Vacation

Check out what this girl is doing - sitting up so good and enjoying "the beach" in our backyard. 

We're renting a "lake house" for the week - okay, so it's a cottage, but it is on a lake.  Lake house just sounds so much nicer.  Sometimes it seems like renting a cottage is just camping, upgraded, at least while packing.  But, the preparation is so worth it.  It is beautiful here and God has spoiled us here with unbeatable weather on our first full day.  The place we are staying is beautiful as well, and a bonus - it has wireless internet (I think that is how Jason sold me on this place) and a fantastic kitchen. 

We spent our first day enjoying the lake.  The boys loved tooling around in the paddle boat, playing in the sand and just being boys. 

We also explored the nearby town, known for the fictional Hodag.  I'm wondering who is going to have nightmares tonight?

The boys are out on the pier fishing, so Liddybug and I must sign off to go see if they've caught "the big one" yet.

Seven Months

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 
John 10:10

The Birthday Girl

So, how did the birthday girl spend her big day?  She played keep-away, dug a hole, and destroyed two landscape lights.  Happily, she did not eat any drywall, steal our flip-flops, eat any napkins, steal Jack's socks, eat a stamper turning her nose, gums and paw pink, eat any used Kleenexes, eat any Lincoln Logs or a sticky hand ... nope not today ...

Happy 1st Birthday to our crazy Maizey (aka, our Marley)!

Full Week, Full Heart

Phew, it's been a busy week ...

Three baseball nights ... two were Jack's games, one was our niece's game (who, unfortunately, I did not get a picture of - let me tell you though, she is one cute and fashionable ball player with her skirt, yes, skirt - hmmm ... will Lydia be like that?) ...

A night of moving Samuel's things into Jack's room ...

A night at Lifest with a "chance" (definitely a "God Thing") encounter with the lead singer of Casting Crowns, Mark Hall (I'm still a bit "star" struck).  I know, I know, he's just a person, like you and me ... but still, he's the lead singer of Casting Crowns, and we love Casting Crowns ... I think I may have mentioned that before on this blog ... or, is it obvious based on the fact that we have now been to three Casting Crowns concerts in two years?

And, of course, Lydia loved her first Casting Crowns concert ...

A busy week and a full heart, how we love these summer days!

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

Our Little Firecrackers

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

John 8:36

"I will walk about in freedom ..."   

Psalm 119:45

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32

(Side note - this is Samuel practicing his independence with his faux mohawk!)

"Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants."

Leviticus 25:10