August's Account

Our crazy little piece of Rhys turned 8!

We celebrated with friends at Rock River Rapids, family dinner at Hog Wild, and bedtime treats with neighbor friends.

The triplets moved to their permanent big kid rooms.

Well, sort of. The old nursery was repainted and decorated to become Keira's new bedroom. Downstairs has now become the "boy zone" with the big boys in one room and the little boys sharing the room next door. Having said all that, I just can't stand to separate the triplets yet, so Keira has joined the party, sleeping temporarily on a futon. (Confession - "temporarily" could last a while.)

Keira's Room (Someday)

Little Boy's Room

 Griffen and Rhys started school at Sunrise Christian Academy.

We are absolutely beyond excited that God opened up the opportunity for our older boys to transition to traditional school this year. With nine days under their belt already, we have heard nothing but positive feedback so far. They love their teachers, classmates, and opportunities. Griffen has even started band,working diligently to learn the French Horn. He gives the new school a 10 star rating!  

Griffen - 5th grade

Teacher - Mrs. Meier

Rhys - 3rd grade

Teacher - Mrs. Buchanan

Awana started up again.
This year we have three in Puggles and two in T&T.

 With big brothers away at school all day, I have much more focused time with these three cuties!

Plain and simple - Taerik is the golden child. (I can't believe I just admitted that publicly.) This happy little redhead is so very, very easy to love. He is full of snuggles and giggles. Plus, being fairly timid in nature, he is rarely the source of trouble. 

And then there's Drake. Do you see that little face??? It is T.R.O.U.B.L.E. This quintessential class clown is so very, very hard to discipline because he is so stinkin' cute and funny. Whether he is sitting there holding the 20 opened suckers he crept into the kitchen to enjoy or smiling with his chipped front tooth, he just makes me smile. 

And Keira is my little chunk of spunk. She still loves her jewelry and bows, but she also loves her fighter jets and "pow-pow's" (guns). 

She is developing quite the sense of individuality. She loves to pick out her own clothes in the morning and she even put together this lovely ensemble all by herself.

This girl knows what she wants. Who knew that getting the diapers with the big monkey's, as opposed to the little monkeys, could be SUCH a big deal? 

At about 4:15 each day, we sit by the front window and wait for "Pippen" and "Ree" to come home from school. They are welcomed by a very happy trio and a mom eager to hear about their day. The evening is filled with dinner, homework, music practice, baths, and clean-up. And while I wearily crawl into bed at night, I am reminded that this is God's goodness to me! Five healthy children. A godly husband. Strength for each day. Sleep. So many answered prayers.

 "I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my please for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live."

(Psalm 116:1-2)

July's Jollity

I know what you're thinking. Jollity? Really? Is that even a word? Well, yes it is. So is 'jollification', 'jocularity', and 'junketing'. Trying to come up with yet ANOTHER alliterated blog post title was more stress than I needed today, so give me a little credit.

July was filled with 13 different house guests, a national holiday, and regular old life with two year old triplets. So much busyness! So much continual change! So much fun!  

Fourth of July weekend was spent with Rob's sister and family from Ohio.

Cow Appreciation Night at Chick-Fil-A

Family Night at Rock River Rapids

Griffen & Rhys go to Jr. Camp

And in regular life....

We got rid of the high chairs this month, giving me this new view each evening at dinner.

Keira has emptied about 5 packs of wipes so far this month.

She has also emptied some diaper rash cream in an effort to be a hair stylist.

One Wednesday evening at church proved to be a comedy of errors, when Keira soaked through her shorts, and daddy ripped his pants and forgot his baseball cleats for the church softball game. 

These little blessings sure do keep me moving, but they also keep me smiling.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, 

those who build it labor in vain....

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord."

(Psalm 127:1, 3)

NEW SONG PUBLISHED - On Paths To Answered Prayer

I can remember the single darkest day of my life. Our family had endured an extended season of loss and suffering. I was laying on my bathroom floor one Saturday morning in November just sobbing when out of the blue I received a phone call from an acquaintance at church. Susan and I knew each other casually, but that day she called to ask if we could get together that week for coffee. In my weakened emotional state, I muttered, "How about right now?" One hour later, I was sitting across from Susan in our local Village Inn restaurant unloading my life story.

"Where does the pastor's wife go when she doubts the goodness of God?"
"What do I do when everything in my theology clashes with my reality?"
"Does prayer really work?"

That day, something very special happened. Susan enlisted in my spiritual battle with me. Just weeks later, it was Susan who cooked and delivered the entire Thanksgiving feast to the family I so suddenly regretted inviting. In my season of sorrow, I had no more energy to entertain. It was Susan who sent me some of the most thoughtful gifts I had ever received - a box of kleenex with the words, "He will wipe every tear from their eye"; a pillow with the words, "He gives His beloved sleep"; a glass bottle with the words, "He puts all your tears in a bottle." But above all these tangible acts of love, Susan faithfully began praying for me.

As the weeks and months passed by, I soon learned that Susan faced her own spiritual battles. In her late 30's, she had long desired a husband and children. Despite years of faithfully pleading with God, He seemed to remain distant and uncaring. It was now my time to take up her spiritual battle with her.

Along our journey together, we discovered some beautiful truths about God. In His power and compassion, God surprised me with triplets - a gift far beyond anything I could have imagined. And God also blessed Susan. At age 39, she walked down the aisle at her wedding. I wrote and dedicated this song to her as a wedding present. It truly bears witness to the many lessons we learned along our paths to answered prayer.

Click the link to listen to a demo recording - On Paths To Answered Prayer.