LUKE!

Luke is Isaiah's best friend. They have both been mourning their separation all summer. Since we had dentist appointments near Luke's house, I invited him to join us at the playground for a little while.Luke, Isaiah and Jonah spent more time playing football in a field near the playground then actually playing on the playground.

It was very hot but they had a lot of fun and were so happy to be together.

On the Way Home

On the way home from the family reunion we decided to go a different way. As we passed the Ocoee River, we needed to take a potty break so we spent about 45 minutes watching the rafts and kayaks go down the river. It was a fun detour.

Family Reunion

Every other summer we spend a week with Jon's extended family. Traditionally, all 40 of us pile into one house (20 kids and 20 adults) wherever we can find a house big enough. One of the problems we have encountered in the past years is that usually a house big enough to sleep 35-40 people is on the side of a mountain. Since a lot of the kids are young and need to be able to go outside and play, we decided this year to take a different approach. This year we went to a lake in the northeast GA mountains. We divided into three houses. The "main" house was on the lake with a big grassy yard.The kids enjoyed hours and hours and hours of fun in the lake. This is Malachi and Ezra.Everyone took turns in the kayak...this is Elijah.One day a big piece of Styrofoam washed up on our boat ramp and the kids spent hours playing on, knocking each other off of it (King of the Raft) and floating on it.This was the view from the back yard.Ezra spent a lot of time in the inter tubes.The kids also enjoyed the big yard and swing that was set up in one of the trees.Every night a "team" would cook and clean up for dinner. we had some very good meals. This is Jon's mom, aunt and sister making homemade pizzas for 40.There was enough table space for everyone, so the kids usually sat at the tables and the adults carried their food in different directions.

The back porch was a popular place for eating and just sitting around.Jon and his mom.One night we played a Jeopardy Game of family history and information. Like "Whose favorite show is Little Einsteins?" or "Whose birthday is Feb 3, 2002?" or "List all the cousins (all 20) according to age." We played a lot of backyard games: Badminton, Corn Hull, and Volleyball.We also hiked to Anna Ruby Falls. (The grandparents stayed home.)Once we got to the top we took a lot of pictures. This is a picture of all the cousins on Jon's side.This is Isaiah and Jon-- the falls are behind them...way in the distance.

We also turned one night into a 50th Wedding Anniversary party for Jon's parents. Every year Jon's cousin, Jon Robert, designs a shirt that we all wear on the last day and we take a big family picture. This year the shirt honored Jon's parent's anniversary.Jon's brother, David, also put together a DVD of pictures and another DVD of people sharing about Mom and Dad and wishing them a happy anniversary. It was a lot of fun watching it.Last, but not least, I wanted to include a few pictures from our rooms. We didn't stay in the big house. We stayed in the "early riser" house. So we had our own suite. The 4 big boys had a nice room with 2 double beds and Malachi had his own room (a sitting area). I forgot to take a picture of our room. Our house of the early risers, had both sets of grandparents and Jon's sister, Robin and her husband, Harry.

There was also a 3rd house, right down the driveway from us (we were a mile from the lake house) that had a couple teens, one college age kid and a few single adults.

We had a great week. Some day soon I will get copies of the group pictures, when I do I will post them. I am so blessed to be part of this family. It is nothing but joy being with them for a whole week.

Dog Sitting

While Mom and Dad were out of town for two weeks, we got to keep their dog, Lizzie. The boys got very attached to the idea of having a dog again. Lizzie was pretty depressed for the first several days and at one point laid on Isaiah's bed for the whole afternoon. Elijah was very worried about her.

The boys took turns walking her and feeding her and playing with her. I kept hearing comments about the idea of getting another dog. "I just don't think I will be able to get used to the idea of not having a dog once she goes back to Grandpa's."

She went home today. We had a lot of fun and hopefully we will be able to get another dog some time soon. We will wait to see what doors God opens with respect to that idea.

Music Camp

This week the three big boys went to Music Camp at church. In one week 160 kids, ages 5 to 12,
learn a whole musical and preform it for the parents on Sunday night. The kids not only learned a musical, they learn about God's care in their lives and His mercy and salvation.

This year's musical was "Giddy Up, Gideon!" It total the story about how God used Gideon to accomplish His sovereign plan for Israel. The Israelites live in fear of the Midians. They are violent and rough people. Jonah got to be a Midianite. He is the second from the left on the front row in blue bandanna. He didn't have any lines, but he got to act tough and run around crazy.

Isaiah and Elijah were in the choir. Isaiah is barely looking over the wall on the bottom left. Elijah is in the second row from the back next to the microphone.
This is a picture of the whole group. The front group on the risers are the rising kindergartners.

After the program I snapped a picture of the 3 of them together.

Father's Day

Since we were going to be on vacation on Father's Day, we decided to celebrate a few days early. each of the 4 biggest boys gave Jon a shirt-- one Duke t-shirt and 3 polos for work. They also each made him a card.

Bubbles!

I would like to kiss the person who invented bubble blowing machines. Do you know the countless hours of entertainment and joy that my children (especially when they are less than 5) have gotten from little machines that blow thousands of bubbles a minute?

The Best Mom and Dad ever!

Tonight Jon and I found this bouquet, wrapped in this bandanna on our pillow (I put it in the vase) with this note attached, "From Elijah, To Mom and Dad, You are the best Mom and Dad ever!
Whenever I have taught about "The 5 Love Languages," I have always said that Elijah's primary love language was "gifts." This is just another example of how he loves gifts -- giving them or receiving them.

Malachi's cough

After over a week of a deep cough and runny nose, I took Malachi into the doctor today. Sure enough he has a sinus infection and bronchitis (again). I tried to take him (and Jonah and Isaiah -- who also get sinus infections) off of his allergy medicine and after only a few days off the medicine (Jonah and Isaiah did great) his nose was pouring think snot and he was coughing like crazy.

So he is now back on his allergy medicine and back on antibiotics and breathing treatments. This is our third time for breathing treatments since December. In December he had pneumonia and in February (I think) he had bronchitis. Anyway, even though he is less than 26 months, he can do his breathing treatments by himself.

Isn't he cute?

Isaiah's New Bible

When the Kindergarten Sunday School students graduate to the 1st grade class the church gives them a Bible. Today was promotion Sunday. Isaiah was very excited to get his new Bible.