what Saturday's were made for

Ella's last English assignment of the year was to write a play. She decided to do an adaptation of the Aesop's fable, The Tortoise and the Hare.

But, she didn't stop with the writing of the play. Instead, she and her favorite partners in creativity, decided the play needed a proper producing...including auditions, costumes, hair and make-up, and props and scenery.

Introducing the cast:

Ellie as "Jackie" the Hare

Eli as Tortoise

Zoe as the Owl's assistant, baby owl

Please don't mistake him for Harry Potter. This is Ezra as the Wise Owl.

And my amazing Ella, playwright and director, with her entire cast of characters.

joysofboys #217

Ezra: What's puberty?
Eli: You know, with puberty and justice for all.
Ezra: Oh, yeah.

Oh, these two. Everybody should really have boys 6 months apart in age. You don't even know what you are missing.

obey, walk, remember (revisited)

I'll spare you the details, but...today was a tough day. 

(Actually, I wrote this last week and forgot to post it...)

Granted, it was tough in a totally first world kind of way. But, seeing as how I've lived in both a third and first world, I think I've earned the right to acknowledge that some days just feel tough...no matter what world you live in.

After the kids went to bed I did what I knew I needed to do. 

And no, it was not moose tracks and netflix...though I was sorely tempted.

I re-read (for the thousandth time?) the words of Rachel Jankovic:

When you need encouragement, obey.

When you are tired, walk.

When you feel lost, remember.

And then I opened up my Bible and journal. 

And prayed.

And prayed some more.

Tomorrow will be a better day. (And it was.)

Not because I will be a better mom, wife, friend. 

I'm a hopeless wreck who loses her cool at her kids, forgets birthdays, and gets snarky with her very undeserving husband. And that's just the acceptable to share on the blog bad stuff.

No, tomorrow will be better because He is better. 

And He is with me. 

And because of Him, I'll keep obeying, walking, and remembering.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not grow faint.

Isaiah 40:31

these are the days

Right here.

Right now.

Not tomorrow.
Not yesterday.

Not 2 years ago.
Not in 2 years.

Not when the kids stop fighting.
Not when Jeremiah gets back from Haiti.
Not when it's not a rainy day.
Not when it's not Winter.
Not when it's not Summer.
Not when we make more money.
Not when the kids aren't sick.
Not when _____________.

Right here.
Right now.

This is the day that the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

ketchup (and mustard...)

Yeah, so I'll pretend it hasn't been so long since I last wrote and just give the cliff notes on the last month of life.

We've made it through the craziness known as end of school, end of co-op, end of soccer season, and sent Jeremiah back into Haiti yesterday. Deep breath (for me, not Jeremiah, ha!) for the next week or so...

I had a lot of help putting the garden in this year.

Shirts are optional for planting gardens, apparently.

Soccer season, 2016

Defenders! 

Oh, Zooble...stop it with the growth spurts. Just stop it.

This trip Jeremiah gets to work at our favorite place in Haiti...with our favorite Have Faith Haiti kiddo's!!