His 38th Year

 So thankful for this incredible man...

He is patient and generous, hard-working and funny. 

I feel so blessed to call him mine! 

Happy (late) Birthday Jon!

Blog Guilt

Well, my friends....It's been a while.  A year?  Nearly?  I'd say that's long enough, wouldn't you?
I thought I'd break my silence with these cute things Abram (3) has been doing/saying lately:

-I've been singing songs to the two little kids to help them learn to spell their names (Boo already knows but won't be left out).  Here's Gooey's:  "A-B-R-A-M that spells Aaaaaabram with no ham."  But I caught him singing "B-R-Y-N-N-E that spells Boo-Boo with no ham."

-Mom, I'm big...and you're cute (that one's my fav)

Here's a pic of the little guy to get your heart good and melty.  

A Little Jam

With your toast...?

A Hike

A little family outing on an urban hike. It was fun and the kids did great. We got to the top then Jonah, Ava, and I (Elisabeth) ran 2.5 miles back to the car to drive up and get the other three. The big kids were troopers and I was thinking the entire time as we ran about how fun it is to have older kids as well as young ones. How fun it is to laugh with and raise kids I enjoy being around. How I, like Mary, will treasure up all these things in my heart. How it's days like this one that make the hard ones worth having.
It's true: children are a blessing.

Supr Spellerer

Jonah made it to the School Spelling Bee this year!

Each class grades 3-8 sends two students to compete against each other, for a total of 14 competitors.

The winner of this round goes to the Regional Spelling Bee somewhere in Portland.

Does he look nervous...?

His first round...I think he's looking at me for support...and for letters?

Just kidding, I would never do that...

He did so well.

Made it to the last 3, with two 8th grade girls...

Got "schooner" but alas, missed on "romaine"

We think he's one heck of a guy...and so smart.

I asked him if he was pleased with his performance, to which he said,"Yup."

By the way, every kid in his class was pulling for him, and after he got out he had to give

24 high-fives :)

Great job, Jonah!

He Makes All Things New

This morning I am thankful for

Camellias

Budding

Returning from death to

Life

Newness

Constant

Bringing forth hope.

Children

Giggling

Running in sunshiney rays of happiness

Bubbles

Reflecting light

Not darkness

Shadows poured forth from a soul

Into newness of light and morning.

What It Means

These babies (and a few more!) have been in our lives for 13 years now...

each one special...

each one different...

each one a love...

each one dear to me as their mother's are...

We said good-bye to our dear friends nearly a month ago now.

Their absence is sorely felt and while they go to a new home and a new place and to new friends, we go with them...we pray for them...we send them off with love and hope.

Hope that while they grow and change and while we grow and change,

we will not grow and change separately.

My friend.

Her heart remains in my heart.

Fellowship.