library

I love having four kids! They can argue and bug, but boy, can the PLAY. The other day, Hannie got it in her head that her and Ruth needed to make a library in our back guest room. So they got out some boxes for shelves and pulled tons of books down there. They had a toy to scan the books that we checked out and even closed the library while they were away... The library is still set up right now waiting for more play tomorrow! (When Benjamin was a baby, he'd call the library, the "li-boobie". What a hoot.)

Today Ruth and Elijah made a fort together and laid down on their bellies side by side to watch BOZ out of the door of their fort. Too cute.

Then tonight I went down to see if they were ready for bed and they all were sitting on the floor together listening to a Dan and Louie CD. It was something they all thought was funny and had to hear it over and over again, laughing together!

Gotta love those brothers and sisters!

are you in bed?

After putting the girls to bed and going to fold some clothes...

Me: Benjamin, are you in bed?
Benjamin: No.
Me: Benjamin...
Benjamin: Hee, hee... I'm hiding. Hee, hee...

I finished folding the few shirts that I had left and went looking. Elijah was already in bed but was no help at all in helping me find his brother! He was just in his crib unzipping his jammies. Heh. In the end, I found Benjamin... under Eli's crib!

never been in a wedding

I have never been in a wedding. Besides my own, which was very lovely and wonderful. But I have always kinda wondered if I'd ever be in someone else's wedding? Some of my friends have eloped and some have never married. Now most of my good friends already ARE married. So. My last hope on being a bridesmaid in a wedding was set on my brother, Blake. I figured he'd at least try to talk his bride-to-be into sneeking in there somewhere!? (Maybe Kev's brothers will think of me, too??)

Well, here I am! Who would have ever imagined. Blake is indeed getting married. The wedding is set for this summer. And wouldn't you know, I get to be a bridesmaid for the first time! (At age 31! Heh.)

But here's the kicker. The blessing on top of the blessing. Blake is marrying one of my best friends! So not only do I get to be in his wedding... SHE has chosen me to be in HER wedding... as her matron of honor! What a joy. I am so delighted.

I'm thrilled that I get to stand up for Blake and Crystal. But on top of that... I'm thrilled that Blake found a lovely lady to marry and that Crystal found a wonderful man. And they're my brother and my friend! Crazy. Double the joy, huh?

God knew all along that I would get to be in a wedding besides mine and that it would be above and beyond all I was thinking of! He's knew the day was coming and now we're rejoicing together! How fun.

Matron of Honor along side, Kevin, who's the Best Man, for my brother and my friend. I just gotta read that again to let it sink in. There's a smile on my face!

The kids are all going to be involved in it, too, and Kevin's parents are coming up from Arkansas! Whoo-hoo.

I'll show you the flower girl dresses for Ruth and Hannie... lovely, lovely! :)

Thank you, Lord, for such a treat!

Py

Our kids know their names in Russian. Since they have Bible names, it was easy to look up how to say and spell them. Benjamin is similar and looks like "BeH" for "Ben" but is said with a "V" sound instead of a "B". Hannah is AHHA and is said more like "Ahnnah". Did that make sense? No hard "A" sound. Ruth's name looks pretty different. We call her "Roo" and in Russian it looks like "Py". The "R" is a "P" and the "oo" is a "y". Neat. So "Py baby." :) "Ruth" will actually sound something like "Roof." Heh. Elijah has all different letters so I can't show you how they look! :) But to say his name sounds like "Ilya." He already knows that is his name along with the English "Elijah."

Benjamin even printed out his name in Russian and took it to school to show the kids. Pretty fun.

Well, Elijah is handing me an alphabet book! Ha! So I better go teach him our alphabet!! Time to sing some ABC's...

can't see me

I've always kinda liked camouflage. Maybe it's 'cause my Dad always has liked it, too, but doesn't get to wear it because his someone he's married to thinks it's gross. Anyway. The other day Kevin and I went crazy when we saw camouflage pants at Old Navy for 75% off. I talked him into getting some with me, which is something we never usually do... spend money for something goofy like that. But we went WILD and both got some camouflage pants! Whoo-hoo. Look out for us... but you won't be able to see us in our camouflage!

when I'm grown up...

Benjamin is all about what's right. He's about justice and fairness. The other day after supper, Kevin and I had two of the deserts that we'd given the kids... I forget if it was cookies or what. Ruth totaly thought she should have another one since we had one. After a few minutes of Daddy saying, "No, you had yours..." and Ruth saying, "But YOU had two!" Benjamin thought it through and said, "But he's the Daddy so he gets more." Then he thought a little longer and said, "I can't wait until I'm grown up and can have all the pizza and candy that I want to have!" We laughed that that's the conclusion he came to. Ah yes, being all grown up has its perks! :)

cough

Just an update on the cough thing I mentioned a few days ago... Benjamin and Hannie are much better! They both still have a lingering cough but are good to go other than that! Up and running again. Thanks if you prayed for them! God hears our prayers... Ruth's still feeling fine and Eli acts okay but now he is coughing an icky cough. He just does that sometimes so hopefully that's all it amounts to!

Thanks for praying for our family! The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective!

Charis

Do you know what that Greek word "charis" means in English? Some of you might. It's "grace". I"d heard that before. But what I hadn't heard is the word that ties into "charis". It's "chara" and it means "joy". Grace and Joy are intertwined. Once you've truly experienced God's grace in your life, you won't be able to help but to experience His joy as a result. Whoo-hoo!