Big Slide

Sunday nights have become a fun night for Silas and I.  We come home from Ignite, put Simeon and Lieren to bed, then have a special kind of Silas-Mommy time.  Tonight we made strawberry milkshakes. I am not a huge fruit dessert person (I would rather have chocolate) but Silas loves strawberry shakes so tonight I indulged him.  I have to admit, they were excellent: ice cream, milk, and fresh strawberries; Silas didn't leave a drop.

Last night our church hosted a family swim at our local pool.  It's where we've been swimming all summer, so my children really enjoyed it now that they've all warmed up to the water experience.  And it was nice having the place less crowded than we're used to.

For the first time we ventured into the big pool.  I was somewhat leery considering the meltdowns we've had at the pool in the past but all three of our babes loved it!  Silas jumped in to us over and over.  Sim even attempted a few "jumps".  

I have been wanting Silas to go to the pool with our good friend Ashli all summer.  She is a lifeguard and teaches swim lessons so since he was too young for actual lessons this summer I thought she could start unofficially.  Last night she did and he acted like he had been doing it forever.  He kicked his feet and tried floating and even jumped to her multiple timesnwhen he knew she was going to let him go all the way under water.  I couldn't believe it!

And then...she suggested he go on the big slide!  And when I say big slide, I mean BIG slide.  I was over getting Sim and Lieren changed to go home when it all went down, but Shane told him he could and off he went up to the top with Ashli.  I didn't see the first time, but Shane said he came out laying down so he went all the way under.  They convinced him to go again, so I got to watch.  I was so proud of him for going again after getting dunked once!

Here he is with Ashli waiting to go...

And here he is coming out the second time.  He stayed sitting this time and his face didn't go under.  He was all smiles and said it was a lot of fun!

Did I already mention that wonders never cease?

V.B.S.

Shane and I got such a kick out of watching Silas at VBS this week.  He absolutely loved it and while we are all exhausted today, I could tell he was a bit sad at not getting to go back to "the ranch" this evening.

Soaking it all in on day one.

Making a bird house.  Oh, the hilarity we have enjoyed at the crafts he brought home all week!

Taking a break with Mommy before his class headed outside for games.

Making a garden stepping stone out of concrete with Daddy's help.
Shane got to mix concrete all week!

So relaxed and loving it all on the last day.  Can you tell it was hot?!?

The parachute is always a hit with the little ones.
  

Showing off the hat he made "for Simeon" (said he didn't want one himself - ha!).

Everybody picked up, signed out, and ready to go home for the last time.  Bedtime ended up being close to 10 each night by the time we got home and did baths.

Needless to say, we are resting and recovering today.  Mostly.  We also had Natalie and her boys over for dinner.  Which was fun and relaxing too.  Mostly.  You know, as fun and relaxing as six children in one house can be with bedtime approaching.  That sounded a little sarcastic.  Honestly, we always have a good time.  And we get to share moments where we look over and see this...

...then totally crack up, soak in the sweetness, and take a picture quick cause the littles are getting hungry!

Wonders Never Cease

As I was heading to bed tonight I thought about our trip to the pool this past week.  It was the most fun we've had at the pool all summer.  And I've been shaking my head in disbelief about it since.

Silas decided he wanted to try the slide.  Then again.  And again.  He didn't stop except for a quick snack, then was back in.  We think he probably went down that slide at least 30 times.  I was proud of him for facing and overcoming something that appeared overwhelming.  But also so glad to see him having such fun.

Wonders never cease.  After our first trip to the pool this summer, I wondered if he would ever have a good time in the water.  And now look at him: dunking his head in and splashing through the sprinklers like he's been doing it forever.

He just needed some time, some attention, and some security.  Not unlike me when I'm facing some new obstacle.  And as I sat here tonight, about to write in my journal, I was filled with gratitude that our God's wonders never cease.  What I'm looking at today will be old hat tomorrow.  Challenges come and then they go; seasons pass.  Like in a song I love these days, we'll "surely forget our trouble and pain, calling them only as waters gone by."

Even in this week, Silas is moving on to other joys and other obstacles.  Right now he has a thing with the dark.  Tonight he went through his whole out-loud-talking-to-himself with me, "It's ok Mommy, I don't have to be afraid of the dark cause Jesus is the light of the world.  And God is my help."  Then we showed our muscles and talked about how God makes us strong.  My favorite part, though, is when we say, "And God is the strongest and the bravest and the biggest!"

Dearest Silas, we will one day look back on a good many things that will be to us as waters gone by.  You have the unique position of learning along with your mommy and daddy as we navigate our first steps into every age with you.  My prayer for you is that you will grow to love and glorify the God who is greater and stronger and higher than any other (we love that song, by the way, you and I).  May you always find God's word to be directly applicable to your life.  And may you live with a growing sense of awe that His wonders never cease.

"Mommy, I want to hold Simeon"

...that's how this little photoshoot started on Saturday right before we walked out the door to Logan and Schaeffer's 1st birthday party.  The boys are all too wiggly to get a good picture.  And you should see some of the other attempts at all three! 

By the way, Shane's message from Sunday is up on the web.  You can listen to it here.  Just click on "Fighting for Hope."

Psalm 42

I sat on the front row in church today.  The very front row.  And I got to listen to my husband preach for the first time in "big church".  I turned off the flash and snapped a couple pictures with our camera in my lap.  So glad I did.

As Shane was nearing the end of the message, all I could think was God is so good.  Good to work in our lives.  Good to give us His Word.  Good to respond to us when we thirst for Him.  Good to give us ways to remember Him.  Good to give us reason to hope.

Shane is humble about his delivery, but he did an exceptional job.  Mainly because he lives out what he preached.  It's not just words, it's etched on his heart.

The link for Shane's message today is not up yet, but it will be on this page of the Harvest website.  I'll let you know when it's there so you can listen if you want.

Back when Shane was on staff at Second Baptist in Missouri, I was collecting some CDs of his messages.  A friend asked why it was so important to me to have them.  I told her what is still true today.  If there is anything I want our children to know about their father, it is that he loved the Lord and loved the Word.  Those CDs are a reminder of God displaying His work in our lives.  And now there is one more CD to add to the collection.  It's from today and is sitting on our kitchen counter.  One day Silas or Simeon or Lieren will listen to it.  And if they are in a season where they are fighting for hope, they'll know what their Daddy would have to say about it.

A Firetruck Lunch and More

We have enjoyed a flurry of activity this week.  On Tuesday I took the children out with me to run a few errands, ending with a picnic lunch at the park.  It was a hot day outside, but cool enough in the shade.  On Wednesday Jack came for the morning so we played inside, went on a walk, and made strawberry-banana smoothies for lunch.  That evening was gorgeous so Shane and I spontaneously decided to take the children to a park we had never been to before.  Silas rode his new bike around for a while, which was fun for us to watch.  He must have liked it because he told us he wanted to take it down the slide (which we vetoed of course!).

Today we went to another lunch on the library lawn.  They have been having an outside activity each Friday.  We've only gone to one other (some are a bit old for Silas yet) but today was the Firetruck so we knew it would be a hit.  Grandma came too...

And of course we sat with Natalie and her boys...

I could have died when this happened.  It was like seeing them as what I keep telling Silas they are:  best friends...

How do they just grow up in an instant like that?

Then Judy and Natalie stayed with the 4 babies while I took Jack and Silas to check out the firetrucks and ambulance...

 They absolutely loved it.  I have one picture that turned out all blurry because they were jumping around together in the ambulance!  However, the photo below shows their slight disdain at the end.  They seemed to have been expecting to get to ride in the firetruck.  Thankfully a fireman with Junior Firefighter stickers appeared and turned their frowns upside down (kind of).



Oh, the Places She'll Go!

This evening, after a full and fun day at the lake with our fellow Harvest staff members, we stopped at our local pool to watch our sweet Miss Ashli's last home swim meet.  In between her events, as Shane and I looked on, Ashli convinced Lieren to take her first steps.

I was more than surprised!  Just yesterday I was telling my friend Michelle that I thought it would be a long time before our girl walked.  This week Lieren has been more interested in being up on her feet.  A week ago that wasn't true.  But she would only walk with both hands held in a tight grip.  

Until today.  While we were at the lake, she began walking with Miss Joanne and Miss Shelly holding only a hand.  And then right after we got to the pool, she stood for longer than she has ever stood on her own "talking" with Miss Jen and Miss Jamie.  

 And then steps.  Two the first time.  Steps that make her such a big girl.  Steps that will take her places only the Lord can dream and steps that will lead her in ways only He can fulfill.

I feel like the dad in this commercial.  I saw it yesterday (before her steps today) and got all teary.  Must be something about having a girl.

But for now I'll enjoy that her steps only take her to places close to us.  So we can share moments like these at the lake today...

 Tonight we tucked all the children into bed as early as we could.  Shane is now playing XBox with some of our students and I am quickly settling in for bed.  But just a moment ago I went back in to glance at the children sleeping.

Silas, Lion, Monkey, Elephant, Mr. Bear, and four plastic frogs.  I covered him up, but he'll kick the blankets off again before morning...

I put on Simeon and Lieren's wearable blankets after taking their pictures.  I generally let the rooms cool down a bit before putting them on.  Or maybe it's just an excuse to get to go back in and peek at them one more time.  Sim had begun holding an ear when he sleeps, slightly different but strikingly similar to his big brother (this sight prompted the pictures)...

And our littlest babe.  For tonight the places she'll go will have to wait...

Sweet Victories

I took Silas to the doctor today for his 3 year well-child visit. It was his first time to meet our pediatrician. Which means in the year we have lived here, he has been well. He was excited to get weighed and measured and seemed to think it was all big fun. No shots today for our little man, so that made it all quite pleasant. He is 34 pounds and almost 39 inches tall.

Lieren got to accompany us today because she has had a little fever since Saturday. And we take no chances with that little one. But she giggled through the whole process and acted like she was as healthy as can be so as I suspected, she was diagnosed with what is probably just some little virus.

Last week before my sister left, we took the children swimming one more time. It was a sweet victory after our previous visit. We went armed with lots of toys (including Silas' current favorite, Diego), snacks, and pacis (did I fail to mention I forgot pacifiers on our last trip?). I was so proud of our three. They splashed and played, the babies strolled in the water and Silas even played on his own for a bit. There were no meltdowns, no voiced desires to go home, and no falling asleep. Just happy hearts all around. We were so happy that we walked over to the adjacent park and swung for a bit before we headed home.

Ok. Dare I say it? I believe we have perhaps the sweetest victory of all for this little man in this season. I am going out on a limb and saying that Silas is indeed potty trained. We went through a major low point about a month or six weeks ago and I wondered if it would ever happen. But I readjusted my expectations and approach and somewhere along the way, he just got it. He started telling us he needed to go and I cannot recall the last time he had an accident. I also chose to be proactive in the mornings, which has lead to dry, happy mornings for he and I. All I would like to say to end this talk on potty training is, thank the Lord it is over...for now.

I sometimes wish someone would decide to follow us around with a video camera so that all the sweet memories of this season were documented without me having to document them myself. There are too many things from the past couple weeks I don't want to forget...

:: A birthday party for two 1 year olds...and then a birthday party for a 3 year old.

:: My sister coming to visit.

:: Taking all three children to the park by myself for the first time.

:: Having over 40 students at our house on 4th of July Sunday.

:: Shane taking Silas to see fireworks.

:: Realizing how exhausted my children were after getting home from taking my sister to the airport.

:: Taking an idyllic small-town family walk to the Dairy Queen on Friday night.

:: Ignoring the laundry and spending an afternoon putting together Silas' new train tracks to surprise him after naptime.

:: Then conquering the laundry with Shane's help.

:: Watching Silas and Jack play on our new slip-n-slide, one of my favorite playdates thus far.

:: Seeing Simeon turn into a toddler right before our eyes.

:: Getting to hold Lieren's hands as she "walks" with us...and hearing her delight as we go.