Surprised by Joy

This summer-smiling in co-ordinating PJ's...

Last Summer-treating the girls for lice...

I am loving summer. Like totally enjoying every day. We are having a blast. Road trips, entertaining, play group, pool time, it is seriously the best summer ever. And I am so full of praise for the way I see God answering prayer and blessing our family. I can't help but think about where I was at a year ago. I think last summer was the hardest summer of my life. When our small group got together at the end of last summer we went around the circle and were supposed to share our favorite thing about the summer. I couldn't think of one single thing. My life was full of tears, sickness, lice (ahh!!!!), stress, pregnancy, and uncertainty. Did I mention tears?? I literally felt like I was drowning.

I know so many people have been praying for our family. It is the prayers of God's people that have helped to sustain us. There have been several times in the last month when I have literally felt like I am overflowing with joy. And I just had to share it with you. I have been begging God to send us someone to walk through this time of healing and learning. And I am beginning to see how he is answering that prayer. I find myself totally surprised by joy. I think the best part is he isn't answering in any of the ways I expected. I think we have established by now I am a control, plan ahead, type A personality. But, everything good we are experiencing is from God's hand instead of my own plan. And I am actually enjoying it. I think they call that progress. I have a LOOOOONNNNGGG way to go, but God hasn't given up on me.

Last summer I felt like I was drowning in the ocean of tears over my life's circumstances. This summer I feel like that ocean has filled my cup and is overflowing all over the place. God is good. Not because he is restoring joy to our life. But, because he has been here all along.

Weekend Family Fun

The last two weekends we have spent seeing Grandpa Rick & Grandma Leeanne. The first weekend we went to a big family reunion. It was a very sticky evening, but that didn't stop the kids from running around having fun. They played with play dough, rode bikes, & caught fireflies with their extended cousins. Grace & Faith loved the battery operated four wheelers they got to try out.

Then last weekend Jeremy and I did a little van shopping. We are hoping to replace our mini van sometime soon. The girls loved spending time playing in Grandpa & Grandma's creek while we shopped. Some of the girls' favorite things to do at Grandpa & Grandma's house are feeding the cats, making tea with the whistling tea pot, seeing the train, & making their own train track in the living room.

Not long after this there was a HUGE flash flood storm. The creek flooded and this entire area was covered in water. It was amazing how fast it happened!

St. Louis Zoo

One of my favorite places to go is the zoo. I have loved it ever since I was a child. I will never forget when Jeremy and I were first married and we lived just south of Indianapolis. We went to the zoo and I was shocked to discover how much it cost! I loyaly exclaimed, "The St. Louis Zoo is free."

Even though it isn't too far away we have only taken the kids to the St. Louis Zoo once when Faith was still a baby. So, I have been excited to go back. My friend Felecia and I took our kiddos and had a great day. It was hot (over 90 degrees) but we survived and I was the only one who got a sunburn. I was a little nervous taking the three kids without Jeremy, but overall it went pretty smoothly.

Grace trying to get a butterfly to land on her. I was very excited we got to do this, she has been wanting to go to an observatory ever since she read Fancy Nancy's new science book.
This giraffe was VERY close. Some of the kids were actually petting it.
The tiny fuzzy camel was a brand new baby, only six days old!
Faith loved climbing on the fences to check out the animals.
Our friends Felecia & Sydney
Titus was such a good baby! Here is is snuggling with his blanket when we went to see the penguins.
Josie & Jake had already planned a trip to St. Louis so we got to spend a little time with them too.
Grace didn't like the penguins because she thought it was too cold. She was disappointed the polar bears were gone.
The girls had a great time. Now I am excited to go back when Titus is old enough to enjoy it!
Since I knew we wouldn't get to see the whole zoo I told Grace to pick a few animals she wanted to definitely see. She choose giraffes and elephants. She also wanted to see a crocodile, but we didn't have time for that. She has already started a list of things she wants to see when we go back. Faith was pretty much interested in all of the animals. I am loving summer and taking the kids lots of fun place.