Best Day Ever

Another (super) bright spot in our summer was my sister Ivy's wedding.  She married a stupendous man and my only grudge is that they are so far away living in South Carolina.  It was a beautiful day, a beautiful wedding and seriously the most beautiful bride I've ever seen. 

I had the greatest honor of standing next to Ivy and being able to pray a blessing over her during the ceremony.  Georgia was one of two flower girls and Andy was an usher.  Lola cried in the nursery.

Ivy and Jesse have such a special story.  They met a year ago and spent time talking, but then decided to go their separate ways.  I had decided in January of 2012 to pray for a husband for Ivy and that she would meet him AND marry him THIS YEAR.  I prayed and prayed (specifically for Jesse) and after some time Jesse recontacted Ivy and they began their courtship, engagement, and marriage - all in 2012.  God answered my prayers, and as I've found out, the prayers of many others who were praying for the same thing.  God is good!

Ivy and Jesse are such a blessing to this family.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/25169941_fZ88TT#!i=2064306665&k=39TGQv6

This link has waaaayyyyy more pictures - including some of Georgia as the flower girl and a short slide show that takes my breath away each time I watch it.  The password is murphy.

We Are AWANA Cubbies...

...we're happy all day long.

We know that Jesus loves us

that's why we sing this song.

We hop because we're happy

and we jump and shout for joy;

for Jesus is a friend to us,

He loves each girl and boy!

 

This year Georgia has started her first year in Cubbies at AWANA, our kids program at church.  Each week she says a verse she has memorized, wears her vest, and has time for games, stories, snack and craft with other 3- and 4-year-olds.  

 

The first few weeks she wasn't really diggin' Cubbies or having to learn a new verse each week.  This really surprised me because she already had a few verses under her belt and loved to share them with anyone who would listen.  However, now she has earned  patches for her vest as a reward for memorizing and working through her book and she tells me, "Mom, I'm gonna say my verse all by myself!"  We are really proud of her ability to recall verses she's learned in weeks past and all the work she is doing.

 

  

A Story for the Bath

Why are pictures of little kids in the bath so cute and sweet?  I captured a happy bath photo and a little video of Georgia 'reading' a story to Lola, who surprisingly happens to be listening pretty intently.  Don't tell me they aren't just the sweetest.

Adventureland

Even though it was an emotionally turbulent summer at times, we still had sparks of fun here and there. A trip to Adventureland with Nana and Papa, aunts, uncles and cousins was a major highlight. We went at the end of August, with most schools already back in session. It was the perfect day of weather, not to mention free parking and free pop all day long. Here are some pics and video from our day.



 

 We're here!



 Airplanes

 

Semis - I totally embarassed myself climbing up there and trying to squeeze into that truck!

 

Bumper cars with Daddy - she loved it right up until the last minute (see video)

 

I was afraid she wouldn't like the tea cups, but she kept saying, "Let go of me, Mom!"

 

Infant Ocean

Totally tuckered out

 

Cute cousins

Train ride with the whole fam

 

It was a wonderful day and we look forward to doing it again next year!

 

The Schumacher House: A Work in Progress

Ok all...I'm getting back on the blogging wagon.  I have been missing it!  Our biggest news is the building of our new home here in Davenport.  It's in a growing community of young families, has a park right across the street and is just a hop, skip and a jump from the library.  We've already met several of the families in our area and are excited that this is where we'll call home.  Here are some pictures of the progress that started back in mid-September.

 Our lot

  

 Being marked out

 

Staked and ready for digging

 

Let the digging begin!

 

Footings poured

 

Foundation in place

 

Water-proofing

 

Plumbing roughed in

 

Dirt filled in and our new neighbor Lily

 

 Basement and garage floor poured

 Framing!

10/12/12 Standing in the future interior foyer

 

Clearly there is still a lot to be done, but now that the house is taking shape, it really will start to look different each day.  We hope to be under roof (and possibly shingles) by the end of next week.  They are still giving us an estimated completion date of the first week in December.



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!