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| Maggie showing Joy how to string beads. She did pretty well! |
| Spring is here! The first lawn mowing of the year, and Joy gets her first lawn mower ride! She liked it. |
Sister love...
Joy's dedication. Joy was dedicated in church today. As usual, it
is very hard to get good pictures in our church. These were taken
from the balcony. It is not bright enough in there to not use a
flash, but the flash doesn't reach far enough. I never know how to
get good pictures at church. But you can see that it all went very
well. The little girls all wore their matching Ghana dresses, but I
forgot to get a picture of them all together. Joy behaved very well,
and she loved having that rose to hold onto.
is very hard to get good pictures in our church. These were taken
from the balcony. It is not bright enough in there to not use a
flash, but the flash doesn't reach far enough. I never know how to
get good pictures at church. But you can see that it all went very
well. The little girls all wore their matching Ghana dresses, but I
forgot to get a picture of them all together. Joy behaved very well,
and she loved having that rose to hold onto.
A fun spring, Sunday afternoon. For Art's birthday
Canaan and Hannah paid to have Art and I and the four
littles go to see Rango while they watched Joy at home.
They know that there is nothing Art wants more for a gift
than to watch his kids have a good time. The other thing
he wanted for his birthday was soccer shoes for the four
littles. So we saw the movie, came home and had ice
cream. Then we went outside, played soccer, jumped on
the trampoline, jumped rope, blew bubbles, swung on the
Tarzan rope, and just thoroughly enjoyed the day. I just
love spring!!
Canaan and Hannah paid to have Art and I and the four
littles go to see Rango while they watched Joy at home.
They know that there is nothing Art wants more for a gift
than to watch his kids have a good time. The other thing
he wanted for his birthday was soccer shoes for the four
littles. So we saw the movie, came home and had ice
cream. Then we went outside, played soccer, jumped on
the trampoline, jumped rope, blew bubbles, swung on the
Tarzan rope, and just thoroughly enjoyed the day. I just
love spring!!
I love this picture of
Maggie. Don't you?
Maggie. Don't you?
| Here is what I see about 300 times a day... Joy wanting to be picked up. |
| Okay, here's the teaser. New soccer shoes and shin guards and soccer socks. The kids have had their first soccer practice. Canaan is coaching Maggie and Eden's team. They are all so cute. Check back next week to see some action shots! |
04-03-2011 UPDATE
Joy was dedicated in church this morning. We didn't get great pictures, but the dedication went very well. It
is always a precious time when you stand up to vow to raise your child as best you can to grow up to do what
is right.
We celebrated Art's birthday this past week while his mother, sister and nephews were here to visit for a
couple days. We all had a really great time.
The kids have started soccer, and have had their first practice. Canaan is coaching a team, and Art is going
to referee. They are all very excited and looks like we're in for some fun.
Spring is definitely in full swing and we are eating up every minute of it. The yard is finally green again, and
we even had to mow the lawn for the first time this week. I LOVE the smell of fresh cut grass.
Joy is continuing to progress so well. She does very well when Daddy is home and we can see that she
definitely has more problems the weeks that he is out of town working. She really responds to his authority
and all he has to do is give her a look and she obeys, but not so much for me. But she definitely likes to be
near me as much as she can, preferably being held. Potty training is on hold for a bit, but we will start it up
again pretty soon I think. Her vocabulary is increasing day by day, and she really does understand a lot.
She is a bright little girl, and one of her favorite things to do is "help" me do whatever I am doing. She wants
to empty the dishwasher, and even puts the dishes back in the right places now! She likes to get the bag out
when we empty the garbage, to put the laundry in the dryer, to put the folded cloths in the drawer, to help
feed the dogs, to go around wiping things with a cloth, and to clean up. And she actually does a pretty good
job! I always smile when I see that, because I see the influence of Auntie Comfort still alive and well.
However, she also likes to take all the shoes out of the shoe drawers and put them all over the house, and
take all the folded laundry out of the basket and unfold it and take all the books of the shelf and make some
lovely messes of things. She is a curious little girl. And the drama! Oh my, she can get offended! She can
make some great crocodile tears. She is an awesome dancer and super cuddler. She is eating and sleeping
and playing so well now. It's as if she were always here. But Art is in Florida this week, so we'll see how it
goes without him here!
And finally, it has been 24 days now since we have heard anything from Jordan. We continue to pray for her
daily, if not hourly. I don't think minutely is a word. We have settled into a new normal I think, but she is
never far from our thoughts. I still have my difficult moments, but am doing much better, thanks to all your
prayers. I keep reminding myself that she did not just leave us 24 days ago, but that her heart had already
left us many, many months ago; we just didn't know it. Your continued prayers for all of us are appreciated.
Joy was dedicated in church this morning. We didn't get great pictures, but the dedication went very well. It
is always a precious time when you stand up to vow to raise your child as best you can to grow up to do what
is right.
We celebrated Art's birthday this past week while his mother, sister and nephews were here to visit for a
couple days. We all had a really great time.
The kids have started soccer, and have had their first practice. Canaan is coaching a team, and Art is going
to referee. They are all very excited and looks like we're in for some fun.
Spring is definitely in full swing and we are eating up every minute of it. The yard is finally green again, and
we even had to mow the lawn for the first time this week. I LOVE the smell of fresh cut grass.
Joy is continuing to progress so well. She does very well when Daddy is home and we can see that she
definitely has more problems the weeks that he is out of town working. She really responds to his authority
and all he has to do is give her a look and she obeys, but not so much for me. But she definitely likes to be
near me as much as she can, preferably being held. Potty training is on hold for a bit, but we will start it up
again pretty soon I think. Her vocabulary is increasing day by day, and she really does understand a lot.
She is a bright little girl, and one of her favorite things to do is "help" me do whatever I am doing. She wants
to empty the dishwasher, and even puts the dishes back in the right places now! She likes to get the bag out
when we empty the garbage, to put the laundry in the dryer, to put the folded cloths in the drawer, to help
feed the dogs, to go around wiping things with a cloth, and to clean up. And she actually does a pretty good
job! I always smile when I see that, because I see the influence of Auntie Comfort still alive and well.
However, she also likes to take all the shoes out of the shoe drawers and put them all over the house, and
take all the folded laundry out of the basket and unfold it and take all the books of the shelf and make some
lovely messes of things. She is a curious little girl. And the drama! Oh my, she can get offended! She can
make some great crocodile tears. She is an awesome dancer and super cuddler. She is eating and sleeping
and playing so well now. It's as if she were always here. But Art is in Florida this week, so we'll see how it
goes without him here!
And finally, it has been 24 days now since we have heard anything from Jordan. We continue to pray for her
daily, if not hourly. I don't think minutely is a word. We have settled into a new normal I think, but she is
never far from our thoughts. I still have my difficult moments, but am doing much better, thanks to all your
prayers. I keep reminding myself that she did not just leave us 24 days ago, but that her heart had already
left us many, many months ago; we just didn't know it. Your continued prayers for all of us are appreciated.
| Guess who's SEVEN??? For Eden's seventh birthday we went to the zoo! It was a beautiful day and it was great! |
| Ready to go in. Eden was sooo excited! |
| We didn't know what Joy would think of it all, if she would be able to see the animals very well or if she would be interested in them. But she was actually quite interested in them! And she was good the whole time we were there. She really seemed to love it. |
How cute is this?
We love giraffes.
My hair is the
same color as
the lemurs'.
same color as
the lemurs'.
The monkey area was
really cool and the
monkeys came right up
to the glass. Eden just
loved it.
really cool and the
monkeys came right up
to the glass. Eden just
loved it.
See this one
looking right at
Joy?
looking right at
Joy?
| Eden and Canaan "pretending to be old." |
This gorilla was very entertaining. He would sit quietly then get
up and walk away a few steps then come charging back to the
window and throw himself at the glass! There was a whole
school group there watching with us and when he would hit the
glass they all would scream!! Eden and Joy decided they didn't
like gorillas very much. I don't know if they were more scared of
the gorilla or of all the other kids screaming!
up and walk away a few steps then come charging back to the
window and throw himself at the glass! There was a whole
school group there watching with us and when he would hit the
glass they all would scream!! Eden and Joy decided they didn't
like gorillas very much. I don't know if they were more scared of
the gorilla or of all the other kids screaming!
After he hit the window he
would sit on a pile of hay and
throw it all over himself.
would sit on a pile of hay and
throw it all over himself.
Worm ducks.
Just beautiful.
| He's going to be an awesome Daddy some day. Now where's that awesome Mommy? |
They all had fun over the air vents in
the aviary, but as usual, Eden really
made the most of it!
the aviary, but as usual, Eden really
made the most of it!
I love this picture! The
men in my life.
men in my life.
Does baby like cotton candy?
Yes she does!!
Yes she does!!
| And since it was Eden's birthday we got a special treat and went to McDonald's on the way home! They loved it. |
Time for CAKE!!
Eden wanted a princess monkey cake.
Dad brought home a PUBLIX cake on
his way home from Florida and I put
the monkey on it.
Dad brought home a PUBLIX cake on
his way home from Florida and I put
the monkey on it.
And yes, it really is that good!!
Very excited about two
new Polly Pockets!
new Polly Pockets!
And a new light saber from Canaan.
Joy likes the cake too!
| Money from Granny! Very exciting! |
A card that
Maggie drew for
Eden.
Maggie drew for
Eden.
Maggie and Silas
doing the crafts that
Grandma and
Grandpa got for them.
doing the crafts that
Grandma and
Grandpa got for them.
| Washing the car. It's a family affair. They are practicing so that they can wash Mr. Homer's car next. |
Look at that
gorgeous skin.
gorgeous skin.
| My handsome handsome boy. |
| Si giving Joy a ride on the neighbor's little jeep. So cute. |
| So sweet. Sisters forever. |
| Hannah was looking through some magazines with Maggie and the conversation was just hilarious. I only got a little bit of it but it was all so great I wish I had been able to capture more of it. Her opinions of the dresses and what the people were doing... In this clip, when she turns to the picture of the two people it is hard to hear but she is saying, "Okay, now this is unreasonable." |
04-16-2011 UPDATE:
This is our busy birthday time. Art, Eden and Silas all have April birthdays, with Canaan's two
weeks later in May. For Eden's birthday the whole family went to the zoo with tickets our friends at
church so graciously gave us. It was a perfect day to go to the zoo and the animals were active. It
was not too hot or too cold. It was a lot of fun and the kids were all at such a great age to enjoy it.
Then we came home for cake and presents. Eden is seven now! It's so amazing to see the frail
little waif we brought home five years ago is now reading, writing, doing math, as well as dancing,
riding her bike, and turning cartwheels. She is my Sunshine, my Lemonade, my Singing Canary.
I always think of so many things to say during the week, and when I finally sit down and upload
pictures, I can't remember any of it. It seems like we haven't been doing all that much, but we are
throwing ourselves into this beautiful spring weather and getting outside as often as we can. It's an
amazingly beautiful world God made, and I am so thankful.
So that's all I've got for now...
This is our busy birthday time. Art, Eden and Silas all have April birthdays, with Canaan's two
weeks later in May. For Eden's birthday the whole family went to the zoo with tickets our friends at
church so graciously gave us. It was a perfect day to go to the zoo and the animals were active. It
was not too hot or too cold. It was a lot of fun and the kids were all at such a great age to enjoy it.
Then we came home for cake and presents. Eden is seven now! It's so amazing to see the frail
little waif we brought home five years ago is now reading, writing, doing math, as well as dancing,
riding her bike, and turning cartwheels. She is my Sunshine, my Lemonade, my Singing Canary.
I always think of so many things to say during the week, and when I finally sit down and upload
pictures, I can't remember any of it. It seems like we haven't been doing all that much, but we are
throwing ourselves into this beautiful spring weather and getting outside as often as we can. It's an
amazingly beautiful world God made, and I am so thankful.
So that's all I've got for now...