Has anyone else had a difficult year? I know that we have, and I am ready to leave it behind. I want to focus on the positive. It’s in my nature to do so. This time last year I was in the last few weeks of a difficult pregnancy, which was followed by an extremely difficult birth and a long recovery (I’m still not physically 100%!) There were months of postpartum depression. Most recently, I lost one of my best friends. Those of you who have read my words over the past year, and left yours in reply, have been a huge source of encouragement to me. You have all been a part of helping me to move through these things. I know that I am terrible at showing up in the comments and chatting there, but I do read them all, and I am grateful that you take the time to reach out to me. In a perfect world I could carve out the time to interact more in the comments, but gosh, seven kids. The food and the laundry alone…full time job.
Thankfully, I’m not depressed these days. My days are full, but they are good. Of course it can be difficult to raise a large family, and to homeschool so many children (five in school this year!) But, I like a challenge. I end some days feeling like I’ve been run over, and sometimes I mentally calculate just how many years of homeschooling I still have ahead of me and feel a bit (or a lot) overwhelmed. But usually I am able to pull myself together, sometimes with the help of some knitting, and often with the help of this blog. Writing about the positives helps keep things in perspective for me.
So, I’ve been thinking about my blog and what I want to do here. I like to share my hodge podge posts of photos and rambling words, and I’m not going to stop. But, sometimes I think it’s good to be a bit more focused, and I need another challenge, right? I would like for what I share here to benefit others as well.
So what are you struggling with? What inspires you? What do you most come here to read? I want to know.
Friends and readers often remark to me that the community surrounding this blog, those of you who regularly comment, are exceptionally kind. It’s true. You are. Thank you so much for your kindness and your generosity.
I LOVE your honesty. You are real and I appreciate you sharing your happy and sad times. I connect with your words because they describe a real life. One much like my own with highs and lows. Many blogs only show beautifully decorated homes or perfect projects. I appreciate that there is someone brave enough to share the perfect and imperfect. Your words are comforting and relatable. Thank you.
Oh my…I adore every one of your photos…!
That’s part of what I come here for, and just to hang out on the fringes of your lovely, messy, busy life.
Simply love the sense of connection it gives. You by sharing, us by caring to read, to take on board, to benefit, to grow and be reminded of so many important, often basic ‘being real’ things and situations. Thank you and continue, we enjoy it all! xx
Hi Ginny,
I don’t even remember now how I found your blog, but I really enjoy reading all the posts, even though I don’t have children of my own (and may not – I have infertility from endometriosis – and only if God wills it). I think it is your voice, and many times you make me laugh, sometimes cry, almost always send a prayer. I am Catholic, love to read, crochet, sew, garden, cook, bake, and explore, so besides the 7 children part, I imagine that we would have much in common.
I think you have a lovely mix of “hodgepodge writing/photos” and structure. I do love your yarn along posts (along with many others!) and have found several good books through your reading chronicles. It is inspiring to read about your homeschooling journey, your daily life and reflections. I find encouragement and inspiration here. Thank you.
I found your blog I think when Beatrice was a babe and check in everyday. I am an avid knitter, so when I wasn’t working full time I took part in that every Wednesday, now on Wednesday I come home from work to check in with Yarn Along. Have read some fantastic books that were recommended on Yarn Along, thank you. I also enjoy your pictures and your writings about your family. Your are a “real” Mom and not afraid to admit it. I am much older than you, have 4 children, one died from SIDS and raised 3 to adulthood. All three are wonderful adults, their Dad and I are proud of each of them and continue to enjoy watching them grow and stretch as we do too. Since I have been there, done that, raising, educating children I know when blogs are “real” and when they aren’t. I enjoy yours because you are respectful of your family and share with that respect your ups and downs that come with daily life of “ family”. Thankyou
I love everything about your blog! And yes, I can totally relate to having a difficult year. I’m homeschooling five, my husband has had numerous health issues, and he just lost his job (among other things!). God is good, though, and I also use my blog to remind myself of all the blessings He’s given us. It helps me to focus on the positive.
Many blessings to you and your family, Ginny!
I’d like you know that there is someone in Romania who reads your blog and even consider you a friend. It seems like I know you and your family and am so unhappy America is far from Europe fisicaly. As a mum of four,homeschooling,without anyone around to help, I follow many blogs and my inbox is full beause i don’t have time to open those mails but when I menage Small Things is the first I open. You are so dear to my heart. Thank you for sharing w ith us a little bit of your life by photos. Please, just don’t stop to blog.
Sladana
Dear Ginny,
A perfect time to comment. I’ve been a reader here for years. And the reason why I come back and look forward to each post is because of several reasons. First, home and family. In a world of hectic and everyone running here and there, it’s comforting to come here for inspiration on the daily life at home with raising a family. As pictured in the above post. The small things:-)
Second, the nature. And your lovely photos capturing nature. The nature crafts. A couple of weeks ago as we studied dinosaurs in our homeschool and fossils, I had remembered that last year you posted about homemade fossils. We made them. The kids loved it!
Third, living in southwest Virginia, and on a continued family journey for the past few years to study the remarkable trees, I like to come here for a resource on your Remarkable Tree adventures.
I thank the Lord for your precious little blog. Just a sweet spot each time I visit here:-)
I found your blog about 10 months ago. Even though you have had a difficult year I have found your posts to be full of passion, beauty, faith, and life. I’ve especially loved your posts about homeschooling (as we are considering that for our family when the children are school age) and your holiday/advent/faith posts. My own small family (one toddler and one due in about a month), living in a very urban neighborhood of Los Angeles, is consistently inspired by your posts. You have helped my husband and I to dream big about our family and encouraged us to be more intentional about making faith in Christ part of our daily lives.
Your life has had such a profound impact on so many people. Thank you for taking some of your precious time to inspire and encourage so many people through your life and your blog.
i think i originally found your blog through some kind of search about virginia’s trees!! i love your photography, glimpses into your daily life and your thoughts. i love what you do and wouldn’t want you to change a thing. (except take time off when you need to!!)
Real life:). That’s my favorite part of visiting your blog!
I think I found your site because of bees. We hope to have some someday. I have enjoyed reading about your experience with them but I come back every other day to read about homeschooling, knitting, gardening, real motherhood, children growing and to see the soft light in your photos and general way your family enjoys each other. I haven’t been able to keep up a blog and I admire those who do. I sincerely appreciate the space you have made here. Thank you!
Your photos are so beautiful! When my family first moved to Northern Virginia from Oregon, I was less than thrilled to be here. Seeing through your lens has truly made it a more enjoyable place. Since discovering your blog a couple of years ago we’ve fallen in love with Shenandoah and have been back many times. During pregnancies when I hardly had energy to lift a finger, your photos of the meadow were truly a blessing. Thank you for sharing both your struggles and triumphs of raising a large family.
I love your blog Ginny. I have no idea where I originally found it, but it was a couple of years ago. I love that you keep it real & that you share beautiful pictures of your life. I know they say to focus blogs, but I prefer ones just about real life. There are too many ‘experts’ out there already.
I’m sure whatever you decide to do with your blog will be fantastic, but I just wanted to let you know that it is great the way it is. You are a very talented writer.
Blessings
Renata:)
Oh, I love your “hodge podge posts of photos and rambling words” as many other said, it is a place to come and relax with the “small things” most of us don’t “have the eyes” to see in our day and you help us do that. I can’t think of thing to change unless it is something YOU really want and are led to do. God bless you and your dear family!
I really really really like your photos….and I really really really like your “ramblings” also! I enjoy the yarn along also even though I haven’t knit since I was a child. I have read some good books linked to the yarn along that I wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Hi there. I am not a frequent commenter on your site. I usually never feel I have anything to say that other people haven’t already touched upon. I do enjoy reading it though. My husband recently was blessed with a heart transplant. He has had heart failure for 8 years. It was a three-year wait on the heart transplant list. We almost lost him a couple of times. However even during the most stressful of times, I always found that your writing style and beautiful pictures could relax me and bring me down off the ceiling. Thank you!
I come here because it, especially the photos,
reminds me of the precious and fleeting time I have with my daughter. Sometimes parenting/homemaking feels more like a project instead of loving a person. Your pictures remind me of the sweetness. I am homeschooling mother, a Christian, a nature lover and you feel like a friend. Your oldest daughter is the same age as mine and it makes me smile to see how similar they are in their development and antics. Your blog is an encouragement to me. I also am always thankful that you are honest and that you don’t have it all together. It isn’t cutesy. It is real, loving and kind. Thank you for sharing yourself. I like what someone else said, your blog is comforting and relaxing. I wouldn’t change a thing:)
I so enjoy your musings and your photos. I am a very busy mom and homeschooler of 5 children, right in the middle of a busy city, living in a teeny tiny house. Life pulls at us from every direction. I love reading about and being inspired by your family activities and traditions, as well as looking at your beautiful photos and enjoying your lovely environment. Some things, to you, may be so regular, ordinary. To me, these are things I dream about. You are a great mom. Keep up the great work and keep sharing.
Hi Ginny,
I really enjoy your blog. I’ve been following you for about a year now. I too have been having trouble focusing- I guess it’s just the season we might be in with so many kids we’re trying to homeschool and little ones in the mix( I have 8 children- schooling 6 of them). I really enjoy hearing about your days, but I’m really interested in your knitting posts. Per your suggestion, I have started knitting while listening to my beginner and early readers read (when the toddler isn’t trying to climb onto my lap!) I would like to know how you find your yarn. It can be so expensive. You knit beautifully and I’d also like to know how you learned. Do you have a yarn shop you go to when you get stuck or don’t understand a pattern? I find your blog very peaceful to read and look at. Thank you for sharing your life.
I’m sure I’m repeating what many have said–I love exactly what you choose to share & write about & photograph already! If I was hard-pressed, I’d maybe like more of your homeschooling details/specifics/adventures/etc. So thankful for this space you have carved out here…your words have helped me immensely for well over a year now. I hope you make a complete and full recovery soon from your last birth. xx
Just keep doing what you have been doing. I am old enough to be your mother, but I find your blog so refreshing and something about it reading it relaxes me. I have always wanted to knit so maybe that is how I found your blog. My first attempt at knitting was in college and I have approached it many times only to quit when I made a mistake and didn’t know how to fix it. I just finally finished my first project – a washcloth, but I just wanted to finish something. I have read many books after hearing about them from you and have found that I like them just as much as you did. I am also Catholic and enjoy hearing about your journey. I am a mother of 3 and grandmother of 3 and share many of your interests. You are like an old soul in this fast paced world and that is GOOD so your blog does benefit me in many ways. You don’t have to change anything!
Hi Ginny,
I first followed A Holy Experience, which is a lovely blog. But she introduced us readers to your blog and I have fallen in love with your photos, your family, and your huge heart. I am also a Catholic and in NC and have married into a protestant family. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and I focus on what we have in common, but I love my faith so dearly and at times struggle with sharing my convictions and the truth of Catholicism as well as I should. I’m in my 6th year of Bible Study at my church, and I am on fire for the Lord and spreading His good news. I agree with Wanda (earlier post) on learning more about how you teach your faith to your children and how being Catholic effects you as a mother and wife. Both of my children love Jesus and our Catholic faith and I have been fortunate to be able to send them to Catholic school. Why do you prefer homeschooling over private or public school?
Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us readers, it’s captivating.
Sincerely,
Becky
Whatever you feel like showing and telling me is exactly what I am happy to hear about. Truly. xo
you are great mom!
Please keep sharing the wonderful pictures of your kids and their creative and natural adventures. I personally wouldn’t have time for a podcast 🙁 I only have 3 kids, but 1/2 dozen other jobs, too and the blog feed in my email is my favorite mode. Old-fashioned, I know. I’d read a book if you wrote one, but I think that’s to major a project for you with all your doing. If someone compiled and edited a coffee table book, I would buy a half dozen in a heartbeat. The pictures are my favorite part. Thanks for all you do– you don’t need to do more. Just love on those kids and keep taking pictures… oh, and keep knitting. 🙂 Hugs!
I just love your blog and everything you share Ginny!!!
What inspires me at your blog? The imperfect beauty of your homeschool mama, adoption mama, natural mama life – your confessions of feeling less than perfect, or reflecting on what you DON’T get around to, instead of touting every accomplishment and presenting it in a shiny blog package – the sharing of your beautiful knitting projects, the way you slow down and take it all in, and by virtue of that, encouraging your readers to do the same – the simplify message, the beautiful photos. Keep doing just what you are doing. Don’t change a thing. One of my favorite blogs=yours. Hands down.
Please forgive my brevity. I’ve got four kiddos and two free minutes RIGHT NOW! What are your lovies doing with the art materials? Are they pastels?
This: https://gsheller.com/2009/11/friday-craft-egg-paint.html 🙂
Thank you so much! You are so dear to reply so quickly. I have a giant roll of paper that has been crying out for a painting project. This looks like just the thing.
I must tell you that I am very grateful for this blog and I would love some time to chat you up over a cup of tea. Perhaps some day we will! Until then carry on with your wonderful self and know that each word you write is a blessing to someone out there – oftentimes ME!
I’m probably one of your older readers, a grandmother of 5. I found you through knitting, but love to read about your child rearing as it is encouraging words I can pass to my daughters.
I love the blog the way it is, but if there was anything to add I think it would be more Catholic faith. I would love to hear about how you are installing the faith in your family!
So I have a nosy question for you and you don’t have to answer it. I know you’re homeschooling now but are you planning to do homeschooling all the way through high school or let the kids go to a regular public school or private school or a combination or…..? I don’t know much about homeschooling so I don’t know quite how that part works.
Hi Ginny,
I have been reading your blog for quite a few years now. I always enjoy your words and pictures. I think when you blog what ever is in your heart at the time, that’s when it’s perfect and all it should be.
Jacq
Yes, what all these people said! Plus a little more adoption advice, but I know you try to keep that private to protect your kids. I originally found you as we adopted our 4th child who is our only by adoption. I second guess and doubt myself on this one daily…love your wisdom that came through your personal struggle. I admire you 🙂
I’m newer to your blog and have had to go back and catch up a bit. I’m due in a few months with #7, going between sheer panic and calm “everything’s going to be ok”. It is so nice not to feel alone, so thank you for putting yourself out there, sharing your family and ups and downs with the rest of us. Love your knitting inspiration, your photos. Would love to see a few what do you feed your big family posts. We have a lot of food allergies, and I feel like I make the same few things over and over because it’s safe and that’s all they’ll eat. Your family is beautiful!
I love your blog just the way it is. You inspire me as is! I love the homeschooling, knitting, your experiences, ect. Maybe a few more good recipes would be the cherry on top 😉
I came for the knitting, and stayed because your interests are as diverse as mine (gardening, bees, photography, the awesome creativity and freedom of your children, love of nature… I’m sure I’m missing something!) your honesty and openness inspires me. I also love your sponsors and have been introduced and connected to so many amazing crafters, and felt good about supporting them and using the products they provide. I am amazed that you have time to blog as often as you do, and I look forward to every post! Keep up the great work!
Hi Ginny!
I am a Catholic mom in her 20’s living in Illinois. I love coming to your blog to hear (and see! your pictures are beautiful) about the “every day” in your family. Truly, as your blog name suggests, it’s the small things I love reading about. I also love hearing about your and your family’s Catholic faith. It’s inspiring.
You are in my prayers always!
Olivia
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years and I love it. I love your photos and your words. You’re a kind, honest woman and that shows in every post. That is inspiring by itself, so the inspiration to do things similar to what you do is just a bonus. I wrote to you once saying that by reading your blog I felt a connection, and I still do, even though I’m in a different country living such a different life. I think this is due to way you write, focusing on the positive but being honest, candid, and vulnerable. Please continue! Your example is wonderful for me.
Hello from another fellow Bulldawg, Ginny. I’ve only been following your blog for about six months and I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit. I’m also a fairly new knitter and would love it if you could add “how to” in your Wednesday knitting blog. I’d really like to try your projects you’re working on but am not always sure how to go about it. IDK, I’m sure that’s not really what you’re looking for; but I must agree with others that you have a great thing going. Have a wonderful fall and end to 2014. Peace.
There is something so comforting and relaxing to me about looking at your pictures and reading your words. Hearing about your experiences, even though I am all the way across the country living a very different kind of life right now, I feel a connection to many of your thoughts and feelings. I feel less alone and more inspired when I’m visiting your space here. I love your writing, the depth of your posts, the beauty of your outlook on life and the strength of your character. As I begin to wonder if I will continue writing on the internet from time to time, I am reminded of how lovely it has been for me to read your blog and I want to continue to try to share my thoughts and make something meaningful myself. Thank you for being brave and sharing with us! ~Devon
I come here to read exactly what you put here. Beautiful words portraying a REAL life of devoted mothering, deliberate finding of beauty in regular moments, knitting in the midst of it all. When I see your lovely pictures of your children being creative it encourages me to be okay with the messes that creativity leads to. I just love the homey, warm feeling of your blog 🙂
Couldn’t agree more with Ra
CHEL mARIE
I understand the need for some focus (something I feel sadly lacking in my life right now, as I feel pulled in different directions and try to figure out how to find some kind of balance that lets me keep my sanity), but please don’t change too much! I like reading about your life, and I really appreciate how honest you are about the downs as well as the ups. You keep it real, as they say, and that in itself is inspiring. Your beautiful photos, the things you share about your days, it all adds up to a blog that I’ve kept reading even as I’ve had to cut back on a lot of other things for lack of time.
Hi Ginny,
I actually fear that this most difficult year in my life will end. As funny as that sounds and it maybe just selfish too; I don’t know. But I fear our relationship might wane as the months and year goes by. I don’t want to forget Sarah and I don’t want to loose contact with her friend who as all her last things she did and her last loves and words.
Keep up the good work Ginny, you are extremely talented. you are a mom and that makes you the most important person in your family and to God the Most High.
Love reading all your words and your lovely phobia’s of imperfects and of course seeing you and the hubby and the kids in photos.
love Bonnie
I really love your blog and feel like there is a great focus here. Day to day with seven homeschooled children is very interesting to me, maybe because I have five homeschooled children 😉 . I admire your honesty and your sharing. With warmth, brooke
dear Ginny
It’ a little over a year now that I read your blog almost every day – but I never left a comment. I can’t really express what draws me to come back again and again. But I think your honesty and the depth of your thoughts just speaks to my heart. There is something very profound in the way how you describe your life. And I appreciate how you write about your faith. I hope you will continue your blog for a long time.
Greetings from Switzerland, s.
I read your blog for the beauty and calmness of your photos. Your life is so different to my own, I find the way that you reflect on your daily happenings, makes me more likely to reflect on my own. Change it if you need to, but I love it as it is.
I read your blog everyday, just after I come back from my lunch break and before I start to work again in a busy company office. I don’t know if I can say what draws me to your blog exactly. I think it is because you are so honest and so real. There is too much ‘hollywood’ drama and striving for perfection out there in this world. None of it is real. It is all so fake and none of it relates to me. I like that you love your children, your husband and God. I love that you tell it like it really is-with all the struggles of true life that we all must face. I love your stories about your home, your land, your adventures…even the small everyday things. Because that is what is important to me and to my life. I love my kids, my grandson, my husband, my family, my home and God. So please keep sharing the little bits of your life with us and keep reminding us that it’s okay to fail and to falter and to be depressed and discouraged. Because God and our families will bring us back to what is real, in the end. Thanks for sharing.
Ginny,
I may have said this before, but I’ll just say it again…as a graduate student, I’m very busy, all the time. And while I know you are just as busy (or perhaps even busier!) somehow your blog is a quiet place for me. I think it’s the pictures of family life, simplicity, nature. I long for that, but I know the time is not right yet, I have to be patient. So for now, your blog is a place where I can get a whiff of that, and then continue with whatever it is I’m doing.
Also, I think you have a beautiful family, and a beautiful house, and you write beautifully. I mean it! You are always so honest and straightforward. You write about the little things, and yet your blog never gets mundane or bland. I honestly don’t care what you write about – I’m enjoying all of it. Thank you for that!
I enjoy your blog very much. I think what stands out to me is your honesty. That I enjoy the most. I like that you write about what is going on in your life. In most cases it is very easy to relate to you and I enjoy to hear how you are coping. You have a way of putting things into words that helps me find clarity for myself. I love your blog the way it is. I love the yarn along. I think you do really need to challenge yourself and start a Podcast though. I think Johnny needs to show up a little more 🙂 You have the time right?! LOL