Favorite Folks

Last night we had our church meeting at Ben & Amy Leapley's home. My family laughed and had the best time on our way home. No wonder, we had such a wonderful evening.

Can I describe the excitement when Jonathan found out that Micah was getting glasses too?
All week we have been guessing what shape Micah's glasses would be.

What started out as bird and squirrel watching became even more exciting when Rachel & Micah saw the Hoffman's turn into the drive

Yes- Michael is a nut (like his mother) ... but he's also the sweetest thing (like his mother, too)!
Jonathan LOVED building a train with him. 

Guarding the food??

I can't describe how thankful I am that Isaac's back has healed and he is back in action!

Been too long since Amy and Brenda had seen each other!

Miss Abigail

Ben comes up with the greatest stuff for the children! I want to give it a try when no one is watching!

Miss Miriam

An extra treat that the Karen and her family were able to join us!

No wonder I went home so encouraged ... laughter with a dear friend!
Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.... 

Anticipation

There are so many things that I look forward to when it comes time to start back to school.

• I love once again having nature studies in our weekly schedule. 
• We started our weekly reading from a Bob Schultz's book. This year we are reading "Practical Happiness." Awesome!
• The routine of a schedule
• New books, pencils, markers, glue! Everything we open from workbooks to crayons has that clean, new smell.
• The school room is neat, clean, and organized!
• Watching little (and big) brains when they grasp and learn something new.
• That special "first day" on the calendar.

Taste of summer

Our first watermelon of the summer. Delicious! This time of year I think I will never grow tired of melons and cukes, tomatoes and basil, or grilled zukes and onions. I'm so thankful for our weekly trip to the Mennonite market for fresh veggies and a stop at Mr. David's for fresh milk.

Will the real Tay-Tay step forward?

The kidos were just coming alive when it was time for me to be leaving the house for an 8:00 meeting in Knoxville. I hated to leave without telling Rachel goodbye, but I also hated to wake her up only to leave her. When I heard "Mommy?" coming from her room I decided to ignore the clock. Ah... her sweet little morning hug was worth it. I knew an early morning good-bye was going to be tough. 

To my sweet surprise, Taylor walked in the room, Rachel's face lit up and she said, "It's the real Tay-Tay!" I was on time!!!

And here's some of the fun they had while I was away. Love it when "The Real Tay-Tay" gets hold of my camera!

Radical?

"Radical Christians are not people who wear Christian t-shirts.
Radical Christians are those who bear fruit of the Holy Spirit...A
little boy, Andrew, a Muslim shot him five times through the
stomach and left him on a sidewalk simply because he said, 'I
am so afraid, but I can not deny Jesus Christ! Please don't kill
me! But I will not deny Him!' He died in a pool of blood, and you
talk about being a radical Christian because you wear a t-shirt!"
-Paul Washer

"If we are to better the future we must disturb the present."
-Catherine Booth

Coming Along......

I'm making major progress! Wish mine looked like THIS .

My little helper. She's already found a place for everything... and everyone too!

Mr. Vance Havner said.....

"The first step towards the evangelizing of the world is the
christianizing of the church."

"The last word of our Lord to the church was not the Great
Commission. The last thing He said to the church was 'Repent.'
He said that to five out of seven." 

Cousin Camp

Lunch with Aunt Lucy

Putt-Putt after lunch at Uncle Danny's

Our Jayco

Almost one year ago to the very day that I started started asking God for a camper,  He sent us a pop-up camper! Never have I seen such nastiness! Well last night.... After 7 days of cleaning, scrubbing, bleaching, and praying- I am happy to say "The camper is clean."

You know when I was in that thing dressed with all the mice droppings, it occurred to me that God could have sent us a brand spanking new camper that we towed off a dealer's lot. But, obviously He didn't. I, nor the kids, would have appreciated that new one as much as we will our 1997 Jayco. It's ours- a gift.

He also could have kept me out of all that nasty, nasty mice crap! But I learned something as I vacuumed and bleached, bleached and vacuumed. Every time I'd think I had an area clean, I'd open a cabinet or pull out a drawer and get another load of nastiness dumped onto my nice clean spot! Not only was it gross but it was frustrating to find more "stuff." Hum..... My life can be just the same. Just as I think I have an area all "nice and clean" with my acts of obedience, God opens a cabinet and drawer only to reveal some gross, nasty sin that I didn't't even realize was there.

I learned one more thing in that camper. God loves me. He really, really loves me. The God of the Universe cared about giving me what I desired-a camper. How dare me consider that He doesn't care about all the other areas of life.... Including my precious little family!

Oh God that I would be aware of You today and every day!  Not what you do or don't do in this life that I call mine- but YOU..... Jehovah-Jireh!