Isa--glasses and a prayer

I took Benjamin and Isa to have their eyes checked on Tuesday. I did not dream we would walk out with our oldest two both needing glasses!  She was jumping up and down in excitement.  If you remember, Benjamin and I walked out a year ago in tears.  I could not stop laughing at her and telling her that someday she would not be so excited that she has to keep glasses on her face all the time.  She has a strong astigmatism in her right eye so the doctor said it is a very good thing she has glasses for learning to read.  Otherwise, their eyes tire very quickly.  The assistant gave her a tray to put her favorites in.  The tray had 5 slots.  She came back to her chair with at least 15 pair in the tray and asked for all of them.  I told her this wasn't like a headband accessory that she can take off and on and put around her waist and bend forwards and backwards.  My friends are guessing a week before she breaks her first pair.  When the doctor was finishing up Benjamin's exam, Isa kept asking when it would be her turn.  The doctor said she was almost done and was just checking to make sure Benjamin's eyes were healthy.  Isa said, "You're looking for cavities?!"  :)  Something like that.  (Note on Benjamin: In one year's time, he could not read the top row of letters with his glasses on.  I was stunned.  He is a third of the way to his daddy's prescription now.)

Eloisa has always been our child that reacts the most to any change in routine.  Starting Kindergarten has made for a tired girl.  Add to that me having to do another round of RAI (radioactive iodine) and leaving town yesterday for 5 days, and you get lots of acting out and over reactions to things that make you want to throw your hands in the air.  My prayers center on Drew to be patient and to be able to speak to her little heart and address the deeper issues.  I know the exhaustion that comes along with parenting her on these days.  I asked the Lord last night for help as to what to daily pray for and over this daughter of ours.  I woke up and read this: 

A prayer for a daughter

Father who breathed into this daughter…
I pray for this girl being formed into eternity….

May the wind always be in her hair
May the sky always be wide with hope above her
And may all the hills be an exhilaration
the trials but a trail,
all the stones but stairs to God.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of grace
Grace, the only dress that makes beautiful,
the style of Your spirit.

Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word,
Word, that makes her crave more of Christ,
have hunger pangs for Him.

Enclose her in communion with You
You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart into a roof
that absorbs storms for souls,
that makes her tongue speak only words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation
Translating every enemy into esteemed guest
Translating every countenance into the face of Christ
Translating every burden into blessing

When it’s hard to be patient… make her willing to suffer
When it’s ridiculous to be thankful … make her see all is grace
When it’s radical to forgive … make her live the foundation of our faith
And when it’s time to work… make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and her laughter
May she be thread and mend brokenness and knit hearts
May she be dead to all ladders & never go higher , only lower, to the lonely, the least & the longing
Her led of the Spirit to lead many to the Cross
that leads to the tomb wildly empty.

Oh, and raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins to love this beautiful girl like You do…

In the name of Christ who rose

and appeared first

to one of His daughters…

Amen

by Ann Voskamp

Outside Moser Homestead

There are lots of things we love about our new house but top of the list is the time we have been able to spend outside.  Thanks to beautiful weather and wonderful outdoor spaces, we have rarely eaten dinners inside.  We will soak it up as long as we can.  We hosted Drew's family this weekend for a birthday dinner for Papa.  The kids enjoyed showing off their new house to their cousins.  

A neighbor and friend gave us this swing set for the kids.  Drew and a few guys picked it up out of our neighbor's yard to make room for their new trampoline and set it down in our yard.  It has been heavily used already.  After many frustrating years for Benjamin, he finally learned how to pump himself on a swing.  Can I get a "Praise Jesus!"  I was beginning to wonder if he would ever learn it.  Bless his heart.  (Just a little Grandma Babe shout out there.)

Our chairs are now McDonald's yellow so be excited about an updated photo.  I was going for more of a brown mustard yellow not yellow mustard yellow but there aren't a whole lot of options for spray paint.  

This swing (pictured below) broke under the weight of a college student leader that had a 24 hour silent retreat in our back yard.  I am thankful it didn't break with these 4 on it.  And I am thankful my mom will be bringing us a swing my precious dad made to replace this one.  Things change quickly around here.

My favorite part about the PA setting up a camp in our backyard was Sam looking out the window and saying in a completely perplexed voice, "Mom, why is there a guy camping in our backyard?"  I knew he was coming but didn't fully know why so I just said, "Go ask your dad."  Drew found the exchange between us hilarious.  All day Samuel would give me updates on what he was doing, "He is reading now, mom."  "He is sitting on the swing now, mom."  "He is taking a nap now, mom."  "Mom, he is still sleeping."  "Mom, why is he still sleeping?"  I wonder if he knew how much he was being watched by my 4 year old.

 Can you handle the cardigan?  I can't.  Thanks for the hand me down, Ollie.

We had a nice thunder storm the other night so we had cookies and milk on the screened in porch.  I adore this space.  It allows me to keep the front doors open to let a breeze into the house with no bugs.  So much natural light.  [Deep sigh]

In other news, my one year scan is coming up on Wednesday at 8:00am.  We are really hoping for a clear report so I can come home and start my normal diet and thyroid replacement meds again.  Otherwise, I will take another round of radioactive iodine and spend time in isolation.   "Not my will but yours be done."  Waiting, hoping, trusting...

First Day of School

What a long day!  It is going to take our family a good long time to get used to our new public school schedule.  Benjamin started second grade, Isa had her first day of Kindergarten, and Samuel started preschool today.  I had the worst time dragging myself out of bed this morning.  The kids popped right up with excitement.  Samuel has had a count down chain in his room for this day.  He has been so excited about homeschooling for preschool.  I made up a school supply list for him and he has had his backpack filled with supplies for weeks.

No one was hungry since we haven't eaten before 8:30am the past 2 years that Benjamin home schooled.  They were able to get some food down and then we headed out on our 3 block walk to the school.

Cute little story about this sweet guy and his sweatpants.  We took the kids Saturday night to get Benjamin some jeans, Isa pjs and Samuel sweatpants because they had none to speak of.  Samuel has rarely ever put anything new on his body.  Everything he wears are hand me downs from Benjamin.  He put them on when we got home and he said, "Mama, they are so soft!  Oh my goodness, they are so comfortable!  Oh, feel this inside here mom!  Can you believe how soft they are?"  It made me want to laugh and cry that the sweet kid has never experienced the softness of brand new comfy pants.

This girl skipped into preschool last year and asked to go 7 days a week.  She has talked of nothing but Kindergarten with never anything but excitement in her voice.  She lept out of bed and raced down the stairs.  To be continued...

 Big bad second grader. :)

Oh what a difference two years make.  Benjamin spotted the kids he knew in his class, darted over and never looked back.  I wanted to go kiss his confident little self but I checked myself.  I asked him last night if he would "snuggle me forever" (in the words of one of my friends here) and he got so tickled.  "Yeah, when I am bigger than you and sitting on your lap.  That would be kind of funny."

Little Stells got yanked out of bed and put straight into the stroller for the walk to school.  She was out of it.

I walked over to take a photo of Isa and was so surprised to get this look from her.  She immediately started trembling and came over with red, teary eyes.  I have rarely ever seen her look so uncertain and sad.  I was unprepared for her reaction and had to tell myself not to cry so I wouldn't make it worse for her.  She clung to us until we were told to leave her room.  She wasn't crying at that point but was so still.  More still than she has ever been.  More still than I thought possible for this girl.  But she had a good day and is excited to go back tomorrow.  When asked what her favorite part of the day was, she responded, "Rest time."  Ha.  That answer will change very quickly over the next few days.

Samuel and Isaac were ready to go at 8:05 so Gwen and I jumped right in with them.  They worked on writing the letters A-C, did some cutting and pasting and were quickly ready for recess and snack.

Sunday night the kids shared what they would like prayer for.  Samuel said, "That Stella would leave me and Isaac alone so we can do sk-wool."  She tried to sabotage everything they did so it was a very prophetic prayer request.

 They did have some good times playing pirates later in the day.

 Isa joined in the fun when she got home.

Two other quick things I want to remember:

The older three went swimming with a friend last week so I could paint while Stella slept.  Stella and painting=nightmare.  That is an entire post in itself.  When Samuel got home, he tore into the house shouting, "We were good behaviors, mom!  We were good behaviors!"  Made me laugh.

Drew is in a wedding in a couple of weeks and got his suit in the mail last week.  He tried it on at lunch and came into the living room to show the kids.  He held his arms out and said, "What do you think, kids?"  Stella was sitting on my lap and said, "Um...awesome."  Oh it was so funny and unexpected.

New Nephew

We went to Archbold this past weekend to meet our newest nephew/cousin.  I had the added bonus of seeing two sweet friends from high school and their babies.  My "baby" looks huge next to their babies.  

 Waiting to hold little Carter.

 Congratulations Matt and Julie.  He's beautiful!  Thanks for letting my kids jostle him around. :)