A Fall Like Never Before! ~ October 2016

*Since it has not worked out for me to blog for a long time, I have been praying about how blogging is to look in our new season and schedule.  So, as much as I enjoy reflecting on and remembering the details, I am going to try simplifying the blog.  I hope this simplifying is only for a season and that I can return to my more detailed posts, but for now I figure "some is better than none." :)  My plan is to start back up where I left off in October and to write as if it was during that month.  Hopefully I will catch up fairly quickly and be able to blog in the present soon!



Giving God Glory

God is An Amazing & Creative Creator

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

and the skies show the work of His hands.  Psalm 19:1

For since the creation of the world HIs invisible attributes, His eternal power and diving nature,

have been clearly understood through what has been made... Romans 1:20

We experienced a fall like never before this year!  We have been in awe of God as Creator as we continually "ooooh" and "ahhhh" at the beautiful fall colors (that last for weeks rather than only a few days - like in Colorado where it would usually freeze soon after the leaves started turning colors and most of the leaves would fall off the trees).  These pictures cannot quite capture the depth of beauty and vibrancy of the colors like in person, though.

     

Family Fun

  

 

We had fun at out first Pumpkin Show ever - in Circleville, Ohio.

Marriage Memories

The Lord has graciously provided babysitting through several of the excellent-with-kids staff at Heartland, who enjoy hanging out with our boys and also a wonderful woman in our weekly Wednesday night Bible study, who ends up living on 5 minutes away from us and is known by us as "Grandma Penny." :)  This is a huge answer to prayer because we used to swap childcare for date nights with a family (good friends of ours) when we lived in CO Springs.  Even in the midst of this season of transition, Wes and I have sought to be diligent in scheduling time at least once a month to connect outside of our home just the two of us or even for a double date.  This month we enjoyed going out on a double date with another couple from Heartland, who also have 3 boys and homeschool, and we had a great time with them filled with Mexican food, ice cream, laughter, and some "friendly" board games competition. ;)





Noah News

7 years old

Continued prayer that the Lord would graciously save Noah 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 Noah enjoying our new homeschool program this year through Ohio Connections Academy - ex.

Noah one day - "This is fun!"

Me - "Homeschool is fun!  It is hard work at times, but learning is fun!"

Noah - "Actually I think hiding God's Word in my heart at AWANA is the most fun!" 

I asked Noah what he would like loved ones to pray for him, and he said to continue to pray, "That the Lord would give me more friends." (Praise that the Lord connected me with a mom at church who has 3 boys around the exact same ages as our boys.  I asked Noah if he would like to have a playdate with them sometime, and he was very excited about it since he knew a couple of them from AWANAs and Sunday School.)

Josiah Joys

4 years old

Continued prayer that the Lord would graciously save Josiah 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 Josiah mastering nighttime potty-training out-of-the-blue!  We had planned on trying to work on nighttime potty-training after 6 months or so after we moved because we had heard that sometimes kids will regress in various skills after a big move, so we didn't think it would be wise to try for nighttime potty-training right after we moved.  One day Josiah informed us that he was a big boy and ready to stay clean and dry all night (even though his pull-ups had shown differently up to that point).  Sure enough, the next morning and ever since, Josiah has been clean and dry!  Praise Jesus! :)

Samuel Sentiments

19 months

Continued prayer that the Lord would graciously save Samuel 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 his teething pain ceasing and for continuing to learn some new words such as yes-yes, Oh???, Ohsiah (Josiah), bruh-bruh (brother).

Bro Bonding

Closer as Bros & Friends 

With living out in the country now and not having a neighborhood full of boys right outside our door like we did in Colorado Springs, the boys have been missing their CSW friends, but we are starting to realize the Lord has a gift for us in this new scenario too.  The Lord has strengthened our boys' bond not only as brothers but also as friends since often the only playmates they have are each other.  It's been really good for their relationships with each other, and we trust the Lord to continue to bless them with friends outside of our family in His perfect timing.

The bros building a fort together

     

Noah & Josiah with colorful hair for crazy hair night at AWANAs * Lately Samuel asks for Noah to jump with him when on the trampoline - too cute! ;)

Josiah & Samuel having cardboard brick wars in our barn