Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Little Big Boys














Lately the boys have been growing up in leaps and bounds. We've been out hiking and walking a lot lately, and both boys are troopers for long distances! Josiah has graduated from his crib to a toddler bed. Josiah talks all the time and tells "jokes". His favorite jokes are about granola bars - and all the weirdest places one could find a granola bar. Nathaniel laughs hysterically about Josiah's jokes. I gave both of them haircuts today. They have been squabbling and acting like brothers, not at all like babies.

Yesterday we harvested our first peas from the garden. Both boys helped pick a bowl full. Nathaniel loaded them into his dump truck and wheeled them into the house and dumped them on the counter. He called it "hardhat harvesting!" We've also been out strawberry picking/devouring on 4 occasions on a local farm. The boys little red-berry stained faces are a joyful sight to see!

Nathaniel had an opportunity to help promote Daddy to the position of Major in the US Army. Nat ripped off the Captain's patch and put on the new patch for Major. He got it on nice and straight and was very pleased with his official part of the ceremony. We all shook hands and Nathaniel acted very civil for quite awhile! Go TOM! Go Nat! I love you guys!

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Full of Stories

Well, we've returned from our journey to South Africa. We are full of stories, pictures, prayers, and praises. We have new eyes for issues and concerns we've never had faces for. For example - we now know personally the children who are suffering from hunger and the women who cook soup for hundreds of these little ones on a daily basis. And now we've met and been blessed by many others who worship the same God - in their own passionate and lively way!

It was a difficult time for us to parent well and minister to other needy folks, too. Nathaniel was unhappy and upset about everything while we were there and it was difficult to help him with his overwhelming emotions. Honestly, I felt very ineffective and like a failure as I tried to do all things well. But I typically feel that way at home, too. God is working on us, and I do not enjoy His discipline, but trust that through God's workmanship Tom, my children's, and my heart will be changed and our reflection of His glory will be made more perfect through these trials and parenting challenges. We did learn a lot, see a lot, and experienced "real life missions with our kids" (which we've not done before).

South Africa is place of extremes - whites & blacks, wealth & poverty, mountains & plains, violence & peace, donkey-drawn-carts & BMWs, deserts & oceans, modern conveniences & earthen huts, huge elephants & tiny bee-eater birds. I hope you will see that in the pictures and be moved to prayer or to ask questions about how you may be involved, too. You know, a blog is meant to be interactive, so please comment!

By the way, the music in the photo show is titled "Two Weeks in Africa" by Caedmon's Call...check out the lyrics - how appropriate!