Educational Purpose Statement--Proverbs 22:19

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Two for Two

I've had a child development theory confirmed this week. A couple years ago, then two-year-old Lewis introduced us to the idea that small children can swallow small capsules by taking the acidophilus that was intended to be opened over his food, going around the corner, and making it disappear.

We, his parents, thought that was a pretty neat trick and proceeded to introduce his four- and six-year-old siblings to the concept of pill swallowing. Acidophilus capsules are particularly well suited to these lessons since they are quite small and since their probiotic contents are good for anyone at any time. Ian and Anna were a bit more hesitant than their younger brother, but regular practice combined with disdain for the thought of Lewis being able to do something they couldn't do soon produced proficiency.

I remember making a mental note at that time, "Introduce pill swallowing with potty training." I almost forgot. Jocelyn is now nearly potty trained, and just this week we broke out a fresh bottle of acidophilus capsules. I asked Ian to do a demonstration for her, and Jocelyn mimicked her brother like an old pro. Practice has continued all this week without a single hitch.

Community Service

"Be an organ donor: Give your heart to Jesus"

Improvements?

Gotta love our spiffy new landscaping feature and the customized chandelier!

Basics of Life--Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

During--Let the Wall Come Down

Well, it hasn't exactly been long, quiet evenings, so far. They've been rather short (starting around nine) and adrenalin-filled (action movies). We're getting a lot done, though, with our fun, semi-camping state, and we're very thankful for the many who have helped us in a multitude of ways.

Sunflowers

Back to Those Two Hands--Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Perspective

"So we need to learn how to adjust to what our capacity really is and thank God that we are finite. His grace really is sufficient, but if we never had cause to need it, we would lose the benefit of experiencing it."

--Nancy Wilson



Though I always enjoy reading Mrs. Wilson over at Femina http://femina.reformedblogs.com/ , she has been doing some especially good posts lately. Today's, entitled "Two Hands" was such a one. If you go check that post out, I would also highly recommend "A Restless Discontent" which can be found under the July Archives. I greatly appreciate Mrs. Wilson and her husband's ministry.

Before

Kitchen--This wall will be gone. Place imaginary bar here.

Living Room--Those bookcases will go in here, but imagine windows (and possibly a door) instead of the fireplace.

Dining Room--This is currently my favorite room in the house. I wouldn't want to touch it except that the baseboard is a bit too creative, the windows are well worn and the wallpaper is being held up by either hot glue or sticky tack in several places. (For the record, neither remedy works very well.)

The Hall--Can't quite make out the dusty acoustic, and the unique mounting system for the light fixture isn't in the frame, but trust me, they need to go--as does the small white paper plate on the ceiling of the dining room covering a hole from an old heating system.

Our tenth anniversary was last Friday. It sure seems like there are lots of anniversaries in early August! Was everyone getting married between years of college and saving for the event over the summer like we were?

We've chosen to commemorate our special occasion with a week of radical remodeling on the main living areas of our home. We're going to gut the walls (and completely remove one), insulate (to free up more funds for future projects!), rewire (updated panel already installed), slick the ceilings (the dusty acoustic look is just not for us), and sheet rock (goodbye sixties paneling with peeling wallpaper).

Window replacement and painting will hopefully follow shortly. Oh, and somewhere in there Titus plans to build a bar on wheels to go where the wall between the kitchen and dining room was to provide more seating, storage, and flexibility.

We've been sarcastically accused of really knowing how to make the romantic sparks fly, but we're both very excited about this event. The kids are staying with friends and family for the week, and we splurged on a computer DVD player for evening entertainment since the sun room, which holds our TV, will be packed to the gills with furniture. So, in addition to getting some long anticipated work done, we will enjoy a good bit of alone time and long quiet evenings. Don't hold your breath for the "after" shots, though. It will be months before things are back to normal around here.

Beach in a Box

During our visit with relatives on Grandad's side in Kansas City, Aunt Linda gave the kids a generous monetary gift. Thanks to Daddy's skill, that gift has now been transformed into another opportunity for fun in the sun. Thank you, Aunt Linda!

Doxology

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! . . . For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Romans 11:33, 36

The Local One Year Old

Evangeline Mercedes officially turned one this Thursday. With all that we were planning for in and around the month of August, we went ahead and celebrated Eva's birthday a few weeks ago with the four July birthdays in the family. A bit overly efficient perhaps, but Eva said she didn't mind. And Grammy still made Eva her own cake to accompany Anna's purple butterfly. Of course, nobody minded having extra cake around.

Haiku and Acrostics: Summer Poetics

Found a couple good books of children's poetry on the last library run. I didn't know a thing about the distinctives of haiku before bringing home the volume pictured above. I have since learned that the three lines with 5-7-5 syllable patterns are a fun and effective way to communicate--especially when set on a background of excellent water color.



I thought I knew all I cared to know about the highly sophisticated art of acrostics, but Steven Schnur's alphabet acrostic entitled Summer, with its bold illustrations by Leslie Evans, persuaded me of the merits of that art form. Big on pictures and short on words, both books make exceptionally good reading practice for Lewis.

Our Littlest Tadpole

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

--Nehemiah 8:10

Historical Voting Advice

A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.

--attributed to Thomas Jefferson