Little Swimmers

We have completed the first of two weeks of swim lessons at our neighborhood pool.  I was very surprised at the role reversal in my children this week.  Usually, Harry is my "jump-into-everything-head-first" kid.  I was afraid he would take that quite literally at the pool.  Hannah tends to be my more cautious child.  However, when we got to the pool, it was Hannah who couldn't contain the excitement long enough to sit on the wall with the other kids!  After a little while she settled down and joined into the group activities.  She has taken to swimming like a fish to water!  She has been the bravest kid in her class--jumping into the deep end more times than any other student.  Most of the other kids wouldn't do it, even with a life vest.  

Harry, on the other hand, has been very suspicious of the water.  If he can't stand, he's just not sure it's worth the effort.  After the 3rd lesson, I made him practice his back floats in the bath tub.  That seemed to help his confidence level the next day.  He is enjoying it, but still not as eager to go into the deep end as Hannah.  I'm hoping next week will help him get a little braver.  

We are headed to the beach in a week, and the kids are super excited to practice those new swimming moves out in open water!  I have already informed them that they will have to swim with other adults.  Mommy is afraid of water that goes past her knees.  So, maybe Harry comes by his reticence honestly.  I'll be sitting on the beach with my books and he is welcome to join me anytime! :)

Happy Anniversary!

Ken and I celebrated our 6th anniversary on Sunday!  We were busy with church activities on the actual day of our anniversary, so we celebrated on Saturday night.  We went to a quaint little town about 30 minutes away from where we live.  We browsed the shops on the main street of town and then ate at the inn in the downtown area.  It was such a wonderful evening!  We try to go on dates at least once a month, and it is AMAZING to be able to have a conversation with one another without being interrupted! :)

These past few years we have seen many of our friends' marriages become troubled and several of them end in divorce.  Ken and I have had our own troubled times as well.  I have become increasingly more thankful for a husband who is committed to his relationship with the Lord and committed to his love for me.  He is always looking for new and better ways to serve me and our kids.  He is generous, loving, and self sacrificial.  I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man!  I am also thankful for a God who models unfailing, unselfish, and constant love for us.  "A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart" (Eccl. 4:12b).  I know that without the presence of that third Strand, we would not be able to make it!  I am thankful for all He has done to bind our hearts and lives together over the past six years.  I am looking forward to many, many more.

Bike rides in the park

At a rummage sale at our church last weekend, Harry found a "big boy bike".  We weren't planning on buying him one until his birthday, but this one was in great condition and very cheap (can't beat $10!).  It has been funny to watch him learn how to ride it!  He isn't used to having brakes.  He rode his tricycle backwards as much as he rode it forwards, so it threw him off a little to stop suddenly when he pedaled backwards.  Once he figured that out, he was fine.

We met some friends of ours at a park new our house.  It has a great bike trail that goes in a big loop and then through the woods.  JJ and Harry had a blast and were so cute on their bikes!  It's funny to see such small people ride bikes so fast!  Hannah is more of a leisurely rider--she likes to take in the birds and butterflies and talk to people as she rides.  The boys were a bicycle version of speed racer.  I could barely get them to slow down to take these pictures!

Just as an aside, please pray for JJ's parents as they are in Malawi, Africa this week and next week.  Jessica is teaching a class for music teachers at the college and her husband is preaching some and helping out where needed.  The missing plane that has been in the news lately has been a great reminder to PRAY for everything!  Please pray for their safety as they are away, and for the Lord to bless the recipients of Jessica's hard work (she has been working for a year on the class she is teaching).  She is a VERY talented music teacher and I am so excited that the Lord is using her gifts and abilities to inspire and encourage people on the other side of the world.

Let it snow!

When we went in to get Harry up from his nap yesterday, this is the scene we found.  Harry had taken all of the stuffing out of his bean bag and spread it out all over his room!  When asked what had possessed him to do this, he replied, "I wanted to play snow!".  At least he is creative.

I find it humorous how the past often revisits you.  I have heard all of my life about what a handful I was as a child.  I was often "experimenting" and leaving a wake of disasters behind me.  Now that I have a curious and creative child, I wonder how my mother survived my childhood without killing either of us.  I don't ever remember her even yelling at me (although I did spend a lot of "alone" time in my room to think about what I had done).  This is a good thing to keep in mind with my own little one.  I actually was able to laugh about this snow storm (after the talking to and clean-up).  

I told Harry that I was taking this picture to document his childhood for when he is a parent one day.  I made him make a sad face (so he could remember that this was not one of his best ideas).  He also had to pick up all of the stuffing and put it back in the bean bag, which took about an hour.  Let me just say, it is a wonderful thing that God has given him such a happy, enjoyable personality to go along with his healthy curiosity!  I love my little mess-machine! 

The Graduate and the Baseball Player

My princess graduated from pre-school!  They had a little ceremony, where they were each presented with a folder of the work they had completed over the last year.  It is amazing how much she has learned!  They also sang a few songs for us and then had a little reception.  Hannah said goodbye to all of the friends she has made this year and her two wonderful teachers.  I am so thankful for Mrs. Lehman and Mrs. Halley.  They really worked hard to make the kids feel special and at home in their classroom.  Hannah had a great year!

My dad was in town for the weekend, so he was able to attend the ceremony with us.  After lunch, he and Hannah went to the park and to get ice cream together.  I think it is really special for the grandkids to get to spend one-on-one time with their grandparents!  That night Dad took Harry to a baseball game.  He had so much fun!  He got to eat all kinds of junk at the game (plus the trip to Dairy Queen on the way home!).  We weren't sure how long he would last, but Dad said he made it all the way to the 6th inning before deciding that it was time to go get ice cream.  When he got home, he went on an on about the "baseball guys" and how they slid into base.  It was adorable!    

Sisters, Mothers and Grandmothers

I had a real treat a couple of weekends ago--I was able to spend some time with my sister, mother and my grandmother.  When we all lived in closer proximity to one another, we saw each other all the time.  Now that we are further away, our visits are less frequent, but more valued and cherished.  On Saturday the "ladies" all went out to lunch.  Hannah felt so special to get to join in the grown-up fun!  It was a sweet time.  I so enjoyed visiting with Grandma (my dad's mom).  She has such good insight on the important things in life.  She has lived a full and blessed life of 83 years.  It was a joy to be in her company.  

On Sunday, we all got together for Mother's Day and were a part of my nephew's baptism.  It's always sweet to see Pampa baptize his grandchildren.  It was so great to worship and celebrate together.  We are so thankful for the youngest member of our family, little Liam!  

I am thankful that I was able to celebrate Mother's Day with some of the most important women in my life.  I am thankful for all they have given to me and instilled in me!  I hope to be as encouraging and inspiring to my own daughter as they have been to me.  I have been blessed to have been surrounded by such a loving group of women all of my life.  I love you Mama, Joanna, Mimi and Grandma!  You are truly women whose worth is far above jewels.

P.S.  Nana would want me to clarify, that in the above picture, she is partaking of ROOT beer.  Just in case you were curious. :) 

Callouses in the Creator's Hands

So today, when we were riding around town, Hannah asked me why animals don't have to wear shoes.  I told her that God gave them "built in" shoes by creating them with paws, hooves, talons (and yes, I actually said "talons" which gave me a flashback to Napoleon Dynamite).  I said, "Their feet are hard already, so they don't need to wear shoes."  Harry pipes up, "Yeah, like me!".  Harry seriously has the nastiest feet I have ever seen on a man this side of 70.  I've had to take a pumice to them several times all ready.  Ken has nick-named him "hammer toe", it's just that bad.  Well, I'm happy that his massive callouses are seen by him as a special gift from his Creator!  Now he has another reason why he won't want to wear shoes when we go outside. :)

All this makes me think...what things in my life do I see as hindrances, ugliness, defectiveness, that my Creator had given me?  What brokenness is their in my life, that I think is holding me back?  Could my "callouses" actually be assets?  In God's hands, they can be!  What an encouraging thought.  Left to myself, my weaknesses will always be just that.  Weaknesses.  Given to God, to His purposes, my weaknesses can become a venue for His strength!  What a crazy thought, that God can actually be MORE glorified, BETTER served, more PURELY loved when I bring my weaknesses to Him, rather than trying to be strong on my own!  After all, HIS power is made perfect through MY weakness!  So, cheers to my weaknesses, my frailties, my ugliness!  May God take them and make them a place where other's see His beauty in me.