A busy week...

Our week started out with Jacob FINALLY being able to attend the baseball clinic he was invited to through church this whole week. It was at our pastors house waaaaay out in the boondocks(o.k., maybe WE are the ones out in the boondocks). It was taught by an older man in the church who looves coaching and did a fabulous job. The idea wasn't to win, it was to glorify God first in humbleness, actions and speech and to sharpen the boys' skill's and learn the game. Monday through Friday they practiced from 1:30 - 3pm in the hot sun and Saturday was the big game. We didn't sing the national anthem, we recited the Lord's Prayer, though we all would have been proud to sing our anthem, it was a creative change to start out in prayer.





A full 9 innings were played(I think) and there was no winner announced. Remember the idea wasn't competition, but glorifying God. The game was made challenging for the more experienced players but the ball fumbled and dropped when a newbie got a poor hit, allowing him to jump for joy after reaching first base and hearing a strong "Safe!" In other words, it was rigged. But what a GREAT time of fellowship and iron sharpening iron. The boys on that field were not boys, but men in training.





The boys each left with a team picture, a signed certificate of completion, a uniform and new friends....good friends.

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Afterwards, the B's invited our family over to their house for dinner. Like she said, what's 8 more people? They are the exceptional parents of 13 children. So she had this huge spread of food whipped up in no time and we loved sitting down to talk for a good long time. At one point Paul stopped and pointed out there were 20 children running around playing and we were sitting in the dining room thoroughly enjoying adult conversation...uninterrupted for the most part. Jessie brought her cousin Ali with if you are adding numbers. I just love this family. Their children are very well mannered, sweet and full of adventurous ideas...the opposite of what people imagine a large family to be. I have conquered all their names! I felt like I deserved a patch or somethin(Renee, if you read this, did you get all MINE down?). I wanted to talk to each child and was bummed I missed five of them. Oh well, that is what future BBQ's are for!

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This is my dream dahlia garden that I have wanted for 4 years now. Paul went through all the work of creating it for me and here is it's current state. I have weeded it several times and spent hours in here...really. I haven't counted it as lost.....yet....but I am loosing hope. Any ideas on how to grow a low-weed dahlia garden...or garden for that matter, would be greatly appreciated.

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And this is a typical Sunday afternoon. Daddy is in the pool, who needs pool toys? Daddy serves as a spring board & flotation device. The kids couldn't have a better father!

Paul's birthday is tomorrow, Monday, and Gracie is celebrating her FIRST birthday on Tuesday! I can not believe how fast this year has gone. Paul and I get to enjoy a dinner out at a fancy shmancy restaurant tomorrow night and we will have a BBQ Tuesday night for the both Paul and Gracie.

"But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,

and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life..." 1 Thess 4:11

I did a study of the phrase "quiet life" today. Sometimes I feel guilty for opting out of my children participating in out-of-the-home programs and music and sports and more programs, but then I read this...

The greek word for "quiet" in 1 Thess 4:11 is "hesuchazo" - 2270 -

which literally means

1) to keep quiet
a) to rest, cease from labour
b) to lead a quiet life, said of those who are not running hither and thither, but stay at home and mind their business
c) to be silent, i.e. to say nothing, hold one's peace

Ahhhhh, now that settles much better with me.