Thankful Tuesday

1. Yesterday the kids and I finally made it back to the swimming pool. Tommy (one of the lifeguards) played in the pool with the kids, and they didn't want to leave when it was time to come home and have dinner even though the water temperature was COLD. Usually the boys are ready to go long before Nadia is. Another exception was 9 days ago when Paul came with us (only the second time this summer that he joined us at our pool). They had a blast with Daddy and didn't want to leave that time either!

2. The kids and I enjoyed doing some yard sale shopping in a town 10 minutes from our home on Friday and Saturday mornings. We found a few bargains and got some exercise walking around the town.

3. Paul's parents brought us pizza for dinner on Saturday night and came to see Nadia and Ian in their musical. Pop Pop graciously took care of Oliver during much of the program.

4. My parents drove SEVEN hours round trip on Sunday so that they could join us for dinner and the musical on Sunday night. We greatly appreciated the time and energy they expended to be a part of this special event. They also brought up Oliver's birthday present. He loves his new Cookie Monster toy!

5. Our photographer finished editing our pictures from our photo shoot really late at night on Sunday, and we were able to see them yesterday morning. Last year I loved the individual pictures she got of each of the kids and the picture of Paul and I. This year I wasn't keen on any of the individual photos of Oliver, and actually her picture of him last year was my MOST favorite picture from the first 12 months of his life. He just wasn't in a very smiley mood that night. She did get some really good ones of Nadia. Last year I wasn't keen on any of the shots of the three kids together, but this year she got one good one! I also like that Paul's glasses aren't dark in these pictures. I'll be sure to share them on the blog once we get the CD. I'm in the process of ordering our prints now!

6. We have been outside quite a bit lately between trips to the playground and playing in our yard or driveway. This has led to some mosquito bites for Oliver, but they don't seem to be bothering him.

7. On Sunday afternoon I cut a bunch of branches off of our three biggest trees (two are apple trees) to make mowing the lawn easier for me. Paul finished up the third tree, hauled all the branches across the street to where our neighbor burns things, and then today he cut up the branches into small pieces. I greatly appreciated his help and our neighbor's willingness to burn them for us.

8. We've found a new church to attend. We'll be returning to our "old" church the next two weeks, but then after that we'll be switching. This church is much bigger (average attendance is over 1,400 on Sunday morning), and so there are a LOT more children at this church. Considering that we are homeschooling our kids, I think it's important for them to make some friends at church. Also, this church provides coverage for 2 year olds during the whole service (our church doesn't do that any more). Oliver is not ready to sit in a worship service yet (this was again proven during the kid's musical on Saturday night). I hadn't planned to change where they went to AWANA, but this new church has AWANA from 6:30-8:00 on Wednesday nights, which is the same time that choir rehearsals are held there. Also, they have AWANA on Wednesday nights even for toddlers. It looks like Paul will be teaching on Wednesday nights in the spring so this will work out perfectly. Last fall I wasn't able to sing in the choir because Paul was teaching on Wednesday nights and there wasn't any child care provided during choir. I am so happy to know I will be able to sing in the choir (which has about 75 members) no matter what Paul's teaching schedule is on Wednesday nights. The first rehearsal is on September 10. I haven't decided which Sunday School class to join yet. I liked the one I tried this past Sunday, but I want to visit a couple more before I decide. I also like that many parents keep their children in the worship service with them. It was a point of

contention between Nadia and I that she was usually the only child (in elementary school) who stayed for the whole service because I didn't allow her to go to Children's Church. At this church many elementary age children are in the worship service. They have two services, and I've decided that Ian, Nadia, and I will attend the 9:00 service and then I take them to their classrooms while I attend Sunday School at 10:45. Oliver will be in the "circus" (class for kids his age) during the whole time we are there. I like that they don't pass offering plates at this church (just have boxes in the foyer which to me makes it more private), and I like that the children are required to tithe (give 10%) of their "Kidz Cash" when they have saved enough to buy a prize. They don't include Bible memory for the kids on Sunday morning, but they will be learning verses for AWANA, and I can certainly include that in our home schooling so that's not a big deal to me. My prayer request at this point is that we'll make some new friends. Since I moved here six years ago I have yet to make one new friend, and by that I mean the kind of friend whom I talk to outside of church and/or get together with to do things. I know I need to be more proactive in this area. Hopefully the Lord will give me wisdom as to whom to reach out to and hopefully I can make at least one friend at this new church! I am also praying that the kids will make some friends so that they'll receive invitations to birthday parties and things like that.

9. The soccer season started on Thursday night! It was supposed to start last Tuesday, but the practices were rained out that day. I'm so thankful that Paul is willing to be the assistant coach on both teams. Tonight they'll have their second practices.

10. Our school district is going back to school tomorrow, which is a week earlier than they usually do. I am grateful that we can wait a few more days before we start spending more time on school work each day. I want them to have more time playing outside while the weather is nice! I have been having Nadia do a little reading and math most days, and I recently started having Ian write in his very first journal.

11. This afternoon we're headed to the Children's Museum in Bloomsburg because they are only charging $2 a person today (much cheaper than usual) plus they are having special bubble activities from 2-4pm. The kids haven't been there in a couple of years. I think they'll have a blast!

12. Oliver has his 2 year check-up today. It's the first doctor appointment any of us have had in three months. The doctor's office is near Bucknell so he's going to meet me at a playground and watch the two big kids during Oliver's appointment. One kid in a exam room is much easier than three. I don't believe Oliver will be getting any shots today, which is another praise!

13. Last week we got a $100 check from the health insurance company towards the physical things we pay for Nadia (soccer, gymnastics, etc.). We've never gotten anything like that before. It was nice, and since we'll have the same insurance through Bucknell, I don't think it will be the last time that happens!