Gabriel's Last Day at Swim Camp

 (Board showing lane assignments)

Last day at swim camp was a swim meet that parents could come too.

Gabriel was nervous before hand but enjoyed it once it got going.

He's been going to the Air Force Academy daily this past week for training and he has gotten

AMAZING training. They use ipads to video them swimming and then a coach shows them

what they are doing incorrectly. It was tiring but Gabriel thought it did not compare to wrestling.

Gabriel was definitely an underdog here with plenty of talent around him to push him. In the individual races though he only came in last once which was nice.  We were thrilled he had the opportunity to be coached so well and improve!!

A coach caught me at the end of the meet and told me that Gabriel was quite a young man 

and had a great attitude, etc.

Funny story. Gabriel did NOT want to wear the Air Force Swim cap because he felt like it was

sending a false impression. I told him it was given to him and he WAS at the Academy for camp it 

 wasn't like he bought it at a garage sale and pretended. I appreciate his honest and sensitive heart though!!

Airforce Academy Swim area. One of them anyway. This isn't 

even the whole room. The diving pool is on the end.

Gabriel waiting for his race to start.

Carson and Ross both enjoyed watching the kids that were there for diving.

When they dove from the 10m my stomach turned!!

Scary stuff!

Gabriel is on block 6.

Jedidiah was exhausted and finally conked out!!

Gabriel up on the block waiting his turn in the relay race.

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

Part 2 Gabriel's 11th Birthday!

 Celebrating the 11th birthday of our first born was quite something. Time flies . . . the birth and aftermath of Gabriel's birth were very tough but all worth every minute of it. Gabriel is a gem and he lights up our home. Gabriel is a kind heart and a sweet soul. Don't let that fool you though. He is

a determined and brave young man.

I meant to blog this earlier but never did. Weeks back he had a wrestling tournament and honestly got

his butt kicked. He was thrown around like a rag dog the first match and came off and told me "That was almost humerous." He almost blacked out in one match and had the wind knocked out of him in another with the coach rushing out to check on him. Hard on a Mommy, actually even his Daddy to watch him go through all that. He ended up wrestling kids that had been in wrestling for YEARS and not months! 

I say all this to say Babe and I were so proud of him. He was very nervous but never gave up, never complained and fought as hard as he could and did get better as the matches went on. 

I dare say there are MANY kids that would NOT have completed some of those matches but not Gabriel. I saw that day that he had turned into a young man. I was proud of his attitude and his actions. It wasn't just us though but also his coach was really pleased with how Gabriel handled it. He noticed the battle marks Gabriel had received during the day. 

Babe and I were drained by the end of that day.
Babe was there to help coach him and I was there for support. I knew I could not give the typical Mommy support. I knew I had to stay positive and encouraging. At the end of the day he said "Thank you for encouraging me today Mommy." Worth it all.

My little boy isn't little anymore he's quickly becoming a man and part of becoming a man (as we read in a book weeks back) is understanding who you are and being comfortable with it and that is

what I see in Gabriel. He may not be the best wrestler but you still fight the fight and do your best.

 Ross really was on me to take him to Family Dollar so

he could buy Gabriel a birthday present! He got him a good present too!

Travel Battleship!!

 Carson drew Gabriel and picture of Gabriel 

climbing on our jungle gym! Pretty cute!

 Auntie Theo and Uncle Q got him a crystal growing kit. I am sure

he'll have a grand time with that this summer.

His Uncle B got his a hiking backpack. I don't have a picture of it yet!

 Gabriel opening and seeing that Grandma and Grandpa J got

him an ipad for his birthday!!

 Gabriel wearing his new hat he got from his Uncle Q for his birthday!

He loves it!

 Jedidiah enjoyed all the exploring.

Gabriel wanted to go Putt-Putt golfing on his birthday so we did!

We had such a fun time. We all want to go back!

Gabriel even ran into a friend of his there which he

thought was really fun!

 Annalina really improved as she played!

 The Kiddos had a GREAT golfing adventure!!

 Jedidiah showing no fear! :-)

 Jedidiah getting a break on Daddy's back.

 The Wild West Miniature Golf course was so fun!

 It was very cute watching Carson play miniature golf!

 Oh Dear! Ross hit his ball into the water!

Part 1 of Gabriel's 11th Birthday!

 Gabriel wanted to do the cake part of his birthday celebration

while his Uncle B and Cousin C were here. So on Saturday 

night we sang Happy Birthday to Gabriel and they got to eat cake!

We just got it celebrated before it was time to go to bed! At least we got it accomplished!

Getting Ready to Work at Rock Ledge Ranch

Right next to Garden of the Gods is a living history museum open during the summer months and it is called Rock Ledge Ranch. You can go and see how people in Colorado lived in the late 1800's. There are different areas to visit . . . Native American, Homesteading, etc.

This spring Gabriel was interviewed for one of their children volunteer docent positions. They only choose the children to work half the summer for just shy of 6 hours a week. I was told a lot of kids apply and only a certain number are chosen. I told Gabriel if he didn't get chosen we'd know it wasn't what God had planned for him. I thought it would be a good experience for him to go through an interview and see what it is like no matter what the outcome.

He went into his first interview with the man that seems to be if not at the top of running the museum than near it. It was a full fledged interview asking him question after question. "If you could go back to any time in history what time would it be?" or "If a child was visiting the museum and did .  . .  what would you do?" I was in a room somewhat close but couldn't really hear the words just the tone. It sounded like they were having fun! Sure enough Gabriel came out and told me that he actually really enjoyed it and that the man was really nice!

Warning Parental Bragging Paragraph for my own memories and Gabriel's future encouragement

Feel free to skip over!!!!:

Time went by and one day a voice mail was left for me saying Gabriel had been selected and how impressed they had been with him. I later I talked to the lady she told me more about how they really were impressed by him and told me that usually kids don't score very high on the interview points and she said Gabriel got a perfect score!!! Gabriel doesn't know that he just knows he had a lot of fun talking to this man!

Gabriel started his training this week. He came home even MORE excited. I was excited about what he was learning too. Learning, of course, how to talk to the people who come through and about interpreting history to the people who come. They also had a safety chat, etc.  He was so excited.

Saturday after the tournament I took the kids to the ranch to pick up Gabriel's period costume. It was one of those beautiful only in Colorado type days. Ok, maybe not only in Colorado but it doesn't get much better than Colorado!! Not to cold not to hot just beautiful! Gabriel picked up his costume which again made him even more excited. Then the kids wanted to stay and just explore around for awhile. Gabriel said to me "I can't believe I'm going to work here!" He is excited about doing homestead WORK. He was selected to work at the homestead sight. He seems excited about whatever that entails even if it is shoveling manure.

Jedidiah exploring a trail on Rock Ledge Ranch.

This is Galloway Homestead where Gabriel will be volunteering this summer.

An outside oven at Galloway Homestead.

Homestead house.

Coming into Rock Ledge Ranch with Pikes Peak in the Background.

Homestead boy from the late 1800's. Gabriel wanted to

keep his outfit on! He likes it.

Part of the ranch.

Goose and gosling at the ranch. The kids LOVED seeing this.

They insisted a picture must be taken.

ranch

ranch

Dirt, trees, birds= FUN!

Ross at the ranch pond.

Gabriel and Jedidiah at the ranch.

Gabriel kept trying to get Jedidiah not to eat and suck on rocks!

Such a beautiful ranch. No wonder Gabriel said

"I can't believe I am going to work here!"

Jedidiah really enjoyed time in the dirt.

Just Tid Bits for my Memories

Just tid bits of memories for me to put down:

Ross and Carson: Can't remember if I already put this down but just in case I haven't . . . Ross and Carson were playing indians. I heard Carson say "I'm scared" then Ross "Indians are never scared . . . then get out of the tribe." Carson again "I'm a scared indian". HILARIOUS!!!

Carson: I had just finished reading a book to Carson and he said "Mommy, I like you." I think so far Carson is the kid that enjoys books read to him the most at this age.

Carson: I mentioned in his birthday blog entry he is maturing here is a for instance. It other day we was being naughty and crying about nothing big. Something we really work on with him. Anyway, all on his own he came to me and said "I'm sorry Mommy." I talked to him about praying and saying I'm sorry to Jesus and he asked me to pray with him and sit on his bed.

Carson: Can't remember the whole story here but I wrote down something cute Carson said. I believe they were putting things in water and seeing what happens. We have an aircraft carrier not made for water play but they put that in. Carson said "The aircraft carrier floated and I was perplex and I thought, WOW!

Carson: I short time ago I worked with Carson on writing his name. After he wrote it for the first time I encouraged him to go and show Gabriel and Annalina. As he was walking down the stairs I heard him holding the paper in both hands in front of him and saying "I did a GREAT job!"

Carson: Carson was playing army/soldier whatever with Ross and I heard him say in a firm army voice "Sir, I love you" to Ross. Pretty cute.

Carson: Carson was in a bad way one night and hurt his mouth. He was overly tired. He asked me to lay down with him awhile when he went down for bed that night. As we are laying there he says "it's (his mouth) is going to hurt in the morning, and at night, and spring and forever." Gabriel walked in as he was saying this and made some comment as to the drastic comment. Then things settled and he was quiet and just before laying down I had eaten some boiled eggs . . . all of a sudden I hear Carson say "Your breath smells violent." I thought that was pretty funny. It probably did smell a bit funky! He was trying to say Ross's favorite word for gross "vile."

Gabriel: He changed the order in which he did devotions and leisure reading because he read about needing to focus on God's words over men's words.

Gabriel: The older kids ask me questions about if you could do this or that what would you do. Like maybe where would you go in the world, etc. It is often hard for me to answer because my focus in life has really changed and I don't dream the same way I did when I was young. I have a different focus and that is my children.

One day one of my dreams came to me and I told Gabriel I remembered that I had really wanted to go to the Netherlands during the spring and see the tulips. I believe it was days later and he came to me and said that when Daddy and I are old he is going to send send us tickets in the mail to go see the tulips. What a sweet kiddo. Love him. I want him to come too because I know he would love it as much as me if not more.

Gabriel: We were somewhere where there was a fence and I had been there before and didn't think there was away around the wood fence. I was contemplating how to get under it as last time I was there I wasn't the size I am now. I was very aware of some one sitting in a car faced toward us in the parking lot and made a remark about people laughing. Gabriel said "I don't care if people laugh I just want you to be safe." That is my Gabers. Another way around was found by Ross. My protectors.

Gabriel: Gabriel and I went on a Mommy/Son date a few Saturdays back. The same evening Daddy took Annalina to a fancy steak dinner at The Famous in downtown Colorado Springs. Anyway, Gabriel and I went to a dive in Woodland Park for breakfast. When we got inside the restaraunt we went to a booth and does Gabriel sit across from me? NO, he sits right next to me on the same side. We had a great time and he was telling me he wished we could do that more. We'll have to try! I love my kids and I am thankful with all my flaws they love me. It warms my heart in a BIG way.

Funny Stories of Brotherhood

Story #1:
I was giving Carson and Jedidiah a bath the other day and I was pouring water over Carson's head to get him ready for shampoo. He does NOT like water over his head and he started panicking and I told him "Don't do that in front of Jedidiah. You show him how to do it."

Next was Jedidiah's turn and Carson says "You have to be brave Baby." Jedidiah does great at one point in this process he is smiling broadly.

I go back to Carson and put on the shampoo and start rinsing his hair and Carson is writhing and making gutteral noises but holding it together. When I got done rinsing his hair he look at Jedidiah who already tried to make the noise he made and Carson said "That is how it is done." I had to laugh! How cute is that!!! He is agonizing through it but trying to put on a brave front for his little brother and then tells him "That is how it is done." WAY TOO FUNNY!!!

Carson said to him later in the tub "I love you Baby!"

Story #2:
Carson was down stairs playing by himself and all of a sudden I heard a very loud crying. Annalina came to me and told me Carson was hurt pretty bad and he was! I was a bit shocked! He must have been running very fast because he said he ran into the edge of a door. He had a HUGE HUGE purple lump sticking out of his head. It was shocking. I tried to comfort him and mentioned maybe we should put some frozen vegetables on his head (a bag to bring down the swelling). Oh my, this threw him into a tizzy fit at the mention of it!!! Who knows why. Kids have different ways of viewing things! Anyway, he was so upset he went and shut himself into his room distraut at the very inhuman idea of Mommy's!!! Gabriel being the kid he is went to the door and talked him down and brought him one of those frozen flavored sticks out of the freezer. Suddenly everything was better and the world was again righted due to his brothers thoughtfulness. The funny thing is after he had calmed down he looked at Gabriel and said "Next time bring me a green one." What a pair. My parents and my Aunt B got a big kick out of this story.

Not a story of brotherhood but cute. Carson told me today that Annalina is a good buddy. They are good buddies. Carson and I had a great time today sitting on the rocking chair and at his request singing. We called Grandma and Grandpa and he sang the song that starts out . . . "Alas and did my Saviour bleed and did my Sovereign die . . . etc. Carson LOVES singing. He sang so well on his own and our way down to church this past Sunday. I love it.

Spring Piano Recital

This recital the theme was music from around the world. They both did a great job!
Unfortunately, Annalina's video seemed to have a problem when uploading and gets cut off. :-(

Our Biggest News

I mentioned it briefly in the last post but in January I found out I was pregnant. I have been journaling my pregnancy in a post I have just kept unposted for now as I continue to add to it. It has been a typical pregnancy in that I have been really sick but the pregnancy became not so routine a few weeks back when I started bleeding and went to the ER to find out I was pregnant with twins!

They are adorable! I've been able to see them a number of times and they both have a very distinct personality. Baby A is a girl (mild mannered) and Baby B (CRAZY, show off and maybe a bit ornery) they think is a girl but not for positive yet. I was THRILLED to find out we were having another girl and I'll be thrilled no matter what Baby B is. My mommy intuition said A was a girl and B a boy before the ultrasound and one was right so we'll see how it all turns out!

Fatigue has been extreme this time around. Today I fell asleep on the floor while Ross was doing his math test next to me! I woke up to me making a snoring sound and Ross started laughing telling me he told me to Oink like a pig and I did. That is my Rossers!

Yesterday I read a break down of the Proverbs 31 woman in a book I just started Large Family Logistics and today I was exhausted and like you got to be kidding me!! Jedidiah has been really fussy. I think his top front teeth are getting ready to appear. A lot easier to deal with when you can just pick him up but I can't due to restrictions put on me by my doctor. Thankfully I have children willing and able but each time I ask the 4th grader it is another opportunity for her to lose focus for the next however many minutes. I think I spent over an hour today giving a first grader a spelling test, etc. Then a pink envelope came to my hands from my daughter and inside a thank you card.

Dear Mommy,
Your the Best! Thank you for taking care of me. Thank you for you. 
Love,
Annalina

That's my Annalina. Last night she told me "No one could replace you." This from a girl whose Mommy is a bit emotional at times these days and was annoyed the other day over how she was licking an envelope! She was allowing the spit to stack up and then smear it on! Nice job on my part being patient, long suffering, gentle, kind, etc., huh?! Reminds me of that prayer where they tell God all the things they haven't done that day and then say and now I'm about ready to get out of bed! Ha, to funny! I'm human. My kids know I'm human and they know I know I'm human. I often think this is part of why we have good relationships. I'm sorry is something Mommy says too.

Thankfully I know the hormones will dye down. My energy level will come up and Lord willing I'll have 2 beautiful babies to love on. It's all good and it's all worth it!



OK, a funny story from yesterday. I called Gabriel upstairs for a special mid-morning snack someone gave to us. Gabriel came upstairs and looked upset about something. I asked him what was wrong? "I've been getting distracted." Gabriel usually does well staying focused. I said "How did you get distracted in your school room?" He really looked upset (no joking). "If only I weren't in a library." I started laughing and laughing. I said if your grandpa and Daddy were here they would sympathize with you! He had been pulling a book or books off the shelf to read during his school time and knew it was not the right use of time and was disgusted with himself. Pretty funny. As Babe said when I told him the story and he also thought it hilarious was that if it was Annalina it would be paper clips and erasers that would distract her. Another difference to though is she wouldn't let it bother her as much as it did Gabriel unfortunately! :-) They are all different so different.

Today I heard Carson say to Annalina "I love you". Annalina said "I love you to Carson". About 5 minutes later I heard Carson say to Annalina "I like to play with you Anna." Annalina said "I like to play with you to Carson." Annalina walked over to me and said "Carson and I have a special relationship." I already knew that and had just told my mom that a day or so ago! They don't cross each other much and adore each other. Annalina has come to me and said how much she gets a kick out of Carson. Homeschooling isn't always easy but it sure has it's rewards. She has at times given him an extra copy of her math homework page so he can do "math" too.

Carson got hurt yesterday and I offered to kiss his owiee. I wish I could remember what he said! It was ADORABLE but after I kissed him everything was better. Wonder how long my super mommy healing power will last.

I'm Addicted . . .

Addicted to being a wrestling mommy. On Saturday Gabriel and Ross had their first wrestling tournament. The Gold Rush Tournament. As you can see in the videos Ross didn't even have the right gear yet except for the wrestling shoes. It was obvious the boys were newbies.  They have only had weeks of practice. They were nervous which was understandable. After walking into the tournament it was WAY bigger than I had imagined little kids wrestling would be!

I am having trouble getting pictures up on my blog but can get video up so here is Ross wrestling. I got pictures of Gabriel. Hopefully next tournament I can get some up of him. Although, this was the last tournament of this type for the season. Through the summer the boys will be working on Freestyle and Grecco Roman wrestling which is different. Grecco Roman (I believe) you can't use your legs.

The boys main coach is Sieracki (I think that is how it is spelled). It is an honor for the boys to be taught under him as he and his brother are well known names in the wrestling world. Both are 10 time Department of Defense Champions. Next week there is no practice because it's spring break and their coach goes to Washington State to put on a wrestling camp.

 The coach REALLY enjoys having all three boys. He keeps bugging Babe about having the boys here for high school because he told Babe he wants a strong team to take state and obviously thinks they have what it takes. At practice last night he asked again when Brian thought we'd be back to Colorado. He's SERIOUS and Babe says the coach openly hopes one of the twins is a boy (we already know one is a girl). Which we are THRILLED about! There needs to be girls to cheer them on!

The brother of the coach was filling in for him at the tournament Saturday was shocked by Ross. After the first match the coaches brother took Ross and showed him the Half Nelson on Brian. The next match was the one above where he won again. He used the move he had JUST learned over and over again! Fast learner. The coaches brother turned to Brian during one of the matches and said "you have to be kidding me?" The head coach had told Babe Ross was a natural athlete and later he said to Brian "didn't I tell you?"

 I only video'd 2 matches.  In the video you can tell Ross doesn't understand everything that was going on. He keeps looking over for advice on what to do next otherwise with more experience he would have had the one kid pinned. The first video they stopped the match because the score was 19 to 2 and I guess Ross won on a technical fall? because he was so far ahead. The next match was the gold/silver match and obviously Ross lost to being pinned. Earlier a kid in the tournament came up to Ross and told him he hoped he won which was nice. Ross didn't even know why they were lifting up his hand and would come off the mat and ask who won. Pretty funny. He took winning and losing really well.

Ross won the silver in his FIRST tournament! After the tournament he went and handed it to Gabriel because he wanted Gabriel to have it. Gabriel VERY KINDLY said "you earned that Ross you need to keep it . . . your uncles are going to want to see it." That statement really gets me. Gabriel knows wrestling was a big deal for his uncles. Ross was crushed Gabriel wouldn't take it. When we got home Babe and I talked to Ross and said both boys had done the right thing. Ross was being EXTREMELY generous with his brother and Gabriel was an older brother that understood the value of doing his own work. Ross understood after that. Almost always when Ross prays he thanks God for wrestling and sometimes rock climbing (have yet to post about that). I also want to post the influence of especially rock climbing on his academics.

Gabriel although he lost his matches did a good job. If he was not a strong boy it would have been a different story. These kids had wrestled for years. He also has the potential along with Ross to be a very good wrestler. It is going to take time and lots of practice. One of the kids that beat him had a mohawk and was quite intimidating in his looks but came to one of Gabriel's later matches to cheer him on which was really nice.

Carson is also in wrestling but is not ready for tournaments. We don't think he understands the point yet. There is no rush. Babe takes ALL the boys to wrestling practice and Babe told me that last night when the boys were doing push ups Jedidiah put his hands on the mat with his butt up in the air. One of the wrestling parents got a kick out of that. Jedidiah was terrified the first few matches on Saturday. Daddy and Mommy were yelling and yelling and one of his brothers was fighting with someone! Finally, he realized all seemed well with us and was ok with it.

 The wrestling world people are SOOOO nice and casual. Very different atmosphere than the ballet moms in Monterey! I am not around the wrestling people as much as Babe is but the contact I did have with them was positive. Babe really enjoys the time he spends with the boys and the people which is great. Wrestling is a mid-western thing.

Here is a note from my mother-in-law concerning the videos. She was a wrestling mom when Babe and his brothers were growing up and she understands the intenseness of a match!

Wow, that sure brings back memories!  Abigail, you sounded just like me when I would be cheering on our boys.  I would be very nervous before a meet....I'm sure I was more anxious than the boys ever were.   During the matches, I felt like I was pushing out the wall behind me while cheering them on!  I'd be squirming and yelling.  Thanks so much.  That was great.  Keep them coming.  Love it!!

Love,

Ma Lysne

Growing in Wisdom and in Stature

Haven't been posting much of recent which means so much I haven't gotten down for my memories.  I am just going to get some down in this post and have to catch up with other things later.


A couple weeks ago Gabriel came to me one night with a fear that was really eating at him. We had talked about the same problem before and tried to figure out ways of helping him. He prayed and prayed about it, think of other things, etc. Then that night I decided to approach it totally differently. God gave me that divine wisdom quickly that He so graciously sends to us parents in times of need. I encouraged Gabriel to just trust in God's sovereignty. Another words hand over his deepest fear to God knowing that His ways are best not knowing His choice. Gabriel said something to the effect of "I know this will sound bad but that is even more scary." I told Gabriel actually that is not surprising. It is in indeed scary. Of course, it shouldn't be but the fact of the matter is it is. Our finite minds don't comprehend His ways. I told Gabriel if he can start doing this at 10 it will help him a lot that he learned it early!!!  I didn't hear anything for weeks and sure enough he came to me last night and said that there was only a little bit left now and acknowledged that it had really helped. I told him he'll have remnants that will attack from time to time. I also said that God doesn't like to see him with the discomfort and is thinking if Gabriel could only understand His love for him. I told Gabriel just because you may reach peace with this situation he'll have to relearn trusting in God's sovereignty throughout his life but the fact that he started that kind of faith at a young age would strengthen him in the future. I told him I was proud of him. He looked shocked I would be proud of him in this situation. I said I'm proud of you because working on this takes character.

He could easily just give into his fears. I told him I could tell him gimmicks to use to help with his mind but trusting in God's sovereignty is the good solution.

He told me just recently he wanted to grow up to be like David of the Bible. We've talked about how God called him a "man after his own heart" despite his failures because of his sensitivity of having a right heart with God. I told Gabriel David had a lot of fear in his life. I encouraged Gabriel to read in the Psalms when he was having problems and he has found encouragement in that.

Let me add to my thoughts on this. I talked to someone that was in need of prayer and I said that I would be praying for them. The response was one I had never heard before said something to the effect of "God is going to . . . " They were confident in what God was going to do. The faith is commendable but the statement bothered me and I pondered why? I came to the conclusion it was being presumptive of God and His sovereignty. Even if God has called us to something can't He call us to failure all to work together His good in our lives? We should rest in God's sovereignty but not presume to know the workings of it.

I am not Presbyterian. I have read books by conservative Presbyterians and seen their mode of worship. I will say conservative Presbyterians have the most amazing attitude toward events both in their lives and in the world. I love their spiritual perspective and it is an attitude I have worked on of late in my own life.

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Gabriel told me the other day that at night when the boys were laying in their beds Carson said to him . . . "Gabriel I think you are a good person." Gabriel is the first born and can be a bit hard on himself so this statement obviously meant a lot to Gabers as it should.

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Carson came to me the other day and said "coughing, brushing teeth, sneezing (and I think one other thing) all at the same time was a nightmare." I just had to laugh. That is so cute. That would indeed be a nightmare!
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I told Carson this week that he was growing bigger and he said to me with a goofy face "and funnier."

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I was sitting at the dining room table teaching Ross his math lesson for the day and Annalina had come out of her school room to work at the table. She was listening to what I was teaching and said "That is the associative property of addition". Say what? I had no clue what she was talking about. What a smart little girl. I called Babe at work and told him. He said to tell Annalina he was proud of her. She was able to learn the concept and apply it! Good for her!!!! Math is not her first love nor her strong point but she is working at it and obviously learning.
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Carson (and Ross) is learning a short phrase for each book of the Bible that tells what that book is about. He and Ross have learned up to about Song of Solomon with Ross going a bit further. There is a picture associated with each book to help them but I know with time it will be totally committed to memory.
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"The joy you give me I can not say." Annalina to Mommy

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I have news about Rossers but I am going to wait for a future post.

Privilege

Annalina was carrying Jedidiah the other morning and she said to him. "We both have privileges. I get to have a baby like you and you get the best family."

Carson said to me the other morning: "Did you notice I love you?"

Gabriel to Ross as they are wrestling and fun fighting their Cousin Canon: "Protect me thin man!"
Ross is the only scrawny boy in the bunch. My brother Ben and I thought that was pretty funny!
Ross may be small of size but he is right in there with the rest of them and holds his own!

More of Gabriel's Wood Burning Gifts . . .

 Gabriel got A LOT of woodworking done this week. He got a call from his grandpa who said he is going to hang his ornament in his living room so he can see it all the time!!

For his cousin Canon-who loves knives (safely used)

For Uncle Ben-a professional photographer.

For Uncle Craig-whose silly and loves to be called Uncle Pig.

For Grandpa Lysne-who has memorized ballistic charts.

For Uncle Kevin-a great hunter.

For Uncle Quentin-who loves firearms.

For Aunt Theo-who loves pretty homemade done things.