These whatever-cent bouncy balls have given me more for my money than I can tell you. They have to be one of Evan's very favorite summer activities and they are perfect for our screened-in porch and high ceilings. We sit in the chairs and count to three and throw. It's kind of relaxing, I have to admit...like the rhythm of rocking on a porch swing or jumping on a trampoline or shooting baskets after shcool. A wonderful, repetitive, and somehow never tiresome activity.

As you'll see in the following pictures, some of our other favorite summer games include cooking (both with real and toy food,) puzzles, coloring, painting, potato heads, reading, of course swimming, singing and dancing, and all kinds of "pretend" and "make believe." What you can't see in these pictures is that Evan has started writing his name pretty close to perfectly and he can draw a clown with all of its parts in the right place. I can also tell him words, letter by letter, and he will write them. He likes to climb on the couch and draw the pictures on his magnadoodle as they appear on his movies. He's a little obssessive compulsive about things, too. He hates change. Same movies, same books, same favorite foods...anything new is a real challenge...but he's pretty good about trying it when encouraged. Even the colors of each body part, the hat and buttons on his clowns are always the same. It will be interesting to see if this is just a phase, or part of his personality.

All lined up and ready to go...and out of Madalyn's reach (she tries to eat them) 

bouncy balls 

being crazy 

1 2 3 go!! 

puzzle 

puzzles are a favorite right now 

Reading with daddy 

taking the babies for a walk 

Evan always turns around to make sure she's not stuck and following 

Does she think she's a big girl, or what? 

Look at her face!! 

lunchtime 

committing a no-no 

Best friends 

getting situated in a roundabout way 

Getting cozy 

Lunch is served 

Madalyn's sandwich 

Madalyn making a pbj 

Eating on the porch is a summer treat 

playing "nigh-night" with Madalyn 

so much fun 

Cowboy and his cowgirl 

falling off (on purpose) 

check out the expression on Evan's face in this...could he be any happier? 

Aren't they so funny...so crammed together, but so in their own worlds still 

pretending to be in the swimming pool 

fun with da-da 

fun with daddy 

Late night with Madalyn 

Late night time with Madalyn 

This is what Madalyn does every time she finds her blankie. 

Evan dresses and feeds the potato heads...sandwiches and milk are his specialty. He also reads them books and tucks them in bed, turning off the lights and doing our complete bedtime routine. 

Yesterday Evan and I went running out to the Country Club parking lot behind our home to look for the space shuttle, Discovery. He had is doggy and my hand and I was hurrying him so much that he fell and scraped his knee :(. He's so tough, though...he whined a bit and then kept running with me so he wouldn't miss it. He was so excited when the puffy pink trail shot across the sky, that he almost acted embarrassed and turned away. He grinned and answered excitedly that yes, he saw it. Then we went up and watched on tv and he talked about it all day, even called daddy at work to tell him.

I'd seen the shuttle from the 8th Street Elementary playground in Ocala years ago, but I remember it being so much smaller. I guess since we're now that much closer to Cape Canaveral, it was that much bigger, and I think I was nearly as impressed and awed as Evan. To think we were watching people shoot into space with our own two eyes...(or four eyes, I guess!) Pretty amazing. And to watch on tv as the final booster released, the camera on it showing the belly of the shuttle as it fell away from it; wow. We hope to actually visit Cape Canaveral for one of the launches sometime in the near future.

Okay, so now I'm going to jump (space)ships here, because as hard as the concept of reaching space is to grasp, here's something harder, something I feel like God placed on my heart this morning...

I was reading about how He's been with us through our trials, experienced every betrayal we've experienced, (even premeditative betrayal by Judas,) and has been tested and tempted in every way we have, so He can empathize with us and give us strength to conquer...then I realized how much my honest tendency is to revert to saying, "yeah, but You're God. You're so much more capable than me!!"

But when I resorted to the usual "You're God and I'm me" this morning, I felt him lay this question my heart:

"And so how much love are you capable of, Katie?"

(Shrug.) Not sure.

"And how much love am I capable of? What does my love look like in comparison to yours?"

"Father, I'm completely handicapped in comparison to the way You love. Your love is immeasurable!"

"Then how much more do I suffer?"

Hmmm...Now I don't know, maybe this isn't a revelation to you, but it's been huge for me this morning, and to Him be the glory. May He teach me His patience today. How good He is that every day is a new start!

A lunch-time discovery from the past few days: Madalyn LOVES pickles. The very sight of the jar sends her into a wide-eyed frenzy of longing. She gnaws them down to nubs and leaves a trail of seeds down her bib. Who would've thought? Especially after "Evan the Picky."

She also loves Fantastic brand's "Big Cup of Soup," the beef noodle flavor. It's SO gross. I thought I was giving her chunks of beef, (after all it is called beef noodle,) and then I read that it's vegetarian on the side. I'd love to know what the brown crumbly chunks are...tofu? I don't think so. But Madalyn loves Fantastic's soup.

I just now changed Fantastic Madalyn's diaper and decided to leave her bottomless in her dress. She walked away hesitantly and kept turning around to pause and look at me, like 'do you realize what you've just done...you know I'm naked under here?'

I said, "I know, I realize you're naked--enjoy!"

Although after this morning I can't believe I'm taking this risk again. She has a terrible rash right now from her antibiotics and I've been letting her walk around like this to air out so it can heal. This morning I found she'd stepped in her you-know-what, had it all over her hands and left trails of it everywhere. (Yeah...I shouldn't have told you that...you're never gonna let your kids crawl around on my carpet again, let alone lie on it yourself.) Oh well.

I've gone through nearly an entire bottle of carpet cleaner and run out of paper towels. My Super-Husband is going to get more at the store on his way home tonight while I get a lesson in how to be Supermom at the pool as he works late...

Swim class is tonight and I have to somehow get in the pool with Madalyn and watch Evan in the baby pool...hmmm...that should be interesting. On top of it, pictures are tonight! Wow...this is going to be nuts...though not as nuts as Supermom Kelly who came with her 2 and 3 year olds and 6 month old ALONE. Unbeknownst to her, she'll be giving me my Supermom lessons tonight. Pray I catch on fast!!

We just wanted to share some exciting news...no it isn't a new house, but even better--a church home! We've only visited three times but decided why twiddle our thumbs? It feels like home.

It feels like the church I grew up in; that I loved with all my heart. I'd been particularly grieving for it lately and I'm sure it was no coincidence that God put that longing on my heart just before we visited Orangewood for the first time. It's of the PCA denomination and when the pastor gave the blessing at the end of the service, I wanted to cry and let out a big sigh of relief. I grew up PCA and had no idea how much I missed the doxology and member book being passed around, the Lord's Prayer, and especially the blessing. It's like the sweet girl I spoke with today, who's been there four years said, "Okay, now I can go!"

So after that first visit I waited for Shaun's pure opinion before sharing my own--my heart ran over when he said he loved it and that it felt like home. It took me several days to realize that the pastor, Jeff Jakes, who used to be the youth pastor there, was the same youth pastor I'd seen with his group at Camp Kulaqua every year, back in my church youth group camping days. It's so weird how things interwine so often in life, and in so many amazing ways. But his doctrine is sound and his sermons, convicting and encouraging at once. Although, it's amazing I've been able to assess this much, because Madalyn's beeper has gone off all three times!!

Today when I was paged, I brought her into the sanctuary and gave her a bottle until she sat up in her pink smocked jumper, and turned around to wave at the congregation in the stadium-seats behind us like a beauty queen, and saying in a very animated voice, "Hi-iiiii!"

Then she turned over my other shoulder to greet the other members. When she faced forward to find the pastor with his hands raised in illustration, she raised her hands towards him as if she were copying a dance move and I knew it was time to slip out before she shouted a greeting to him, too... although our exit was not as discrete as I'd hoped for. She couldn't believe I was taking her away from her smiling audience!

I can't gush enough of my excitement and gratefulness for the newfound hope we have in Orangwood Presbyterian. We long to join and find a place to serve. So instead of gushing on and on with even more details, I'll just ask that you please pray for us and the committment we are about to make. We pray God finds a place for us in this wonderful body of believers; a place we can better learn to, (as I remember learning in my PCA catechism,) "glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Thank You, Father, for this new journey and excitement!

The Lord's been showing me in a very deep way lately how submitting to His authority brings peace. Not boring peace, but peace like a wild river; the kind that brings new surprises every day. But until last night, I was wondering why things were beginning to feel "dry" again and then He showed me that I was living dry again...I was no longer submitting to His authority in the small things, and my peace that had truly been "like a wild river" was vastly evaporating.

Not coincidentally, I think it was the week after originally studying these verses I've posted below, that things got challenging; that the sifting came. I failed miserably, fell back into the same habits and patterns, and then there I was wondering when things got dry, when His Spirit left me! Hello?! I'd taken His authority into my own hands again! But praise Him for not letting me get away with it, and for waking me this morning to give me a second, harder look at these verses referenced in Beth Moore's "Breaking Free."

Thought I'd pass them on. (Don't miss the way peace is related to authority...)

"If only you'd paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (Isa. 48: 18)

"Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way." (2 Thes. 3: 16)

"For to us a child is born. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end." (Isa. 9: 6-7)

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."
(Isa. 26: 3)

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isa. 32: 17)

"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." (Isa. 53: 5)

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord who has compassion on you. (Isa. 54: 10)

"Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." (Isa. 57: 2)

"Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler." (Isa. 60: 17)

"As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19: 41-42)

"This is what the Lord says, who teaches you what is best for you..." (Isa. 48: 17)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives."
(John 14: 27)

"Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts..." (Col 3: 15)

He did it! I'm amazed...simply amazed.

He went from being the most disruptive child in his swim class, to being the only one to get a sticker for sitting quietly and being a good listener. Life is funny.

And all we had to do was bribe him with the reward of an icecream sandwich for good listening. That's right. He got a sticker and an icecream sandwich. It was quite a night. He even saved his sticker to wear to story-time at the library this morning so he could show his girlfriend, Kaley. The library lady gave him a stamp on each hand, (they all got them,) a red ladybug and a blue fox, and the hokey pokey was one of today's songs...what more could the child possibly want?

Okay, so he was eyeballing the little girl on the story-carpet with her face painted pink and black like a cat. But I think that was more "is that little girl part-cat and should I be afraid," than "I want my face done just like hers."

Evan had his hair cut today. He gibbered away about it the entire time he was in the chair.

"Mommy? Mommy..."

"Yes, Evan?"

"I"m new, mommy."

"Yes it's all new, your hair looks new."

"My hair looks new...and you look old, mommy."

You should have seen the hairstylist's face.

Then we went to Target where he and Madalyn took turns throwing their dum-dums to the ground to see how many times I would lick them off and hand them back. Go ahead--(GASP!)

Tonight is swim class. This is our second session. Last time it was just us and the teacher, Miss Sheena. This time Evan and Madalyn are in separate classes appropriate to their skills. Madalyn could actually be in Evan's class, except she doesn't know how to sit still on the step and wait for directions. But she can already swim to the step and crawl up onto it completely on her own. That's something to see, I tell you what; her little bald head navigating through the water, eyes wide-open, chubby legs kicking.

Evan's really been struggling with being in a group. At first he didn't understand why he couldn't swim to Miss Sheena as he pleased, that he had to share her, and this last time he was extremely sensitive and terribly wounded whenever she corrected him. He cried loudly through most of the session.

Tough situation. Do we fuss at him and try to quiet him for the sake of Miss Sheena and the other kids, or do we let her handle it? We opted for the second approach, and hid behind a brick column near by, out of his sight.

That was until he started screeching in a panicked voice, "Mommy? Mommy!!" He thought we'd left for good and abandoned him. I caved. I'm weak I guess, and rushed to assure him that we were still there, and could he please sit quietly and take turns. This brought on more tears, but eventually I was able to somewhat reason with him, and last class even had him clapping while the other kids took turns...I think Miss Sheena was grateful.

There's another child, Robert, who clearly has A.D.D. (my husband has it, so I can get away with saying this,) and he is constantly head diving towards the cement bottom, forever ignoring Miss Sheena and successfully leading Evan astray. Robert's mother does nothing but occasionally say his name from the pool chair she resides in every class. She probably has older kids and that will most likely be me with my last child...but for now, I've come to the conclusion that the ideal situation for Miss Sheena, is an obedient student like little Sarah who, when asked what kind of things are on the party island they will be traveling to today, readily replies..."Um...starfish, and sharks, and fish, and trees, and sand..." or even Kenny who has special needs but got a sticker last class for sitting so quietly and being such a great listener...but if it's between a Robert-situation (no parent helping) or an Evan-situation (mother's constant coaching in his ear as he sits on the steps,) I would venture to say Miss Sheena would prefer that the parent does interfere. And I know the parents of the other children appreciated me pacifying the screams.

I've even got Evan to, instead of following Robert's lead, sit on the step and watch him saying, "Up--what's Robert doin'?" and "Where'd Robert go? There he is!"

We were talking to him about everything during the car-ride home Monday and listing the good listeners..."Sarah, and Kenny, and Mina, and Evan were all good listeners this time..."

"...and Robert!" Evan added.

I thought about saying Robert wasn't a very good listener but then feared Evan would repeat this next class, and so mumbled something like "Robert? Well...Robert...well, Miss Sheena has to get onto him a lot, you know...but he's trying.." (It was one of those times when I have an out-of-body experience and wonder what in the world I am actually trying to say to my two, almost-three year old.) I wish I could have all these moments on video to edit together and laugh at in the days to come!!

All this goes to say, wish us luck tonight! Bing, bing, bing...round three begins!

Grace Martin

Julie and Grace Martin were able to stay with us this past weekend. We went to the pool, the park, and had a great time catching up. Evan and Grace enjoyed lying on their tummies on the carpet and mimicking each other, and also enjoyed making laps to slam up against the sliding glass door simultaneously, like birds hitting a glass pane.

I should also mention that we tried them out both in Evan's room the first night and that was hilarious! I wish I'd rigged a camera. Evan was in his bed and Grace in her portacrib. Grace would yell something and Evan would copy her, and when I stood outside their door to listen, they must've seen my shadow and started chanting, "Mommy! Mommy? Mommy!" At one point Evan began sneaking out of bed and dumping toys into Grace's...this resulted in her bed being moved to the tiny guest bathroom where, despite the toilet portruding into the mesh of her portacrib, and despite the cold dampness, she slept quite nicely for three entire nights...being proof enough that they had a wonderful time together.

big boy 

girls on swings 

posing 

happy boy on the slide 

treetops in the summer 

curly 

in the sunshine 

Grace Elizabeth 

G.E.M. 

riding the alligator 

sweatin' it at the park 

Grace 

girls in pink 

Madalyn in her jelly shoes that Julie and Grace got her for her birthday 

Exploring the mulch