Sunday Morning

I'll take them all!

Thirteen Years Ago

Thirteen years ago, I was home with my 1 year old little boy waiting for my piano student to arrive that morning.  Suddenly, it became obvious that there would be no piano lesson that day; my little boy was about to become a big brother.

I called Daniel at work, dropped Timothy off with my mom, and we arrived at the hospital.  A few hours later, I was holding my second son in my arms.   Elijah had always been my favorite boy name and while Daniel wasn’t too fond of it when we had our first, he warmed up to it for our second.  :) 

Those were the wonderful days of many, many more wonderful days to come.  Elijah was soooo different from Timothy!  I would tell Timothy , for example, “No, don’t touch that.”  And he might get in trouble once, but would obey after that.  With Elijah, I’d have to tell him again, and again, and again…I wondered if he’d ever learn!  He was always “in trouble!” :)  He was a thinker and you couldn’t let him get bored, or else he’d find something to do that he probably shouldn’t! 

I remember one day, he called me into his room to see the “city” he had made with his wooden blocks.  He told me that it had snowed in  his city.  I walked into his room to see all his little blocks perfectly arranged into houses, skyscrapers, bridges all COVERED with an entire box of powdered sugar!  That was a very bad summer for ants in the house!

Another time, Elijah had wanted to help me make supper.  I had  let him help make some mashed potatoes from a box.  He was so proud of himself...maybe a bit too proud.  The next day, he called me to his room to show me how he’d remembered everything.  What did he remember???  There in the middle of the carpet was a box of potato flakes dumped out with milk and water poured on top, a cube of butter,  and salt. 

He potty trained himself at 18 months.  He would sit on the couch for hours from the age of 2 1/2  looking at encyclopedias.  He listened to me teach Timothy to read and by his 4th birthday, he was reading well himself.  And as long as he had a book in his hands, he was content! :) 

Today, my little stubborn, bright, creative, boy  turned 13!  I’m the mom to two teenage boys now!  We celebrated by having chocolate chip pancakes this morning (birthday boy’s pick!) and gave Elijah his present.   Both  Elijah and I had dentist appointments today, and Daniel treated us to a birthday lunch in town.  While we were gone, the children decorated Elijah’s room with balloons, a banner, and confetti (a bit messy, but quite festive! :) ) and the girls helped me make hamburgers/hot dogs and strawberry shortcake for his party.  He said it was the best birthday he’s ever had.  They always tell me that!  :)  And I always believe them!

Super smart kid, wonderful older brother, best friend to his big brother, super helpful, walking encyclopedia for any useless fact that I may need to know, funny, caring, self disciplined, obedient and seeks to follow the Lord. I'm soooo thankful the Lord gave him to us! We are proud of you and love you, Elijah !   Happy Birthday!

1 Timothy 6:11

But thou, O man of God...follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Springing Forward

When I start getting emails or comments hoping that all is well with us, I think that it might have been a while since I've updated!

Actually, I sort of took a bit of a break from writing.  It was soooo good and needful to have some extra hours with the Lord.  I learned so much!  And feel His love, deep mercy and grace so abundantly. 

And as the weather here is warm with gentle, steady breezes blowing throughout the day and our fruit trees are showing their first flowering buds and the days are longer and brighter, my heart feels so light and I'm just so thankful for every new day the Lord gives us.  I'm so thankful that He would not only choose to use us here in His work, but that He'd pour out so many undeserved blessings upon us.  Oh, He is just so wonderful and when I think of the miracle He worked in my heart and how much He loves me, I just want to share Him with others and praise Him.

Well, what's new here!  So much!!  In no particular order (other than the way my pictures downloaded):

*We've been praying that we'd be able to finish enclosing/fencing in the  remainder of our property before we leave on furlough (scheduled August-November/Decemberish :) ). Our back yard is completely enclosed, but the front has always been completely open.  Most people here build their fence/wall around their lot before they build their house for safety/security, but when you are living in a travel trailer with your 10 children, priorities may be different. :) The Lord provided for the remaining front wall to be built this year and we're so thankful!  

The other day, I went outside with my little guys to sweep the front porch/sidewalk. We were all sweeping, picking up garbage, chatting away...I had my back to them for a minute while we continued to chat...and someone found the remaining bag of cement.  Yep, that's our Samuel.  He takes after, oh, about 8 of his other brothers/sisters.  I've heard so many times how sweet and well behaved my children must be.  Oh, they are sweet (often)  and the the older ones have learned much in the ways of obedience, but the Lord gave us mostly, well, children just like Daniel and I...naturally stubborn, strong willed, and energetic!  This one thing I know...the Lord's ways are perfect!  And having some older ones who back in the day I wondered if they would ever learn...they have learned!  I'm not adequate, but God is!  And He is the One who as I ask Him day after day for His work in my children's hearts and for the wisdom and strength to be the mommy He wants me to be, He faithfully does His work!  

*Speaking of busy little ones, we happen to have two 2 year olds right now!  Little Samuel turned 2 on Saturday!  And what a great second year he had!  Healthy, happy, and keeping my almost 38 year old legs running all day long, we just praise the Lord!  Samuel means "God hears"!  What a testimony is his name!

I love these next pictures...why is our little birthday boy so upset?  He's just opened his present from Grandma...why all the tears?  

Daddy took it to help set it all up and before you knew it, there was quite the crowd gathered to try it out.  Little Samuel was feeling a bit left out I think!

All Better! :)

*We had four baptisms last month!  Two dear couples came to Christ, gave their testimonies and were baptized.  One of the couples, Santos and Cristina, have such a special place in my heart.  I remember the Saturday I was walking down their street and stopped by their house to invite Cristina to church and share the gospel with her.   I'm so thankful to call her my sister in Christ now!

*Daniel and I took a quick trip up north together a couple weeks ago.  Did you know we were gone? :)  It was our romantic get-away. :)  Well, most wouldn't probably see it as such as we spent 2 days in the van together and 1 day running errands/getting supplies, but when you have a dozen children, spending 3 days alone together, even if you're in a van, and you happen to be very much in love and the best of friends, is quite the treat!  It's amazing how much talking you can do just being alone! :)

We brought back Bibles, church supplies, Sunday School supplies!!!, household supplies, and had some special packages waiting for us at our USA post office box :). 

*We're finishing up 3rd quarter already and on the home stretch for this school year!  After 10 years of home schooling, I love it all the more!  Home schooling moms, I want to encourage you with what has been an encouragement to me.  Spend time each morning with the Lord, ask for His wisdom and strength each day, know that while you can't do it, He can and will through your willingness to follow Him!  And if you haven't read, Home Schooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit, by Teri Maxwell, I highly recommend it.  I read it 1-2 times a school year as the Lord has used Teri to so clearly share His truth and give such wonderful encouragement!  

*Spring Fever!!  Everyone's been rising earlier and getting school done quickly and the afternoons have been full of projects!  

Working on getting out all the grass/weeds of our front yard so we can bring in some new dirt and plant a garden!

And as busy and tired as he is, Daniel is always doing something for me.  The past few months, whenever he's had time, apart from all the household maintenance that constantly occurs around here (I think that my washing machine feels that it is a bit overused...hmmm...), he's been painting!  

Knowing his silly wife who is constantly washing walls which seem to attract dirt (wonder why that could be?? :) ), he's been going room to room, painting a darker color below which, while my walls technically aren't any cleaner, they sure look like that are!  Here's our room...it's so lovely!  And below is our bathroom and the hall!  I love it!  

And yes, I folded and put away all the laundry (with some help of a few children of course) just to take that picture! :)

Growing boys, helpful girls, a new puppy, a strong, godly man to lead our home, and our wonderful Savior who gave His life that we might live!  Thanking Him for so much tonight!

I'll try to update more regularly now too. :)  

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! 

God is SO faithful and SO good!!!