Silas' Kind of Fun

Silas is one funny boy!  He is creative and really likes playing with toys like Legos and Play Mobil "men."  He also loves all of his brothers.  And we never know what he will do next.  Here are a few pictures to illustrate:

I made this one extra big so you could see the paint all over the him.  Micah was painting and Silas wanted to paint too.  I asked Abby to sit with him and help him because he had never painted like that before.  A few minutes later I saw Abby in the hall and asked if Silas was finished already.  I went to check on him and this is what I found :)  He had more paint on himself and the ground than on the wood he was painting!

Keenan and I were working on reading one morning a month or so ago and  Nathanael was sitting in the play room with Silas.  I looked up to see Nathanael surrounded by all these blankets and pillows and stuff.  I asked Silas about it and he told me he was making a nest for his brother and giving him toys to play with.  Funny!  And Nathanael was as happy as he could be in his "nest."

Sorry for the sideways picture.  I don't know why the blog does this sometimes.  It is too much trouble to fix it so you will just have to turn your head :)  Here is a close-up of the "bird" in his "nest."

Spring fun

Rachel's class is dancing in the end of the year ballet performance.  They are doing worship dances.  It was beautiful.  Rachel is on the left.

Abby and Rachel worked hard at ballet this year.  In the performance, Abby's class were the sowers in the Parable of the Sower, written by their teacher from the parable Jesus told.  Abby is the far left.

This is a little out of order.  This is Rachel's class bowing after they are done.  Rachel is in the front middle.

Keenan and Micah played soccer this Spring.

I had the chance to speak at a Ladies Tea at a friend's church.  My mom happened to be in town and so we ladies went together.  We have a very enjoyable time.

Going to the park to play!

Silas loves to draw and color.  We are doing school work and he is making pictures :)

Nathanael and his buddy, who is a little more than 2 months younger

We celebrated Christ's resurrection with some family friends.  Here we are doing an egg cracking contest.

We had a long, exciting day on Easter.  First a local  church where the girls did a beautiful dance.  Then lunch with friends, then resurrection rolls, then worship.  Silas and Micah both fell asleep during worship.  We let them sleep (on me!) for a few minutes before waking them up for the egg hunt.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

I have to brag on my kids for a minute!  They were so creative this year for Mother's Day.  First, they confined me to my room this morning, which is really a gift in itself, while they cooked breakfast and made a large "Happy Mother's Day" sign.  Rachel was the overseer at 12, with all of the others helping (except the baby), even Silas who is 2 1/2.  They made a huge homemade biscuit in the shape of a heart, scrambled eggs and cantaloupe.  (David made the coffee :} ) At the breakfast table they handed me a program of the Mother's Day Performance.  Here's what it said:

When: right after breakfast

Where: living room

Why?: because we love mommy so much

What: first- dance, "When the Tears Fall" (from Tim Hughes) by Rachel and Abby

next- song- "Happy Mother's Day to You" by Keenan, Micah and Silas

third- dance, "Be Glorified" (from the Passion CD) by Rachel and Abby

fourth- poems, read by Abby

fifth- dance, "Surrender" (from the Surrender CD) by Rachel

next- 20 reasons we love Mommy, by Rachel, Abby, Keenan and Micah

Finally- we all pray for Mommy

Wow!  The breakfast was delicious.  The sign was made with giant letters, each decorated differently by all the kids, from rainbow, to a superman shaped A. The performance was beautiful.  The dances were choreographed by Rachel and the girls danced them so well.  The boys were adorable serenading me!  The poems were not written by Abby, but chosen by her and very sweet.  The 20 reasons they love mommy was so special!  Some of the reasons were "she cooks for us," "she does what needs to be done without complaining," "she points us to God," and "she loves us for who we are."  And then they all gathered and thanked God for me, all 5 who can talk and David.  It was so so precious and encouraged me so much!  And if that wasn't enough, the older ones had homemade cards and even a few gifts!  Micah made me a card and a necklace, which I am wearing as I type.  Abby gave me a cute picture frame that has the verse from Psalm 127 about children being a gift from God on it.
It is a time I will treasure for years to come.  So if you can top that, comment about it cause I want to hear!  What a life I have!!  I am so happy to be in this season right now!

Peas in a Pod

Just thought you would like to see these cute boys.  They are almost always together.  Just this morning I was making breakfast with Micah.  He wanted to have cereal and I said we would save that for school mornings when we didn't have as much time.  He said, "It's not a school day?"  No, I say.  "Yippee!" He exclaims.  Keenan walks into the kitchen as we are talking and says "Why do you care?  You don't even have to do school work."  And Micah's answer is " Yeah, but I'll have people to play with!"

Silas and Micah watching Keenan put together some new star wars legos he bought with Granny's Christmas money

Look at these scary looking dudes!  Notice Silas in the background

Keenan was recently given a Gameboy.  We have never done video games so he is captivated with it!  Obviously so are his brothers.  Funny!

Now that Nathanael is getting bigger, they like to include him in their play, too.  Here they were camping or something and it is sleeping time!

Getting ready for the first soccer game!  David is coaching Keenan's team.  And Silas of course is just as excited about watching soccer.  He's even in the spirit with his soccer shirt!

                                   

Two Year Old Funnies

David and I are talking after breakfast on this relaxing Saturday morning.  I hear Silas call to his brothers, "I be right back."  He comes into the dining room and says, "Will you get me a helmet down?  And I need a sword and flashlight." 
"Wow," I say.  "What are you going to do with it all?" 
"I just 'tackin' (attacking) the boys (his brothers)."
"Oh," I say.  "Do they want to play like that?"
"No." Silas says with a smile.
So I remind him we should only attack others when they want to play like that, something that sounds so backwards coming out of my mouth.  I'd never have said that to the girls. 
Then David says, "I thought you wanted to read books with me."
Silas says, "No."  Then adds, "I have superpowers."

Too, too funny!  It's amazing the things that boys says.  It is so apparent that he has a house full of older siblings!

Thoughts from a Pligrim's Heart, Part 2

Well it took me long enough to write again.  I just don't have very much time to sit (without a baby in my arms) in front of the computer.  And really there is too much life to live to try to squeeze in time. 
I've been reading an old book by Hannah Whitall Smith titled The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life.  In it I read this that really challenged me: "In order for a soul to be made into a vessel unto God's honor, ...it must be entirely abandoned to Him and must lie passively in His hands."  She is using the analogy of clay in a potter's hand, yielding fully to the Potter.  That is so hard for me!  To lie passively, waiting, receiving whatever the Master deems useful and necessary.  I so often I think I know the way and try to direct the potter, but how foolish of me!  I must learn to place myself, ALL of my life, into God's strong, loving, omniscient Hands and just yield to His touches, "an entire surrender of the whole being to God."  Then she says, "To a soul ignorant of God, this may look hard.  But to those who know Him, it is the happiest and most restful of lives." I have tasted this and desire to really experience this DAILY!  It is not so difficult when you really know God; it is rest and joy and peace!

Thoughts from a Pligrim's heart, part 1

These are some thoughts from recent times at the House of Prayer, just sitting in God's Presence.
*Worship is like sweet smelling incense, first to God, who is most worthy!  But as I pour out worship from my heart, it brings the fragrance of worship everywhere I go.  Lord, teach me to pour out this incense, break my vial of worship all over my home that it would change me and change the atmosphere of my home.
*Thoughts from 1 Peter 1:  Pilgrims, God's elect... this wer are!  In this- begotten again, new, offered a solid living hope of eternal life and honor- in the we greatly rejoice! And even in this rejoicing, there is temporary grief, various trials, testing of my most precious faith.  Grief and rejoicing, difficulty and joy, peace and pain-- mixed like oil and water.  As I sojourn, I walk by faith, embracing the trials as a means to purification that results in resurrection and life, joy eternal!!
*v 8 "Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible" 
The foundation I stand on is unseen, even to me.  I can feel it (most of the time) but I cannot see it.  The treasure for which I have sold my life is buried deep and I long to lay my eyes on it, touch it, but for now I wait in faith!  As I dig, I get gems, tastes of what is to come.  He has not left me orphaned!  He has given me treasure, a deposit, to keep me til the end.  He has put oil in my lamp and continues to do so as I come to Him, until the Bridegroom comes and the lamp is no longer necessary.  My faith WILL one day become sight!  Though I do not see him, I love Him!  And I will recieve the goal of my faith, the salvation of my soul!!