Eli!

My boy.  My first born son.  How I love him!  God's really molding an amazing character in this boy.  With some pruning here and there, I really think he will be a mighty man of valor.  Eli has such a tender conscience (most of the time) and I can see him becoming quite a man someday.  A man of integrity.  My boy:

The latest in the job situation (email I just sent out)

Hello!  


Well, after a looooong string of emails, I think this will finally be the last because JONNY GOT A JOB!  He was offered both jobs he interviewed for last week in Stayton & Salem.  He accepted the Salem one, so he'll be teaching bio & chemistry at McCay High School.  Its a very different place than Cascade.  Instead of 700 students, there are 1800!  There are also several security guards on site.  It doesn't sound like we'll get to do our occasional lunch date in Daddy's classroom or participate in Take Your Kid to Work Day anymore.  That part is a little bit of a bummer, but the good news is, its a pay raise and he can still help with Young Life at Cascade.  


There is still a chance Cascade will offer Jonny his job back after their final budget meeting in a couple weeks, but unless they give him his steps back (they've been "frozen" for the last few years) we don't see how we can take it and turn down the Salem job that will be so financially helpful to our family.   


It's been a confusing few months for us, and we don't know where God is taking us long term, but for a season it looks like God has opened the door for Jonny to teach at this rough school in Salem.  Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers.  God is good.  So thankful He's given us such wonderful friends who storm the gates on our behalf.


Blessings.

Zeke!

Today is Zeke's half-birthday!  AND... Zeke is finally sleeping better at night!  Praise the Lord!!!  He is also chubbier than ever.  That's the first thing people comment on- his chubbiness.  Especially in the cheek region.  He's a very happy, easy- going baby.  No teeth yet.  No food yet.  No sitting up yet.  No rolling over yet.  Just hangs around in Mommy's arms looking cute and watching all the commotion of big brothers.  If he hasn't broken Eli's record for # of blow-outs, I think he's close.  It's a good thing he's cute!  Oh, and I love the smell of his baby breath.  And even just the way he breathes.  Sometimes I hold him so his mouth is right at my ear, just so I can hear his precious baby breathing.  :)

Siah!

Siah, Siah, Siah!  God is developing a great little personality in this boy.  He still shines cheerfully and happily.  He is so friendly and sweet.  Helpful and thoughtful.  Everyone at church who knows him adores him!  He hangs out with the "big kids" during Tuesdays Women's Study and they all love him.  The girls (4 & up) can't get enough of him.  Evpen the boys get excited to see him coming because he's just an awesome little dude.  When its time to go, he tells each helper goodbye and is eager to give lots and lots of hugs.  In the last few months Siah has fallen in love with babies.  Thursday morning Story Time at the library is packed with babies, and sweet Siah can't help himself- he has to hug and kiss them all!  It's so sweet, but I'm trying to teach him to save those kisses for family.  :)  He also amazes me when he's corrected.  He quickly responds with an "otay" and that's usually the end of it.  Easy breezy lemon squeezy!  Another shocker, Eli & Noah both learned to crawl out of their cribs right after their second birthday, but not Siah!  He doesn't even try!  And its not because he isn't athletic, he's SUPER athletic and LOVES to play ball.  He's just my easy keeper  :)  Thank you, Jesus!

Here's a look at my sweetie-pie:

Noah!

Someone in our house turned FOUR last week!  Mr. Noah Babes!  I love this boy so much and am seeing some real sweetness develop in his character.  When Zekey Bear cries, Noah is usually the first one there, trying to cheer him up.  He'll even say, "Bubba, can you watch Zekey for me while I go potty?"  And of course the person who can get Zekers to giggle the most is NOAH! 


He had an absolute blast on his birthday!  I let him plan our day (for the most part) and he loved "being in charge."  We went to the park for a birthday picnic which ended up being awesome because it was a homeschool family picnic and TONS of friends were there.  Then we celebrated with cupcakes in his classroom at church and I made the whole lesson on Noah's Ark.  It was pretty fun, but maybe a little confusing having a second celebration because after church Noah asked me, "Am I five now?"


Here's how we celebrated:

Noah woke up to a few gifts from Mommy & Daddy and each brother.

These two crack me up!

What a handsome four year old!

That's right we let him put sprinkles on his pizza.  :)

Birthday cookie- yes, with sprinkles!  He thought screaming would blow out his candle.  Such a Noah thing to do!

Mommy stayed up LATE LATE LATE (you can tell b/c that last tiger cupcake I made is missing a smile... opps!) making animal cupcakes for our Noah's Ark birthday celebration at church.

So excited on the way to church!

Me telling the kids what happened to me four years ago when I woke up in the middle of the night and my belly hurt...

Noah's ark story- each kid got to put a flannel piece on the board.  (Another LONG Mommy project, but so worth it!)

Homemade Pin the Tail on the Donkey Game.  :)

There are so many kids in our class, so I decided to also make a Pin the Tail on the Pig.

Hot Potatoe

He CRASHED when we got home from church.

Down for the night- my smart four year old by who discovered if you don't get inside the covers, you don't have to make your bed in the morning!  :)

First four year old achievement- made it half way across the monkey bars!!!

There was a school board meeting tonight!

It was SO encouraging!!!  100-ish people showed up in support of Jonny, about 80 of them were students.  Probably about 10 people stood up to speak on behalf of Jonny & his influence as a teacher and mentor at Cascade- half students, half parents.  The board had to say "okay, just one more".  Some of the students were near tears (I'm sure there was a nervous factor, but still!).  They all spoke so, so highly of Jonny.  It was really, really humbling for both of us. 

The principal told Jonny he thought there's a good chance the board will give Jonny his job back next month.  This is where we need prayer because that is not a certain thing and he IS interviewing for a new job.  The last day of school is Friday, and it could be Jonny's very last day at Cascade.  We just want to cover this whole thing in prayer- wisdom/timing. 

We listened to one of Jon Courson's messages last night from Hebrews 1.  It was all on verse 3:  "and upholding all things by the word of His power".  Its incredible to try and comprehend that God holds all existence together.  The universe and all the intricacies of life.  .... even down to our current little situation- He's got our future held together by the word of His power.  His MIGHTY power! 

Thank you so much for your prayers!

The room got so full that there were people standing against that back wall and out into the hallway.  Pretty cool!

Giving Gratitude to God

In other words:  What I'm thankful for.

1. God's faithfulness
2. Serving in Children's Ministry
3. Church feeling like home
4. Encouragement from friends/family
5. God's promises 
6. God teaching and stretching me
7. Zeke's chubby face
8. Siah's cheerfulness
9. Noah's silly comments
10. Eli's friendship
11. Sleep!
12. My kids' willingness to help/serve
13. My husband's diligence
14. My husband's patience
15. My mom who is always "there"
16. Neighbors who are more like family
17. Fun play-dates
18. Edifying conversations
19. Deep, thorough teaching
20. A clean kitchen
21. Sunshine!
22. A backyard for boys to play in
23. A safe neighborhood to live in
24. Gardening
25. Graham cracker & frosting sandwiches
26. Quick internet :)
27. Perfecting ways to budget & save
28. God answering prayer
29. Joy in a friend's recent birth- brings tears to my eyes
30. A KIND sister-in-law
31. Bright pink nail polish from Eli & a package of peas from Noah