Award Banquet

Last night Nathan's team ended the season with an awards ceremony at Red Robin (his team is Red Robin). The coach said that he was a great catcher this year and that he had great fundamentals. The team wants to stick together next year and move up to the minors in Little League. They will continue to practice together this summer to prepare for the new league next year. In that league they will be pitching to each other. We learned this year that Nathan's coach grew up in our church, it is amazing how intricate our God is.

Another Day at the Park

Noah had another baseball practice last night. He is just so cute I had to blog. He was shy again, but after being coaxed to join the team he had a blast. I think this is really helping him to branch out a little. Last night when we were putting him to bed he said, "Dad you forgot to pray for my team." What a sweet little prayer warrior!

Strawberry fields

This morning we took the kids strawberry picking. God blessed us with a gorgeous day.

Before you know it...

We all know that kids grow up fast. Here's a short video of our boys that demonstrates their progression from one stage to the next.

Noah starts T-Ball

Last night Noah started playing T-Ball at the YMCA. He was very timid at first and I wasn't sure he would play. I took him over to the group and did some stretches with them. When he went to the white line to practice throwing I slowly eased away and told him I was going to sit down. He was fine after that, he learned to throw and run the bases. I'm hoping he will really enjoy this. From these pictures you can tell he was shy at first. We will have videos soon...

We've had quite a lot of precipitation since early December. First there was the record snowfall; now there is lots of rain and record flooding. Here's a clip from yesterday. There was also a good hail-storm in the process.

"He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter His lightning.
They turn around and around by His guidance,
to accomplish all that He commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction or for His land or for love,
He causes it to happen (Job 37:11-13)."

Pray for sun

We've had an incredible amount of bad weather in Wisconsin, i.e. thunder storms, tornadoes, and rain--lots of rain. Our state is in bad shape. The corn crops are ruined and homes are destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering. Where we live in Madison has not been touched by the flooding, but plenty of other places have. Look here to see some of the devastating photos. Please pray.

One year old

In order to celebrate Benjamin's first birthday, we've written a poem for him. We've also pulled together some of his pictures and created a video. We thank God for His gracious gift.


Benjamin

God’s face shown upon us
when He entrusted you to our care
His gracious provision of another child
is a joy we cannot compare.

Your precious smile and laughter,
your loving hugs and tender gaze
Lighten our hearts and fill us with wonder
at God’s goodness and His ways.

Why should we—so undeserving—be given a gift
so valued and beloved?
Surely the gift finds its source
in the kindness of our Father from above.

We know that you’re only ours for a time,
a season, a small portion of your life at best.
Then we’ll surrender you to the eternal plans
of the God who knows you best.

Son, we pray that you’ll be faithful,
that you’ll be loving, patient, and kind.
We pray that you’ll be bold and unwavering,
yet humble—the very last in line.

We pray that you’ll stand firm in persecution,
and rejoice in suffering,
that you will cling to the risen Christ,
through whatever He may bring.

Trust Him, son, ever trust Him
And never fear anything
But Him who governs all of creation,
Ever bow before your King.

10 year Anniversary

On Friday the 6th Mitch and I celebrated our 10th year Anniversary. Talk about time flying! We had plans to go out of town, but the lice thing nipped that in the bud. We ended up have a very nice evening at home. We watched our wedding video with the kids before we put them to bed. Noah said "You looked pretty in that white dress, Mommy" to which Madison responded "Mommy was little". You have to love the brutal honesty of children. I, of course was quick to say "I've had four children". After we put the kids to bed we had a nice romantic steak dinner that was interrupted at least twice by children that had to be disciplined. At one point I just laughed and thought, "Well that is a lot of what our last ten years have been about", our children. I am so thankful that God blessed me with such a wonderful man of God who loves me and loves our children. I'm thankful that I have gotten to live with my best friend for these past 10 years. He makes me laugh and listens to me when I have so much to say. He serves me and meets my needs, he truly "lives with me in an understanding way". I couldn't have asked for a better husband and I look forward to what life will be like with him over the next ten years. I had the bright idea of posting a wedding picture and then a picture of us today. I couldn't get the wedding picture to scan, but here are a few from last night. Now remember, "I've had four children" :) and Mitch just got his "summer style".

Pooh Cake

On each child's first birthday we make them a Pooh cake. I love traditions and this is one I'm sticking to. I've had other people make it and Mitch has made it one year, but this year I did it myself. Benjamin loved it!!! Okay, so he's not loving it at the end, I think his belly was sore. Poor guy! You can get too much of a good thing.

Benjamin turns One

Today was Benjamin's birthday. It is hard to believe that time flew by so fast. We are so grateful that God decided to bless us with this sweet baby boy. He has carved out a place in our hearts and in our home that would be so empty without him. He is a very curious little guy and although he has been pulling up since he was 7 months old he is still afraid to let go and walk. We catch him trying it out sometimes, but it is never for our applause and it seems he's trying to get it right before he debuts it. We had a fun day today celebrating him. I hope Mitch will blog the video we got because in it you can kind of see that he understood that this was his special day. What a precious gift!!!

Summer Styles

The lice factor has led us to get new summer styles. It seems like things are calming down. Keep praying!

A close "nit" family

Since Monday of last week we have been battling lice in our home. I know this makes most of you recoil and wonder how a home school family could get lice. But as our old buddy Eeyore likes to say "There it is." Through this whole ordeal (every child has it but hopefully it is contained) I've been trying to practice "giving thanks in every circumstance." That is what God asks us to do. Mitch tells the story of how Corrie Ten Boom (a Jewish woman who survived the holocaust) and her sister chose to give thanks for the fleas that had infested them while they were in a prison camp. Corrie was reluctant to, but her sister insisted that God wanted them to thank Him even for the fleas. It was the fleas that kept the guards from entering into their barracks enabling them to worship God more freely and share the gospel more openly.

So how can I give thanks to God for the lice? I'm thankful for the lice because throughout the time I've been "nit picking" I've realized more and more what a blessing each of our children are to me. I've had to slow down and spend a lot of one on one time with each of them (something I don't always do). I'm thankful that we live in a country that has hot water and lice shampoo and vacuums to help contain and hopefully eliminate these lice. I'm thankful that God is greater than me and that through His Spirit He has helped me to be loving and patient and kind and to persevere even when I don't feel like looking at one more strand of hair. Because I know that God is greater than this situation I want to ask any of you who seek God to seek Him on our behalf about this because this is so far beyond us and we need His help to get rid of them completely and to endure until they are gone. Please pray that we will "not grow weary in doing good".

By the way, I'm not trying to make this a journal type blog, but we need your prayers and I needed an outlet to be thankful.