Bordom Buster or What to do When You're Weird

    Some summer days get long and even swimming in the pool gets a little boring.  What's there to do for fun?  I caught Silas and Samuel checking for arm pit hair.  Awkward.

Pool Side Baby

  Out by the pool there's always a bunch of splashing and jumping and loudness.  But when Isabella comes to visit she just cuddles quietly in my arms so I can adore her.

Packed and Out of Here

 Yesterday began summer camp for our oldest five and after a day of them being going I realize the impact.

*It is so so so much quieter here!.
*They eat a lot of food. 
*I'm actually asleep before midnight with them away.
*It stinks doing all the house work yourself.
*They make up a large majority of my hugs and kisses each day.

 I admit it - I miss them already but praying that they each come home refreshed, having heard from the Lord.

She's Here!

  One of my favorite kids ever has come to stay with us for the week.  (I only had to beg her mom a little.)  She walked into the house and started telling me all the things she remembered from when she lived with us and was silly- happy to find some of her art work still on the walls.  Gabby is smart and beautiful and her family is one of the few success stories in our foster care journey.  Her mom not only redeemed a tough situation that she found herself in, but has been gracious enough to allow us to continue to be in her kids' lives.   Don't you love a happy ending?!

No One's Sleeping Tonight

  
  My daughter lives right (I mean our yards touch and there's a path worn between) next door.  Her five kids and my kids, who are the same ages and best friends (yes that would be their aunts and uncles) want to have sleepovers every single night.  Kirsten and I have valiantly tried to put some sanity into the requests with "one a week" or "not if you act crabby" rules, but it all seems to get out of control.  And because they're soon moving to Florida it gets harder and harder to say no.  Kirsten's kids most often want to sleep here as she feeds them healthy (boring/disgusting) cereal and I buy cereal according to their color.  Fruity Pebbles pleases everyone and Lucky Charms is off the charts pretty.  
  And of course, no one sleeps until the next day when they quietly slip away for a short nap.  
I'm going to miss all this.
  

This is What we Believe

 We stood at the river bank last night as my daughter and her husband baptized all five of their kids.  One by one, each of them told what they knew about Jesus and how they wanted to follow after Him.
  Four generations of our family were there to celebrate, each having carefully taught their children about our amazing God.

 But from everlasting to everlasting
   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
   and his righteousness with their children’s children— 
                                                                                Psalm 103:17

Baby Love

 Isabella, our newest granddaughter, invited some of the men in her life over yesterday. Her four  uncles and her Poppa decided that she was the most adorable baby ever.
Her Aunt Grace and I already knew she was.  We held and kissed her and told her how much she was loved.
Sweetness!