6 seconds.

Very quick tour of pics from the last week... I've got tons of pics and we've been off swimming, strawberry picking, adventuring and exploring, reading and attending conferences.  So, here's the clan...

Seriously.  Seriously, Mom.  You keep me from napping again.

Oh, the life of the youngest!

When asking Jessie to make expressions... Jessie, laugh.

Look angry. (this is her growl :)

Look shy.

Look sweet.

Look surprised.

I love this one... blurry though it is, I love seeing these girls be sisters.

Do hard things

Over the last few weeks, I have been challenged over and over again in my thinking.  Lest you think this is the first time God's had to remind me of this, it's not.  It's a lesson I've learned in the past and I think I'll have to remind myself of it over and over again.

 Sometimes serving God is difficult. It requires sacrifice of time, energy, peace, order and any number of things.  But it is always blessed.  This is what I sometimes forget.  This morning as I was whining in my head, "But Lord, it's too hard.  What about my family, Lord?  How does this impact them?"  And while the demands of ministry do affect the family, and sometimes it takes wisdom to figure out how to balance family and ministry, I shouldn't be scared or selfish, but trust that God is going to use it for their eternal gain as well.  What we do is going to have less of an impact on then than how we do it.  Am I serving begrudgingly, or with joy?  Whining, or playing the martyr, or praising God for the opportunities he's given us?

And just because it's hard, doesn't mean to stop doing it (hello, we've got 4 kids :)  This morning I was tempted to throw in the towel, and no longer be available to watch two children.  "It's too hard, Lord!"  And I was irritated.  And then I was reminded that I've had two children teething before.  And I've had children scream for hours before.  And even if it happens again, it'll be okay.  Why don't I just pour myself out, be exhausted but thrilled with the prospect of being a blessing?

Thankfully, we've been working with the girls on cultivating a thankful heart, and the verse we've been working on is "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col 3:17.  And the context of that verse is  living together as a body of believers and interacting in each other's lives.  This gave me a heart check this morning as I was babysitting, and trying to get ready for an impromptu visit from Californian friends, and make arrangements for the young lady living with us this summer.  Phrases like "Whatever you do"... "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts"... "Word and deed"..."In the name of the Father".... "singing with grace in your hearts to God"... "Everything"..."let the Word dwell in your hearts".  Incredible connections between hands and hearts.  

Thank you, Lord, for these words and these challenges!  I'm so thankful to get more opportunities to change my heart, and thankful for the Spirit's ONGOING work to change me from being a petulant child to a God-glorifying woman.  One day we'll get eternal rest, but for now, let me put my hand to the plow and work for Him!

Growing up

11 months old

no teeth

can army crawl like a boss

getting up onto hands and knees to crawl

creeps around furniture

Loves his sisters

LOVES the bath and squeals when the water starts running

SO thankful for this little dude in our lives and the joy he brings!

Sharing

Francis left for California to attend the OPC's annual general assembly.  Jessie has taken this very hard, and started stressing about it Tuesday night (before he left).  I lay on her bed, saying that all the things we loved about him, his love for God, his love for God's people, his wisdom - those very things were why he needed to go for a week.  We talked a little further, and then she tucked into bed satisfied.

The next morning she comes storming down the stairs, "But I said to myself, I don't LIKE California!"
Her appreciation for California was renewed when she heard that Daddy had seen a rattle snake.

9 months

9 months

• Likes crackers, puffs, sweet potato and bananas, puffs
• dislikes green beans, missing naps
• Loves his sisters, mom and dad
• giggles most when he's over-tired
• has become a belly sleeper
• no teeth
• forward movement!!!  Inch worm/roller 
• 16 lbs, 9 oz and 27 inches long, 44 cm head circumference
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Loves Jack's ears!
  
  
  
  

Sugarloaf Mountain

Hiking has taken on a whole new meaning.  It may take 45 minutes to go a mile, and we might stop at every tree, but it's a whole new, amazing world for them, and thus for me.  The weather hit 94 degrees Fahrenheit last week, and we headed for the mountain.  Sugarloaf mountain is 20 minutes away, and has a variety of easy hikes and fun picnic spots,  and old civil war structures.

Sisters and friends who go hiking wearing dresses.  

"Because you'll never know if we need to dance while we hike."  

True.

a crooked family pic, but we're in a season of life where I'd rather have the less-than-perfect picture that shows a perfectly imperfect reality.  This is our family.  These are my blessings.  Messy hair, dirty faces and all.

Francis using his son's arms to tell a story.

It was fun.  We're trying to balance our day off with a mix of adventuring and dealing with the home responsibilities.  The garden and house stuff is always there, but with the weight of ministry, sometimes it's good to get away and just enjoy God's creation.  Standing on the edge of the mountain we get perspective.  We are so small, and God is so great.  He is taking care of His people, and we are in His hands.  

Psalm 42:1,2,10

God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change 

and though the mountains should slip into the heart of the sea.

Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Medieval times

We've been trading babysitting/date nights with friends of ours.  They have 4 kids around the same ages, and we take turns watching each others kids so we can go on date nights.

We've never been good about doing date nights, but having it scheduled out makes it easier to keep, especially since our friends are very date-night oriented :)  Having free babysitting also means that we can spend a little money on the actual date.

Add a free birthday ticket to medieval times, and we had a blast!

Our seats were front row, and we were about 10 feet from the horses.  

And Levi.  Lest you think he's always smiling!