Happenings

Here's Romy searching for food on the floor.  :)

Today was picture day at school.  I took these at home.

She came up with this pose... haha

all the Barreth Grandkids with Grandma Morris.  The chemo made her hair curly.

I made this with the help of mom for my sister-in-law's baby shower (Melody).  My first ever diaper cake.  The theme of the decor for the shower is "mama bird".

and last but not least... ROMY WALKING!!  We've been very busy moving and growing.

Zeke's First Day- Preschool

This was Zeke yesterday.  That poor caterpillar!  

Ben's Grandma gave me this bowl.  I have one like it except it is turquoise with white and now I have white with turquoise.  Love it!

This is Zeke's first day of preschool this year.  He is going two days a week just like last year.  He enjoys it so much.  He picked his clothes out and "gelled" his hair especially for this day.  He was so excited!

Here they are... growing big.

If I only could explain what I feel when I look at this face!

The girls.  Same class.

Zeke and his nap mat.

Love is a Verb

Love is that baby that wakes you in the night
Love is the hug to a neighbor going through divorce
Love is an open door to children
Love is a yes to a favor asked by a friend
Love is watching your child walk toward independence
Love is letting someone struggle when it is in their best interest
Love is supporting your spouse when they are too weak to walk
Love is a meal made for another with pretzel sticks they prefer
Love is a gentle answer when stressed
Love is a mature thing- a God thing
Love is a verb.

First Time in Sand

Romy's first time in sand.  I thought she'd eat it, but she didn't.  She seemed to really enjoy it!  

Gwen- First day of First Grade

This is Romy the other day at an apple orchard.  The kids went to a day camp there to benefit missions.  

Today Lugi came to our back yard.  We love hawks.  They are majestic.

My girl started 1st grade today.  Grandma took her to school and we were not emotional about it.  She is thrilled and happy especially that she has a locker.

She is a beauty.  Lord, help me to guide this one!

Oh my goodness... this baby... she crushes me underneath the weight of her cuteness.

God Speaks

1. God speaks thru the Bible - Is it clearly right or wrong?  (Psalm 119:133, James 2:10)
2. God speaks thru prayer - Have you prayed and waited for an answer?  (James 1:5, Luke 18:1-8)
3. God speaks thru the Holy Spirit - Is God's Spirit telling you “No”?  (Acts 16:6, Romans 8:14)
4. God speaks thru praise music - Have you meditated to Biblically-sound music?  (Colossians 3:16)
5. God speaks thru circumstances - Do you have a legitimate opportunity?  (Acts 16:7, Colossians 4:3)
6. God speaks thru who God made you - Are you an "eye" trying to be an "ear"?  (1 Corinthians 12:17-18)
7. God speaks thru Bible direction - Has God spoken to you in the word?  (Jeremiah 32:6-8)
8. God speaks thru your spiritual leaders - What have they said?  (Hebrews 13:17)
9. God speaks thru other spiritual counselors - What have they said?  (Proverbs 11:14)
10. God speaks thru your desires - What do you want to do?  (1 Corinthians 16:12, Psalm 37:4)

These aren't the only ways God speaks to us.  God speaks to people through creation, conscience, the cross of Christ, dreams, etc.  But the 10 ways listed above, along with their Bible references, are a good place to start.

Gwen's note

She Won't Remember

She won't remember all the times I looked at her tiny face and found hope,
she won't recall all the times I whispered words of love into her ear as she fell asleep.
She won't remember the times I had to tell her "no" and stood outside with longing to save her from the struggle.
She won't remember all the prayers spoken over her bed for her to find the Lord.
She won't remember her first bite of ice cream or meatloaf.
She won't remember... but I will.

Growing and Changing Each Day

Romy likes to watch the big kids through the door.  She already wants to be a part of their madness.  

We got this walking toy out and Romy really loves it.  Look out world!

Gwen and Zeke have been working on legos.  They have quite elaborate descriptions, but for the life of me, I can't recall it all to tell here.  Just know that they are ships and have all the bells and whistles.

10 1/2 months

You see this angel?  I've officially nursed her the longest of my children.  She is a daily reminder of God's grace to me.  The gluten free diet I am on is helping me and I'm feeling good.  I. can't. get. enough. of. her!!

She can now wave, clap and say bye bye, da da, mama and understands "no."  (and she doesn't like it)

Letting Go

I've been rummaging through some old papers lately.  I found this in the mix and liked it once again:

Let Go and Let God

As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
because He was my friend.
But the, instead of leaving Him
in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
with ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can you be so slow?"
"My child," He said.
"What could I do?
You never did let go."

4th Of July

I personally can't get enough of these bike pictures so I know you can't either.  They are both riding without training wheels, so they have really ridden a lot this summer. 

Wind through the hair... this is childhood!

4th of July with friends.  Last year I was big and pregnant.  My friend said "this time next year you'll almost have a one year old."  Little did we know she would also add to her family and have a newborn there!

Those eyes!

That face!

Romy and daddy

Baby Callahan and Daddy

Glow bracelets

Cutie is standing up and looking out the window now.  She is such a joy to us!

Summer Projects and Singing Fun

Recently Ben and I sold the outdoor furniture we had in the back.  It was getting to crowded, too moldy, and it stayed wet forever.  We bought a picnic table and Ben put it together and sanded it and stained it.  He enjoyed the project and last night we ate dinner out in the back yard.  It was super nice.  I love having a man that is handy! Now that we got all the furniture moved we will repaint the back deck.  

Gwen is making a heart with her hands.  She did that on her own.  Zeke thinks it's funny to have his mouth open in every picture I guess.

Remember the free wooden filing cabinet that Ben got for me on the side of the road?  Well, I had some leftover stain from a desk I redid a few years ago and so I stained the filing cabinet to better match our desk.  I was happy with the result.

Now for our kitchen table.  I'm going to strip it and repaint it in some way... not sure what yet.  I'm thinking it will be lots of work... but for now we're enjoying the picnic table.

Ben made this planter for our front yard.  We did have rocks there around the tree, but the neighborhood kids and our kids would play with them and move them and they became a mess.

Zeke made up this song about bugs on the spot.  He is a really funny kid.



Gwen and Zeke singing the national anthem.  Interesting!!  Happy Fourth of July!