Our List

I told the kids to think of three things they wanted to do this summer, and we would get it on the calendar to be sure to do it. From that, we have a list of things to do this summer. Some we have already done; a lot is still to be done.

zoo
baseball game
Waldameer (amusement park)
movie
putt-putt
beach
camping
park/ playground
fishing
camp fire
parade
Chuck E. Cheese
picnic
fireworks
slip and slide
fair

We hope to have a great summer making memories!!

Bad Thoughts

I told John that I have been having bad thoughts lately. In an extremely concerned voice, he asked, "What kind?"
"I want another baby!" I said.

We've been here before (about three other times...). When the baby is around a year old, they are SO cute, so much easier to take care of, and I am finally feeling better and recovered from pregnancy and the aftermath. I start thinking that I could handle another one...

The problem with having these thoughts now are that we have "taken measures" so as not to have another child.

It's not that we don't want more kids. I have explained it like this: We would LOVE more kids, IF so many things were different. And it's not even the fact of Rachel having a birth defect. Number one would be: I am OLD and just don't have the energy that I think I do! I try to fool myself, but the reality is that pregnancy is hard on me and I just don't bounce back that easily. It takes me a good year to recover from it all.

We are still in the "baby mode" with Rachel, but she will soon be out of it. I think that once she is, and we get used to life without a baby, we'll be ok. Until then, I need to resist the urge and just live vicariously through others having wee little ones!
(PS...I have already purged all of the baby stuff! Who knew there was so much baby junk??)

Last night Rebekah asked me why God gave us such a special baby, and this is the story I told the kids.

When God made our baby, he knew that she was very special, in fact, the most special baby in the world. So he wanted to give her just the right home. He looked and looked for the most special home to put her in. He thought about several, but they weren't just right. He keep looking until he found ours.

When he looked at our family he thought, "That's the perfect family!" He saw that it was full of the most special kids.

God knew that the special baby would need a special biggest brother to watch out for her and take care of her. The special brother would be very vigilant that there were no latex balloons around, since the baby would be allergic to latex. And the biggest brother would protect her. God would search the entire world and see that there was only one boy special enough to be the baby's biggest brother!

God also knew that the special baby would need a big sister too. The big sister would play with the special baby and make her laugh. The special big sister would love to put her head in the baby's lap and let her pull her hair. She would also be a wonderful singer for the baby, singing songs like, "Jesus Loves Me" and "Oh How He Loves You and Me" to calm the baby. The big sister would have to be someone very extra special.

And God knew that the special baby would need another very special big brother. He would be the perfect younger-big-brother for her; he would caress her face, kiss her, and tell her, "it's ok babydoll." He would be so important because he would be the one that would have to go to all the doctor's appointments with her; he would have to be very light-hearted and easy-going too.

And so God found that perfect family for the special baby; a biggest brother, and big sister, and a younger-big brother. That baby would be so lucky because she didn't have one or even two, but THREE big siblings to look out for her! When kids made fun of her because of the braces she had to wear on her legs, there were THREE they would have to deal with. And when kids looked at her funny because she didn't walk like other kids, THREE big brothers/sister would be sure to explain it to them. And when that special baby got on the school bus, there would be THREE to look out for her.

She would be a super-special baby, but only because of the extra-special family God decided she would need.

Good Advice

I've come across some really good advice lately and thought I'd share!

Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you! -Elisa De Wolfe

You can only be offended if you take offense. -Mom

Don't ever bad mouth your husband in front of your children. -Aunt Cindy

Don't let your beauty come from outward adornment, but it should come from your inner self, a gentle and quiet spirit. - Peter

My Wise Six Year Old

Benjamin said the most profound thing to me the other day that I have been thinking about quite a bit...

I don't really like church, but that doesn't mean I don't love God.

What an insightful kid he is! He is getting the connection that it's all about Jesus. I couldn't be prouder.

I just love him!!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4)

Dear Rebekah

Dear Rebekah,

Today is not your birthday. Yesterday was, but we were having so much fun celebrating, I didn't have time to write.

You are such a joy, and I am so glad that you belong to us! Thank you for bringing your joy into our lives.

I am so happy that you are now a five year old and can go to Kindergarten in the fall. I know how excited you are and how you are looking forward to riding the bus with Biggie.

I love how you throw yourself into everything that you do, whether it's digging for worms or playing with your pet shop, or eating your doughnut.

I love you so much and am so happy with YOU!

Love,

Mommy

Here are some of the fun things you did to celebrate your 5th birthday:

Eating your favorite: chocolate- covered cream-filled doughnut (a day or so early) Having a picnic lunchFeeding, I mean SHARING your lunch with Nikki Playing in the alfalfa with your brothers Opening a birthday present: Pet Shops!

Your birthday party, FINALLY!Eating a hot dog with mustard

Your beautiful Pet Shop birthday cake

You had such a great day; you feel into bed exhausted. I don't even have pictures of you feeding the chickens, eating dinner at McDonalds, checking on your two new kitties (Lovey and Dulcey), jumping on the trampoline, chasing your cousins Steven and Nathan, lining up all of your new Pet Shop toys, playing your new Pet Shop video game with your brother...

You said it best: it really was the BEST DAY EVER!

Better Things To Do...

So, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't been online much lately. May is a busy time on the farm. After months of being cooped in and thinking the snow will never go away, all of a sudden, one day, it's spring! Here are some of the things that have been keeping us busy...

Rebekah digging in the dirt for worms
Joshy too busy to stop and get his picture taken

John and Benjamin playing baseball

Rachel enjoying her swing

One of the beautiful views on our walks

Flower beds that need so much work

Spring planting (John's dad)

Our beautiful apple blossoms before the late frost eradicated them (no apples this year!)

Chickens!! I've told the kids to get the broom if they see the hens in my flower beds

These are the days that I wish would last forever.