Here Comes Summer...

You know it is warm when Samuel is out mowing.

Well, it doesn't have to be warm but the grass must be showing

for Samuel to feel like having his mower out is legitimate.

It has been warm, however, and today Pancho indulged Samuel

 and raked the front and the side yards with a special

blade on the mower.

When I asked why he didn't do the back he said,

"I thought I would leave the back for another day

since you know Samuel is going to be asking

everyday."

True enough.

So here is Samuel's inspiration...

And here is Samuel.

I wonder if Joel will be out with them next spring?

Joel Thorne -- 7 months

Our girl

Our girl is getting so big.
She is learning to read really well and
thrilling us each evening as she reads us her
school books.
She is a great helper to Samuel and Joel and
to both of us.
She finished her AWANA Sparks book and is
going through it a second time.
She is such a joy in our lives and we are
so thankful for her presence in our family.

Hanging with Papa

Who Would Have Thought?

My brother Shawn and I are 14 months apart.

When we were little kids we were

quite close.

At least that is what my mom says.

I'm not saying that we are not close now,

but you know how it is, right?

I have another brother, Nick, who is a bit younger

than Shawn and those two are as close as close

can be; so I do not feel super close to

either of them.

Do I love them dearly?

More than they will ever know.

Am I proud of them?

(NOT that I had anything to do with whom they have become,

but again, you understand)

More than words can express.

But now I have something in common with Shawn

that I never imagined we would have in common:

We are both parents.

It is not that I didn't think Shawn would have children.

It is simply that I never consciously pondered it, dreamed about it,

nor made plans for when that happened to him.

And now, he is a dad and I am a mama and it is so neat.

He came over for dinner with Noelle while Leanne was

away for the day and had dinner with us.

What a joy to see him with his little girl,

the newest sparkle in his eye.

The love he shares with her is SO evident.

It is SO beautiful.

The love she shares with him is also SO evident,

SO beautiful.

Shawn, who would have thought that one day we would

be parents together?

It is one thing that I really enjoy about getting older,

having more in common with you.

And Nick, don't think I have forgotten about you...

I am dreaming of the day when the three of us will

have this in common.

I am praying it will be soon!