Summer's ending.

All good things must come to an end and in this part of the world, Labor Day Weekend signals an end to summer. And what better way to celebrate than with friends, food, and fun at the lake.

Saturday late morning we headed up to Lake Beulah, WI. Some friends of ours from church had a few of us families over for a get-together at their lake house.

Kevin and Mike P. playing a little catch. (Can you see Kevin? He's to your left with the hat.)

What's Labor Day without some grilling? Brat anyone?
Oh....there was a slide.
And a swing. (oops, just turn your head)
Water play.
and TUBING!!!! This was Sofia's favourite part of the day.

Kevin played a few rounds of "Washers".
There was just some great hang out time.
After a full day of play, you can see why the girls looked like this on the way home.

Oh, and me? What did I do? That's the next post.

Singing a prayer.

Just about five minutes ago I walked out of Sofia's room after reading her a Bible story and praying with her. Nothing unusual because this is our nightly routine. But now she has me in tears.

My little girl is in the room singing away. The tune you wouldn't know. The words are her own. And her heart...knows that there is a God.

"Jesus, Jesus...Jesus, Jesus...you are special. Yes you are. You are special, yes you are. Jesus, Jesus, you are special."

"God is strong oh yes he is. God is strong oh yes he is. God is strong and you are not because he is the strongest."

"Selah you need to love Jesus. Selah you need to love God. Selah you need to love Jesus because he loves you."

The room now is quiet. She sleeps. And my heart...knows that there is a God.

Play date with the Rogers.

Many of our California friends and blog readers know Mark and Stephanie Rogers. For those of you who don't know them, both Mark and Stephanie were students at CBU when Kevin and I were on staff. We were blessed to have much interaction with them as students.

We have continued to be blessed with their friendship and visits here and there. Then about 1 1/2 yrs ago they moved a little closer to us when Mark became a doctoral student at TEDS. Actually we lived about 15 miles apart BUT now we only live 4 miles apart!

This means play dates!!!! Sofia has a great love for the Rogers' oldest child, Baby Hope. Baby Hope, however, is now 3 yrs old so all of us Shecklers are trying so hard to just call her Hope. It is fun to watch the four girls (Sofia --- 4 1/2, Hope --- 3, Selah --- almost 2, and Anna --- 10 mos) interact and play together. There is a lot of cuteness going on. Here's a pic to show you just how much.

Who cares if Anna was crying. These are some cuties!

Some Summer

It has been some summer. I use the word some in two ways. Yes, it has been some summer as in Wow! this has been quite the summer. But I use it mostly to describe the quantity of summer of days. You see, temperature-wise we haven't really had very many hot, humid days.

Here are some picture collages of some summer happenings in our part of the world.

Play time at the beach with friends is always a fun time.

We even spent some time with our neighbours out on the lake in their boat. The girls loved it and they love Ashley. Ashley is 10 yrs. old and plays really well with the girls.

Grandpa Sheck came and spent a weekend with us. Kevin and his dad headed up to Wisconsin one day to see the grave sites of family. Grandpa Sheck's mom grew up in Wisconsin. Grandpa also went with us to a church outing at the local minor league baseball game. Come to find out the team we saw play is part of the league Grandpa played for back in 1948-1950.

This past weekend our church celebrated its 50th anniversary. Sofia has always loved the events at the church picnic. This year Selah was old enough to enjoy them as well. There was the jumpy house, face painting, the obstacle course, games, lots of yummy food and a visit from the local fire department.

We really have enjoyed this unusually cool summer. Hopefully before the leaves start turning colour and the air turns colder, we will squeeze in a few more days at the beach and the parks.

Faith and Friends.

Hakan is a Turkish believer. Almost three years ago in his home city of Istanbul he was arrested and put on trial for sharing the gospel.

Hakan and his family have faced many difficulties but through it all they have persevered. They have persevered because they know that death because of Christ is sweeter than life without Christ. They also have had great opportunity to be witnesses for Christ because of the publicity surrounding these circumstances. Hakan has been invited to and spoken in many churches throughout Europe sharing his testimony.

Tonight Hakan brought encouragement to me and others in my home church in Grayslake, IL. Hakan and his wife Eyse have been visiting for a couple of days along with Brian. Brian and his family attended our church 10 years ago while attending seminary. He now works full-time in Istanbul.

It was so wonderful to hear what God is up to in Turkey. For me personally it was also great to see friends. You see, Eyse was my Turkish tutor when I lived in Istanbul many years ago and I attended the same Turkish church as Hakan and Eyse. God is so good.

Last night Hakan and Eyse came over for dessert. It was a perfect summer evening so we were down at the gazebo.

Brian is on the far left. Rob, standing next to Brian, had spent a couple months in Turkey years ago. Jeff in the middle, well, he has never been to Turkey but maybe he will now.

Enjoying the evening with other friends and brownies!

Sofia loved Eyse and Hakan.

Models

When Sofia put on this outfit...

She told me she was a model. So, she wanted me to take a picture of her doing this pose. (Don't ask me where she learned this.)

So of course, Selah had to get in on the action as well.

Sense of style?

"So, what do you think mom?"

This has become a daily question as Sofia sets out to choose her own outfit for the day. You see, the outfits in this blog are not "dress-up" clothes. Some would think they are but these are actual outfits she wanted to wear (note I didn't say she "did" wear) for the going out.

"Mom, this one is okay. And I've got this kitty purse to match."

"I like being Madeliene. It's okay to wear this."

"Don't I look pretty mom."

Some days it has been hard not to just laugh at the outfits. Now, don't get me wrong. I love that she is getting dressed by herself. I love that she is expressing herself. We just need to work on her "Sense of Style".

Questions of the day.

I thought I would continue to share the questions that are asked of me by my daughters.

Selah (23 mos. old) --- Where's Sofia? Where's Daddy? At church?

Okay, those are the easy questions. Here is one from Sofia. Thankfully I am still able to answer most of her questions.

Sofia (4 3/4 years old) --- Why are the teeth in the back of our mouth square and the ones up here are flat? And then we have pointed teeth too?

In hell?

(If you don't read this, at least watch the attached video.)

Today of all days I saw this video for the first time. Wow!!! It has rocked me. It has reminded me. It has encouraged me.

Ten years ago on August 17, 1999 I was sleeping quite soundly in my bed of one month in Istanubul, Turkey when early that morning I was awakened by a strong shaking. It was an earthquake.

That earthquake measured 7.4 on the richter scale. That earthquake was centered about one hour east of Istanbul. That earthquake killed almost 20,000 people (some reports say more).

Where are those 20,000 people? Had they heard the gospel? Did they know Jesus Christ?
Being that Turkey is predominantly muslim, I suffice it to say that those 20,000 people are in hell.

Do they deserve to be in hell anymore than me? NO!

That is why we GO!!!!

Please take the time to view this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZiMlwXU6fQ

The cho-cho and bird show.

As you know, each summer we take time to go to Gramma and Papa Bill's cottage in Manistee, MI. One of Sofia's favourite things to play with are the cho-cho (Japanese for butterfly) and bird (cardinal) garden sticks. Gramma puts them out every year and each year she seriously looks forward to playing with them.

This year the cho-cho and bird took center stage. Literally. Sofia arranged the chairs theatre-style and proceeded to put on a show with the cho-cho and bird. Of course, Selah took her turn putting on a show then Sofia had her be the audience.

Love the questions!

Yes there have been some days where I have tired of the all the "Why" and "How" questions. I believe it comes mostly from realizing that I don't know that much and don't want my little ones to know that I don't know that much.

But we do LOVE THE QUESTIONS! Selah doesn't ask too many deep questions at this stage in life. Her questions mostly start with "Where" and "What". Sofia's questions, however, encourage us so much. The questions she ask help us to know what is going on not only inside of her head but in her heart. Some days they provide a starting point for some great theological discussions. Of course at a four year old level.

Here is a question from yesterday.

"Mommy, how does Jesus tell the weathermen that there is going to be rain?"

Much better!

My hair is fixed. Ahhhh...so much better.

The gal who cut my hair was so nice. She really took her time and talked me through things. We were able to talk about other things as well. Like how she has lived in the area for four years. Me too. How she is from California. Me too. Her husband was/is a Marine. Mine too.

Her husband unfortunately was injured pretty severely by a roadside bomb a couple of years ago while in Iraq. I shared with her that there is a young man in our church, Gabe, who has suffered pretty serious injuries as well. Come to find out, Gabe is her next door neighbour!

We might see this young lady and her family come to church. Wow! It's amazing where a bad haircut can lead.

Selah's first haircut

Mommy and daddy finally realized that Selah needed a haircut. Sofia was 3 yrs old when she had her first haircut (she seriously had NO hair until she was 2 yrs. old) so we weren't really thinking about it since Selah is 22 months old.

But while in California we thought it best to take care of Selah's "wild" hair. It wasn't that long but just enough where she needed her hair to be evened out.

I was quite surprised at how well she sat in the chair and followed directions of when to bend her head down and when to turn to the right or left.

Her hair was cut into a cute little boblike style.

Here's the final look. I wish I had taken a pic of the back. It really did look cute. Of course it would look better in the pic if Selah was smiling.

But now that we are back in Illinois. Her hair has begun curling up. Who knew that a healthy haircut and a little bit of humidity would do this to her hair?

Continued Hair Drama

This is how my hair looks when it is not styled by the beautician. Hmmm...what do you think? I'm having a really hard time with it for a couple of reasons.

The first reason is pretty obvious. This is one of the worst haircuts EVER!!!! Even my husband can see that this is bad. I'm in the process of trying to find someone who can correct this nightmare. I realize that I most likely will have to pay big bucks and that my "growing out" hair will be the shortest it has been in years.

The second reason is my girls. Sofia walked in on me in the bathroom as I was having a cry about this.

"Why are you crying, mommy?"

Yes, why am I crying? Everyday I tell the girls how beautiful they are because of their hearts and their smiles. I tell them how God made them just as He wants them to look. I tell them that it's not about the outside but the inside.

And here I was crying. Crying because....well, not for the right reason. Now my heart cries because I realized I was not centering my outlook this morning on my Creator. My heart cries because I saw the ugliness of my inside.

"Lord, create in me a clean heart. And renew a right spirit within me."

Free Haircut Drama

This is my free haircut. Sofia took these pics in order to help me show the new "do". It is new because I had been growing my hair out for the past year and a half. And I had planned to keep growing it out until yesterday.

You see my haircut was not to be free. Let me tell you what happened. A couple of months ago I found out about the beauty school a few miles away. Haircuts are $13. This includes shampoo and styling. Wanting to save money I decided this is the place to go. Especially when you consider I'm growing my hair out and just need a trim.

Yesterday I went in for the trim. The young lady taking care of me noticed that my hair was quite curly underneath. Ever since I turned thirty my hair started this change but only underneath. Well, she thought it would be great to have my hair on top curly. I let her know that I was growing my hair out and long layers would be best. I also informed her that I like to straighten my hair and flip it out, put it in ponytails, etc. I like having options.

So I sat back in my chair and began to relax by reading a magazine. Then the drama began. I saw a piece of hair drop to the floor that was about four inches long. What!!!!???!!!

"Oh, look at how the curl just puffs up!" she exclaimed. I then exclaimed but you chopped off FOUR INCHES!!!!"

She quickly went and got the instructer. Next thing I know my hair is being cut by the instructor and only the instructor. She was so apologetic. The instructor let me know that my hair was actually going to look real cute and it would be on the house.

My free hair cut. It doesn't look that bad but they are the ones who styled it. It took 30 minutes to get it to look like this along with root uplifter, mousse, gel, and hairspray. Oh not to mention the diffuser. Well, I don't own any of those products.

I guess if I want to keep my free haircut looking like this I need to go spend about $60 on the diffuser and products. I wonder how it will look tomorrow.