Proof that she really does have hair!

Our lesson of the day: Static electricity. Provided by Auntie Anna.

Becoming a REAL helper!

Last night Lydia husked all of our corn for dinner ( and did a very good job!), brought me the corn, put on her boots, took to rest out to the burn pile (we don't have a compost yet, or a cow, or chickens!), then brought the bowl back to me. It is so fun for me to see her not only learning, but really able to accomplish tasks completely. Boy, was she proud too! Bethany would like to take some credit, but all she did was sit and suck on her ice cube!

A Good Day!

Last Saturday was very special occasion in our house! Daddy was home and put everything else aside to be with his girls, all day!!! The canoe trip was that weekend but he purposely didn't go so he could spend some time with us.

That morning we went out to Bert's for breakfast, and then we headed out to the park. They have a great new play structure out there and the girls had tons of fun, running, climbing, swinging and sliding! Bethany even would go down the BIG slide on her belly!

Trying to be more than a wife wanna be

Okay, So I am not naturally gifted in being a housewife. When we were first married, the dishes would practically sit on the counter ( or counters as the week went on!) until the weekend when David would finally help me wash them. ( I'm not quite that bad anymore!) I could give you stories that would make you cringe, but then you would probably never want to hang out with me anymore so I will refrain. I have good intentions though. I'm the kind of wife who gets really excited and tries to make bread, bagels, English muffins and a pie all in the same day, even though we couldn't eat all of it in a month, but then fails to have a lunch ready for her husband in the morning!
I've just been realizing though, how great a desire I have to raise my daughters to be the best wives I can equip them to be. But unfortunately, that means they have to learn from me!
While I am much better than my former days, I still am not disciplined enough to have a house that I feel truly confidant about. People can come over, I just pray that they don't look in THAT room! We are getting ready to start a new schedule for this school year. Please pray for us that we are successful, as once again, I am one to get all fired up about a thing like this, only to let it slide away two weeks later. As my incredibly gracious husband quotes " If you take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves!".

Our new pool!

The other night, Daddy once again proved himself to be the most amazing daddy ever and brought the girls home a pool! They were so excited! They tried it out that evening with him and then again the next afternoon when the aunties came over. Lydia really enjoyed it, but soon got distracted with playing here, there and everywhere. Havilah did not like it AT ALL! All she ever got were her toes dipped in, but even that sent her weeping. Bethany was the little water dog. She played and played and played until we made her got out! Water is so much fun!

Talking

Bethany's new longest sentence, " A bug get in there!". It was prompted by seeing a small piece of stick that she was sure was a bug in her new swimming pool.

Our Awesome God!

Psalms 19:1-4~ The heaven's declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where they are not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Last night there was an amazing thunder storm! I LOVE storms and this one took me completely by surprise! We were just settling down to go to sleep when I looked out my window and said, " I just saw a flash in the sky!' but I wasn't sure what it was. Pretty soon the thunder followed and I got so excited. I could actually see the streaks of lightning out of my window and some of the thunder was so loud it felt like it as shaking the earth! For awhile it was completely silent in between, but soon you could hear the faint sound of the leaves just beginning to got sprinkled on, and an instant later, in was dumping! What an amazing time it was to admire God amazing power and awesomeness!!!

My Bethany

Well, I've written a lot about Lydia lately, so I thought that I would write about my second sweet daughter, Bethany Rachel. I got pregnant with Bethany when Lydia was nine months old. I was really hoping to get pregnant again but wasn't expecting it when I took the test and found out. I seriously had to make sure I wasn't dreaming! The pregnancy went well ( I am so blessed!) and she was born in November of 2006. She was so different from Lydia from the very beginning! No dimples, a big round head and HUGE beautiful eyes. For about the first ear of her life, without fail, everyone who would meet her would say " Wow! Look at those eyes!". We fell in love instantly, as did Lydia, although she wouldn't call her anything but "Baby" until she was almost a year old! Bethany was an easy and delightful baby. She grew up in a flash and still can't believe that she is completely a little girl although she lets me call her my baby. She is full of spunk! A definite second born, she thinks she can do everything that Lydia can. Her stubbornness and competitive nature is amazing and when refined shows through some great strengths. She also has a great sense of humor. She also is an amazing big sister and has tried everyday Havilah's been alive to get her to talk to her. I often think we should have named her Joy, she brings so much of it to our lives!

Lydia's bedtime prayer

Thank you for Daddy and Mommy and Bethany and Havilah and Jonathan and Laura and Cindy and that little boy who is my cousin now, and Grandma and Boppa and Jonathan and Laura and my aunties and my uncles and Seulgi and Florian and Rosie and Aunt Cheryl and my real Pheobe and my fake Pheobe ( her doll) and Devon and Sarah and Jonathan and Laura and my Elly andhelp us to obey very good and go swimming tomorrow. Amen.

A fresh reminder

I know that I say this all the time but I really, truly cannot believe how fast my kids are growing up! I got pregnant after being married for only two monthes. I was SO excited though and couldn't wait to meet my baby. My husband comes from a family of eight boys and one girl so I was positive that we were going to have a boy! We even called her by the boy name we had picked out! When she was born I was amazed to find that she was a girl! It was so perfect though. God had perfectly drawn my heart towards having a girl so it really felt like a dream come true, even though I thought I was excited about having a boy. She has been a treasure since day her first day. Actually her first second!

She is so NOT like me in most ways. And yet David says all the time, " Wow! I know where she came from!". I love talking to her. Her concept of God is amazing. Her questions and logic blow me away sometimes. She loves deeply her parents, sisters and extended family. I can't wait to see what God is going to do through her. I know that she can be such a powerful tool in His hands!

My best friends!

I love having sisters. I think it's one of God's greatest blessing to me, to have my very best friends be a part of my family. I hope someday that my girls will love and enjoy eachother as much as we do! I love you girls!!!

To think on

"It is impossible to to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitude right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is. " ~ A.W. Tozer

"To be made for eternityand forced to dwell in time is for mankind a tragedy of huge proportions. All within us cries for life and permanence, and everything around us reminds us of mortality and change. Yet that God has us of the stuff of eternity is both a glory yet to be realized and a prophecy yet to be fulfilled." ~ A.W. Tozer

"With the goodnes of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to acheive it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures."~ A.W. Tozer

"Give us minds to admire that perfection of moral wisdom which found a way to preserve the integrity of heaven and yet receive s there."~ A.W. Tozer

"What God made us to desire, and therefore wht we do desire if we admit it, is exactly what He promises to those who follow Jesus Christ: a resurrected life in a resurrected body, with the resurrected Christ on a resurrected earth. Our desires correspond precisely to God's plans." ~Randy Alcorn

Polk County Fair

She actually kissed it! I just missed it with the camera

I guess this rabbit looks harmless enough!

Last night we went to the Polk County Fair. My sisters, Rachel and Anna, went with us girls earlier in the afternoon and David joined us after work. We watched the talent show for a while but it wasn't very gripping so went on to hear the wordless book story, eat some cotton candy (an all time favorite, but the bubblegum flavor this year tasted a little strange!) and play on the swings. David finally joined us, we ate some stir-fry, watched a little more of the talent show (Good job Paul Carter!), and went to look at the animals.

I was in 4-H every year since the 4th grade ( except my senior year when I got married!) so it's always strange to go back just as a visitor! Bethany adored the animals (especially the cows!) but Lydia was much more cautious. Havilah didn't care too much as long as one of her aunties were talking to her.

After the animals, we played on the tractors for awhile, then went and saw Uncle Peter's cooking. Third place king of the cookstove at only sixteen. Pretty good!

I love the Polk County Fair! It's has such a hometown feel to it. It's weird to think about when my kids get older and what things we will choose to have them involved in. 4-H was certainly a good experience for me though.

More pictures!!!

I know. I'm impossible. I get it from my mom and my grandma! I used to make fun of them but now I'm a picture maniac too!

Summer Lessons

What an interesting summer this has been! We're dealing with a new baby, almost two monthes without work and possibly a change of jobs. We are reminded daily how amazingly important it is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. David was gone for a week cabin leading at camp. My sister Anna came to stay with us and we had a great time, but we missed Daddy ( and husband!) so much! Now he's home and having to face once again that life that is so full of stresses and cares. I'm working at being a help meet to him and trying to put that as first importance. It's crazy how easy it is to get so off in our thinking and allow selfishness to ruin so many mornings, days and evenings. Praise God that He is patient with us and gives us another chance! I am surrounded by so many amazing blessings if I just choose to look past my self pity and ingrattitude. I love my husband so much! Every day we are learning how to better love and express our love to each other! Sorry this is so scattered!!!