Decorating

A few weeks ago we decorated our tree. It has been so fun to have Elizabeth be a part of all the twinkling fun! We got a four-foot tree and put it on a table, out of her reach. We always have a "tea" dinner with spiced apple cider and lots of yummy finger foods. When we were getting ready for our decorating party Jonathan said the music, tree, and yummy smells "brought back such good memories". How special to get to create memories and enjoy the delight rhythm of the passage of time together.

Getting ready...

We were getting ready for our Christmas picture and wanted to take The Picture in our new garden area. Here are some pictures that helped us pick the location.

Grandpa Tom with Elizabeth

Elizabeth took a little nap in her Grandpa's arms. Very sweet.

Driveway pictures...

We had the driveway poured a few weeks ago. It is Yosemite Brown and we love it! Here is the man who did the work, Tony,with Joe and Jonathan.

Mirrors

Today Joe and I were laughing about how our children are so much like us. Laughing tongue-in-cheek. Normally when you look in the mirror you smile, fix any blemishes, then go on your merry way. Any uncomfortable, inconvenient, irritable, or sinful attitudes can be glossed over and "normalized" as we jump into our busy day.

Not so with my children. If they are not feeling happy on the inside--boy do you know it! Crying, demanding, screaming. Ugh. Do they know that I have those feelings too??? The character that was supposed to be developed in my life just isn't there. I can't believe how the areas of my life that I struggle with the most I am supposed to help my children grow in.

I have been feeling alarmed with how little there is of me, when I need to have so much to guide my little family with throughout the day. I think I am entering into the second half of the sophomoric period of my life. (Greek words sophos, meaning "wise", and moros, meaning "fool").

There is a quote by Elisabeth Elliot that I find particularly applicable to how I am feeling at this stage:

"The process of shaping the child...shapes also the mother herself.
Reverence for her sacred burden calls her to all that is pure and good, that she
may teach primarily by her own humble, daily example."

Those are soothing words for me. I used to like to think that I was well on my way to being shaped--maybe I was even almost dry? But now, to see this process called motherhood unfold as I care for and mother my children, I have a greater need, a greater longing, to know God's pureness and goodness so that I can teach those to my children. No, don't look to me for the answers, I am very thin and weak. But thank God that He gives answers. May I look to Him in His word for that character when my "little mirrors" reflect the real me.

Abigail Marie

Our Abigail. What else do I need to say? Strength, diligence, thoughtfulness, she is a young girl in progress who God is preparing in a special way. I have never met another person who is so eager to help and is so aware of people's needs. At the end of last school year we went out to lunch with our pastor and Abigail did her normal Abbie things, getting napkins for everyone, a high chair for Tom, helping daddy get drinks. Well, Pastor Jim asked me how old she was (three at that time). He said that the servant heart that Abigail has at such a young age will be used in a special way. How wonderful to know this young daughter of mine.

A fun story that I just heard today from my Uncle Tony happened last Sunday at my Grandma McDonald's birthday party. Uncle Tony was in the back room playing with Thomas when Abbie and Bonnie came in with him to play and Abbie looks up at him and says, "I can watch the little kids now." Letting Uncle Tony know that there was another set of dependable eyes in the room. He said he asked her how old she was and choked on her answer of "4"!!!

Here is a picture that Auntie Emilie took of our Abigail.

Abigail is always eager to clean anything and everything. Do you see her feet???

Jonathan and Abigail in mommy and daddy's shoes!

Abigail, looking into the radar screen aboard the Midway.I know if we gave her one of these she would have every friend and foe identified and would probably be driving the aircraft carrier as well!

Here is a picture of Abigail sitting on her daddy's wall.

Thanksgiving Day 2007

We had a special day celebrating Thanksgiving this year. We delighted in the family we were with--enjoying feasting and celebrating. We all missed Melodie--different people were mistaken for her all throughout the day (Emilie, our cousin Tiffany, someone even thought Mom was Mellie!)

Here is a picture that Joe took from the foot of the 20' table. As a joke David called Joe's cell from the far end of the table!

(click on the picture for a full view of the feast...and the great smiles!)

Here is Grandma Barnes (picture by Abbie)

A FULL David! He is weaning off his diet and was able to eat all the turkey he wanted,which I believe was two slices of white meat and FIVE helpings of dark!!! :)
Samantha (picture by Abigail)
Grandma McDonald talking with my 96 year-old Great-Grandma Violet

(picture taken by Abigail)

10 Months

Here are some 10 month pictures of Elizabeth...

Let's Go Fly a Kite!!!!

Thomas is a very special little boy. He always has something interesting he's thinking about and is always doing something imaginative. This morning at breakfast we asked everyone, "If you could do anything for a day what would you do?" 6 year old Jonathan instantly answered, "Go bowling." 4 year-old Abigail said "Get a princess camera." Two year-old Tom says, "Be a doggie. No, a tiger, so I don't have to wear a leash.(!)"

We have been spending most of our days outside working on our project. The children have been carrying block, throwing cement into the truck and just doing a lot with us outside. Well, Joe and my brother Bennett had made their guide line for the pathway with a yellow rope. It was then laying on the side of the pathway...

I watched Thomas as he spotted the yellow twine and then run excitedly towards it crying out, "Let's go fly a kite!!!!" I ran for my camera and snapped these pictures of Thomas James flying his kite!!! :)

Notice that he's sitting in a bird bath!

One of our neighbor ladies across the street, Miss Jackie, told us the other day that she loves watching and hearing Thomas singing at the top of his lungs. Here he is singing "Wet's go fry a kite" :)

October 31, 1997

October 31st, 2007, marks a momentous 10 year mark in my life. Ten years ago I had just finished my freshman year of college and was helping out with a children's choir in south-San Diego. I was co-teaching this choir with a bearded young man, whom my family all thought looked like one of the brothers from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." The young man's name was Joe Hinrichs. We had been in the college's chorale together during my freshman year so I knew who "Joe Hinrichs" was. He was very likeable: comfortable with people, always had great questions in class, was easy to talk with. I would see him having lunch with teachers or playing music in the courtyard. We had a few classes together so I saw him around.

Before I went to college I was home schooled. I had an avid love of both music and teaching and so I started teaching piano when I was 15. By the time I was 16 I had 15 students and by the time I started college at 18, I had 30 students. I dabbled with the idea of apprenticeship but was urged by some family friends to pursue college. I did, was accepted, and received full scholarships. I had prayed that God would clearly show me if I should go to college. I had grown up always hearing about apprenticeship and didn't know if college was where I wanted to spend my time. God's leading was clear.

Joe Hinrichs and I started to teach the "Highland Park Church Rainbow Choir" together June of 1997. It was the first big thing away from home that I had done. I enjoyed it immensely. The children were great to work with and the parents loved what we were doing. When a problem came up Joe was always able to resolve it. I really admired how he worked with people, he cared so genuinely and was always giving more of himself in order to make others successful.

Joe would come over for dinner or just hang out with my family when they came down to the campus to visit me. My younger siblings adored him. I didn't think romantically about him--there seemed to be such an age difference.

As the months went by we had some concerts with our children's choir. I could always follow Joe's direction and we both worked so well together. It was great to design signs and shirts and have fun thinking through the details. We attended a Filipino wedding together--with our whole children's choir! There were about 25 boys and girls, mostly under the age of 10! We took one pew, he sat at one end I sat at the other. I had two or three wiggly little ones and an older wiggly one next to my arm and I looked down the pew and he had two little ones on his lap and one on his leg. I loved it! That was a moment that started not just an admiration for Joseph Hinrichs, but also a deep delight in who he was.

On Oct 31st, 1997, there was a Harvest Festival at Highland Park Church. The choir was singing at it and Joe and I were helping with many other details for the Festival. We ran around all night, doing all the million things that needed to be done. It was late when we finished and we took one of the helpers home. I sat in the middle of the truck and Joe was on one side of me and this man was on the other. I had butterflies in my stomach sitting next to him.

Mom was still up when I got home. She knew it would be a late night and was waiting to hear about it. I remember her being cosy in the kitchen--maybe drinking tea?--Joe said good night to us both and shook our hands. I felt an electric shock all the way up my arm!!!

After Joe left I told Mom about the evening and I told her how I had felt with Joe and that I knew that I was starting to love him. Mom told me that it was a good, natural part of life and God would bring it to fruition if it was His way. But!!! It was not my place to be the initiator. I must be content in my singleness.

I had never loved a man with a womanly love. I decided to distance myself from Joe and not spend time with him at school because I didn't feel that I could go any deeper in our friendship without loving him. I knew I couldn't be content with where our friendship was--I had to back away. I prayed all the time for his future wife. I prayed that God would give me the grace to rejoice with him in the life God had for him. I worked at not building castles in the air with myself as Joe's queen. It was a time of deep struggle and surrender for me.

I loved my singleness and the mobility that came with it. I loved that I could spend hours reading my Bible and praying, visiting people, encouraging, helping out at home. I loved the scope of ministry God was opening up for me. I was convinced that if I was to marry I wanted to only marry someone whose giftings complimented mine in such a way that God's kingdom could be furthered because we were married.

That is all of my love story that I will share tonight...though the ending is not too hard to figure out seeing as my name is Mrs. Joseph Hinrichs!!!!!! :)

New Project

Joe has this week off so we have made every effort to not be bored...

First: Joe removed the walkway to the house. We are going to put pavers in, a lovely English cobblestone feel.
Second: Joe started to remove the driveway. Next week we will have the cement poured.

Here is a picture of some of the rock and dirt that will go beneath the pavers.There is no end to the diligent workers who are always ready to give a hand! ;) More accurate: some of us would preferr the sand and gravel to become the permanent landscaping. :)

Halloween Pictures

We had a great time dressing up and meeting/talking with neighbors that we normally don't get to. Here are a few pictures of the day: The children each carved a pumpkin, Jonathan did his entirely on his own!

Queen Elizabeth
The Dragon.


Parrot Abbie

Squanto Jon Joe

Update

I have not listened to any news this morning. I just came in the house and from our driveway you can see a wall of flames that must be Poway. In the back yard, over the fence, far to the south you can see what looks like enormous flames, but I suspect that it must be exhagerated due to the smoke. It looks very errie. It must be Chula Vista. To the southwest you can see the hillsoutlined by fire. I am very sad for the people who lost their homes.

Fire!

Nearly four years ago we had the terrible fire, called the "Cedar Fire" which burned down many homes, including the home I grew up in. Sadly, there is another terrifying situation with fires surrounding our San Diego county area. We got a call at 5:00 this morning from our next door neighbor's son, who lives in Escondido asking if we could take his mother-in-law with us if we were evacuated, they had just received the reverse 911 call and were trying to make it to our area. Joe's family lives in Escondido, so we started our day in panic mode.

Tonight, we have my dad and mom and Emilie, Ryan, David, Gannon, and Bonnie sleeping in our home. Deja vu.

At this point it doesn't look like the fire is close to Crest, however, the winds were extreme when our family left to come down here.

We have had two unique times to speak with two different neighbors about the Lord, which has been very special. Crisis brings out our mortality and our need for meaning and purpose.

Pictures

I am so disappointed. I have not been able to down load any pictures for a while. I don't understand why. :( My camera says: initializing connection, but then nothing happens. I have some special pictures. Maybe I can use word pictures to describe the physical characteristics of my family.

Elizabeth has more flaming red hair everyday. Mom always talked about Colin having hair the same color as pumpkins. That is the exact hue of Lizzie's hair. She has two darling teeth on the bottom with four teeth on the top and two more on the bottom coming through now! She is always laughing and giggling and twinkling. She loves people more than toys. Her eyes are turning a chocolate brown. She has the most precious dimples in her fingers and elbows! :)

Thomas is blond, eager, and exact. He is all two--terribly terrific! ;) Sometimes he can be frustratingly exact about some detail that I can't figure out. He is delightfully snugly and talkative. He loves to make everyone laugh. He has the biggest eyes that notice all details. He lives most of his life in straight lines.

Abigail is looking all little girl now. There is not even a hint of her toddler days left. Her arms and legs are so long and thin, very graceful and feminine. Her hair is still baby soft but growing longer. She and Lizzie both have beautiful, dark eyelashes. She is can be very tender and sensitive with her interactions.

Jonathan is tall, thin, and eager. He is such a good biggest brother. He has blond hair and big hazel eyes. He is a delight to talk with and has the most interesting inventions he has been creating this week.

A few fun and useful tips!

As we are finding ourselves always in the fast lane I am always on the lookout for ways to make our path as clear as possible (cleanliness-wise). Thomas is in a stage where he is always changing--he can change five times in an hour! Abigail is the most attentive mother and always has her stroller LOADED with dolls, stuffed animals and all the paraphernalia that is necessary for their health and well being. Elizabeth is always searching for anything to dump out and taste. Jonathan is always building things with legos, duplos, connex... The combination of these four very unique and persistent personalities is often...chaos. So, here are a few things that we've been doing to try to maintain some semblance of order:

1). I printed out clip art pictures that represent each chore that needs to be done in each room (a picture of a dresser, a boy clearing off the table, duplos, rocks, a proper place setting on the table....) Each child is given a card as their chore for that time. We have really been enjoying this as it sets a specific area that the child is responsible for rather than "It's time to clean up."

2). Jonathan and I have been doing an "extra chore" every day. Jonathan is a very detailed person and loves to tackle a small area, he is very overwhelmed by a large area (just like his mom!) So he has cleaned the pots and pans drawer under the oven, the bottom shelf in the fridge, under the kitchen table pedestal, under a wire book shelf in the kitchen, the silverware drawer... His diligent work has added such delight to my life by having these little areas glow.
Also, Abigail is pretty thorough with her scrubbing fingerprints, so I've been giving her a quarter of a Mr. Clean eraser and giving her one area that needs to be cleaned. I like the Mr. Clean eraser because then I don't send her off with a squirt bottle full of cleaner. Wonderful!


3). I've been working on establishing routines that are do-able for those hard to get to but vitally important for our health and well-being areas. For our bathtubs I purchased the cheapest shampoo and everytime I take a shower I lather a washcloth with just the shampoo and clean the walls. It works so well because it cuts grease so well. Abigail is my little helper in all things clean and she usually takes a shower/bath in the other bathroom, so that covers the tubs. Also, cleaning out the car! We have been stopping on the way home from violin every Thursday and vacuuming the car. This past week I got out some baby wipes and asked Abigail if she would like to wipe the dust off the dashboard. She was excited so off she went. Jonathan was vacuuming and when he was finished he couldn't get a wipe fast enough to help. I will be doing that more often now that I know the level of enthusiasm! ;)

4). I try to always have bedrooms clean and everyone dressed to their shoes with their hair done before breakfast. It just makes life much easier if we are all presentable and ready for the day at breakfast it isn't 1:00 when I see that Abbie's hair hasn't been brushed. It all naturally has a time, before breakfast. I also like to quickly clean the mirrors and counters of both bathrooms to make sure there are fresh smells and sparkles in the bathrooms. It is nice to know that these things are done.


I like to highlight my children's strengths and encourage them in their weaknesses. For example, Jonathan slogs through clearing the table off or putting the silverware away, but he loves to wipe things, sweep things, make little details glisten. He needs to learn to be diligent in the more mundane tasks, but there are other jobs that can use his skills also.

My other regular chores we do after breakfast and sometimes we will go room-by-room with vacuuming and cleaning and do a different school subject in each room--just to add variety to our day. Usually we do our whole home before school starts and then sit in the living room and kitchen "doing school". (Which at this point I often feel like the toddler I once was, who loved teaching anyone who would listen to me "teach"... I would even read to the guinea pig!!! :) )

I love to do these little things. My cup is so full.

When I blink too long I often have piles of Thomas clothes; blankets spread out all over the living room with some dollies sleeping and others having tea; a box of legos spilled out all over the den and Elizabeth chewing on a basket full of geode rocks. That usually happens when I'm trying to get dinner on the table. Then Elizabeth starts crying to nurse and then the door opens and Daddy walks in... :)

"One Blessing After Another!"

I was a little bit surprised this evening when I clicked on "new message" and saw that the last time I posted was mid-September! That lapse in time is equal to the hair-raising swiftness of my days. I rush from one adventure to the next all morning, then do lunch and lay down and read with the children. Then get up and rush from one adventure to the next and then Joe is walking in the door. Life is very full, very precious and very swift right now! :)

One reason for the added activity in my days has been the ever-present addition of our Elizabeth Noelle. She has been happily, peacefully around for more than 9 months. However, she is now present just about everywhere. In the middle of the duplos, in the trash in the bathroom, standing-up giggling during Jonathan's read aloud time... Elizabeth is always there, or else, "Where's Elizabeth??????" She is a perfect little vacuum, which is good because both mommy and Abbie love to run the real one, and now we do, a lot more often! She doesn't like to be left alone in a room for a second, though she has no qualms about exploring on her own. Lizzie loves to snuggle and nurse her mommy--which is one of my favorite things too! She brings more twinkles and giggles to our home than we had ever hoped for. Abbie never goes to sleep without asking, "Can I hold Lizzie in the morning????" We are overflowing-ly thankful that God chose our home to bless with Elizabeth.

Thomas is getting more talkative and hilarious by the hour! You never know what he is going to tell you, in all wide-eyed seriousness. The other day we were going to the park and walked past a weeping willow tree and he started telling me about the time a dragon got caught up there and he had to climb up and fight it... the story lasted the rest of the way to the park. He is packed with questions, "Mommy, do crocodiles live in dark water?" "Mommy, do elephants squirt water with their trunks?" "Mommy, do raccoons crash the trash cans?"... He is an avid animal lover. Thomas loves to always be carrying an animal around with him. We are going to the Wild Animal Park with Grandma Barnes on Monday and he has been talking about it for a week. "Mommy, we go the Wild Animal Park with Grandma Barnes? I see lion? I see elephant? Elephant squirt water with his trunk? He squirt me?" His questions are always so serious and he has the biggest eyes. How precious to know his thoughts. He has been inventing the most amazing animals out of duplos. I am amazed at who God has entrusted us with, and grateful, and stretched by our Thomas James.

Abigail Marie, what can I say? Sometimes she seems so much like me it's almost frightening. :) She is very intense about everything. She loves to always be going: cleaning, fixing, picking, swinging, moving. She loves to know what we are doing and likes to go down her lovely little list checking things off. She will often not notice the people until her projects are done, but she loves to have them around to interact with her as long as they contribute to the project at hand. I think if I needed to leave the house for a few days she could take care of things as well as, or better, than I do (just kidding!). She is the most intense baby and young-child lover I have ever met in such a small person. Her yearning to know and interact with any small person is beautiful to watch. She interacts with all ages beautifully. She can be completely wild and uncontrollable. How perfectly God knew we would need Abbie's sweet and feisty additions to our home. Every person in our home benefits so much, just from her sweet presence and tender little additions. :)

Jonathan is getting so tall and strong! He is nearly up to my shoulder in height. He is still so all boy--always ready to wrestle and wriggle. He loves to build, talk, read, do math, tell jokes, run... his interests don't ever seem to stop...unless I can't participate with him. He is so hungry to always be together, actively interacting. He is amazing at scrabble and chess--though I usually ban him from talking during chess because I feel like I am in an all-out war and he is intent on slaughtering me, rather than just capturing me! He is such a great big brother. He can make Elizabeth giggle like no one else! It is hilarious to watch the two of them together!!!! :) :) :) :) He is doing great on his violin, though he usually tells people he doesn't like it. I just got my violin fixed so we have been having delightful times playing together. His reading is blossoming and I love to sit and listen to him read. I will forever cherish these years of snuggling up and reading. He has a special spot, nestled in my arm feverishly reading some interesting book. I have felt so much delight and so much stretching with this dear boy. I am delighted with who God crafted and is continuing to craft in Jonathan Joseph.

My days are long (or was that short???) and very full. I am asked nearly every day what it's like to have four. Wonderful. Overwhelming. Delightful. Intimidating. Hilarious. Frustrating... It is the hardest thing I've ever imagined and my childhood fantasies don't measure up to the intensity that is in every moment.

How wonderful to have these precious four!

School

We have been having an adventurous, fun-filled and stimulating academic year. :) I am thankful that we get to have this time to grow together. It is such a privilege for me to be home all the time with our children. How precious to explore God's creation together!

Searching for worms for our worm jar.

Abbie "playing viloin" (It's really my violin--her violin is a 32nd size!)
Elizabeth is always ready to add F-U-N to any part of life! ;)

more missing teeth!

Jonathan has lost two more teeth this week!!! He lost one Friday afternoon and one yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. I've had to cross corn-on-the-cob and apples off our list of food items!!! :)

Friday's picture
Yesterday's picture

The Smile

Celebrate!!!

When I was a little girl I wanted a baby sister. Desperately. So, I prayed that God would give me one...and he blessed me with a beautiful baby sister who I met when she was one hour old. When she was in my mom's womb I was the perfect height to talk directly to her, my mouth being right at the height of my mom's tummy. I talked to her all the time. When I first met her my dad was holding my baby sister, Melodie, in a rocking chair and I walked into the hospital room and I said "Hi mom!" and my precious little sister turned her little head completely around, looked at me, and smiled. That was the beginning of a wonderful journey together!

Mellie and I had 5 years between us in age but it didn't seem like it most of the time. We did many things together. She was never one to leave behind! :) One year we were able to go to a camp with AWANA together. It would be my last year and her first year going. On the first or second night she watched a movie about a missionary, I don't remember the details,was it Nate Saint? I don't know, I just remember an airplane and a strong plea for missions. Anyway, she cried and said that she wanted to be a missionary. I thought she was just being emotional. I have always disliked movies and "worship" or any other times that your emotions are manipulated to make you feel a certain way. (For clarification: I was a music major because I love the structure and laws of music. I love the mental process of writing and reading good music. Theory: I love. Ear training: I struggle).

Well, Melodie never wavered on that "emotional" commitment. She has always had a genuine interest in people. She always takes you where you are and accepts you while challenging you to be more. Melodie is also very gifted in many areas, I will name just a few, not because of a lack in her talents, but because of my own limitations in classifying, or even being aware of all her skills. Her skills include: organizing, sewing, cooking, planning, teaching, mentoring, leading, beautifying (i.e. hair cutting, makeup, nails,etc...), etc. etc. etc... She is in a nutshell: a leader.

And so God took Melodie to Albania, where she was leading her college drama and music team, and gave her a very special vision for the Albanian people. During those trips she met a missionary from America, married to an Englishman, now a missionary in Albania,Caralee (sp?). Caralee is one of those intuitive people into the character of people, knew that Melodie was someone she would like to see come back to Albania...and so a friendship flourished. Emails flew and soon Melodie had plans to go back to Albania for one year.

Melodie had been to Albania on two missions trips, two different years during college. During her first trip she was asked what she wanted to do with her life. "Have a dozen sons." Amid shouts of laughter the kids of the church introduced her to a man whom they said had the same dream. Melodie ended up working alongside this man, Erion, and admired and learned from his communication skills, his leadership skills and his thinking skills. He was a children's pastor and also an English translator.

When Melodie began her year long journey in Albania she grew convinced that the people and the culture where part of her life's vocation. She gave her heart to the Albanian people and a young man there wanted her to give him her heart as well... :)

On September 6, 2006 Erion proposed to Melodie amongst sunflowers (her favorite flowers) and a special dinner. The joy and delight that Melodie relayed to us was very dear. She is a wonderful woman and Erion has found a gem in her. She will always consider her Beloved's needs above her own and will nurture their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. She is one who will never allow her household to face cold or hunger because she will always be industrious. A piece of our family will be in Albania now. How grateful we are for the years our lives were graced with Melodie's and how delighted we are to watch her blossom in her new home.

We had the privilege of meeting Erion briefly over the Christmas holiday. We look forward to a lifetime of friendship and a very special new Uncle in...ONE YEAR and TWO DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We love you!!!

I only have one group of pictures of Melodie and Erion and they are all from the same night. Here is the happily engaged couple, Melodie and Erion!!!