For the Moms

I just got done reading this article for stay-at-home-moms on Tim Challies' website and I'm sitting here at the table crying.  I'm not really sure if I'm crying because of how the article moved me, or if it's pregnancy hormones or maybe the fact that it's only 1:24 pm and I'm already eating my second lunch.  It could be a mixture of all three.  For the sake of this blog post, let's say the article moved me because I really want to share it with you.

When in Rome

Last week we hosted a vacation bible school at our church.  The theme for this year was Rome.  Georgia is still too young to participate, but they do have a small pre-school class and nursery provided for the children of parents who want to volunteer to help with the rest of the program.  Georgia's class of 3 did get to participate in a few activities and almost every night she cried when it was time to go home.  I guess that means it was a success!

I was a Roman who worked in the grammaticus shop, helping kids to make and learn how to use an abacus.  I greatly underestimated the ability of the kids to learn how to use the 'Roman calculator,' but each day I was surprised as they showed me they knew how to use it.

Andy also participated in the dramas each day as the apostle Paul, chained in prison in Rome, complete with his own prison guard.  One of the evenings Georgia's class got to visit the prison and it was in a darkened room with Andy chained by the ankle to a chair.  I guess it scared her and she wanted to know why the 'shoulder' (soldier) was mean to her daddy and if his foot 'got hurted.'

It was a superb week with lots of planning, amazing volunteers and over 90 kids hearing the gospel.  Praise the Lord!

Happy Girl

Can you believe this little thing is 17 months already?  She is such a firecracker!  She loves to talk and her vocabulary is growing daily.  Some of her words are: mama, daddy, Georgia, baby, ducky, hi, bye-bye, uh-oh, bible, drink, keys, what's that and oh man.  She is often making noise and I still hear from Georgia, "Lola, be quiet!" It's not very effective.

She's taken a few little steps, but not quite walking yet.  She walks on the inside of her feet and I hope a trip to the chiro might correct that to make walking and keeping her balance easier.  

Though she is a little rambunctious, she is very cuddly and squishy and is free with her hugs and kisses if you just ask.  Such a happy little girl.

Update on the House

The other day we got a call from the realtor of the home we're trying to purchase and he asked us for an extension on the closing date.  When we put in our offer at the end of May we added a closing date of July 28, knowing that it may not go through by then.  It won't, so we've extended the closing date to the end of August.  Our realtor says this is a good sign that things are progressing.  We are trying to think positive - hoping that if they thought it would take longer than another month, they would've asked us to extend farther.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but Andy thinks we may have more information by the end of July.

Splash Pad

We had our first experience with a splash pad this week when we went for a birthday party.  So fun!  Lots of water and splashing and staying cool and not worrying about drowning children.  When we first arrived Georgia said, "I don't want to swim here!"  But after walking through with her dad and little friends, she didn't want to leave.  We all had a great time!

Book I Am Currently Reading

Impress Faith on Your Kids by Mark Holmen

Life Right Now....

....is kinda weird.  It's definitely good, and we are happy, but it is strange.  We closed on our house last week and moved in with a family from church.  We have lots of space: our own kitchen, living space, two bathrooms, and two bedrooms.  The girls like it here.  But after being here for about 10 days, I am starting to miss "home."  I remind myself someone else lives there and I haven't allowed myself to drive by the old house.  It might still feel like it should be mine.

So we've spent the last week getting settled and arranged, figuring out laundry schedules and cleaning schedules, grocery shopping and the like; all the while waiting to hear about the house on Hazelwood and we've heard...nothing new.  We know the bank has sent an appraiser to the house and the short sale company has a negotiater involved making sure all the official stuff is correct.  We've known this for awhile now.  So we wait...

We are definitely busy with friends and church events and truly are enjoying staying where we are (it's kind of like a mini-retreat spot).  All of our needs are met and we are very comfortable.  Though we are anxious to hear about the house, we have come to see this time as a gift.  A real gift.