Buddies!!! Amy and Grayson

The pictures just speak for themselves! Enjoy! I know we did...




 

Jr High YAC swim party

I just wanted to post a few pics from our Jr High YAC (Youth After Christ) swim party. We had SO much fun and I always like pictures in pools...
Ben holding "Amy Hu-Hu" (that's what he calls her) as Amber... well... I am not quite sure WHAT Amber is doing!
Well, all I can say is that being a Jr High youth sponsor makes you do CRAZY things! Chris went from this "tri-pod" into a head stand and then did some sort of back dive into the pool. He woke up the next moring "sore". I wonder why???
"Zim!" Or as us older folks (like anyone over 4 years of age) say "Jim!" Jim is our youth pastor and one of our dearest friends; Amy loves him!
Just Mommy and Amy 

Well, if the third time is a charm...

...then this will HOPEFULLY work this time! I have tried to update the blog twice before over the last few weeks and I have gotten SO stinkin' frustrated! I type and type and pour my heart into my words (maybe that's a bit dramatic) - only to accidently erase the whole thing. So here it goes (broken into a few posts...)

Our church hosted our annual vacation Bible school a few weeks back - Arctic Edge. It was an awesome time and all three of my kiddos participated at some level. Ashleigh loves the music time best and Austin enjoys recreation and craft time. Amy went to her class every day - some days with Mom and some days without. She enjoyed playing with Play-Doh and singing the most. I am certain that she wouldn't have had nearly as much fun if it hadn't been for Miss Jodie (the helper that pretty much took care of only Amy).



We also finished our "ball" season the same week (July 10-14). Can I just say that I am SOOOO glad to be done with baseball and softball? I am so glad that Ash and Austin had fun - they are both such good players - - but - - I will not miss being at the ballpark 4 nights a week. We have been going and going since we came home from China. It will be SO nice to be home in the evenings a bit before school starts (August 17).

Here is our Ash hitting the ball at one of her last softball games. She scored a run! 

We hold these truths...

...to be self evident: that all men are created equal...

I think of these words from the Declaration of Independence in a new light today. I know that my feelings are mostly influenced by our newest addition, but I am so glad I paused on several occasions today to consider the brevity of this document. I learned late last year (and may have learned sooner had I payed much attention in Government class) that the United States is the oldest democracy in the world. That may seem trite to some, but it really is a miracle! Lots of countries have tried democracy (or even their version of it) and have failed; America has found a way to sustain freedom and democracy for 230 years!

We did have a wonderful Independence Day this year. We attended the Park City 4th of July parade this morning and Ashleigh and Austin rode the patriotic themed bikes. Amy enjoyed the sights and sounds (and candy, of course!) of the morning.

We took Amy home for a nap this afternoon and then headed back for fireworks with my Dad and his family, as well as Chris's parents. Amy didn't mind the noise toooo much; Ashleigh and Austin are becomming "pyros" like their Daddy!

Amy, Mommy and Grayson

All American Family

 

Happy 12th Anniversary Sweetie!

Today is our 12th wedding anniversary! Yes - that means I was ten when we got married (no - seriously I was 18)! We enjoyed watching the video of our wedding this afternoon with the kids - two of the three weren't remotely interested :) Chris and I talked about how crazy people must have thought we were... and we were! Not that we were ever really out to prove anything really; just that we loved eachother.

Oh - but we didn't have a CLUE what love really was! Not at 18 and 19! And certainly not what married love really is. I told Chris today how thankful I was that God provided exactly what I would need in a husband; even when I didn't know what I would need. And that God was so faithful to wrap that in a "package" that would be attractive to me as a teenager is even more amazing!
It hardly seems possible that we were on our honeymoon 12 years ago. We were SO broke! We enjoyed a few days in Kansas City "playing" grown-up :) I don't think we could have ever even DREAMED of the life in store for us as we started out. We were on our way to Vennard Bible College in Iowa and didn't even have a job or any way to pay bills. We rented a "wonderful" (isn't that the way we always remember our first "place" together???) little loft apartment. I think it would fit into our bedroom now :) We had so many wonderful memories in that little apartment.

I always wanted four kids; Chris always wanted two. I guess three is a good compromise, right? I could have never imagined that we would have these three sweet kids! And if you would have told me then that God would send us half-way around the world to bring our third child home... well, I would have thought you were crazy!

But isn't that what the adventure of marriage is all about? Surprises? Adventure? Trusting God - even if it doesn't make a bit of sense?

Two years ago Chris and I celebrated our 10th anniversary with a wonderful trip to New York and a cruise to Canada. We sent all of the friends and family that were at our wedding a little card - thanking them for sharing that special day with us. We asked on that card for everyone to continue to "pray for our family that we may enjoy many years of service for Him". Thank you to those who have prayed. I hope that He isn't done with us yet...

Not to us, but to Him be the glory!

(oh - and by the way - we DID enjoy dinner out tonight without the kids! We went to our favorite... P.F. Changs! It's not "real" Chinese food, but it is SOOOOO good!)