the organizer in the family

all her hair bands in a row

I think she thought the shoe shelf must be a place for things that come in pairs.

Sometimes a Light Surprises

Blogging in the middle of the night is probably not the best idea, but I am way too alert tonight anyway. Maybe it was all that dark chocolate I snitched today. But the latest I've read is that one OR TWO squares a day have proven health benefits. It's proven. Maybe that nap in Lucy's bed this afternoon did me in when she needed some back patting to help her get to sleep. I really didn't mean to fall asleep... No, it's got to be the book. Jamie Langston Turner blindsided her readers with a murder mystery in her latest novel, and it's got my "windmill of consciousness" whirling. But I am not going to stay up all night reading.

Rounded up some pictures of the kids.

When this happens you have to grab your camera at lightning speed or you'll find them doing the exact opposite by the time you arrive back on the scene. Lately the kids have a love-hate relationship going on. Today Caleb wanted his craft to have a big heart in the middle and spell out, "I love Lucy." And a few hours later he dropped my jaw by something he yelled out to her. (I dropped his jaw moments after.) But their kiss-and-make-up sessions are enough for anyone to know they really are best buddies. 

treasures

This all-American kid is about to become half-Germanized! With 91 percent of our support, we have now officially started packing. We've had a few weeks off here without traveling to meetings, so it's been a perfect time to ship the kids off to Daniel's parents' for the day and start organizing and packing our stuff. When we move to Germany we are going to ship a container (a 20 foot metal box that goes from a semi-truck to a boat, to a semi-truck, to our new front door). For customs we need to have a list of every box or unit in the container numbered, labeled, itemized and priced. We went through the daunting shed and decided what we really will use, and what could be given away, sold, or tossed. I am getting addicted to getting rid of stuff! It is a cleansing feeling to unburden yourself of things that are just taking up space. Whether you are moving or not, I highly recommend un-cluttering your space. While we opened boxes we sometimes laughed at ourselves for hanging on to certain things. It's strange how the value we place on things changes over time. Other things still do carry meaning or value or potential usefulness. But generally, if it's being stored away in a shed, it's likely that life will carry on just as well without it. We had to laugh when we started finding little rodent droppings on (and a bit in!) a lot of the boxes and bins of our worldly goods. Made me think of Christ's reminder that we should be storing up treasures in heaven where there are no moths to eat through fabric and no rust to destroy metal. I think the idea could also include - no roaches to poop all over it. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

just in case you thought we were bored...

Deputation is anything but boring, especially for the kids! Here's Caleb going down the zip line (and bravely so!) at the the home of the pastor we stayed with in Palos Hills, IL. And then there was the ulitmate VBS carnival in Taylorville, IL, and the Linville's corn farm in Bement. When we are home for few days, Caleb starts asking me, "Where are we going today, Mom?"

      

Regner Park

We made a day of it at my old stomping grounds in West Bend. Funny how familiar it all was after 20 years. Every detail - even the cracks in the sidewalk and the tilt of that merry-go-round brought back memories of grand adventures with Sarah and our little friends. Regner Park. The very name is still loaded with excitement for me. So glad my kids could experience the park too. The best part now is watching Mom and Dad play with my kids the same way they used to play with me. Mom went all out to make it the picnic of the century and surprise the kids with all their favorite things. 

a visit with Grammy and Grandpa

Two birthday cakes, two park trips, two kids, and two special grandparents - all in two days.