Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you. ~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I was looking for a particular Anne Shirley quote this morning to go with my Oh-Summer-I-want-to-bask-in-your-beauty feelings, and in doing so landed on 1500 other Anne quotes that are perfect for everything I ever felt.
Like this one:
It has always seemed to me. ever since early childhood, amid all the commonplaces of life, I was very near to a kingdom of ideal beauty. Between it and me hung only a thin veil. I could never draw it quite aside, but sometimes a wind fluttered it and I caught a glimpse of the enchanting realms beyond-only a glimpse-but those glimpses have always made life worthwhile.
Anne has all the knowledge on all the things, that girl.
How would she describe these morning walks or the thrill of finding the perfect smooth pebble hidden in a pile of sharp rocks? She’d get verbose but it would work for her because she’s Anne. She’d say lovely and radiant and dig deep into the way the ripples of cold water when she dipped her toes into the lake traveled all the way to her soul and transformed it. I will leave those things to Anne.
But I will say that L.M. Montgomery justifies a lot of my childishness–the way my mind gallops ahead and cannot be reigned in. This trip for instance–I looked forward to it for so long–planned out the details, thought about all the little things, imagined back in May the feeling of the first morning waking up in the woods, watching the kids push each other in the hammock, climb up the dunes, taste cherries right from the tree. I do the same with Christmas and little family trips and every fun and beautiful thing on the horizon. And I challenge myself–Are you planning too much? Are you looking forward to the next thing to the point of not enjoying the perfectly beautiful present moment you’re in?
I’ve concluded you can do both. Yes, keep yourself in check. But wild little holiday-loving, trip-planning, detail-celebrating minds need space to do their cartwheels, light their fireworks, sing their songs. And they can do it quietly in the background while you offer up your gratitude for the right now–the mundane routines, the morning coffee, the family dinner, the sixth diaper change of the day. You can do both.
You know how I know I’m right? Because Anne Shirley said so.
Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them,” exclaimed Anne. “You mayn’t get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs. Lynde says, ‘Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.’ But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed.
“You know what grandpa said about this?” my cousin said this morning. “He’s said that every vacation is really two vacations. The first one is the anticipation of what it’s going to be. And the second one is the trip itself. You get two.”
Two for the price of one. That’s exactly what this week has felt like.
And let’s be honest. The anticipation of early morning toes-in-the-water pebble exploration has nothin’ on the real thing.
Note to self: more line drying at home.
The best part about travels?
“One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” ~Henry Miller
I like the new views. And I’m taking them home.
(We are amazed at his tough feet. Keeps kicking off his shoes and insisting to walk the gravel barefoot. Tough cookie.)
The chipmunks are our family’s new ethereal creature. Importance prioritized as the following: unicorn, seahorse, manatee, dolphin, chipmunk.
Can you spare me one more Anne quote? Pretty please?
The world looks like something God had just imaged for his own pleasure, doesn’t it?
L.M. Montgomery, you kill me.
One last thing–the Ruby’s Rainbow Rockin’ Boutique auction closes tomorrow. We’d love it if you clicked on over and checked out the shop–lots of handmades, beautiful things–shop a little. Bid on something you love–every bit allows Ruby’s Rainbow to help more dreams come true for people with Down syndrome (college scholarships, money for classes and post high school courses).
Your family is beautiful! Your outlook on life makes me smile and feel hopeful. But all of that important stuff aside, I have a practical question. Your kids’ clothing is the best — they look adorable. In these pics alone I count Nella in at least three different swimsuits. How do you pack and keep track of so much clothing while on vacay? I’m amazed.
Have you readMontgomery’s “The Blue Castle?” It is such an enjoyable read. Nothing to do with Anne and but still so so fun.
I can’t believe someone else out there has heard of The Blue Castle! It’s totally different than the Anne books, but I love it just as much. I swear it’s the most obscure LM Montgomery book, no-one I know has ever heard of it!
lovely
Lainey is getting so big and beautiful. Quick – put a rock on her head so she will stop growing. That was my MIL’s favorite saying. I just love looking at your sweet family.
And if you’re not anticipating a vacation, or on a vacation, you can always enjoy a vacation if someone posts a good description and a bunch of lovely photos.
I can almost feel the sand between my toes!
Every day I’m looking for the sweetness of summer. I’m glad to have found some of it here.
That photo of Lainey in the inner tube-that’s a stunner.
Isn’t summer wonderful? And oh how I love the Anne books!
I noticed those sweet mice in their beds…. Did you make those? Lovely!
read tom robbins, lovie. i’ve said it forever.
btw, i love the pic of dash with the brunette. such adoration in one pic. xoxoxo
If you are interested in LMM, I recommend her journals “The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery.” Gives a new perspective to everything. For instance, she loved writing her first Anne book, but dreaded the others. She was frustrated that she could not write what a teenage girl REALLY thinks, she was limited by what could be published and what her readers expected of her. Also, she was a very complex woman, daughter, lover, wife and mother. So so so interesting…. and no happy end.
Kerstin (a german fan of LMM, please excuse any mistakes : – )
Loved the senitment and the picures! You actually get another joy besides the anticipation and event. In the dead of winter, you can joyfully relive the experience and then anticipate the next summer. Oh, that is 4! And we get the joy of your beautiful picures and family which remind us of our own summer memories.
Your trip looks perfectly splendid. I am so thrilled you are able to be with your dear family in your happy place.
I love Lucy Maude so much that I named my youngest daughter after all things Anne of Avonlea! We love our Avinly. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE this picture ( http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh296/kascryder/2015%20Michigan%20Summer/print%2040_zpsfjh3yqks.jpg )
I’m not sure who Dash is looking at, but he’s got that starry eyed “A pretty girl is holding me and I’m going to get ALL of her attention” toddler look that I love oh-so-much. There’s just something about a toddler or a small child looking at you like you’re their entire world for that brief moment in time. It can make the worst day immediately better.
So glad you’re enjoying your holiday. I agree, anticipation is half the fun.
A big Anne fan here. I often quote Miss Stacey from the Mini series “tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it…” Not sure if it’s in the book. I don’t remember. Very bizarrely I actually quoted it to Heidi on her IG feed tonight. I say it to my children (well one of my pickles in particular) if we’ve had a bad day xxx
I use to read your blog (back in the aftermath of Nella’s birth)… Then I kinda got bored — just being honest– but this post right here has rekindled the romance. I love Anne (with an E) Shirley and this was a beautiful depiction. Just lovely I would even say 🙂
Xoxo
Amen and amen! Lucy Maud and Anne are brilliant especially in the summer on vacation. I can’t wait to enjoy them again with my daughter when she’s old enough. Welcome to Michigan!
“I’d like to add some beauty to life,” said Anne dreamily. “I don’t exactly want to make people KNOW more… though I know that IS the noblest ambition… but I’d love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me… to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born.”
Mayn’t – new favourite word.
Thanks for giving me permission to do this! I, too, straddle that fine line between anticipating too much and missing the present moment. But, I love the idea of 2 for the price of 1 and yes, keeping it in check is key. As usual, spot on Kelle…love the quotes. Note to self: Must read Anne of Green Gables pronto.
What a lovely family!
xo
I’m not sure I could love this more 🙂 Anne of Green Gables was a household staple, growing up.
Lovely pictures! I was wondering where you stayed at in Michigan… Looks like Cabins but would like to know where. Maybe I can take my little ones on a road trip up there as well. It looks stunning!
You just MUST visit Prince Edward Island here in Canada….not only for the insane Anne Shirley heritage but it screams a place you would love to bring your family. The rolling hills, church lady prepared lobster dinners, red sand beaches, and little gem oyster bars on tiny harbors where you can listen to the live bands play seashore tunes with their adorable accents while watching the boats pull in with the fresh catch. A place dreams are made of.