the rest of our vacation

We've been home from the coast for a few weeks now and I'm just finally getting a chance to post a few more shots. Our time away was pretty relaxed so there's really not many stories to tell. It was good time just to play and BE together.... less hurried than regular life allows. We are so grateful.




The thing that looks like a helicopter in the distance is actually a large dragonfly just a bit over Isaiah's head.

summer vacation- the train ride home

What a blessing to be able to stay in a friend's apartment, near the coast, for a few days of play and rest. We greatly enjoyed the time having fun with our sweet kiddos, reading, relaxing, and seeing just a few neat sites.

The coast was kind of a wacky one-- solid green with some sort of algae invasion. They called in the army (the street outside our apartment had approx. 50 troop carrier trucks lined up) and hundreds- maybe thousands? honestly, it was a lot!- of soldiers were working hard down at the shore, shoveling the green away. More photos coming...

One of the highlights for Isaiah was the train ride there and back. On the ride home, he was the entertainment for about three cars full of passengers while he wildly, joyfully ran up and down the aisle along with a little boy who, for those moments, became Isaiah's best friend. Marian couldn't have been happier to see her brother having so much fun!

a prayer to be sung

I've been trying to collect some especially good songs together to form a little hymnal for our home. I love that our son, Isaiah, really enjoys music and I'm glad to play some good kids tunes for him much of the day, but I've declared that when he is "helping " me in the kitchen, "Mama gets to sing mama's music." (We actually do spend a fair bit of time together in the kitchen since he loves to rinse the dishes after I wash or to play with beans or rice in a bowl while I'm cooking.) So my little hymnal should fuel me with some excellent prayers and lessons to sing aloud.

So far I have about 45 songs, most of which I haven't heard sung on Sunday mornings before, but I've chosen them based on the lyrics seeming especially excellent. Today I came across a song "Lord of our Life and God of our Salvation." I am so excited to have such rich words to sing aloud in our home, for my own heart to be hear and for our children. If you're interested, you can see the lyrics and hear the good melody here.

Also, I'm willing to pass on the hymns I've collected if you'd like to use it in your kitchen too! Email me if you want me to send you a copy.

first day of preschool

Isaiah did great! I can't say he was very happy about his first day... but he seemed to play hard, eat well and really enjoy the toy cars and washing his hands (strange, but our boy absolutely loves playing with water). This evening he sounds decently excited about going back for his second day. We are so grateful.

His school is within our apartment complex, basically at the bottom of our building, so he's close enough for me to spy on him during outside playtime. Preschool for Isaiah is M, W, F 8:00am- 11:30. I miss him lots but I'm glad he's getting to play with more kiddos and learn language and I'm getting more time to study language too!

cool cat with shades

Isaiah found Papa's glasses...He put them on all by himself and was so proud for getting them on just right!

more family photos

The blanket fort was a big hit recently with both kiddos. Another hit with Isaiah was simply that the word 'fort' sound so much like 'fart'(what a boy!). Hairdos for the evening were fantastic!


And our little beauty at her 8 month mark...she can pull herself up to standing and her brother is a big fan of her growing play skills

what to pray for

A friend of mine here recently shared this excellent resource. It has refreshed and encouraged me and greatly, very needfully, challenged me in my prayer life. All this is is a simple list of the requests in prayers found in the New Testament that we are invited to pray along side of... Pray that God would exalt his name in the world, that God would extend his kingdom in the world, that the Gospel would speed ahead and be honored, for the fullness of the Holy Spirit, for unity and harmony among Christ's followers, for encouragement, for healing, for wisdom....

I'm refreshed with joy as I read this over. What a tremendous gift, honor, force we have in prayer- trusting that the God of the universe hears our voices and responds to our cries. May we ask boldly, for His glory!

22 cheers for the 2 cheers post

I really enjoy looking at Justin Taylor's blog when I get an opportunity. Recently he had a guest author contribute a wise post, commenting on "the new Calvinists." Excellent indeed, very needed, and worth heeding. If this is a topic that interests you, I highly recommend you to take a look.