Good Things From the Last Weeks

1. I found out my church is making a nursery for "my babies"as it was put! They have already started and Jedidiah so much enjoyed what was done this past Sunday! They've gotten a rocking chair and foot stool, crib/changing area, and toys!! Pastor grabbed up Jedidiah this past Sunday and held him as he greeted everyone on their way out. Jedidiah was quite content!

2. Gabriel had what we thought was the start of care for scoliosis (diagnosed by another doctor) with an orthepedic children's doctor. We found out he is "the picture of health" as the doctor called him and that he does NOT have scoliosis and filled us in on some really important other things! Praise the Lord!

3. Babe and Gabriel hiked for 8 hours this past Saturday for Pikes Peak Summit on the Bar Trail. Gabriel was disappointed they didn't make it but I am sure he will next time. People were asking how old Gabriel was and he got the comment that he was "a tough kid". During this outing Babe figured out something wasn't quite right with himself and he has had one doctor's appt. and waiting for another to confirm things. Probably be having surgery soon. He sees a surgeon on the 18th. Seems like a weird praise but the hike brought things to light for him and it is something that he wants done soon since the girls will be arriving and we need his lifting strength if I end up with a C-section! More on that later if it comes about.

4. Thunderstorms have started. I LOVE thunderstorms!!!

5. Gabriel had training at the Ranch. He got to chink the cabin or fill in chinks in the cabin with ash, sand, straw, etc. He was told to kick the woodpile before he touched it! There are rattle snakes and snakes have been seen around the wood pile. He got to show a group of kids how to use the corn husker as did other trainees. The man and lady that are supervisors and kind of act like "parents" seemed very kind. The man made the kids that were there for training pancakes and bacon out on the homestead fire for something special! The bacon was from one of last years pigs.

6. My baby shower at church was so special. I was definitely showered with gifts, diapers, money. The church as a whole gave me $200 towards a double stroller!! I also have a lot of adorable twin girl outfits!!
I shared with the ladies two things that made me think of my church.
I Thessalonians 5:11
"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
(Annalina and I decorated frames with ribbon, flowers, and dazzle and put this Bible verse in it as a thank you to the ladies.)

"The more tightly we are attached to Jesus, the more purely His love can pass through us. And oh, what a love it is!--Max Lucado

AWANA Awards Night

The kids REALLY enjoyed AWANA Awards night. They had never received a ribbon before so it was all so fun!!

Gabriel received 2 ribbons, a Sparks plaque, for the 3 books he completed and then he was surprised with the Sparky of the Year Medal!!

Annalina received 2 ribbons for the 2 books she completed.

And Ross received his last patches for the year and also his Cubbie Bear for doing his book. During the ceremony the Gabriel and Annalina's group sang and they did a great job. I could tell Annalina was "smiling with her eyes" just as her Auntie Theo taught her to!!

After the ceremony was a cookie reception and the kids had a great time running around and playing with other kids!

A church of much JOY

I didn't write anything about yesterday (Sunday) and I really had wanted too!

It was the 2nd Sunday at Rock of Ages Baptist Church and it was another Sunday of absolute blessing and challenge!!! I am going to the couples class which is a great challenge with raising and having a Biblical family and then church is just powerful on the Christian walk in general. In Sunday school it is a series on David. This Sunday was on "The Adversary". I Samuel 18:8-30 It was about the adversary Saul was to David (envy-of Saul, etc.) and how David responded to it and likened it to our adversary the Devil. There was a lot to it that is a small synopsis. He ended by saying "The more you gain the more you have to lose."

The kids love it and I do too. They have Sunday school and Children's Church and have been learning about forgiveness. Last Sunday as we were walking out of church Gabriel asked me how I liked my church?! I said "I loved it". In church it was the second sunday a child/teenager sat next to me.

This Sunday the girl sitting next to me was wearing an elastic waisted pleated (all the way around!) skirt which was meant for someone in there 60's or up. She wore what she had that was proper for church. She used to live with her mom and she said she wasn't able to go to school all the time because her mom (whom she said kept marrying losers) would end up in a fights with them and then she couldn't go to school. She now lives with an Aunt. What a blessing to see her and as I looked behind me a teenager with grunge street clothes singing hymns (not mumbling!). What a work!

The last 2 Sunday nights I have sat in the back of the church because the kids are with me and BOTH Sunday nights a lady (different ladies) in the church looked back and saw me and came to sit with me! They are full of God's love.

There is so much JOY in the church! Laughter comes so easily and so often! Laughter and joy are good for the soul! Prov. 15:13,15, 17;22

Gabriel was listening VERY WELL to the sermon last night about the Amalekites!! That thrills my heart.