random's up!

 Every few weeks there are just too many little things to tie together, so here's that random update!

1) Single parenting with four while homeschooling is just not easy.  I would not recommend it, if anyone was considering it. I am praising the Lord for people who have checked up on us, for His grace which has met me at every turn, and for four children who fill the long days with (mostly) laughter, (mostly) lots of learning and (mostly) love.  Dad will find mama a little more wrinkly if he ever comes home :)

Beautiful side of working with little humans is that one moment I can't take the bickering, and the next, Lily is quizzing a frustrated Sofie on her multiplication tables. One moment I'm not sure how we're going to get through the morning, and the next Jesus just shows me an opportunity to love on and disciple well, and the sweet moments that follow are so worth it.

2) Matt is having a great trip...loved being with our Sharptown family last week, spending time this week with family he hasn't seen in years, with friends, with supporters, with potential Wesley students. He's getting ready to preach four times this weekend, is teaching his class for WBS tonight...he's been busy, and also so enjoying catching up with some of the very best people! I have no pictures for Matt, because the only time I get pictures from Matt is if someone else takes one and sends it to me :)  

3) Our Haiti trip is quickly approaching!  This week the Master's classes also resumed on campus, and we are just so looking forward to being there with our brothers and sisters and all their sweet kiddos and new babies!  Please pray with us that Nora's passport would come between now and then...we had to renew it when she turned five on August 1st, and it still has not arrived. We are most looking forward to spending time with good friends, loving on their children, catching up on chapel and classes and students, and the girls are looking forward to sleepovers, working in the kitchen with the ladies and getting a few of their toys and things that had to be left behind.

4) The girls LOVE these cinnamon-apple breakfast bars, and if you've been looking for something a bit healthier that can be made ahead and that your family will actually like and EAT, this is it!

    Mix together 1 cup oats, 1 cup almond flour, 1/4 honey, 1 egg, 2 TB coconut oil, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla, a pinch of salt and 1 cup diced apple, and spread it out on a prepared pan and bake for 12 minutes at 375!  Hope you enjoy this easy snack as much as we do!

  

5) When Matt is away I always end up painting something, and unfortunately for him, he's away a lot these next weeks :)  Last night it was under the counter where everyone is always kicking and scuffing!  I own white, gray and navy paint, so....there's going to be a lot of blue by Christmas!

6) The masked, leotarded children at the pumpkin stand are mine :)  This is the kids first-ever fall, and they are loving it...from the pumpkins...

To the freezing cold 75 degree weather.

7) This girl is just hilarious. She lives so utterly in the moment that it has just never occurred to her to consider worrying. She instantly finds friends wherever we go, makes up the most delightful and extravagant games with Nora and Ben, and she will dress how she wants.  

She's also been working hard on memorizing a speech for school, and finally finished it today. I can't get it to share here, but you can watch her on facebook...she does NOT like public speaking, but she believes in what she was speaking ABOUT, and I love working with this spunky, passionate girl.

8) We had dinner at a few friends houses this week, lots of check ins from others, and I'm just so thankful for the people God is always putting in our lives...either to love on us, or to be loved on...people who are like us, or not like us at all...people we never could have filled our lives with ourselves. I don't know how that always happens, but He is just faithful. It is easy for me to dwell on what we don't have or what we are missing, but He makes it hard for me to overlook the riches He has given in this wild season.

9) Finally, I couldn't get through all my reading this morning because this passage in Romans was just so richly challenging, encouraging and inspiring me...His hope is truly all we have. His Word is truly a lamp unto our feet!

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection,[e] and take delight in honoring each other.11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[f] 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”[g]
    says the Lord.

20 Instead, 

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”[h]

21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.