mini-van treasure

We took one more summer fun day this weekend and drove down to Silver Dollar City. Here are my favorite memories:

• Louie's enormous light brown eyes staring in awe at Bob and Larry during the VeggieTale "invention of silliness" show.
• Jonathan's arm around Keona on the rides that were too small for him, but barely just right for her.
• Daddy's somewhat green--but smiling--face on that swirly, twirly, lose-your-cookies ride that he went on for the love of his kids.
• Mommy remembering why she hasn't visited that hamburger chain in YEARS.
• Keona in the back of the van on the way home with her eyes closed and her hands gently raised, smiling in her own private moment as she listened to Hillsong's worship music.

faith. family. fun.

treasures.

before noon

7 a.m.
"Mameeeeeee! Wee-weeeeeeee! Ooooooo-weeeeee!" Louie called early this morning. A call from our eldest had woken me up at 4am so Barry smiled at me and walked across the hall to Louie's room.

"Good morning sunsh---Woo!" Bear stopped suddenly. Then I heard, "Hey buddy, you're supposed to keep those little poops INSIDE your diaper."

(I'm so grateful for hardwood floors.)

8:30a.m.

All around the piano for devotions, we sang a stirring sentence: "Glorious things of thee are spoken..." The next phrase is cut short though by a not so stirring sentence: "GROSS! You picked your NOSE! Go wash your hands!!!!"

(the offending nose-picker opted for hand sanitizer as a small form of protest)

11:00a.m.

"George Washington Carver was born in the time of slavery?" Jonathan asked with a worried look. "Yes, buddy. His parents were slaves and he lost them in the war."

"I wish I had a time machine," Jonathan whispered. "I'd go back and stop slavery."

(As I watched him try to concentrate once again on his math book, I knew deep within that my son will invest his gifts and strengths toward the goal of stopping the slavery that still exists in the world today.)

on ticks and teeth-marks

What a week! It's been filled with laughter and tears. Here are a few moments from life in the Chole home this week:

• Keona's second tick: We live in the country and ticks come with the scenery. This one however embedded itself in the back of her neck. We made an appointment immediately and right after her ballet and tap class (it would warm your heart to see our baby girl worship through dance--she was born to dance!), we went to see the doctor. After THREE different tweezers, the doctor emerged with the tiny tick and all was well. As we were driving to fulfill Keona's antibiotic prescription she sniffled from the back of the van, "I did NOT have a blast at the doctor's office today." Indeed. Mommy did NOT have a blast either. I thought I was going to faint and I was so grateful that Auntie Wawa (Stefanie) was with us for the ordeal!
  
• Uncle Erik came for three days and Auntie Wawa for a week: Two dear friends came into town this week and we had so much fun playing late night ping-pong, farkle, and rummicube.
  
• "Are those teeth marks?!": Louie emerged from the infant nursery at church today with a perfect set of teeth marks on his arm. They were red, clear, indented...but he seemed unmoved. The dear nursery workers were shocked--he hadn't screamed so they hadn't noticed. His arm will be fine but I'm a bit concerned for the other mystery child with perfect teeth. Louie may have started at 5 pounds but he is a CHUNK now and quite adept at leveraging his mass!
• "I just don't think I can do it mom": Precious Jonathan had another difficult time in a group context this week. He does fine, well even, with 1-3 other children but there's something about many children that triggers him and makes it very difficult to remain self-controlled. Even in public school, classes like music, art, and p.e. were very difficult for Jonathan--he was in trouble almost weekly for being silly or trying to be funny. Please pray for little buddy. He is so frustrated at his own actions. We really need Father God's help.