We went on a little outing to the park for dinner tonight. We went to a park that is right near a river. It's beautiful. There are trails that wind all around and we took the children on their bikes.
Jonathan is getting very confident on his bike and doesn't appear to be using his training wheels anymore. He's still cautious when we first begin and each time we take the bikes out of the Sienna to go riding those training wheels get higher off the ground...I wonder how that happens? ;) But after he gets going, watch out!
Abigail is a little dare devil. This is her second DAY on a two wheeled bicycle and she is amazing! She goes so fast and doesn't appear to be afraid of anything. She has only fallen once and it didn't phase her at all. Joe said that he thought she would be confident and adventuresome. All I can say is she is amazing. She sure loves her independence.
Thomas went on Abbie's "old" Pooh Bear tricycle. Joe attached a string and pulled him. About half-way through our walk he seemed to catch on to the idea of steering! His big, round eyes twinkling with fun and adventure as he rode through the trails.
Elizabeth did her beautiful looking and blinking at the world. She is so beautiful! She also enjoyed coo-talking about all the pretty things we saw.
When we ate dinner we saw a lot of little bunnies scampering around.
When we got home we did "quick pick-ups" around the house so that it will be ready for the week. I just printed out some writing papers for Jonathan. And so begins another week...
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Abigail
Four
One, two, three, four
Stories, crafts, and dolls galore
Working, reading, cooking, singing
Abigail is always doing.
Jon Jon, Abbie, Tom, and Lizzie
Abbie is the greatest Sissy.
Always loving, good and kind
We thank God for you…
All the time!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Time
Joe has been thinking a lot about the purpose and meaning of our life because of, and in, Christ. Also, the meaninglessness and purposelessness of life without Him. Everywhere we go we see people driving, walking, working, playing. To what end? To eat, work, sleep, and finally to die?
Purpose in life is so dependent on our position in Christ. We get to worship, love and glorify God in all we do. We get to watch His almighty hand at work in our life and the lives of those around us. Our purpose, our life's vocation, is found in the pages of scripture. We get to have fellowship with our Maker through prayer and reading.
Which brings me to this question: Why is it that the most important things are often squeezed out of my day?
If I am on target with my day I am able to have a rich time of praying and reading. If I'm running behind those are usually the first to get squeezed (or squeezed out) of my day.
I was reading about Joseph and the incrementally larger tasks he was entrusted with. I was so impressed with the emphasis on how "The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man" (Gen. 39:2) "The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the Lord's blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field(39:5)". "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and he gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (vs.20)." "The keeper didn't look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper" (vs.23). Before Pharaoh Joseph said, "It is not me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (41:16).
Wow. That was a man that was humbled to the utter depths of slavery, but he was raised to one of the highest positions of responsibility because of God's blessing. Pharaoh's response of "Can we find a man...in whom is the Spirit of God?" (vs. 38) shows that Joseph had accurately portrayed to Pharaoh the need for God's guidance.
I have always seen Joseph as the hero in the story of the Great Famine. No, the emphasis is on the Lord's presence, mercy, favor, and blessing. Joseph knew that he couldn't manage the affairs of great men without God's presence and blessing, nor could he have authority in prison or life in the midst of bloodthirsty brothers without God's mercy.
I am a child of God. I know where to go to to find purpose and meaning in life...can I squeeze in the time?
Purpose in life is so dependent on our position in Christ. We get to worship, love and glorify God in all we do. We get to watch His almighty hand at work in our life and the lives of those around us. Our purpose, our life's vocation, is found in the pages of scripture. We get to have fellowship with our Maker through prayer and reading.
Which brings me to this question: Why is it that the most important things are often squeezed out of my day?
If I am on target with my day I am able to have a rich time of praying and reading. If I'm running behind those are usually the first to get squeezed (or squeezed out) of my day.
I was reading about Joseph and the incrementally larger tasks he was entrusted with. I was so impressed with the emphasis on how "The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man" (Gen. 39:2) "The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the Lord's blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field(39:5)". "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and he gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (vs.20)." "The keeper didn't look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper" (vs.23). Before Pharaoh Joseph said, "It is not me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (41:16).
Wow. That was a man that was humbled to the utter depths of slavery, but he was raised to one of the highest positions of responsibility because of God's blessing. Pharaoh's response of "Can we find a man...in whom is the Spirit of God?" (vs. 38) shows that Joseph had accurately portrayed to Pharaoh the need for God's guidance.
I have always seen Joseph as the hero in the story of the Great Famine. No, the emphasis is on the Lord's presence, mercy, favor, and blessing. Joseph knew that he couldn't manage the affairs of great men without God's presence and blessing, nor could he have authority in prison or life in the midst of bloodthirsty brothers without God's mercy.
I am a child of God. I know where to go to to find purpose and meaning in life...can I squeeze in the time?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Echos of Eden...
There are so many moments during the day that pass without getting to reflect on the sheer joy and delight that were packed into them. Here are a few echos of Eden from the past few days:
Sitting at a concert with Joe and... one, two, three...four(!) children between us. The children were not just sitting, but sitting AND listening (off and on). Ahhh, it sparks a deeper love and delight for my husband than ever to experience moments like that together. :)
Sitting in church next to Jonathan and watching him find hymn number (something like )365 and then read and sing the lyrics--oblivious to the fact that I was watching and glowing at such an accomplishment. Wonderful!
Watching Thomas snuggled up in bed with Elizabeth, his "big" two-year old hand clasping her baby hand. Then, after he was asleep to see the smile of delight that still lingered on his face. So precious.
Abigail "taking notes" in church and writing MoM and DAD without any help, and then slipping me the note with her delighted eyes glowing. Delightful.
Elizabeth waking up and immediately turning from a red-headed porcelain doll look-alike, into a smiling, moving, twinkling, absolutely adorable package of the cutest cuteness you could ever imagine.
A restful afternoon which included sitting with Joe on the couch while our children were busy around us and just talking and...snuggling together. Sheer bliss.
In the midst of busyness and the too often chaos of little children there are still those wafts of glory that we get to enjoy!
Sitting at a concert with Joe and... one, two, three...four(!) children between us. The children were not just sitting, but sitting AND listening (off and on). Ahhh, it sparks a deeper love and delight for my husband than ever to experience moments like that together. :)
Sitting in church next to Jonathan and watching him find hymn number (something like )365 and then read and sing the lyrics--oblivious to the fact that I was watching and glowing at such an accomplishment. Wonderful!
Watching Thomas snuggled up in bed with Elizabeth, his "big" two-year old hand clasping her baby hand. Then, after he was asleep to see the smile of delight that still lingered on his face. So precious.
Abigail "taking notes" in church and writing MoM and DAD without any help, and then slipping me the note with her delighted eyes glowing. Delightful.
Elizabeth waking up and immediately turning from a red-headed porcelain doll look-alike, into a smiling, moving, twinkling, absolutely adorable package of the cutest cuteness you could ever imagine.
A restful afternoon which included sitting with Joe on the couch while our children were busy around us and just talking and...snuggling together. Sheer bliss.
In the midst of busyness and the too often chaos of little children there are still those wafts of glory that we get to enjoy!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
More Than a Band Aid
Abigail got her finger stuck in part of her bunk bed today. She was not very hurt but she was scared about not getting her finger out. Thomas is sure that his finger is also hurt, because Abbie's finger is. So, I put two band aides on, one on Abbie's ouchie and one on Tom's.
One of Joe's student's father has cancer. Not just skin cancer either. Liver cancer. The father had gone through radiation over the summer and is on a very strict no-grain diet, rich in organic vegetables, meats and fruits. The cancer had shrunk until it was just a shadow on the ultrasound machine. Yesterday the student's mom talked to Joe. The father's numbers are up. He will be taking more meds, and the doctors will keep a close eye on him to see what the tumor does. There is no band aid for this dear family.
I've had dinner with the family twice. They are delightful, energetic, hilarious, interesting and interested. They are strong believers. There are two boys in the family, an eight year-old third grade student of Joe's and his six year-old brother (in kindergarten). There is no band aid that will cover the possible hurt the following weeks and months may bring to their lives.
God lets us face hard things and ask hard questions. He offers hard answers and hard solutions. Life isn't always a bed of roses--we often find ourselves on more thorns than petals. Can we trust our Maker not only with our eternal well being, but also with our present mortality? What if He wants to take us down the Valley of the Shadow of Death--even when we're young? Can we answer "Not my will but Thine be done?"
Our Redeemer faced an untimely death, not of natural means. He was healthy, strong and promising. He had extreme wrestling with the prospect of separation and death. He could and did answer "Not my will, but Thine be done." He willingly was tried, condemned, and killed. He said "Yes" to the Father's will and took the cross and the curse of sin and separation from the Father in order to give us more than a band aid in hard times.
There are events that seem to push us beyond where it seems we should be pushed. Events that cause us to cry out "Help! Have mercy!" Because of Christ, being willing to surrender to the Father's will, we can have so much put on our wounded, broken hearts. Forgiveness. Mercy. Comfort. Fellowship...These do not act as just a balm that sooths, but they bring healing and health. Even in the face of death. Even when life's curtain falls sooner in our life--rather than later.
One of Joe's student's father has cancer. Not just skin cancer either. Liver cancer. The father had gone through radiation over the summer and is on a very strict no-grain diet, rich in organic vegetables, meats and fruits. The cancer had shrunk until it was just a shadow on the ultrasound machine. Yesterday the student's mom talked to Joe. The father's numbers are up. He will be taking more meds, and the doctors will keep a close eye on him to see what the tumor does. There is no band aid for this dear family.
I've had dinner with the family twice. They are delightful, energetic, hilarious, interesting and interested. They are strong believers. There are two boys in the family, an eight year-old third grade student of Joe's and his six year-old brother (in kindergarten). There is no band aid that will cover the possible hurt the following weeks and months may bring to their lives.
God lets us face hard things and ask hard questions. He offers hard answers and hard solutions. Life isn't always a bed of roses--we often find ourselves on more thorns than petals. Can we trust our Maker not only with our eternal well being, but also with our present mortality? What if He wants to take us down the Valley of the Shadow of Death--even when we're young? Can we answer "Not my will but Thine be done?"
Our Redeemer faced an untimely death, not of natural means. He was healthy, strong and promising. He had extreme wrestling with the prospect of separation and death. He could and did answer "Not my will, but Thine be done." He willingly was tried, condemned, and killed. He said "Yes" to the Father's will and took the cross and the curse of sin and separation from the Father in order to give us more than a band aid in hard times.
There are events that seem to push us beyond where it seems we should be pushed. Events that cause us to cry out "Help! Have mercy!" Because of Christ, being willing to surrender to the Father's will, we can have so much put on our wounded, broken hearts. Forgiveness. Mercy. Comfort. Fellowship...These do not act as just a balm that sooths, but they bring healing and health. Even in the face of death. Even when life's curtain falls sooner in our life--rather than later.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Ode to Sleep...
I'd like to wax eloquent on the joys of mothering... but I'm feeling so tired. I love to talk to my children, to look deep in their eyes and understand what they are thinking about. I love to teach them new things, to watch them discover the world.
How wonderful that we get to have a night to wash away our tiredness and give us new perspective and zest for a new day. ;)
How wonderful that we get to have a night to wash away our tiredness and give us new perspective and zest for a new day. ;)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Emilie
My sister Emilie spends every Wednesday night with us. We love to have an extended evening and morning to be together. We usually stay up late talking and then have a busy morning with the children. I am very impressed by Emilie's honesty, her desire to honor the Lord, and her pure spirit. She is a combination of sweet and strong, always wanting to support but also wanting to challenge you if she senses an injustice or any wrong intentions in what you're doing. Emilie is full of fiery potential. She attacks life with such zest and vigor.
Emilie has the unique position in our family of being the sixth born of eleven, nestled between two older brothers and three younger brothers. She is extremely capable in many areas including: vivacious conversations, incredible crafts (drawings, knitting, rag rugs, painting...) wonderful baker ("cookies, cookies I like cookies" ;), melodious musician (she has perfect pitch and is wonderful on both the piano and violin), competitive in sports (including an occasional football jaunt :)... Her talents, strengths and interests are so numerous...
I love that we get to have a small slice of this talented young woman's life.
Emilie has the unique position in our family of being the sixth born of eleven, nestled between two older brothers and three younger brothers. She is extremely capable in many areas including: vivacious conversations, incredible crafts (drawings, knitting, rag rugs, painting...) wonderful baker ("cookies, cookies I like cookies" ;), melodious musician (she has perfect pitch and is wonderful on both the piano and violin), competitive in sports (including an occasional football jaunt :)... Her talents, strengths and interests are so numerous...
I love that we get to have a small slice of this talented young woman's life.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Trifles
We have a Focus on the Family daily encouragement calendar in our bathroom and yesterday's little devotion had some good food for thought that I'm still thinking about. "The building blocks for a child's future emotional and physical stability are clearly being laid moment by moment, stone upon stone, precept upon precept." I have been reflecting on how mothering, at this stage, with four children, five and under, is so "in the present," yet it impacts the future in profound ways. I find many moments are filled with little things that are very important to my children's social and behavioral development and their personal sense of rightness and balance. However, so many of those moments are when I'm not thinking about the growth that is taking place.
Character issues that need immediate attention, a spill in the kitchen, a book that needs to be read, someone needs a drink, or needs to go potty, or a diaper needs to be changed, or the laundry needs to be switched or folded, or someone got hurt and needs a kiss, or it's time to work on reading, or music, or writing, or math or... Mealtimes can often seem like a swirl of stories and jokes and chatting and admonitions to "eat with your fork," or, "chew with your mouth closed," or, "don't stand up while we're eating..."
I am still reading Servant of Slaves, a biography on John Newton, and was struck by Wilberforce telling Newton how we make trifles important and trifle with the important. My life seems very full of trifles right now. Yet in the midst of these trifles I am a central part of my children's exposure to the God of the Universe. I get to mold their worldview at the tender ages they are in. I get to encourage interest in others. I get to start a foundation in character; compassion, gratefulness, truthfulness, initiative, cleanliness, self-control... I get to help them learn how to deal with frustrating situations, how to be kind in spite of how they're feeling, to give honor and speak kindly, even when they're feeling grumpy. I get to teach kind, edifying words. My list of things that I get to be actively involved in these little lives goes on and on.
So, the trifles in my life may be runny noses and sticky floors, but these trifles are giving me a key into the important, if I let them! My children's hearts and lives are so mold-able right now and the important things must come in spite of the trifles of our everyday life. They see how I respond to spilled milk. They see me when I am tired and irritable. Am I demonstrating a yielded life? Are they learning how to positively respond to negative situations?
Lord, may You use the little trifles in my life to establish the important in my children. In spite of so many trifles in our life, may we keep our eyes focused on the Important. Let me be "faithful in these little things" so that there will be precious people prepared for Your service.
Character issues that need immediate attention, a spill in the kitchen, a book that needs to be read, someone needs a drink, or needs to go potty, or a diaper needs to be changed, or the laundry needs to be switched or folded, or someone got hurt and needs a kiss, or it's time to work on reading, or music, or writing, or math or... Mealtimes can often seem like a swirl of stories and jokes and chatting and admonitions to "eat with your fork," or, "chew with your mouth closed," or, "don't stand up while we're eating..."
I am still reading Servant of Slaves, a biography on John Newton, and was struck by Wilberforce telling Newton how we make trifles important and trifle with the important. My life seems very full of trifles right now. Yet in the midst of these trifles I am a central part of my children's exposure to the God of the Universe. I get to mold their worldview at the tender ages they are in. I get to encourage interest in others. I get to start a foundation in character; compassion, gratefulness, truthfulness, initiative, cleanliness, self-control... I get to help them learn how to deal with frustrating situations, how to be kind in spite of how they're feeling, to give honor and speak kindly, even when they're feeling grumpy. I get to teach kind, edifying words. My list of things that I get to be actively involved in these little lives goes on and on.
So, the trifles in my life may be runny noses and sticky floors, but these trifles are giving me a key into the important, if I let them! My children's hearts and lives are so mold-able right now and the important things must come in spite of the trifles of our everyday life. They see how I respond to spilled milk. They see me when I am tired and irritable. Am I demonstrating a yielded life? Are they learning how to positively respond to negative situations?
Lord, may You use the little trifles in my life to establish the important in my children. In spite of so many trifles in our life, may we keep our eyes focused on the Important. Let me be "faithful in these little things" so that there will be precious people prepared for Your service.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Vacation
Joe did his regular workday routine today and we had a semi-normal day at home. The time off was so edifying for all of us. Jonathan became quite competent on his bike, Abigail got to do crafts, Thomas got to be close to his daddy nearly all the time, and Elizabeth loved to cast her adoring eyes towards her daddy...often.
We had a lot of gentle recovery days at the beginning of the week, followed by projects and errands. Marriage was designed so well to address life's challenges and joys. I have grown so much this year through different challenges we have gotten to mount together and I sure enjoy having times to step out of the whirlwind of the activity of everyday life and just reflect on God's goodness.
We had a lot of gentle recovery days at the beginning of the week, followed by projects and errands. Marriage was designed so well to address life's challenges and joys. I have grown so much this year through different challenges we have gotten to mount together and I sure enjoy having times to step out of the whirlwind of the activity of everyday life and just reflect on God's goodness.
Friday, April 6, 2007
More Than a Moral Man
Today we had some interesting visitors: two older men in suits, with literature. Joe said something to them about it being Good Friday and they made some statement about Jesus being a good "moral example". They made a clear distinction between "Jehovah" and Jesus his son.
Tonight we did our devotions by candlelight and we read about the Last Supper and Jesus subsequent trial and death. A moral man? Yes, but so much more. The accusation against him was that he claimed to be the Son of God. In his life he made clear that he was God's Son. He made the dead, live. He controlled the natural elements: water, wind, bread, fish, etc... He lived impeccably, as only God, Himself, could. Christ also knew the prophesies about Himself and He fulfilled them exactly.
A good "moral example"? Yes. But so much more. He is the only Being that can take a sinful human and make him aware that morals are even needed. He is the only One that can provide a way to become truly moral. He is the One that not only feet washes but also hearts, so that we can be known by Jehovah, the great I Am.
Praise God that HE didn't provide just a moral example for us, but also redemption, justification, and eternal life with Him!
Tonight we did our devotions by candlelight and we read about the Last Supper and Jesus subsequent trial and death. A moral man? Yes, but so much more. The accusation against him was that he claimed to be the Son of God. In his life he made clear that he was God's Son. He made the dead, live. He controlled the natural elements: water, wind, bread, fish, etc... He lived impeccably, as only God, Himself, could. Christ also knew the prophesies about Himself and He fulfilled them exactly.
A good "moral example"? Yes. But so much more. He is the only Being that can take a sinful human and make him aware that morals are even needed. He is the only One that can provide a way to become truly moral. He is the One that not only feet washes but also hearts, so that we can be known by Jehovah, the great I Am.
Praise God that HE didn't provide just a moral example for us, but also redemption, justification, and eternal life with Him!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Friendship
Friends are a wonderful thing. I love to have the forever-friendship of my husband, the ever- maturing friendship of my children and the steady-friendship of my mom and dad and brothers and sisters and father and mother-in-love and siblings in-love. In "everyday" life we fill our social life with these precious friends. We laugh, tell stories, receive advice, and live life together.
This week we have been getting together with friends that we normally don't have time to connect with, but whom we love to be with.
Last night we got together at some new friends of ours. How fun to laugh, tell stories, play music, watch magic tricks, and enjoy life together. Tonight we went to the park with some friends of ours who were never able to have children of their own. How fun to watch our friend push Jonathan and give him advice with his climbing experiences, or watch Elizabeth snuggled up in our dear friend's arms.
Life is very sweet with good friends close by to enjoy it with.
This week we have been getting together with friends that we normally don't have time to connect with, but whom we love to be with.
Last night we got together at some new friends of ours. How fun to laugh, tell stories, play music, watch magic tricks, and enjoy life together. Tonight we went to the park with some friends of ours who were never able to have children of their own. How fun to watch our friend push Jonathan and give him advice with his climbing experiences, or watch Elizabeth snuggled up in our dear friend's arms.
Life is very sweet with good friends close by to enjoy it with.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Family Fun II
We've had so many family fun adventures, where to start?!?
On Thursday night the whole family went to violin. I loved sitting next to Joe (or playing on the floor with Abbie and Thomas) while listening to Jonathan play with the group. He was so eager to get called to introduce a song so that he could be the person all the others watched for cues. I'm so glad to see that, it's wonderful to see him participate with such excitement.
Last Saturday Jonathan played in his first solo recital. Grandpa and Mutti Hinrichs were able to come and listen. He played so well. He was glowing when he finished. He walked straight down the aisle into Grandpa Tom's arms. Thank you Auntie Melodie for teaching him before you left for Albania! You would have been proud of your little student! ;)
Friday of this week was a whirlwind day. Cleaning, reading, building, cooking, shopping, baking, eating, swinging, packing, leaving... We were going to watch a musical that Colin was in, "Frog and Toad All Year." After the show we were going to spend the night at my mom and dad's. The preparation was well worth it! We had such a ball watching the play, especially the snail (Colin)!!! The songs were toe-tapping fun the entire time. We find that we are singing various songs all throughout the day (and night).
Breakfast at my mom and dad's was very special. Chris was able to come and we celebrated his 31. Samantha, our niece, was as eager as ever to hold Elizabeth. She is a perfect little mother to all her younger cousins and Auntie. :) Our time is usually so full that we don't get to sit and linger, but Saturday we were able to linger over food preparation and waffles. After breakfast we were all able to sit and talk and laugh in the living room. How very special it was to be together.
We went to a lunch at Mrs. Poole's for the White Fields committee meeting. It was fun to see the committee members and chase all the kids on the hill. There have been so many positive improvements in White Fields and what a delight to hear about God's blessing such a special ministry.
We left the lunch at 3:30 and felt extremely tired but it was too late to put anyone down for naps, so we went to Lindo Lake. What fun! We were able to see goslings, a ducks nest, and a gopher digging his hole. The kids had a blast skipping rocks and I nursed Lizzie. After a while we went to the play structure and Joe and I just sat while the children zipped around.
We had dinner at home and then put the children to bed by 7:30, they went right to sleep. Joe and I had a delicious time talking while we unpacked and washed the dishes. Then we just sat and just "were" together. I forgot, Thomas and Elizabeth were up still, but they just enhanced the enjoyment of being together.
Jonathan woke up sick at 3:00 so he, and Thomas, and Elizabeth, and I stayed home from church today. We listened to a sermon online and took notes together.
Joe is starting a week of vacation. He is always such a diligent worker and I hope we are able to have a lot of long lingering times together. I am really looking forward to this time with him!!!
On Thursday night the whole family went to violin. I loved sitting next to Joe (or playing on the floor with Abbie and Thomas) while listening to Jonathan play with the group. He was so eager to get called to introduce a song so that he could be the person all the others watched for cues. I'm so glad to see that, it's wonderful to see him participate with such excitement.
Last Saturday Jonathan played in his first solo recital. Grandpa and Mutti Hinrichs were able to come and listen. He played so well. He was glowing when he finished. He walked straight down the aisle into Grandpa Tom's arms. Thank you Auntie Melodie for teaching him before you left for Albania! You would have been proud of your little student! ;)
Friday of this week was a whirlwind day. Cleaning, reading, building, cooking, shopping, baking, eating, swinging, packing, leaving... We were going to watch a musical that Colin was in, "Frog and Toad All Year." After the show we were going to spend the night at my mom and dad's. The preparation was well worth it! We had such a ball watching the play, especially the snail (Colin)!!! The songs were toe-tapping fun the entire time. We find that we are singing various songs all throughout the day (and night).
Breakfast at my mom and dad's was very special. Chris was able to come and we celebrated his 31. Samantha, our niece, was as eager as ever to hold Elizabeth. She is a perfect little mother to all her younger cousins and Auntie. :) Our time is usually so full that we don't get to sit and linger, but Saturday we were able to linger over food preparation and waffles. After breakfast we were all able to sit and talk and laugh in the living room. How very special it was to be together.
We went to a lunch at Mrs. Poole's for the White Fields committee meeting. It was fun to see the committee members and chase all the kids on the hill. There have been so many positive improvements in White Fields and what a delight to hear about God's blessing such a special ministry.
We left the lunch at 3:30 and felt extremely tired but it was too late to put anyone down for naps, so we went to Lindo Lake. What fun! We were able to see goslings, a ducks nest, and a gopher digging his hole. The kids had a blast skipping rocks and I nursed Lizzie. After a while we went to the play structure and Joe and I just sat while the children zipped around.
We had dinner at home and then put the children to bed by 7:30, they went right to sleep. Joe and I had a delicious time talking while we unpacked and washed the dishes. Then we just sat and just "were" together. I forgot, Thomas and Elizabeth were up still, but they just enhanced the enjoyment of being together.
Jonathan woke up sick at 3:00 so he, and Thomas, and Elizabeth, and I stayed home from church today. We listened to a sermon online and took notes together.
Joe is starting a week of vacation. He is always such a diligent worker and I hope we are able to have a lot of long lingering times together. I am really looking forward to this time with him!!!
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