Mommy and Daddy say "Cheese!"

Back to School (1st grade this year!)

Yesterday our little sweet pea began first grade.  This will be quite an adjustment for us all as she will be in school all day.


Sneak preview was held on Tuesday.  This allowed for us to go see her new classroom, meet her new teacher, and drop off the school supplies.

Sofia set up her desk and filled her caddy w/supplies.

There are 22 students in her classroom.

Mrs. Enquist and our first grader.

 The first thing Sofia says to me when I woke her Wednesday morning was, "Mommy, I said I wasn't going to miss you but I am."  Then we both began to cry.    A few minutes later, she looks at me and says, "I'm okay now.  I'm ready to go to school."  

 After a time of family prayer, we headed outside for the first day of school pics.:)

Doesn't she look all grown up?

Isaiah and Selah are really going to miss her.  Especially Selah.

Then it was time to go to the bus stop.  This year Sofia will get on the bus at 8:15 a.m. and return around 3:45 p.m.  The best part about the bus stop is hanging out with our neighbourhood friends.

Sofia (1st) Cecelia (2nd) Sai (1st) Miranda (1st) Reed (3rd)

 We as parents look forward to the growth in our daughter this year.   Here's to a great year!

Summer's ending Part II

One of our neighbours hosted a birthday party for their daughter.  We enjoyed the sunshine, swimming, the most delicious cupcakes, a pinata, a bouncy house, and most of all friends.


Here are the girls enjoying pizza and chips while dressed in their princess dresses.

Our soon to be first graders.

 Selah really enjoyed being with the big girls.

 Time for CANDY!!!

 Okay, this picture I took simply because this little man has some of the most beautiful eyes!

 Isaiah got to know one of the neighbour's dog.

The kids loved being scared by "Mr. Bob the Monster".

 

Isaiah observed the fun. 

 Then he and his friend enjoyed the bouncy house all to themselves while the big kids swam.

It was such a wonderful time of being with friends and neighbours.  And yes, it most likely is one of the last summer activities.  (Of course we are hoping that the weather stays nice through the month of September so we can indulge in some after school swimming.)

Summer's ending Part I

Tomorrow Sofia begins first grade.  Knowing this, we enjoyed a family fun Friday this past week at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  It actually was Isaiah's first time to a zoo.

 The following picture isn't a great one but believe I tried and tried to get all three looking at me at the same time.  I really wanted a pic of them near these statues because I have one of Sofia in this same place from when we first began coming to this zoo as a family when she was about 18 months old.  I also have one of Selah her first time to this zoo.:)

 The zoo isn't large or even the greatest one ever but it is free and offers us opportunity to observe God's creations.  This polar bear has always been one of our favourite animals to watch.  The way he glides through the water so effortlessly is beautiful.

 Uncle Kirk and Aunt Tamra had given Sofia a book that is specifically to fill in and answer questions when visiting a zoo.

 This girl hardly ever smiles for me but she posed a bit here.  I'll take what I can get from her.

 Sofia again filling out her book.

            

There were a couple of things that put this special day over the top.  The first thing was look at this picture below.  We are standing at the entrance/exit and our van is right there on the front row.  We couldn't believe it because this particular day it was very, very crowded due to the Chicago Air and Water Show taking place on the adjoining lake shore.  And that is what was the second greatest thing about that day.  The airshow was actually on Saturday but the planes were practicing and rehearsing on Friday.  We sat on some benches outside of the zoo for quite some time just admiring the planes and jets. (You can see six jets in formation above the trees.)

  

Needless to say it was a very quiet drive home after a fun-filled family Friday!!!!

The Father's Heart.

Below is an excerpt from a note my brother, Kirk, sent to us yesterday.  This past Sunday, Aug. 21, two days past the due date, his son Ezekiel Zion was born by emergency c-section. Ezekiel had miconium aspiration thus causing his lungs to not be functioning at the needed level.  EZ (his nickname) continues to be in critical but stable condition.  Many of you have joined our family in prayer for this little one who's name means:  God's Strength.

It's been over 24hrs since Ezekiel has entered our life on this side of the belly. Each minute my love grows stronger for him. I haven't been able to hold him like I want to or show him his new home and room we have prepared for him. A few friends have told me that you will better understand God once you have this baby. The Father side of God as well as the mother side.

To see my wife today standing up in pain and leaning over to sing to Ezekiel and lead him into worship made me cry. I haven't cried in front of him yet but I couldn't hold back because of the presence of God in the place as she sang. Of course that got her crying more. He is so beautiful and I enjoy just staring at him. 

The doctors and nurses say that he is improving but slowly. Of course not fast enough for us. It's only been 24hrs but it seems like a week already. The day before the birth I looked at my wife and told her that I feel like we are about to go on a long vacation. Maybe that was God preparing us?

Tamra has 3 more days in the hospital to recover from the C section. She is in a lot of pain. It's hard for me to watch her in pain because she has a high tolerance for pain. I am so thankful for her and love her so much. We are blessed to be best friends. It sucks that I am goofy because she laughs at my dorky remarks which than cause more pain.

I love each and everyone that has prayed, contacted us, wrote comments of encouraging love, and have been supporting us through this with your lives being influenced by Jesus. Keep praying and while your there with the FATHER, "Stay a while and enjoy His love."

Studying (too) hard.

Boy do I love this man.  He is such a great husband and father.  

Here he is up late one night studying for his class.  Yeah, that's a heating pad on his shoulders.  

A couple weeks ago we as a family began what will most likely be a very busy and stressful four months (so we think).  It began the first weeks of August when Kevin took an intensive four unit seminary course on the poetic and prophetic books of the Bible.  This is a course that he got to put to use those three semesters of Hebrew learning.:)  And now his last semester of seminary begins.  He will be taking 11 units this Fall.  This is a big undertaking considering the many responsibilities he has as a fulltime children's pastor (not to mention husband and daddy) but God willing come December his MDiv will be completed.

Manistee Vacation

Last year my mom and stepdad sold their Manistee cottage but that didn't keep us from once again joining them in Manistee, MI for an August getaway.  This year, Bill (my stepdad) rented a condo for the family.  WOW!   Even though we always enjoyed the 65 year old, rustic, one bedroom cottage and have many great memories from our many summers there, we really appreciated the modern three bedroom condo this year.

Sadly Kevin wasn't able to join us because of an intensive two-week seminary course.  We value our family vacations but being that with Kevin taking that course he can now finish his MDiv this Fall semester, it was a worthy sacrifice.

So on Sunday, August 6 right after church the kids and I made the six hour drive.   And we enjoyed four great days with Gramma and Papa Bill.

Harbor Village Condo

Enjoying breakfast on the deck with Gramma.

Beach time.

Enjoying the sand.

Aunt Kelli and Hannah joined us for a day.

The girls just love being in the water.

It was nice having a pool to enjoy.

And on the rainy day Isaiah loved swimming with Gramma in the indoor pool.

Evenings were spent at the beach playground.

Love the sugar sand on the Manistee beaches.

Love the sunsets behind the Manistee Lighthouse.

The moon was almost full our last night.


Sadly I don't have a picture of all of us.  Hopefully Gramma will send me some.:)