Jenga creativity

The game Jenga has provided hours of entertainment recently, though I don't think we've played the actual game!

More Elizabeth

Elizabeth took off up the driveway the other day, right after Becky brought her and Isaac home from the park. She obviously had something in mind -- well, Isaac had been dropped off to bring in a trashcan, and there was another one still out there, so she went out to retrieve it! She brought it all the way home and then went back to get the lid that had fallen off. I was amazed at her perseverance.

Elizabeth Antics

My character, Elizabeth. We dressed her up for Halloween to attend a local church carnival that opens its doors an hour early for special needs kids, and so they don't have to fight the crowds. Elizabeth loves the inflatable play equipment and ran from one thing to another for the entire hour.

Catching Up

Becky thinks she has neglected HER blog -- almost a month has gone by -- sigh! I'll try to get caught up!

A Blessing From God

I am starting to enjoy the "other" end of parenting -- being blessed by wonderful kids! Becky is "just" 16, but she is sure a blessing to me. Today, I was gone for two hours and returned to a picked up house, dinner in the oven, and the table set. I'm sure she got the other kids to help as well, but a sure sign that she was involved is the sink piled with dishes -- definitely a "Becky" sign. I, on the other hand, pile them on the counter by the sink or just wash them as I go.

Becky's friends tease her about being "second mom," but what they don't know is that sometimes she is actually the first mom, because she ends up mothering me (in a good way, of course). It is scary how much she is like me--she understands my frustrations, and a bit of what drives me to overdo. On the other hand, she is a lot different than me. I think she is more balanced in her lifestyle, taking time to do things that are important, not just doing what is urgent. She gives of her time freely, and while she enjoys earning money babysitting, she doesn't expect to get paid every time she helps someone. She enjoys cooking and she has a good sense of style, decor, and color, so she has become the #1 clothing choice consultant in the house! Most of all, she loves the Lord and really tries to let that shine through her life.

In short, I am very blessed, and today am very thankful for my daughter, Becky.

A New Template

Hope you like the new look -- I got frustrated trying to figure out why my text wasn't showing up -- even though it was supposed to be white on the black background, it wasn't doing it automatically. So it was easier to start new -- kind of like moving furniture around :)

Zeke and Soccer

It isn't easy to take decent pictures of soccer action. The one on the left, Zeke had just done a header, and in the one on the right, he is chasing after the ball. His team is doing well this fall, and he is right in the middle of it all.