Happenings

It has been a busy summer! While Darren has been going back and forth to Ft. Worth, we have been swimming, going to our new church, looking for a house, spending time with people we love, and trying to find fun things to do in the 100 degree weather!

We are still trying to sell our house, but have bought a house in SW Arlington, so we move in about 3 weeks! We are so thankful and God has really been faithful to work out the details.

Meanwhile, Max has spent time at the farm and went to VBS in Irving, and continues to work on his schoolwork! We have all enjoyed the summer veggies that he has grown in his garden this year and he is very proud of himself!

Annabelle went to camp at our zoo and went to VBS with my Mom and her cousin Kyra! She has totally recovered from her surgery and is a "regular person" now! She has recently discovered make-up and is totally obsessed with it.

Simon is talking up a storm! He can say lots of words now and tries to say everything! He loves to swim, but likes the deep end only! He LOVES to read books and to aggravate everyone. As of late, he is on the "one-bite" diet. He will eat one bite of anything, but that's it! The dude has also stopped crying in the nursery and takes one nap a day now. He is growing so fast! I cannot get enough of him!

We are all looking forward to starting our new life in Ft. Worth/Arlington very soon!

Proof!

A Helper

Let's just say that homeschooling has become very difficult these days! Max has a little helper, so it takes us twice as long to get anything done! Max writes while Simon erases-good teamwork.

Zoo Camp

Annabelle and her cousin, Kyra, are going to Zoo Camp every morning this week and loving it! They both LOVE animals, and each other. We will really miss our cousin time when we move! Meanwhile, Simon is bored silly and Max is in Irving with his Nana. Me? I am totally enjoying a break from homeschooling!

Fwimmin'

Max and Annabelle had swim lessons at Tennis & Swim all last week, which they loved, of course! What a good excuse to be at the pool everyday!

To Draw Near to Listen is Better

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

As said in my new ESV version Bible! Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

Humility is the truest sign of intimacy with God. ~Beth Moore~

Berry Pickin'

We had a great time picking blueberries yesterday with the Knights! Somehow we missed out on this last year, but we will make up for it this summer! I used to dream about blueberries when we lived in Panama and Costa Rica-we didn't have them there. I think we ate as many as we gathered yesterday! Today we will decide what to make with them...

Bittersweet

What a wonderful blessing our house has been. We hoped to stay longer, but God had something else in mind! A few days ago, we had a visit from the couple who sold it to us. They built this house 43 years ago and lived the majority of their lives in it. As I walked them through, praying that they approved of the changes we have made, I got to hear some of their favorite memories of raising their 3 boys here. It was so sweet, and sad too. I have often prayed a Watermark song, Invade since we have lived here and wondered if God blesses the heritage of a house, a non-living thing? How can that not happen when such precious people lived here for so long? Regardless, I gladly give this house to the Lord and the next family, and look forward to our next home! Let your truth be on our steps and in these rooms...

30A Fun

What a month! After being offered and accepting a job in Ft. Worth, looking for and buying a car, surgery for Annabelle in Dallas, and trying to sell our house while looking for another, we were so grateful for a chance to take a break! My family, minus my sister, went to Watercolor and had a great week of doing whatever we wanted! It just doesn't feel like summer without some time at the beach! We ate ourselves silly, managed to slightly tan without burning, and tried very unsuccessfully to get a picture of all 3 kids that wasn't blurry. Max did alot of boogie boarding and competetive seashell hunting, Annabelle spent alot of time in the sand and eating popsicles, and Simon loved both the sand and water! We ran into lots of Tyler folks, too, which was fun. Overall, a great time to leave it all behind and relax! Thank you, Lord!