What Has Been Keeping Me Busy...

The last couple weeks have been very busy around here. On July 5th James was off work and we went to the city to get a pool. It was given to us by some friends who bought a house and wanted it removed. It is two years old, but I'm sure it has aged some from moving it. It is a 24x12 foot oval, above ground pool. What a chore that was! I'm so glad James was there with us to help. We also tried to move the deck, but that was quite difficult because it was put together with nails. This past weekend, James built this platform with wood that we had hanging around from construction. The kids have been making lots of use of it. Here it is:

Last Tuesday, Jesse fell or jumped off our old table. I saw him land on both forearms. He cried and held his arm. I couldn't see anything wrong with it, but he kept complaining, so I gave him some ibuprophen. The next day it was quite swollen and we went for x-rays. That showed nothing wrong. It has been a week and he still says it hurts and it is still a little swollen, so we decided to take him to a pediatric orthopedic doctor. That was today. He looked at the x-rays and said that maybe there is a fracture, but he wasn't sure. His recommendation was to cast it for three weeks. He did not enjoy gettting it on. He kept looking at me saying, "I want Mommy". I was right beside him, but that wasn't enough, apparently.

It has been very cute to watch Jesse adapt to his new cast. It is fun to watch him carry things with that arm. When we got home from the doctors, he informed me that he wanted it off. I expect it will get pretty dirty over the next few weeks. At least we aren't going camping until the last week he has it on. Then he'll be getting it off the day after we get back from our vacation to the Rockies.

I put up a baby swing under the deck. Sometimes the kids swing while I put up laundry. Here both boys are enjoying the ride together.

Josh came up to me recently in this get up. I had my camera with me and so I just couldn't resist. I can't remember what all that stuff on him is, but this was typical Josh.

Precious!! Jesse is well on his way to being potty trained. As of this past Sunday, he has been completely out of diapers everywhere we go. It has worked out so far, but I'm sure at some point I'll have to change some poopy pants while we're out. We're still working on that part. Today he did go on the toilet though, so he's getting the idea.

Beets, Summer squash, zucchini, yellow onions, white onions, tomatoes and cucumbers

This is a little of my bountiful harvest. This garden has taken up a lot of my time this summer. This evening I planted more things; spinach, lettuce, beets and raddishes. A few days ago I planted beans, carrots and broccoli. The weeding is getting under better control. It has been a big help to have our new tiller.

We are still doing school one day a week through the summer. This week we are doing two days because they are not getting a good handle on one day a week. I told them if they can't do two days this week then we'll keep doing it. Maybe we'll go to three next week. (I'm not really up for that though). We have less than a month to go until we go full time. It is going to be a shocker to us all.

I Have Updated...

I noticed I hadn't updated my pictures at dropshots since last year. I replaced all the old pictures and video with new ones from this year.

Also, James bought a new tiller for me this past weekend. It is big enough for me; medium size and it seems to work well enough. I am working on slowing tilling up some land to plant wheat in the Fall. Gardening should be easier now that I can till the land, it is just too much work to do it by hand.

I am Glad Life is NOT FAIR

Lately I have heard again, as I have many times, "that's not fair". I tell them I never said life was fair and I ask them what ever gave them the idea that life was fair. I guess it is our human nature to think that way, but, I am so glad things are not fair. If they were, I would get what my sins deserve. That would be death. Instead, God did a very unfair thing and gave His Son to die in my place for MY sin.

"But HE was pierced for OUR transgressions, HE was crushed for OUR iniquities; the punishment that brought US peace was upon HIM, and by HIS wounds WE are healed. WE all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of US has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:5-6) Wow, how fair is that? Jesus, knew no sin, and yet took the punishment for us.

So, I told my children about how following Christ is all about being unfair. His word is full of commands that are unfair, but that bring Him glory and show His love. As I started listing unfair scriptures, I realized that there are so many commands that are unfair. Below I'll list a few that popped into my head.

We have memorized Romans 12 this summer, so I'll start there:
-bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse
-never pay anyone evil for evil
-if your enemy is hungry, feed him

Others that come to mind, from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:
-if someone hits you, turn the other cheek
-if someone takes your tunic, give him your cloak also
-if someone makes you go one mile, go two
-love your enemies

Now that is definately NOT FAIR. These things are impossible to do without the Spirit of God living in you and working through you. And I'm so glad He gives us the power, through Christ, to do all these things. We (my kids and I) have a long way to go, though. Fairness??? I think it is over rated!!

The Month of June

First of all I have a couple cute stories to tell…a couple weeks ago I found Jedaiah had red colored nails (toes and fingers). I asked Rachel if she did it and she said, “I…I just want a girl baby.” CUTE!!! (It was marker and not nail polish and it didn’t wash off too easily. Oh well, you can’t really see it anymore.)

Can you see the red nails?

A day or two later I was cleaning walls and had a bucket of water on the floor. Half naked Jesse walked up to me and started peeing in my bucket. Wrong place to pee, but at least it was easy clean up. When we get back from vacation, I plan to potty train him completely. I think he is ready. A raining day, hiking through Illinois' Garden of the gods on our anniversary

In early June, James and I celebrated 16 years of marriage. We went away for a weekend of backpacking in southern Illinois. We took Jedaiah with us and he did pretty well. We found a beautiful place to camp. It was up on a bluff that had a pretty view. We hiked about 8 miles on Friday. It was warm, but then it rained on us and then it rained and rained on us. We were in a thunderstorm and we got quite chilly at one point, but we were prepared with rain gear and warmer clothes. It was a relaxing time and we made great memories together. I am so blessed that God has given me such a loving and wonderful husband! I love you, James. Our Camping Spot

Jay turned 8 on June 7th. He is growing up so fast. He is a bundle of energy and full of life. We celebrated his birthday on Father’s Day with the family. He got an aquarium for his birthday and he is looking forward to filling it with fish when we get back to Missouri.

The next week we had Vacation Bible School all week. It was busy, but fun. The kids all enjoyed it.

We are on the road right now, in New Hampshire, on the way up to a state park to do some camping. My sister, Sara and her kids, and my brother, Bob, and his family will be joining us for the rest of the week. We’re looking forward to a great time with them.

We saw my parents on Saturday after we arrived in NH. We had a short, but nice visit with them and then continued on to Bob’s house. Sunday after church, we went to my cousin, Michelle’s house for a Levasseur family reunion. It was good to see everyone. Even Uncle Henry (my Dad’s brother) and his wife were there, whom we haven’t seen in about 15 years.
Jesse wasn't too excited to go swimming

Lyndsey and Rachel had a great time playing together at the beach
That brings us to yesterday. We had such a great day, once we got going. We went to the coast and hiked on a trail along the coast. We stopped shortly into our hike and found a perfect little beach to hang out. I say “perfect” because it was small and able to contain all 13 kids. It was so easy to keep track of them and they had suck a ball. They played in the waves and sand and there were lots of joyous giggles and laughter. Jesse was apprehensive to go near the water, but after a few minutes he was running from the waves and saying, “fun”. It was too precious! He really loved it. Jedaiah didn’t care for even touching the water with his feet. I guess it was too cold for him.
All the cousins
Later…
We are home now and had a long, but uneventful trip home. We are pretty tired and have already put the kids in bed. We’ll be heading that way soon. I just wanted to catch up on the rest of our week in NH. The weather was pretty nice the whole time; somewhere in the 70’s and sunny. It never rained, which was a bonus. On Tuesday we got up to camp in the afternoon and set up. Sara, my sister, was already there with her kids. Bob and Sarah came up around dinner time. Wednesday, James took Jonathan and Josh and climbed up and down Mt. Washington. It took them close to 8 hours round trip. They had a great time and James said that was his favorite part of the trip.

We stayed back at camp and didn’t do a whole lot. We took the kids down to the beach to play. Some of the kids went fishing in the canoe with Bob. Thursday we hiked around the lake. It was probably about 3 miles (just a guess). In the afternoon I did a little roller-blading, which I haven’t done in a couple years. That was great fun! My sister, brother and I later took the kids to the ball field and had a game going. Lots of laughter filled the day. We had great fun around the campfire every night, telling stories. The kids enjoyed hearing the stories, like the one about how my brother and his wife met. Bob Sara Me Dad

When we got up on Friday morning we found my brother and his family were gone. We found out later that my nephew, Anderson, got sick during the night and threw up on everything. They packed up and went home, the stench was just too much.

We went back to their house on Friday morning, dropped off their stuff, and took showers. Next we went to my parent’s house for another visit. Again the weather was just beautiful. We had a nice visit and then headed home before dinner. We stopped at Cracker Barrel (a tradition) and had dinner around 8:00.

Daddy and the kids

At my parent's house

It is so much fun to go on vacation and visit with family and it is soooo good to be home after such a trip.