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| I might have posted this already? We're so deeply grateful for the friends the Lord has put in our kids' lives.... like Hudson, Isaiah's buddy since pre-2 yo. May the Lord be gracious to use these precious friendships over the years of growth and change ahead to spur our boys on in Christ-rooted, Christ-exalting manliness. May they sharpen each other owards excellence and holy risk and the kind of valor that will ring with praise and joy for all eternity. This firstborn son of ours is an indescribable gift... such grace to be Isaiah's mama. I love you, son. |
It was a treat for all of them… and a treat for me too! I got some quiet time. Real quiet quiet. I rested and read. Had a breakfast visit with no distractions with a delightful neighbor friend. Finished two family photo albums from years ago to try to give my kids a photo record of their many-moves, silly-joys, full-of-friendship and many good-byes lives.
The boys never wanted to miss a day of practice. It helped that all of their best friends in our city played too. And sometimes, if our boys rode with Matt’s co-worker and his sons, Marian would ride alone with Daddy and every time that happened, I’d get to hear about who they jammed with on their drives…. Rich Mullins and Toby Mac are Marian’s fav.s.
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| These guys have serious Stratego skills... (I can't beat any of them!)... and that time Isaiah chased down my 10 with a 6 and I ran from him b/c I was sure it must be a spy!? Oi! crazy boys! |
It was hot. Hottest summer in 30 years we heard. And a few times I thought of boasting about how horrifically hot it was, only to feel disappointed with my bragging stats… supposedly the temps were only high 90s or 100. But then my local friends told me that was all that was reported because if the temps rise over 40 degrees C, around 100 F, the government has mandated that companies need to allow workers to complete their jobs in the evening hours. The handy way around that is to simply never “let” (or report) that the temp has surpassed the limit. So… there was something brag-worthy there. Supposedly we were 105-113ish for most of 2 weeks and over 100 for most of July and into early August. We felt the concrete magnification and the AC-lessness loud and clear. And we survived! And we’re pretty giddy grateful to be enjoying these 70s Sept days now. (Baseball practice was only cancelled a few days for the heat… but many days baseball was traded for water gun battles and there were no complaints about that!)
Matt made it through his first, our family first, need for local medical attention. He went more than 24 hours without being able to swallow any food or water more than a tiny sip. He could breath just fine but not swallow... even a tiny sip of water. Not good for a baseball coach in such heat!! We were so grateful that the Lord provided a dear local friend to go through the hospital system with him that afternoon and an excellent trained doctor who unblocked his esophagus quickly…. after 7 hours of waiting and walking around the hospital for 14-15 different office/doctor visits and payment stations. Once the final doctor saw him, he was all cleared up in no time! We still need to see how to move forward caring for this issue for him.
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| the real first day for the littles... |
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| This boy has a sweeter tender side to his evident rough boy default. I could not be more smitten with John! |
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| oh this girl! |
More Vivisms- (While sitting on the potty) “Mom, I can hear a song in my heart.” “Really, what is it?” “Well, I think God put it there.” “Yes, I’m sure he did…” (we trailed off at that point… probably time to wipe up)
A few days later, we had the same conversation and I asked her what was the song? I thought such sensitive, spiritual wisdom would mean that she was going to sing something along the lines of the Doxology… but no. “I think the song is “Twinkle, Twinkle.”
She said to me this morning “In the night, I felt the Lord with me on my bed!” So glad for her (and for me!!) to be sleeping peacefully. Since Easter this year, most moments of affectionate words from Vivi have included “I love you with all my heart! Jesus is Risen Indeed! Jesus is Risen indeed!” This afternoon, while she was listening to a song from Frozen, she got really concerned and quieted down and then asked me with more seriousness than I usually see in her: "Mom, do princesses love Jesus?".... I love her tender side!
Our kiddos launched into a whole new year of school. Isaiah’s in 4th grade (wow- that was a big year for me! How did my baby get that big already?), Marian is in 3rd, John in 1st grade and Vivi in PreK (she’s all set to move up to the K level class next semester if it seems like she’s tracking well enough….I’m hoping that plan will work b/c I think it seems good to me for homeschool later, if they can swing it, to have John and Vivi back to back instead of with a grade in between them.) Here’s our fake first day of school pic…. I think it was actually the eve of our second week.
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| So they didn't forget about the ring pops that were gifted to them a few weeks ago.... I was sure hoping I could slip those artificial sugar/flavor bombs in the trash... but no. They were distinctly remembered. Isaiah- 4th grade, Marian- 3rd grade, John-1st grade, Vivian PreK. |
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| And there was that sleepover in the tent on the patio... that didn't quite work but was still fun to try for! |
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| her 8th birthday was her best yet she said.... we're exquisitely grateful for Marian Lynn. |
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