Hello summer

And in the blink of an eye, it is June 30th. How does that happen??

I wish I had more time to post regularly. So much to write about but I'll just have to leave you with pictures...someday I may get more time to actually write.

June Highlights:

Noah turned three! We had a party for Emma and him at Paul and Janis' house. They loved their cakes and playing with their cousins.

We took a trip to Kansas City. Uncle Andrew came with us to Great Wolf Lodge and then we met the rest of my family for a day at Worlds of Fun. We also got to visit the McLeans and meet little Handel for the first time. It was fun trip despite some navigation troubles...just ask Andrew about it. Don't know if he'll be traveling with us anytime soon.

The kids and I stayed at Mom and Dad's for a few days. We were able to meet some friends at the Ledges, pick berries with Janis, and play with cousins. I also got to have a dinner out with my sisters and friends for my birthday-a real treat. It was just like a vacation for us...might have to go back before summer is done.

Birthday boy

Birthday party



Birthday buddies

Presents and more presents!

 

Noah's bulldozer cake

Emma's Brave cake

Isaac the clown

A boy and his flashlight

Great Wolf Lodge

The "Wolf Den"

Excited about their room

Bunk mates

Uncle Andrew

Emma was a fish, we couldn't keep up with her!

We got to visit Andrew, Miranda, and Handel.

He is Andrew's mini-me!

Waffles for breakfast

A day at Worlds of Fun



Camp Snoopy with Grandma

All smiles

Still loves that thumb

Hugs



"Boss baby" is Ethan's new nickname for Grant. This guy runs the show at our house.

Rock climbing

Fun at the Ledges

My berry pickers

Picking berries with Grandma Janis

Crim cousins

Birthday lunch at Bravo

Brothers



Hubby surprised me with these for my birthday. Never thought I would be so excited over cupcakes. It was one of those days...and they were from Scratch!



Trying to get this boy potty trained...not going so well

 
 Quiet Time Encouragement:

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Luke 9:18-27

I  really liked today's Daily Bread with George MacDonald's quote,

"In whatever a man does without God, he must fail miserably-or succeed more miserably. True self-denial means, "we must see things as [Christ] saw them, regard them as He regarded them; we must take the will of God as the very life of our being...We are no more to think, 'What should I like to do?' but 'What would the Living One have me do?' "

I must remind myself to not be focused inward but outward. Not to be frustrated with giving of myself but to give freely. Not about getting what I want but about losing my life for His sake.