Gimme some girl.

She is the only girl among our neighborhood friends, so far. 

She is rambunctious & loves to be active (love this about her!).

She is thoughtful & sweet (a nice touch among the wild boys).  

Last week, lots of friends were hanging out on our cul de sac.  She asked to bring out our loaf of banana bread and serve it to the friends (she is a little Brenda & shows me the generosity of my mom).  Then she asked to go inside and make a gift for each of the kids.

She has thrived in Kindergarten this year.  She has an amazing teacher who she adores.

She enjoys playing school & loves learning.

She has some sass too.  

I hope she will keep this confidence & continue to excel at all she does. 

 * Peter was off playing the boys during the taking of these sunny pictures.

In the Sunshine & Date Night Conversations

* These pics are deceptive.  It still isn't warm enough for me.  But the sunshine is nice.

The kids, however, really are this good looking.

Mike & I had an at home date night last night.  With a glass of wine & conversation.

We talked about lots of things and then I was telling him that I wish I could have our kids do a personality test so I could really figure them out, and by knowing more of who they are, I could let them be and have more reasonable expectations for them.

In talking about that, we were refreshing our memories on who we test out to be.

I am an ESTJ.  Mike is an INFP.  I had sorta forgotten that we really are perfect opposites.  We talked through each of those, him trying to explain to me the difference in an S & N ;).  Today I read more online about each of us & again, my jaw is on the floor at how spot on it is.  

And this brings to the front of my mind: God's faithfulness to us.  

 We could have stayed perfect opposites.  When we got married, I would have thought of myself as superior.  I think I've mentioned this before.  And a lot of it would have been because I didn't really understand Mike.  I think I would have continued on with that assumption (my greatness, isn't that the nature of an ESTJ), but this thing called STINT happened.  We lived in another country (something I didn't really want to do) and we were removed from so much that year and this great couple came over and counselled us and our team that year.  And they helped us to see each other.  I think that helped me to put words to our differences.  And, further living and parenting with Mike has taken it a step further to cause me to love our differences.  To love and appreciate all of the qualities about Mike that are so opposite me.

* Pics below courtesy of Lily.

The Gospel takes it even a step further.  Mike doesn't just get frustrated with me, he loves me (romans 5:8).  And his love calms me and helps me to not be so fixated on my way.  He helps me to let go of my determination and trust his love.  In the same way, I can trust my Heavenly Father, trust Jesus because I know He loves me and acts in my best interest (romans 8:32).

But he doesn't demand my submission, he earns it.  

Jesus does that too. 

{Lily's first word was "kee" for kitty.  Following suit, Ben's first word is "ta" for cat. He likes her a lot.}

Now, I don't do any of this perfectly.  We would both tell you that.  But it made me smile to think on this through our conversations last night.  And it encourages me to know God's faithfulness to us to bring about His will, despite my determination to bring about my will.  (Although I think my will is much less than it used to be.)

You can pray for Mike.  Because I now realize I am the harder one to live with.  

It also encourages me to think about parenting.  Because I am still VERY MUCH at the beginning phase of that process, not knowing what is going on & most of the time sure my sin is screwing it all up.  I am thankful for a partner who loves and seeks God, knows what Jesus has done for him, what it cost, and is iNtuitive in attempting to understand these kids.

I am thankful that God sanctifies us and is stronger, calls us to follow Him over our personality types and leads us to live in ways that are different than our natural tendencies because He is most trustworthy.

I also think my husband is pretty great.

Ben in the Bath!

Benny enjoys his {weekly- shhhh!} bathtime after the big kids are off to school.
He is enjoying freedom from the baby bathtub & is crazy about the water.

 I see you, sweet boy.

 He has quite a few forehead bruises in these pics.  I think one was from an ordinary fall & one was from a collision between our heads when I was holding him up above me at his hips and he crashed down. I felt horrible.

 Its been fun to see him grow into a more physically capable boy and be on the cusp of feeling like a little boy, and less like a baby.  

Although, you'll always be my baby, sweet Jammy.  I love all of the moments I get to hold you and have you in my arms, baby boy!  God is good. You are my reminder of that.

And here are a few more.  

I think he is pretty scrumptious.