the Father's love

emotions and feelings swirl in my head and heart this morning...tiredness, temptations toward pity parties because i've been up so long already and it's only 6 am, fear, anxiety...but Lord, You are faithful to use Your active and living Word to draw me back to the truth on which i stand...my prayer today is that You would give me glimpses of Your love and Your heart towards me all the day long...and to begin, You have this song playing in my head...


It's Heaven's perfect mystery
The king of love has sent for me
And now you're singing over me
The Father's song

The Father's song
The Father's love
You sung it over me and for eternity
It's written on my heart

just a few things they love lately...

playing with and wearing anyone's shoes...

playing IN the block container or any other container for that matter

the noah's ark animals (his elephant sound is hilarious!)

reading books in lisey's chair (he's quite the book bug as well!)

wearing my sunglasses (even in church)

they both love the sandbox daddy built for them

watching her daddy work

watching the "potty dance" on the huggies web site

doing the "potty dance"

"swimming" all by herself!!!

my climber

i feel like a broken record lately, as i tell of isaac's climbing tales.  he'll climb onto just about anything!  tables, chairs, stools, window ledges, anything he can grip with even the slightest amount of finger tips, he'll pull up on and go from there.  it really is amazing...scary...but amazing.  here's a play by play of his latest thing to climb and conquer.

and where's elise during all this effort?  watching super why, all curled up and snuggly with her baby and blankie, of course.

more shore pics

sweet times

we had such a sweet time with the baloches down at the shore last week.  it was great to all be together, catch up, and make some memories.  it was so great to hear what everyone has been up to, what God is doing in their lives, and to even share dreams for the future.  i love seeing those guys.

elise was especially excited because she got to spend time with her uncle that she loves.  when i asked her who could take her into the ocean..."uncle paul can take me."  she loves him!  she draws pictures for him, sings songs along with him, and talks about him all the time.  it is absolutely precious to see the bond she has with him, that spans distance and time.  there are just some family members that you are always close to, and i pray these two keep this tight bond.  

it was a great day and hopefully there will be more pictures to come...but here are the few i was given (since i couldn't seem to motivate my pregnant self to take many on my own)

summer fun continues

jay took on the task of putting together a swing set for the kids this summer.  when you combine a free swing set from craig's list with a power washer, sand, some replacement pieces of lumber, and a very handy carpenter, you get a fantastic place for the kids to play (despite our incredibly crooked and sloped back yard)!  thank you daddy!

summer time

i have never loved the summer.  i can't stand bugs.  mosquitos especially seem to love me and find me anywhere.  the heat exhausts me in no time flat.  but this summer, i have to say, we have had so much fun between pool days, play dates, play group, and beach days.  so here are some pics of our summer time fun...and yes, even i've been enjoying myself...pregnant belly and all :)

getting isaac used to the ocean...he's getting there :)

coming home from the shore

playing on the slide at play group

sleepover at oma and papa's with the girl cousins

cousins pic

oma braving the pool with isaac, elise, and jonas and their three float caravan

swimming with oma and papa

learning how to jump rope

loving her time with the girls

cousins...silly face picture (i just love elise's face in this one!)