photo by Brian

Have found another good book through the Charlotte book club girls. "The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and 'Women's Work' ." I am working my way through it, trying to figure it out.

"Worship grounds me again in the real world of God's creation, dislodging me from whatever world I have imagined for myself. I have come to believe that when we despair of praise, when the wonder of creation and our place in it are lost to us, it's often because we've lost sight of our true role as creatures-we have tried to do too much, pretending to be in such control of things that we are indispensable." Kathleen Norris (emphasis mine)

Instructions

I love these notes. Jack knows that mom and dad are the tooth fairy yet he left this note for her with specific instructions. Notice he and his bear in the bed at the right. His nightstand, or "drawer", really is to the left of his bed and his lamp really has a truck on it. Needless to say, he found the tooth and a couple of quarters on the drawer in the morning!

Thanks Friend!

It has been several weeks now since I was on the phone at 7:55 a.m. with a Charlotte friend. I was already about to pull my hair out and with the whole day before me, I wasn't too hopeful. Faithful friend that she is, she reminded me of Galatians 6:9. What true encouragement is the Word, exactly what our wandering hearts need!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Jack helping Kayla pull her bike up the hill that was "just too big Mom!"

Ahhh...

Ahhh...to be back online...and to have a high-speed connection at that. This is great. Just great.

Well, here we are in Blacksburg. And happy to be here. This has been a relatively easy move. We have had such a warm welcome. It's so nice to be closer to our families and to have a wonderful church family to start out with. God is good.

We've been here just under two weeks and have had some fun adventures already. We spend a lot of time at the duck pond, a very short walking distance away. We've been to the library several times and have walked the Huckleberry Trail-fun!

Today we decided to take a picnic lunch to the duck pond. The ducks-geese really- are some of Samuel's favorite new friends. He gets very excited when he sees them, particularly the two white ones that are always together. Kayla and Jack think they may be husband and wife, like the ones in the book "Make Way for Ducklings."

I was marveling at how Samuel never stepped in any of the goose poop that is all over the walkway. Then, I turned around in time to see him smearing his hand in some of the freshest. OHHH GRROOSSSS!!!!!!!!! We got that cleaned up and continued walking around the pond, deciding we should go retrieve Kayla's new Hello Kitty sandwich container and her backpack from the gazebo, which is now called the clubhouse. Jack was slightly ahead of us on his bike when I saw him jump off and race towards the clubhouse, hollering as he ran. Turns out, a squirrel had started off with the Hello Kitty sandwich container and Jack stopped him just in time. "Mom, what would we have done if I hadn't gotten there in time?" Kayla was very grateful.

New Friends

New Adventures

What Will She Be...

We love to visit the bookstore. Lately, we have been able to let the kids choose books on several occasions from the bookstore. Inevitably, Kayla chooses one about doctors, dentists, or hospitals. Not always great literature but definitely of great interest to Kayla. Pictured are some of her choices. This doesn't include books from the library- there are always a few from there, too.
The funny thing about this theme is that it leads you to believe that Kayla just loves the doctor and dentist. After all, she loves to read about them. Play them. Talk about them.
But...no.
While she can be very optimistic and cheerful as we head to one of these medical offices for a visit, when we get there it's a different story. Usually no tears. No screams. Just- non-compliance. Our kind pediatrician told her that he would pray that her stubbornness would turn into perseverance. I agree.
Although I have to give her credit. She has really gotten a lot better since her 4-year check up.
Maybe, Kayla will be a nurse or a doctor or a dentist one day. She says she want to be a "surgery nurse." And, that if kids are scared, she will "tell them that it will be OK." I hope she gets that chance. In the mean time, we will continue to read and learn all about these medical helpers and hope she continues to enjoy her visits with them a little more!

Summer Fun

This has been a great week for family summer fun. We have all enjoyed having Daddy around more while he is in between school and his new job.

Here are a few highlights!

Our first dip in the pool.

Cotton Candy and a puppy dog on the cheek- all from Family Fun Night at church.

Jack on the giant slide and...

Kayla, too!

An early Father's Day picnic at the park. Notice Samuel helping himself to the Sunchips!

A ride in the paddle boat. Apparently, there were fish, geese, turtles, frogs, and possibly an alligator in the lake! (Kayla reminded the guys to "tell the truth!")

Watching the boat and the geese. Maybe next year Samuel will be in the boat, too!

Oh Gross!

Tonight while flossing Kayla's teeth with a flosser....

"Mom, when we were playing hospital, Jack used the flosser to get the toe jam out of my toes!"

The things that go on when I'm not looking........