INDIA IS 2!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRECIOUS GIRL!!!

 

WOOOODIEEE!!

MAKING IT WORK...BOOKSHELF PROJECT

We love books.

 

 

And, we love the library. Our kids like organizing their books by categories and series and we find that as they do, their love for reading grows all the more. They take pride in their book collection and we use reading as a primary resource for homeschooling.

 

When we built our loft, we lost our extensive bookshelves on our landing and the books have found homes on shelves in the boys room since. But, the boys' Lego creations are always competing for space there. The girls have long been desiring to categorize, organize, and prioritize their books in a library of sorts in our house again...though there just hasn't seemed to be a space for it!

 

Or is there...???

 

We're getting creative over here and making it work, building some new, simple bookshelves for our books

and having lots of fun in the process. Here's to documenting our latest space-maximizing project:

 

First, the girls cleaned out the area where their dresser once was, under the window, and we found creative new ways to store what was in their 6 drawers before (under beds, closet buckets, etc.). True to form, we're planning to sell the dresser and use

the $ for the wood to build the shelves...our favorite way to fund our home projects!

 

  

The girls worked busily taking the books off the shelves in the boys room...

 

 

 ...then organized them by categories and series.

 

 

Aida even created an entire book log with descriptions of each series for reference!

(Hey, if it occupies her time in a worthwhile way, I'm all for it! My Aida loves her books!)

 

This is where Daddy comes in...off to Home Depot they went...he and his 4 oldest girls.

 

 

(Thanks for the photos, Aida!)

 

 

The guys got to work on the tall side shelves first:

 

 

Then the girls painted (both the shelves and themselves :)).

 

 

Each of the bottom bunk girls got to pick their favorite books to store at the ends of their beds.

(They had so much fun picking them out!) Then their daddy built a bench/mini bookshelf just for each of them.

 



 

It's inspiring to see the kids so excited about their books as their love for reading grows. It seems that when we emphasize their importance and place value on caring for our books, our fondness for them increases all the more.

 

Thanks for another functional project, Brodie!

I'm sure this investment will spur on our children's love for reading even more so...

a worthwhile project indeed!!

 

  

"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."

Proverbs 18:15

NOVA'S PUPPET SHOW

...and her willing brothers...always up to something fun, these 3 amigos of ours!



CONVICTION

Oh man, is it hard sometimes to be a person of strong conviction.

 

It equals tricky conversations, awkward opportunities, and even persecution at times. But Jesus warned this would be so when we follow Him down paths He's chosen for us that differ from the norm. Jesus lived a life like that. Knowing this helps, a bit.

 

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2 Timothy 3:12

 

It's interesting to grow in conviction, to follow up with a life led by the Spirit.

It really isn't popular! The world can be so abrasive.

 

 "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

 

It's true. Jesus has overcome the world. And so I take heart in Christ alone as He leads and guides and

beckons us out into deep waters. Eyes on Him. Don't look down. Waves, be still. I see you, Lord,

through eyes of heart filled to full and overflowing with passionate, focused conviction...for you.

 

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

Psalm 62:1-2



COOKIES = SMILES :)

{happy brothers}



THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Ah, the sound of music in our home. It's one of my favorite sounds.

 

The kids have always been into singing and shows. It's a regular pastime around here.

But lately they've taken it to the next level with our new theater curtains...the perfect addition to our plays!

 

It's been SO fun to see the creativity burst forth from every single child as they cooperate to

put together exciting productions full of props, costuming, rehearsals, and choreography.

 

I LOVE IT!

 

Recently we all watched a documentary on the real Trapp family who's life

The Sound of Music is based upon and it inspired the kids to revisit the musical classic.

 

Now, it's their turn to put on a performance of their own as they prepare and practice for their own original production of...

 

The Sound of Music!

 

 

First up, casting, costuming, choreography, and dress rehearsals begin:

 

(Every September we stock up on costumes at a local children's resale shop...from pilgrims to nuns...who knew?)

My Favorite Things...(Children playing together like this is one of MY favorite things!)

Cousin Mia is kind enough to join us as Maria (the veteran performer that she is!):

It's a joy to watch the children use their energy in such creative ways, to see them sing and dance to the sound of music!

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!"
Psalm 95:1 



NOW THAT'S PLAY...

...and very Bodemae. :)



DINNER IN THE MORNING

Crock pot on low. Potatoes are prepped. Yams have been wrapped in foil to bake.

 

 

Pie crust is thawing. (One of the girls will do that.) Herbs permeate the kitchen.

Soon the whole house will smell like...home. And we'll be busy all day.

 

 

Rosemary, thyme, garlic, red onion - these, the aromas of love.

We'll savor them throughout our day, anticipating what's to come.

(And oh how nice that it's already done.)

 

There's something about preparing dinner in the morning that works for a girl like me.

 

"She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household."

Proverbs 31:15

ON MY NIGHTSTAND

 (again)

Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson
 (Anything by the Clarksons at Whole Heart Ministries is encouraging!)
 

(and again)
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
(We love this special read aloud edition because it's an extra large hard cover copy.
It's been years since we read through the Little House series and we're all excited to start again!)


(always)
The Jesus Storybook Bible
(Our favorite children's bible for devotions.)

"The wisest of women builds her house."
Proverbs 14:1

(Lord, please help me to build up my home!)

BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY

Up, down, up, down, the roller coaster...LIFE.

 

High, low, fast, slow, roll with the punches, here we go and I believe this is all GOOD.

 

Mundane. So much takes place in the mundane, the nothingness, the quiet whispers and unseen.
Most of the preparation for the highlights brews in the mundane. I accept this.

And it's bitter but sweet this thing called life. It hurts and it heals and it's ALL beautiful.

Up, down, up, down...the circumstances swarm. BUT GOD...He is stable. He is constant. He's the firm foundation when
everything else is changing. He's comfort through the uncomfortable. He's safe when life is hostile. He IS.

"I am."
John 8:58

High, low, fast, slow...how do we keep up?

We fix our eyes on Christ alone through storms and heights of LOVE and JOY. He's in it...every fall, every triumph,
Conductor of melodies, genius Orchestrator, harmonic Composer of bitter sweet symphony...God.

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,
and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."
Hebrews 1:3

"GOODBYE...FOR NOW"

Wow, they're really hard, goodbyes. I've had my fair share.

 

Today we say goodbye to precious friends. Saints if you ask me. Godly sisters and brothers in Christ. It's been a privilege to share life with them. And off they go...to the mission field. I'm so proud. They are serving Him with everything they have and we watch on.

 

Keenly aware that this goodbye is not forever, we await eternity future together and we applaud

as they store up treasure that never looses value. It makes life feel really short.

 

How do we spend it? How do we offer ourselves? What are we living for?

 

We talked about it before taking them to the airport, Brodie and I. How does watching them go feel? What if that were us?

The consensus is clear. To lose our life here is to gain it forever. When Jesus beckons, we go.

 

"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.'

And immediately they left their nets and followed him."

Mark 1:17-18

 

And so, to some of the dearest friends we've ever known we say, "Goodbye...for now."

 

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 16:25

QUESTIONS

The questions have started:

 

Why am I brown?

 

Why is my hair different?

 

Where is Congo?

 

...and we're answering them one.by.one.

 

He feeeels for Bea and Beck. His heart goes out to them.

 

They don't have a mommy and daddy?

 

We need to go get them, he says.

 

Yes, we will go get them. And they will have a mommy and daddy.

 

And they will have black hair.

 

And they will be from China.

And we are all identical on the inside.

And this is God's wise, intentional plan A.

 

And hopefully that will further explain...it seems to already.

 

And more questions will come.

 

And we will answer them all.

 

Lovingly.

 

"Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth." Isaiah 43:6