Mondays Andrew often stays home. This past monday was one of those days. He went bike riding early in the morning, came home for breakfast.
Then we proceeded to clean out more of the back patio. There was a lot of rotten, warped wood that was the deck. Andrew and the kids ripped it out and cleaned it up. It's great having the option of washing the area clean. Before, we didn't know what was under the wood...rats, spiders, etc! My Grandfather had built it years before when he lived here. I'm sure it looked great back then and leveled out the area. As you can see there are large areas that are raised. It will take a bit of thought to figure out how to work with what we have, but eventually we'd love for the back patio to be a place where we can relax, drink coffee and hang out, grow veggies and enjoy some fresh air.





Jeremy is sure figuring things out. He is understanding most of what we talk about. He is such a happy, and for the most part well behaved, little guy. I really am amazed. God has helped us in so many ways to communicate with him and relate to him. I can't explain it very well except that I believe the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and discernment and the strength to do what He has called us to.
I often have headaches and a brain that feels fuzzy and foggy. I don't know how else to describe it. (We've gone through many tests to find out what's going on, but that's a whole 'nother blog). Many days it is very difficult to function. Last week was pretty tough. But even in the middle of it all God carries us through. I've found out that even when I am hurting and unable to make sense of my head, only by the strength that God provides, I can still love my children and husband, I can still be patient, I can still walk in the Spirit. Sometimes it feels like acting when my body is hurting and all I want to do is cry and crawl into bed, but I can't and I have to choose to lay that aside and gently respond to the kids in the way that they need at that moment. I don't always respond in the right way, but I try to do this as much as possible and I am praising God that He supplies all our needs according to the grace we have in Christ Jesus.

I love seeing each of the kids grow and mature in their responses to life.

We have a Summer Schedule that I put together to help the kids have some structure during these next months. Well, usually the kids have taken a long time to get through it each day...which I don't mind, it keeps them busy and gives them the opportunity to take responsibility for themselves. My younger brother let Joshua borrow a playstation...guess who was up at 5:30am yesterday getting their chores and responsibilities done?! He was done before the clock struck 6:30am! I tried to encourage him in his effort and praise him for his dilligence. But I did have to draw the line that he would have to wait until after Breakfast before he could play the games. He was cool with that. He even had a good attitude when Dad said that we were tearing out the deck first thing in the morning and then they would play the games together when they were done. Good dilligence and great flexibility when plans change, Joshua!

Angela is taking Gymnastics at a gym that is pretty strict. She likes it 'cause she's getting the instruction that she needs to do well. She loved the coach she had in the last level (we saw her a couple times at church and she's very sweet and yet detailed in her coaching). Angela recently passed a test and moved up to the next level, which meant a new coach. This coach is much more strict, and isn't quite as possitive and encouraging, but she's also very attentive to good form (as a teacher these are great qualities, but as a student it can often become frustrating). We've talked a couple times about it and she decided that she would do what the coach says to do as best as she could, and better. Then she could pass another test and move on! She is doing a wonderful job and have a great attitude.

These are chalky gymnastic hands!

What word best described yesterday...~SWIMMING!~
Andrew took Jeremy to work with him for the morning. The kids and I went grocery shopping then met Andrew and Jeremy at Andrew's parents house. We went swimming and slip'n'sliding...had lunch...went home...went swimming in the doughboy....started going upstairs, met my younger brothers as they were going downstairs to go swimming....the kids wanted to go swimming with the boys....so we went back downstairs and went swimming again! I didn't mind at all.
We didn't have anything better to do....and busy, active kids always produce happy kids!