Day 4,507

The Sweet Stop

Aaaaand, one last sweet stop before we head back home to end our brief yet fun vacation!

Day 4,461

The Friends and Family Workouts

Take your friends to taekwondo day!

Such a fun experience!









And then game-workout night with the fam, when they realized that handstands are actually quite hard work,  that instruction-following is especially important in winning games, and that Ella Mae's drive for ice cream is stronger than everyone else's.

Day 4,455

The(y're) Growing Up So Quickly

She came up to me with a "surprise."

"Mommy, Mommy! Look what I made you!"

It went immediately in a frame. My dear Molly, what a great job!!!

She did her very best to sound out whatever animals she could think of and this was what she came up with all on her own! Bravo, Sissy!

Jaraf: giraffe

Sguk: skunk

Hen

Zebru: zebra 

Hos: horse

Muke: monkey

Kadpilr: caterpillar

Lufit: elephant

Molly

Conley

Sgrl: squirrel

Leprd: leopard

!!!!!

Later on, I walked in on Ella Mae and Amelia having "discipleship." 

What an encouragement to see them play in this way.

I pray the Lord is at work in their little hearts.

And to cap off such a special day, he made amish popcorn on the stove for the first time, and what a surprise treat it was!

Day 4,433

The Cottage, The Water, The Rocks, The Fans, The Gettys!

The little Cottage Girl loves her some cottage play.

I always enjoy a sweet, slow start to our day.

It quickly sped up though.

We were delivered our gigantic air conditioning fans for the barn that will eventually be put on our Property whenever that time comes, 

then, it was off to the dump to unload the huge pile of rocks we had stacked in the trailer, as we had to move them all with the new installation of WATER ON OUR PROPERTY! 

However, we couldn't get the fans moved into the storage unit until the rocks were out of the trailer, so it was a hot and sweaty day of work that paid off in multiple ways. One: ice cream cones, obviously.

Two: The Keith and Kristyn Getty concert in Fort Lauderdale!







It was a night packed with beautiful worship, fun entertainment, and even a call for all the children to come sing a song on stage!

The Gettys are right there at the top of our list for favorite music to listen to and we are so thankful we got to watch them praise and sing and play their instruments live! It was the cherry on top that we had the opportunity to meet Mrs. Kristyn after the show. What a fun night!

Day 4,421

The Hoppin' Birthday Surprise

A first-ever sunny afternoon with porcupines,

Baby otters,

Baby monkeys,

AND BABY KANGAROOS!

The most fun birthday present she's ever held!

Day 4,381

The Mailbox Fun

Candlestick workout

Violinist practice--she can nearly play all of "Twinkle Twinkle" by herself!

Napping Twins



LETTER!

From Papa!

Day 4,380

The Uncle Surprise

SURPRISE!!

Uncle Jeremy is here!!!



They couldn't trick me, but they sure pulled a fast one on their mommy--she was SO surprised to see her oldest son show up to breakfast after church!! The best kind of surprise <3

Uncle Jeremy is a helicopter pilot (he gives sightseeing tours in NY and also pilots a helicopter "taxi" sort of service), who was in Florida taking some more instruction classes on a new helicopter.

So, we got to spend some time with a face we were happy to see and hope to see more often! 

And then, Family Worship Night to cap off a most exciting day!

Day 4,357

The Strong, Safe, Faithful Arms

Friday morning--our busiest one! But we're never too busy for a Daddy Snuggle.

Daddy taught chapel,

and he surprised us with a homemade picnic bench.

All in a day's work.

Day 4,271

The Kind Gifts from the Lord

It was, by far, the most peaceful, joyful, simple, and enjoyable trip to Spokane we've ever experienced. Between staying in a camper, reading the Bible with our cousins, witnessing mountains and colorful trees, picking apples, eating pumpkin donuts, wearing mittens, homeschooling with our cousins, riding a gondola, exploring a forest, rock skipping on the river, feasting with our family, celebrating a birthday, meeting new friends, and just living the life we live in Florida there in Washington, we are full and thankful. The Lord is so kind. What a lovely trip.

AND WHILE WE WERE GONE, DADDY DID THIS!

It was all I could do but to cry in thanksgiving for his hard work, persistence, extremely late nights, and love for his family. We now--OFFICIALLY--have a three bedroom cottage, and I couldn't be any more grateful. My husband, you exemplify Ephesians 5. Thank you for loving me so sacrificially.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [fn]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkleor any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to lovetheir own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no oneever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHERAND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH, 

Ephesians 5:25-31