Mid-Year

Its June.  So hard to believe we're at the middle of the year already.  Zane has turned one, and we have learned that our new addition will be another little boy!  I hope that Zane and Declan will be great friends :)  And I'm certain they will express that through a lot of rough-housing!!! Sometimes it amazes me that God sees Jared and I fit to parent yet another child.  Perhaps we aren't doing too bad with the ones we have.  It is only by His great grace that there is any "success" in our parenting - of this I am sure :)  Today is Father's Day, and I couldn't be more proud of the daddy my children have!  He is one of a kind and they are blessed to have a loving and involved father in their lives.  What a journey this will continue to be as we watch the children grow, in all sorts of directions, and become what we hope will be godly adults.  God is good and we'll just keep trusting Him through it all.

We are trusting God with Jared's dad, too.  The cancer treatments are no longer working, and the drug trials did not seem like the right choice.  Now, we hope he can be comfortable and enjoy whatever time God has left for him with us.  I have a feeling this will be a tough summer.  So many unknowns, but like I said - we trust God, because He is the only one who DOES know what the future holds.  He has been faithful and we praise him for the great health Dad V had this past winter.  It was truly a gift!

This coming week is the last week of school.  Nora finishes up preschool and will start another year of 1/2 day school next year.  I was really hoping Norwich would go to full day Kindergarten, but it doesn't look like it will happen.  Those mid-day bus drop offs are rather annoying.  All morning I have to keep my eye on the clock so I don't miss it.  (sigh)  It won't be long though before it will be a state wide requirement.  Hopefully before Zane gets to Kindergarten!!  Aliza is finishing up a great year in Kindergarten.  She loves to read, and I hope we can continue to cultivate it this summer :)  Wow - she'll be a big 1st grader next year.  All day, packing a lunch, learning all sorts of new things.  It has gone so fast!  And then there's Eben.  A fourth grader?!?  What??  That does not seem possible.  It makes me feel old.  He continues to do great in school.  We are so proud of him!  He seems to thrive at math and spelling, but does well all around.  I hope he will learn to enjoy reading a little more this summer.  Jared and I are reading through The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with him.  Hopefully he'll want to read more beyond that!

I continue to get bigger and have been struggling with my sciatica.  It got so bad that I could barely walk and after doing some back exercises laying on my back, it took me literally 5 mins to get off the floor!  Not fun!! I have my first appointment with a chiropractor in town tomorrow.  I hope to get some major relief w/in the next couple weeks, so I'll be in good shape for the long two-day trip to MI.  I look forward to seeing our families!  We have planned a few night camping trip up to the U.P. with my family while we are there.  Should be a lot of fun!

Here are a few pics of the "little boys" :)  Mostly Zane of course,  since Declan is a little hard to photograph at this point ;)

                                              Zane with a new birthday outfit and new ball :)
                                      And his mouth hanging open, which is not unusual for him :)

                                 Declan all folded in half.  I just love looking at this pic on our fridge!

                                                                      One year pics

                                                         He had fun playing with the root.

                                                              LOVE that goofy grin!!

Happy June :)  Let's see what the second half of 2013 has for us...