Jumping for Jesus

This week's pray and play date got rained out on Monday so we had it on Thursday instead. The theme was, "Jumping for Jesus!" We had a wonderful time.

We began by making "praise shakers."

Next, one of our moms and her nine year old son led us in some wonderful praise music. The children used their shakers and also did hand motions and sang along. We even sang, "Jump for Jesus."



We prayed a psalm of praise and then enjoyed a yummy snack.


Then things got really wild! The children got to bounce in two inflatable bounce houses.



We also had some "Leap for the Lord" sack races.



It was such a fun morning! We were all tired out when we got home, but later in the afternoon we worked on these fun crafts:


They're "bowl" frogs! ;) "Jumping for Jesus!"

My Little Fish

Ray and Adam absolutely love to swim. They are fearless in the water. Ray, especially, is built to swim with such a long torso and long arms. It is awesome that we live just three houses up from our neighborhood pool.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the pool with my sister Reenie and my niece Ava. Since Ava (who is eight) was going off the diving board, Ray was determined to do it too. Although he had done it at swim lessons last year, he had never asked to do it since. The life guard said he could do it as long as he could swim to the ladder and get out of the water on his own. He gave it a try.... fearlessly. He was SO PROUD of himself and SO EXCITED! He proceeded to jump off the board at least 20 more times during the afternoon.

All day today we anticipated the beginning of swim lessons this evening. (We were rained out on Monday and Tuesday.) We had to go early so Ray could jump off the diving board a few dozen times before the lessons started. It is really fun to watch him. He even tries to do tricks!

The lessons went well. Who knows.... maybe we have a future Michael Phelpps - or two - in our midst. Adam told me tonight that he will win a hundred gold medals and give some of them to me. I just hope that both boys will continue to love to swim and work on their skills. I spent my childhood summers at the pool and on the swim team. Maybe they'll do the same.

Great Start

Me: In the shower.... enjoying a few minutes of peace before jumping into the day. (I do my best praying in the shower many days.)

Cacophony of children's voices: "....puke.... something something something..... puke"

Me: "What? Who? Are you ok?"

I turn off the water and open the shower curtain.

Two very worked up boys are jumping up and down in the bathroom yelling things at the same time.

Finally, I get them to take turns.

Ray: "Adam said puke is made up of a bunch of squares. I told him it's really food. Am I right or is he?"

Me: "Really? Did anyone actually puke?"

Ray: "No. Not yet."

I closed the shower curtain, turned the water back on, and really prayed hard for a few minutes before facing the rest of the day.

Fortunately, things have gotten better from there.

Freaky Monday

When I was awakened by the rumble of thunder I should have known what kind of day it would be. Today was not a horrible day; it was more like a weird dream I guess. It included a cancelled play date, a whallop of a tantrum about a colored pencil, shopping plans foiled by a store being closed on Mondays, getting soaked in a downpour, making homemade playdoh, debating at length (with a four year old and a five year old) the relative sizes of the planets, trying to navigate a road that looked more like an ocean because of flash-flooding, finding ants in a kitchen cupboard, and a wet mangy raccoon walking across the road right in front of me in broad daylight. And that's an incomplete sample of today's random weird moments.

On the bright side, I got to spend some fun time with my mom and we even got ice cream at Graeter's.

Weird mixed-up day. None of my plans worked out the way I thought they would.
Oh well. I was able to laugh at most of it. After dinner tonight the sun was poking through the clouds. I went out and looked for a rainbow. I didn't find one, but I felt one in my heart. I felt God's presence and faithfulness. I exhaled, cleaned up the dishes and some lego's, and put the boys to bed.

I don't pretend to know what tomorrow will bring, but I know God will be there with me. I know there won't be anything that the two of us can't handle together.

Goodbye Freaky Monday..... Can't wait for Totally Terrific Tuesday!

A Rainy Day Prayer

Thank you God for ......

LEGOS!

Even though my family room looks like this... the TV is off, the children are engaged and quiet, and I have a moment to breathe.

Thank you God for.....

RAIN!

Even though the ground is muddy and the pool is closed... we are refreshed and cooled. The gardens are watered. The Earth is renewed.

Thank you God for.....<>

GREAT BIG PUDDLES!

Even though the boys are wet and dirty... they had a wonderful time riding their bikes and splashing and stomping. I was thrilled by their sheer joy and exuberance. I was reminded of the magic of childhood. It was fun!

I thank you and praise You, Lord for our many varied days.... for the opportunities to learn and play and work and pray. Open my eyes and my heart to see you everywhere. May I whole-heartedly enter into the experiences, responsibilities, and adventures that come my way. May I praise and honor you as I go about my day, whatever it brings and wherever it leads.

Amen.

***I apologize for the small pictures of the puddles. I took those with my camera phone and am still learning how to use them here.

An Update and A Memory

The update:
Thankfully, our van only needed a new battery! We have it back without too much of a strain on the wallet! Our cars are both paid off and we are hoping and praying that we'll be able to drive them for a long time.

The memory:
Good friends and family, lots of laughter, hush puppies, and peach margaritas! Last year around this time we were at Myrtle Beach. There was an especially wild and fun adventure that began with a crazy twisted ride along the strip.... with an SOS call at the corner of

WINGS

AND A VOLCANO!

My sisters and I finally found our way to:

where we met up with some lovely sophisticated ladies and drank these:
Some of those ladies are heading to visit "THE CAPTAIN" again this week!

I wish I could be there!

Have a margarita for me.... or come visit me soon and I'll make you one here!

What a weekend!

Wow! We sure packed a lot of fun into this holiday weekend, including.... a birthday party for Adam's friend Ryan, two sets of fireworks, a parade, a cookout at our house, sparklers, slip n'slide, swimming, Mass, and a bike parade with our pray and play group!

On Friday night we went to the top of the airport parking garage to watch the big fireworks display they do downtown. It was a great spot to see the beauty without hearing the boom. Adam is proudly displaying his homemade flag. He spent a good part of the weekend learning and singing the song, "You're a Grand Old Flag."
Our view from the airport parking garage (which is conveniently five minutes from our house):Sparklers, lightning bugs, and glow necklaces were exciting treats for the boys this weekend since they stayed up way past their bedtime to watch fireworks two nights in a row!


Make-your-own ice cream sundaes were a big hit at our family cookout, especially for the under-10 set! Here are some of the children lining up for today's bike parade! We all met at a local park and decorated the bikes, wagons, and strollers. We played patriotic music and paraded around the track. It was great fun, especially since many of the dads were off work and were able to participate. It was about a thousand degrees outside, but we still had a good time!



And now for the grand finale.....

Unfortunately, when we returned to our van after the bike parade, it wouldn't start. What a bummer! We ended up having it towed to the dealership and we won't find out a "prognosis" until tomorrow. Fortunately, we had two "angels" who generously helped us! My friend Becky lives right up the street from the park. She welcomed us into her air-conditioned home and fed us lunch. Then my mom came to our rescue. She waited for the tow truck with us and drove us home. (See her car waiting in the background!) Thank you so much Becky and Mom! I am just so glad that this didn't happen when we were traveling or when I was alone with the boys.

All in all, it was a wonderful, fun weekend! We are so blessed to live in freedom and prosperity. We are so blessed to have wonderful family and friends. Thank you God!