Thankful for the Birthday Girl

We had a busy day for Julia's birthday today.  We went to Chapin's Park this morning.  Julia likes the slide and today she enjoyed the rocks.  There was a two-year-old named Violet there.  She just made one-word comments.  I was thinking about how much Julia has grown.  She not only talks in sentences, she tells stories!

She got some special gifts from her sisters.  She wanted macaroni and cheese for lunch. And I got more than my 50 cents worth out of  the Backyardigans Memory game I bought at a garage sale.  Julia wanted to play it several times yesterday and today for her birthday. She does a great job and is generous.  Sometimes she gives her matches to someone else!

The guys had their first softball game tonight.  Julia decided, after everyone was waiting in the van, that she wanted to wear a dress.  That actually proved easier to arrange than finding shoes for her.  She's getting to be such a big girl!

After the game we went to Oberweis for ice cream. Julia had birthday cake ice cream.  I had to help her not lose all of it because it was melting so fast.  I can tell you it did taste good, but it would not be my first choice.  She also got a balloon. 

Last night I told her I had to hug and kiss her again because she wasn't going to be my 2-year-old girl anymore. She is growing up so fast and I don't have any more little girls.  You would think after having five I would be fine with this but I found myself getting emotional over this birthday.  Who knows? She may not be my last girl.  I've been thinking lately that I would be fine with stopping at 11, so this reaction kind of surprised me.  Well, God knows.  And that is just one reason why I want to trust Him with our family.  My feelings can change, but God knows what is best. I need to trust Him.  
Today, I am very thankful to God for Julia!

Young Man Grandt

On a bright and beautiful Sunday morning we parked in front of the empty house on the corner.  I was holding Julia's hand as we walked to the front of the church.  Julia was on the street side of 47 which is the busiest road in Morris.  Grandt was walking behind us and suggested I place Julia on the other side so she wouldn't get run over.  I was touched that he, at age 6, would be so concerned about her safety.  He is learning to be a man!

More on Joseph

Rebekah thought I should mention the fact that he is getting very handy lately, grabbing everything.

I don't remember the other kids folding their hands as in prayer like he does.  I'm sure they did it but not as much.  I think he started doing it a couple of months ago.

Joseph, My Littlest Blessing

Joseph is so cute!  I love this age. He smiles and reacts to everyone; he still sits on your lap; he is so kissable with his chubby cheeks.

How is Joseph, Joseph?  He is very ticklish.  He especially laughs when I stick his arms in or out of his shirt.  He kicks all the time.
I don't remember my other babies pushing their pelvis up with their legs while on the changing table like he does.
He has more people to adore him than any before him.
What a blessing!!

The Little Things and...

It was the end of the day. I was tired. Frantically I searched for my notes for Chemistry. Where could they be? After looking through about twenty pages, I cried out to God, "Please help me find my paper!".
1 or 2 papers later, there it was!

I prayed something different last night. I don't think I had prayed yet that the boys would win their basketball game. I'm just not sure I felt right about that. But last night was Stephen's last game. So I still prayed that God would use it to draw them closer to Him and that they would do the best job they could with the ability God has given them...but I also prayed that they would win. And they did!
I'm so glad God cares about the little things and the not quite so little things!

K, J, and J

Every time Kristian wants to kiss Joseph, he always kisses him on the hand.
Julia always describes what Joseph is doing.
"He's looking!", is her favorite thing to say. The other day I was feeding Joseph. I asked her what he was doing. "Eating" is what I thought she would say but instead she said he was not looking.

Joseph is such a charmer these days. Last night he ended up in bed with us. At 3am when I was going to change his diaper and put him in his own bed, he smiled big, winked at me, and giggled a little. He was pulling out all the stops -but he still had to go to his own bed. Nice try, Joseph!