iSonto #40

This week we are thankful for . . .

 * the anticipation of welcoming our third child in February next year. Here is one of the pictures we took when preparing a special announcement for family a few weeks ago.

* Mercy's ongoing positive development, with Dave noticing many advances while he was away. Here she is participating in a sticking activity.

* Dave arriving home safely and having some fun times with us before he needs to head off for another couple of days tomorrow!

* Mercy saying her first thank you prayer

* Nate saying "Daddy I missed you " when we picked Dave up from the airport

* Church and family giving us meals while Dave was away

Elnathan was happy to learn how to change CDs.

 

 He was also sweet pretending that dirt and bark were strawberries and other foods.

 Natey's memory verse was Psalm 146, along with me. The easiest way for me to get my memory work done is to do it with him.  

Mercy had a pony tail for the first time. She is now saying lots of two word phrases. We have been delighted when she spontaneously says "Thank you Daddy".

From garden to tummies . . .

We are still eating garlic, and had some in roast tomatoes. It was nice to be able to eat a little as I have not been able to eat it for a few weeks due to nausea.

A book we enjoyed together was "By the Shores of Silver Lake" by Laura Ingalls Wilder which Dave and I read aloud together.

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from Nicole's beautiful tribute to her mother in the blog post Feminine Appeal: Nine Years On.

One funny moment was Nate telling us that the wrecked and broken cars would go to heaven.

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iSonto #39

This week we are thankful for the positive week Dave has had at a conference in Portugal and the hours of respite God has provided for me here at home being a solo parent for two weeks.

We have also seen some improvement in Nate's artistic works as he drew his first vaguely recognisable picture . . . maybe it is just mother love but I think this really could be thought of as trees with leaves.

Elnathan was a source of laughter when he decided he was Maisy taking Tallula for a walk up and down the corridor.

Natey's memory verse was   Psalm 121 "I will lift my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth. It was also my verse for trusting God to provide all our needs right now.

Mercy was shaping up to be a poser, saying "smile" when the camera came out and then requesting "more" pictures. She also said "circle" for the first time while doing her favourite puzzle here. Mercy is beginning to put two words together and always reminds me of the lovely bird sounds with her exclamations of "birdie" and "noise" whenever she hears them.

A book we enjoyed together was "Look inside an airport", one of those books with a crazy number of flaps that are in danger of being torn apart. It is sitting on the piano right now in the hope that it will be taken back to the library relatively intact.

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from a Helen Young quote that reminded me to savour even these difficult days alone with the children "There is a time to treasure every fleeting minute of their childhood . . . An hour of concern today may save years of heartache tomorrow, the house will wait, the dishes will wait, the new room can wait, but children don't wait . . . God give us wisdom to see that today is the day with our children". The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is where I obtained this quote.

One funny moment was when Nate exclaimed "I have a mummy who plays cars with me all day". This is certainly not true, but playing with him for about 15 minutes was sufficient to make him think so! This morning he gave me another laugh when he informed me that "I am going to Tanzania to take care of the animals that are hurt and I have arm bands".

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iSonto #38

This week we are thankful for the box of dress ups being put to good use. Here is Elnathan dressed up as, he informed me, a lady ready to go to work for the day at the church. I have been popping unused clothing and shoes in there for years with children in view.

We can also be thankful for some sunny winter days, Mercy learning to say her own name and "yes", cubbies being created all over the house, time in the garden before Dave went away for two weeks, and a visit we were able to make to see people in an aged care home.

Elnathan was still busy with all those bits of cloth from my scrap bag! You can also see a blue painted box which serves as a house. It seems to fill Nate's "love tank" to make things like this with him.

Natey's memory verse was still Psalm 1, which we say most nights at dinner.

Mercy was thrilled to paint with a sponge, thanks to Grandma.

From garden to tummies . . . we had broccoli steamed. It is a source of calcium, Vitamin C and A, and folate. 


A book we enjoyed together was The Natural History Book.

We often turn to this book to look up a plant or animal we have seen but cannot name. This week Nate asked me to read it to him and to talk about all the names of the rocks!

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from One Human Family by Carl Weiland, which presents the truth that how we view origins affects the way we view human beings from other cultures and "races".  

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