God's provision in the midst of Wes' Grandpa's passing ~ When Wes' grandpa passed away, Wes wanted to go but also had reservations due to all the logistical needs. I encouraged Wes to go, and we are grateful for how the Lord provided in all kinds of ways for both Wes and me through family and friends during his week away! Some examples ~ providing financially, multiple babysitting help, birthday party that Noah & Josiah went to during a T&T event I hosted at our home, several get togethers with family and friends that kept our boys from having a lot of downtime to miss Wes, good timing with flights so I could take Wes to the Denver airport and pick him up. Thank You, Lord! In the midst of the sad occasion, Wes had a wonderful time with a lot of extended family that he had not seen for over 15 years and was very glad he went.
Wes & Aaron with Grandma Rita * Autumn & Amanda with Grandma Rita
Group photo of most of the siblings
Some interesting sights on their travels from Wisconsin to Indiana for the funeral
(*Present update as of end of April ~ We have 4 applications in Michigan, 1 in Washington, and 1 in North Dakota.)
Also, the Lord brought a previous coworker, Thurk, to Wes' mind who left his governmentally employed job as a firefighter at USAFA for another career field, forestry, within governmental employment. Wes called him, and Thurk said he was so glad that he got out of the "golden handcuffs" job as a firefighter at USAFA. All that Thurk shared spiritually and logistically confirmed it is best for Wes to leave firefighting. Thurk was excited to come alongside Wes in directing him to family-friendly jobs within forestry, helping Wes with his resume, and connecting Wes with people that Thurk knew to assist with getting Wes a job. If Wes went this route, he would keep all of the financial and leave perks he has built up as well as all of his retirement package. However, we would have to be willing to move to where the job openings were, which could be as far away as Alaska, Washington, etc. Also, Wes would continue secular work, which we think the Lord may be leading Wes to a job in ministry using his Biblical Studies degree. After pursuing a different career within governmental jobs, Wes found out that the government would not recognize his degree from Front Range Bible Institute, since this school was not on the government's approved list. So, Wes stopped pursuing this direction and decided to focus solely on pursuing camping ministry presently.
We are grateful for how the Lord is guiding each step of our job search path!
Praises & Petitions
Friend - Continued prayers for a friend who has left the gospel and is in a journey of agnosticism. I am praying John 8:32 for her that she would know the truth, and the truth would set her free.
Friend - Praise for the Lord miraculously opening up positions (when there hadn't been any in the middle of the school year) for a friend's girls, who she recently adopted from Colombia.
Josiah's birthmom - Praise for testimony she shared with us that I want to put in writing to remember God's faithfulness as we have sought to tangibly show Jesus' love to her ~ "...if God didn't send you into my life I wouldn't have been able to grow the right way, you taught me that you can still love someone who is miles away and if I am ever feeling down all I have to do is look at the pictures you sent me. :) They give me courage and help me remember that there are good and bad times equally. As painful as the bad times are it could always be worse... I know that you guys are my family because you guys have shown me that God's love is real and I should find more people who display His love. Thanks for allowing me to be in you guys' lives and you guys are the most amazing people I have met. What a blessing to witness."
Tami - Continued prayers for the Lord to give my dad and other loved ones His perspective and that God would heal Tami, but ultimately that His will would be done. Please pray Galatians 5:22-23 that the fruit of the Spirit would abound in Dad's & Tami's lives during this trial. Also, prayer of James 1:5 for wisdom with this trial.
Our Family - Please continue to pray Proverbs 3:5-6 for the Lord to guide and provide a new job for Wes in His perfect timing and that He would grow our trust in Him.
Wes - Please pray James 1:5 for wisdom in the job search and also with challenging aspects at work.
Christina - Praise for the Lord connecting me with a wonderful group of women that have been very helpful during this season of refinement and have been faithfully praying for us. Please pray that I would embrace all the Lord is teaching me in this refining season (Philippians 1:6).
Noah - God would graciously save him at a young age and lead him to walk with the Lord all of his days, if that be the Lord's will. Continued praise for the Lord growing Noah in loving his brothers, especially Josiah since Noah will sometimes provoke him. I asked Noah what he would like loved ones to pray for him, and he said, "For love." I asked him if he wanted to grow in his love for Jesus and others, and he said, "Yes."
Josiah - God would graciously save him at a young age and lead him to walk with the Lord all of his days, if that be the Lord's will. Praise for the Lord helping Josiah grow a lot in communicating with words rather than screaming when he doesn't like something. Please pray for the Lord to grow him in self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) since his disappointment when he doesn't get what he wants is manifesting in other ways such as throwing himself on the ground, stomping, biting, crying, etc.
Samuel - God would graciously save him at a young age and lead him to walk with the Lord all of his days, if that be the Lord's will. Praise for no major prayer requests presently for Samuel. :)
Marriage Memories
We had an unusual date of meeting with an estate planner but discovered that this is specific to each state, so we put our plan on hold for now since we don't know if the Lord has a move for us in the near future? After our meeting, we enjoyed going out to eat downtown and perusing the unique shops.
Family Fun
Having Fun with 2 Feet of Snow from a Big Snowstorm
One of our neighbors brought out our neighborhood snowplow for the occasion. Wes was grateful!!! * Helping Jacob plow another neighbor's driveway
Noah having fun in Dylan's igloo fort * Josiah is standing up in the snow...deep stuff!
Samuel :)
Noah & Josiah having a snowball fight * Daddy & Samuel
Josiah & Jacob * Josiah & McKenna
Valentines Day Fun
Our Tradition of Valentine Gift Bags ~ We made valentines for each other, and Wes and I gave the boys "Love Coupons" that incorporate the "5 love languages."
Decorating their valentine bags ~ Samuel cruising (chasing Noah) around the table ;) * Josiah coloring
Having fun decorating & eating cupcakes :)
Noah News
See any similarities? ~ Noah * Wes ~ 7 years old
Age - 7 years old!!!7 Years Old Stats:
Weight - 48 lbs. 32%
Height - 45 in. 6%
Cute Communication
*Noah - "Is Samuel a dog?"
Me - "No. Why?"
Noah - "He likes to chew on things."
I explained how babies like to chew on things when they are teething. ;)
*One night Noah came downstairs perplexed after we put the boys to bed and said, "Daddy, I can't sleep because Josiah keeps saying move." Wes went upstairs, saw Josiah buried under the covers, and realized that Josiah was deeply snoring (which sounded like the word "move" to Noah). So, Wes explained to Noah what was going on, and Noah had that aha moment - "Ohhhh..."
*Noah called an armadillo - "armadillo" - during homeschool one day.
Latest Likes
Counting down the days until his birthday
Shooting his BB Gun
Losing teeth (he's now lost 2 bottom teeth)
Noah put this entire Star Wars Legos set together by himself!
*Video ~ Noah shooting his BB Gun ~ birthday gift from us :)
Josiah Joys
Cute Communication
*Josiah likes coming up with his own nicknames - ex. Noahnate (short for Noahnator) & Sam (Samuel).
*Josiah - "We're going to have peanut butter and jelly...What!?! What!?!"
Me - Smiling... "Where did you learn that?"
Josiah - "Daddy" :)
*One day Josiah was belting out "Deep and Wide," and I hear him sing, "There's a mountain (instead of fountain) flowing deep and wide." Must have something to do with living in Colorado! ;)
Latest Likes
Piggyback rides
Wearing a hat or belt - like big bro Noah
Balloons
Having fun with a headlamp & protective glasses
*Video ~ Josiah showing off his light saber battle moves :)
Samuel Sentiments
1sts - Teeth!!! (2 on the bottom), crawling up stairs, walking with walker/stroller, shaking his head "no" :(
Latest Likes
Interacting - Reading books, singing, smiling, laughing, dancing
Cruising furniture & throwing toys down
Climbing stairs
A couple of Samuel's favorite spots ~ Window ledge in our front room * Taking photos & magnets off of our fridge
Climbing stairs like a champ!
Cruising around his toy set * Cruising around the coffee table
Having fun looking out the window in his bedroom after getting dressed in the mornings
Little helper! ~ Helping with laundry & unloading the dishwasher
On the move! ~ Strolling inside our home * Samuel went all the way down our street smiling all the way!
*Video ~ Samuel climbing stairs
Bro Bonding
Noah pushing Josiah on our family walk
Noah & Josiah playing games together ~ Creative "badminton" with fly swatters & balloon * Zingo
Noah & Josiah wrestling * Pillow fight!
Noah giving Samuel a shoulder ride * Playing Legos together
Josiah & Samuel watching out our front window * Crawling around together
Homeschool Highlights
Click on these links if interested in seeing more info about the K-8 skills/benchmarks books I use:
Please let me know if you would like to know about the specific curriculum I use. :)
Core Knowledge Sequence: Content guidelines for K-8 (Fyi ~ This is not the same as Common Core.)
What Your [Grade-level of Your Child] Needs to Know ~ Core Knowledge books corresponding to grade-level
Noah participates in a homeschool program through RMCA in which he goes to a school building once a week for a full day ~ 8 am to 3 pm. Noah has a homeroom teacher, Mrs. Campbell, who reiterates reading and writing concepts that Noah is learning at home, and she also teaches some science, critical thinking, and character. In addition, Noah participate in P.E., music, and art each school day, so it is a full day!
Noah enjoys RMCA's homeschool program, and it has been a great fit for our family too!
Reading
Noah enjoys RMCA's homeschool program, and it has been a great fit for our family too!
Reading
We have been enjoying the Book It! reading program this year. Noah likes having a reading goal and working towards his own little pizza reward each month. :)
Swim Lessons
Noah has been continuing swimming lessons and has been working hard to move up to the "Blue Dolphin" class.
Bible & Geography ~ Noah has been working through his Frequent Flyer extra credit for Sparks. They had a section incorporating different continents and missions. One activity involved interviewing someone who has been on a short-term mission trip, so we had fun sharing about Wes' and my short-term mission trip to Japan together ~ when I was pregnant with Noah. :)
Writing ~ Noah wrote birthday thank you notes
Art - Valentines Noah made for his classmates at RMCA Homeschool Program for their valentines exchange
P.E. ~ 1st time playing frisbee golf ~ Noah * Josiah
Puzzle Skills ~ Noah put together himself
Field Trip ~ Organized by Woodmen Valley Chapel about raptor birds & other birds of prey
Memorable Moment of the Month
Big Birthday Boy!!!
We thank the Lord for blessing us with 7 years of life with our spunky, energetic, trendy, hard-working, and loyal son, Noah!
*Notice Noah's trend-setter attire ~ flatbilled hat, collar up on his jacket, bracelet, rolled jeans, colorful b-ball shoes. ;) That's all Noah! He is very observant, socially aware, & cares about being "cool."
Making the birthday boy's cake * Licking the beaters
Putting on the finishing touches * 7 years old!!!
Birthday party fun during "open jump" at Sky Zone ~ Noah & Luke * Noah, Dylan, & AJ
On his actual birthday ~ Noah wanted Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast * Pizza for dinner
Opening gifts ~ Legos * Group effort of putting the Legos together
Giving thank you hugs to Papa & Nana
Showing off his pull-ups * Shooting his BB gun (gift from us) at a target in our basement
Papa & Nana had fun shooting too! :)
More Memories
Celebrating the Chinese New Year with the Fishers & other family! :)
Nana, Great Tache, & Samuel
Nathaniel & Samuel playing
No comments:
Post a Comment