Hangin' Out

I walked through the hallway and had to laugh. It didn't even seem abnormal to have our laundry drying all around the woodstove. :) Guess I've been here too long.

Less Is More

Look at our big seven year old who lost his two front teeth this week!

Advertsing for DummYs

I really saw this sign yesterday in Sarajevo:

BM quick fast food

Although fast food has been know to give many a quick BM, I didn't realize it was something to advertise.

What?

Oh little Jacob...Our littlest has had a difficult time learning how to say some things. Rachel and Brent often serve as translators to the rest of the world to articulate exactly what he is saying. Recently, he is speaking more and more clearly....which is not necessarily always good. This week he ask a visitor. "Han I 'sh-it' in your lap?" I had to laugh at the surprising clarity of his apparent request.

Milestones and Memories

In the last couple months I've been busy living life, too busy to write about it. Some recent milestones include:

• Brent's "Spider-man" seven birthday, complete with a web cake, a first pin-yata, and a sleep over!



• Jacob can count to 10, and learned his colors & shapes!



• Rachel is my little helper and loves to help me cook (especially sweet things).



• A few family days in Austria complete with: getting lost, breaking down, 10 hours to repair van, spending the night in the van...but worth it all!



• Brent lost his front tooth :) last week.



• Rachel has been dancing around the house in her new leotard and slippers with her "Angelina Balerina".



• Jacob is facinated with his geo-train. He loves to set it up and drive for hours!



• Brent went skiing for the first time with his daddy and our Brazilian team-mates!

These are my riches, my delight.

A Warm Bath

Recently I woke up early with hopes of a relaxing bath before the kids started bouncing around the house. As I slipped into my warm, bubbly bath I heard the pitter-patter of my youngest child heading for the bathroom. He burst in with a smile and said, "I want a baff wiff you!". I helped him get undressed and in the tub (what choice did I really have?). He slipped down into the deep, warm water and grinned. Then he quickly added, "I din't pee in da wader!!!!"

Life with children is always full of surprises, and sometimes so is your bathwater.

Kid-sized Compassion

Last night I was feeling very pleased about a conversation I was having with Brent (6) and Rachel (5). They were asking why I was preparing some food to take down to the elderly couple who lives in our basement; and why they lived there. I explained that we allow them to stay there because they have no money, no home and no job. I further took the opportunity to share with them the importance that Jesus placed on caring for people by meeting their real needs, like food and clothing. Brent kept firing away questions, while it seemed I could see the compasion and understanding growing in Rachel's eyes. Just when I thought I had conveyed the importance of these matters, Rachel nodded empathetically and said, "Yes, they are sooooo---poor they can't even afford teeth! They just chew with their lips!". I nearly burst out laugh. Compassion...kid-sized.