of Janey on the red radio flyer. God has ministered to my heart in a big way through other mom's comments and testimonies as to how fast the little years go. This is a perfect example of that, thank you for your honesty. I hope I can look back when my kids are coming home from college and think that I gave it my all when they were little the way that you can. I am always striving to be more selfless and it does not come easily to me. I also have the tidying up book waiting on my e-reader. I need someone to come over and hold the baby so I can go through drawers and closets. XO, Sarah. So thankful for you! Erin Southwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13140210864131003738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-50442456651341633092016-01-15T13:19:48.736-05:002016-01-15T13:19:48.736-05:00Correction: I only have 10 kids not 20!!! Ha what ...Correction: I only have 10 kids not 20!!! Ha what a typo!!luvnmy10https://www.blogger.com/profile/09164832406300940298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-22028355650806201392016-01-13T20:17:31.294-05:002016-01-13T20:17:31.294-05:00Wonderful post! With 20 kids, from 7-31, in laws a...Wonderful post! With 20 kids, from 7-31, in laws and lovely grand babies, I totally related to every part of your Christmas. When college kiddos come home I always say we have to do "the dance" for a few days. Mom has to adjust, college kids adjust, the oldest "at home kid" is de throned for a bit, so they have to adjust too. In our home, it seems only dad has no adjustment, he thinks it's all grand! :). Just live your blog, Sarah. luvnmy10https://www.blogger.com/profile/09164832406300940298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-32580778306395667432016-01-09T14:12:59.185-05:002016-01-09T14:12:59.185-05:00Your husband with the 50 t-shirts too? It seems to...Your husband with the 50 t-shirts too? It seems to be an epidemic. Ha! Keltyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01025602452246966240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-22309070807704838112016-01-09T11:05:04.824-05:002016-01-09T11:05:04.824-05:00There is no. way. Patrick is eight. Please check y...There is no. way. Patrick is eight. Please check your math. verahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920122156259034765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-64923443846599162592016-01-08T20:11:10.945-05:002016-01-08T20:11:10.945-05:00Long time reader, and still LOVE your blog. Have ...Long time reader, and still LOVE your blog. Have you considered writing a book? You really have a gift. Thank you.<br />Mrs. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408992555858336343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-14374238555548813232016-01-06T10:14:23.442-05:002016-01-06T10:14:23.442-05:00I want to know what everything is on your birthday...I want to know what everything is on your birthday dinner table. It all looks so good. Is that one thing Shepherd's pie? I am posting a recipe for one I found tomorrow on my blog. <br /><br />I love the idea of exchanging sibling gifts on Christmas eve. We did it all on Christmas morning and it's a little overwhelming. I may do that next year.<br /><br />I feel the same way about that book about tidying up. I keep hearing people talk about it, but I just went through our whole house before we moved and AGAIN as I was unpacking. I feel like I've got a good handle on it. But now you've got me thinking if I should read it. I usually like the books you recommend.<br /><br />The college schedule: I dread that. We are already dealing with that with high school. It's so hard to get them home (not with a friend in the house!!!! Not sitting in the driveway talking!!!!) and in bed so the rest of us can go to bed. I don't know how I'll do it in college. <br /><br />I did the same thing with my diet the last month--lots of sugar and wine! Now I'm doing an entire clean eating thing in January and I already feel better...ditto on noticing it in my skin! <br /><br />Missed your blog. Glad you are back. Janey is adorable. <br /><br />Sandy @ The Scoop on Balancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382966038522662787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-65435047472051383052016-01-06T07:48:11.792-05:002016-01-06T07:48:11.792-05:00I can't believe Patrick is 8 either! I love to...I can't believe Patrick is 8 either! I love to see Janey riding her doll around the house! I miss those days and am thankful when I can be around our neighbor's sweet, little boys and experience the joy of little ones. It is hard to believe you would need to purge anything in your house! I read the book and Maggie just bought it (digital version). I didn't go through my entire house but started with clothes. It felt good to keep only what brings me joy. I struggle a little with the folding method. I don't think my drawers are the right size. Mike needs to do his clothes, yet. Why is it so hard for guys to let go of T Shirts? We have hand-me-downs that our neighbor got at a thrift shop still in our drawers! I do feel like all the extra stuff and clutter in our lives has an energy that weighs us down. Like the stuff under my bed....why is my mother-in-law's wedding dress there? Best of luck on your Whole30 journey. I have been reading lots of helpful articles and will forward them to you. It is hard to think of ourselves when we are focused so much on our kids. After being mostly sugar free for so many months, I had too many treats this holiday season. Thankfully, I don't seem to be going into a sugar flu this time.Maiden Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09714005634771057441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-33559204774871219512016-01-05T23:42:14.499-05:002016-01-05T23:42:14.499-05:00I do so love reading your blog-all the advice, the...I do so love reading your blog-all the advice, the sharing about raising kids, and I always like the books you like! With the kids growing up, well, I get sad too. I have three and it seems the time with them goes by faster the more they grow! Our youngest in now 11, is pure joy to be around and I am so cherishing these days with him. Thank you always for your words of wisdom!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00982547291374220789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-51391748129120382032016-01-05T23:33:57.633-05:002016-01-05T23:33:57.633-05:00Oh my gosh - I LOVED reading your recent posts aft...Oh my gosh - I LOVED reading your recent posts after a l.o.n.g. "blog reading break", but after reading about your tidying up idea, the thought occurred to me that I only need to clean up my blog bookmarks! You, my friend, are one of the chosen few left on the list :-) I, also, have a gaggle of kiddos - four - (18,14, 11, 6) and are in the trenches of college applications, FAFSA, SAT's, teenage girl drama, middle school/middle BOY angst, etc, etc,.. so I can sympathize with you having teenagers in the house, although mine haven't actually left the nest yet. To be honest, I'm not so sure I'm ready to let him go and would appreciate any insight you might have regarding this whole process since you're both a seasoned as well as new college mom. I truly enjoy your blog am grateful to find that there are other moms out there that think like me..... At least I can show my husband your blog and say, "See!!! - I'm not the only one that doesn't have her kids' schedule packed chock full every waking hour, not the only one that LOVES old, worn, Golden Books for her kiddos, not the only one that worries that her children are going to be disappointed that they don't have keys to a new car hanging from the tree on Christmas Morning because she wants her children to appreciate the season for what it was intended to be....(or has to pay the mortgage that month!) Thanks so much Sarah, you're the best! Happy New Year and much health and happiness to you and yours.... -Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17427876725711655917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-12906434068034690052016-01-05T22:28:10.643-05:002016-01-05T22:28:10.643-05:00love it!! We scaled down on the number of gifts to...love it!! We scaled down on the number of gifts too..now, some were just one or two pricier things, but it was all the older 2 wanted so I was good with it! The days of them having lots of tiny packages to open are probably over...unless we fill each box with a $10/$20 bill! LOL!! Love Janey's doll and trike...I took my tree down Sat..couldn't stand it anymore...needed to have the room back to normal..love the post!! You are a bright spot in my email...keep 'em coming!! Shawnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09623741167615657741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-80721717437724486842016-01-05T17:36:32.046-05:002016-01-05T17:36:32.046-05:00I love your stories of family. I was the oldest of...I love your stories of family. I was the oldest of 7 and now look back on all those memories with great fondness, even the occasional anghst!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077895976199604824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-15474929874476640902016-01-05T16:14:40.269-05:002016-01-05T16:14:40.269-05:00It killed me to take our tree down before Ephiphan...It killed me to take our tree down before Ephiphany. Catholic guilt? Ours was so dry it was a color of gray. I am kind of mad at myself because at the beginning of the season I was watering with hot water. The tree was drinking gallons and gallons a day. It was awesome. It was so fresh and in great shape. Then I stopped and just started doing cold. It stopped drinking at that point and that was the end of that. So the trick of warm water from the get go....is the best! Try it. You will see a difference. <br /><br />It makes me sad to see the kids growing up. I agree, just when you get the hang of a stage, age, it's over. Such is life I guess. I just feel blessed more than ever right now. rsvpshindighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06210871478984792817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-60039810028373451602016-01-05T12:33:17.391-05:002016-01-05T12:33:17.391-05:00I am a longtime reader and huge fan of your blog. ...I am a longtime reader and huge fan of your blog. I also have 6 kids, ages 2-12. This post really speaks to me. Like you, I love to have a clean and clutter free home and always find renewed commitment to this when I read posts like this from you. I also struggle with being sad over the lost years. It's so hard for me that my oldest is 12 and it's hard to look back without getting depressed! Even worse, I look ahead to how it's going to be summer and then middle school and oh my, she's going to college!!! haha I really need to focus on today and enjoy everyone at this moment. Bridgethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00951507632666957325noreply@blogger.com