Monday, August 24, 2009

Ethan's first day of Kindergarten

I can't believe this day is here! Ethan wanted me to be sure to set my alarm, so we wouldn't be late for his first day of school. :) He laid out his uniform last night, and this morning everything ran so smoothly that we ended up being early enough to take pics in front of the school sign. Here's our little Kindergartner!




Dave went with us to drop him off, and we had so much fun watching him take it all in. From the backback hooks, to the bookshelves, to the cubbies, everything in a kindergarten classroom is just so adorable. And he quickly found his name at the table, next to a boy he met at the Back-to-School picnic this weekend.




His teacher Mrs. Jorgensen read them a book about a gingerbread man, and then they got to bake gingerbread cookies!




I'm so glad he had a good day!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Iliff Commons

Our last day of "stay-cation" was Thursday, as Dave had a meeting he couldn't miss on Friday. It was absolutely perfect weather that day, mid 70's with a breeze, too perfect to stay inside. So we packed up the kids and lunch and headed out to Iliff Commons for the day.

I was able to get a little running in, which was wonderful. It is so fun to run with the kids, but I really haven't been able to do that since the end of my pregnancy. Clare isn't quite old enough to take the impact of a jogging stroller...





This is exactly the kind of activity my kids need - wide open spaces to run in, so they can burn off some of that crazy energy!




While we were out there, I remember being amazed at how beautiful the Kansas prairie was, with the wildflowers swaying in the breeze under a crisp, blue sky. There is just something about being in nature that makes me so at peace, so content.

And I am a city girl!

But the Lord's handiwork is so evident - every flower is so intricate, every tree so unique. It is just amazing to see!




A couple weeks ago Dave got into a conversation on a job site with an architect who is a Unitarian. Somehow the discussion turned spiritual, and the man asked Dave what he believed. He was shocked when Dave mentioned that he believed everything in the Bible.

"What about creation? How old do you think the world is?" he asked.

"About 6000 years old, actually," Dave answered.

Incredulously, the architect asked how Dave, as an engineer, a man whose world revolves around mathematics and science, could believe in creation.

But how could he, an architect who designs buildings and lays out plans for them, believe that such an intricate world happened by chance?

Every wildflower in Kansas proclaims that they had a Maker - One who fashioned and designed them!





Our little family - an attempt at using the self-timer on my camera. =)





Clare slept the whole time.










I was proud of Simon for making it up some of those hills. He is, after all, only 3. And he really didn't hesitate - just plowed right on up!















We loved this tree house in the woods - it was really high!




Well, our lovely week at home is over. It's late Sunday night, and the house is quiet except for the soft hum of the fan. Everyone is asleep but me. I really should be sleeping too, but my sweet husband let me take a 3 hour nap this afternoon while he cleaned the house. So I'm a little wired now...but very grateful.

Just meditating tonight on Psalm 100, since Jessie mentioned it to me today. Ethan's Sunday School class is going to memorize this passage over the next few weeks.

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us,
and not we ourselves;
We are His people
and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him;
bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
and His faithfulness to all generations."


I'm so thankful that the Lord is faithful and good to us, that His love will never fail, never fade away.

~Rachel