Back to my roots

`Last weekend we went to Grove City, PA for my 15th college reunion. We made the trip a little bit longer since my parents used to live in Grove City and we wanted to visit with friends as well as church family. We also made time to visit with my college roommate and her family from Rochester, NY, as well as another college friend who lives in Grove City.

This was the first long trip we had taken since having had the boys. Neither of them were good carseat travelers as babies, but now that they are older, they have improved and there was minimal crying. A good thing.

Pilot Mountain, NC

Happy camper!

A welcome sign.

We first stopped on campus where things were gearing up for Homecoming Events. Kevin and I were married in the chapel on the campus. We enjoyed showing that to the children.

(Jake A., Sebastian A., Maddie A., Lydia J., Aurora G., Benjamin A., Abigail J., Grayson A., Ethney A., Brunner G., Owen A., Philip J., Gratian A., Morgan A., Aidan A., Simeon J., and Titus G.)

We stayed with a very gracious church family who housed us for the whole weekend. They have 4 children similar in ages to our 4 although their youngest is over a year younger than our youngest. Anyway, good times were had by all.

On Friday evening, my roommate, our friend, and our hosts all gathered a local park for a picnic of baked potatoes and chili. It was a hit! Delicious desserts followed ;0) In the sun's waning beams, we lined up 17 children in age order, from oldest (10s) to youngest (11 months) for a photo. Fun times! More in the next post.

Bundle of the Living

I just got up, having laid in bed for the last hour, awake. I brought Simeon into our bed at roughly 5 a.m. because he was crying in his crib (presumably from a bad dream) and I didn't want him to wake his brother. So, he slept peacefully in between us, sucking on his binky and holding his lambie. I tossed and turned thinking about all the things I need to get done over the next 48 hours; thankful I didn't have to get up and run in the dark--and trying to convince myself that I should go back to sleep. Sleep eluded me.

At 6:15 a.m., Philip appeared. "Hey bud," I greeted. "Simeon is in here right now as well, I don't know if there's room for you." "I just want to get in the middle, mom, just in the middle." That is often his request when he appear in our room--just to get in the middle. So, up he climbed and it was a tangle of arms and heads and legs and warm little bodies--mostly pressing up against their snoring father!

As I lay there, I was reminded of the verse in I Sam. 25, when Abigail tells David that "If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling."

There's Philip, right in the middle of the bundle. Secure on each side by mommy and daddy, warm in the middle, not able to fall out, unlikely to be crushed (though possible, I guess!), safe. And that's where we should desire to be in the Lord. Happy in the middle--perhaps unremarkable, perhaps not famous, perhaps just plodding along, but safe in them middle of the care of the Lord our God.

Park Evening

We recently had an opportunity for some fellowship at a local park with friends from church. It was a very fun evening and we are starting to enjoy some delightful fall weather.
Here's a photo of my very special little friend, Catrin Haley, enjoying time on the swings next to her companion...
Simeon "I can't open my eyes for a photo" Joyner.

Philip turns 4.

This is sort of typical of our exuberant, sports-driven, empathetic, loving, energetic, reflective little boy!
My mom and I took the children to a local history grist mill as a mini field-trip on Tuesday. We really enjoy this little spot, especially the fun waterfall which is to the left of the wheel.

We were able to enjoy a picnic lunch and little walk and observation time. A very fun birthday for a 4 year old.

Happy 9th Birthday Lydia

We have had a very busy few weeks; between sickness and regular life demands, I feel as though I am playing catchup on many fronts. We had a family stay with us for 5 days which added 6 more children and 2 more adults to our regular mix. During their stay we also had our family's annual "birthday season" when half of our kids have birthdays back to back. Lydia's birthday was Monday and Philip's was Tuesday. On Sunday we had kids ages 8, 6, 3, 2. On Monday they were ages 9, 6, 3, 2. And by Tuesday they were ages 9, 6, 4, 2. It's kind of funny. Anyway, here's a photo of Lydia in a new outfit on her 9th birthday. You can pretty well guess what the next post is going to be!

Happy Birthdays Friends!

My friends Haley and Amanda celebrated birthdays in August and September. Given that we have 12 children between the 3 of us, and husbands with very busy work schedules, we had to double up on our celebrating time. We were able to enjoy a wonderful Czech meal together, trying out some foods which broadened our horizons, and pleasantly surprised us.
I am blessed with such godly friends who challenge and encourage me. Happy Birthdays Ladies! And many thanks to our wonderful husbands who graciously gave us an evening out and put all the kids to bed.

Dairy Queen

We typically don't "reward" good behavior, because we are trying to train our children to exhibit godly, loving behavior because they want to serve God, not to get a treat. However, on this particular occasion, we decided to treat our whole family to ice cream at DQ because of one of the really selfless acts of one of our kids towards a sibling.
Philip thought it would be a good idea to go there in his snow boots. Okay, his sister's snow boots. It is still quite warm here--in the 90s, so his whole outfit was rather sweltering.
Abigail has consistently been a good sport at being relegated to the lone ranger seat in the back of the van.
Kevin refused to allow him to wear the purple snowboots and put cleats on instead.
Here we are enjoying a yummy treat at DQ on the main street in little old Fuquay Varina!