Isaiah and Elias Video

Just because they are my kids and I thought this was pretty cute!

Iblings Family Reunion

On Friday, July 11th we traveled to Vancouver to pick up my brother Will who has been at Bible School in New Zealand this last year. (Check out http://www.capernwray.org.nz) I can't even explain how good it is to have him home-he is a changed man and it's awesome! Isaiah talks about him all the time and I don't mind one bit if he wants to emulate Will and the lifestyle of serving and loving and giving that I've seen come out in him even more since being away. Did I mention how good it is to have him home? For now that is...I know he'll be off again soon. Will was barely home three days when we all headed up to Cedar Springs Retreat Center for a reunion with my dad's side of the family. 70+ Iblings at one location can be a bit overwhelming at times, but it was wonderful! This season of life doesn't afford me much time to sit and talk to people without distraction (we'll call those distractions Isaiah & Elias!), but just being there to see the growth in our extended family was so encouraging. We meet every three years and spend four days together. How grateful I am to belong to such a group that loves being together and that takes great effort to gather from all across the US and Canada to celebrate our heritage and our Creator.

Isaiah and 2nd cousin Lillian spent most of the day chasing each other around the grounds, kicking the soccer ball, playing games and reading books. I can't wait to see what kind of mischief they get in at the next reunion when they are six instead of three!
One of the big blessings was getting to see my Grandpa Willard again. He is 86 and is starting to show his age both in physical and mental capacities. He connected very quickly and very well with the boys though and the picture of him giving high fives to Isaiah or just holding Elias' little hand will forever be etched in my memories. A firm reminder to love well and as often as you can while you have the chance here on earth. All in all the last two weeks has reminded me again about how thankful I am for family and how we are created to be in community with our families. Check back again in three years for the next Iblings Family Reunion Update!

Bouncy Bubbles

We recently got the bouncy house out and it's been a great way for Isaiah to release some of that 3 year old boy energy. Seth asked if we had been watching WWF before we went outside to bounce, but no...that is all pure boy coming out. Can't wait to see what two boys in one bouncy house will do. For now Elias just likes to watch and blow bubbles. He is pretty good at the bubbles and had a nice conversation with Junior Asparagus today. He is working on getting those neck muscles stronger and loves to smile and giggle at Isaiah. He seems to LOVE attention when he gets it.
We have pictures AND video of the first time Isaiah rolled over-the whole family was there cheering him on. The first time Elias rolled over I was busy helping Isaiah. Elias was laying on the floor and when I looked down to check on him, he had rolled over to his tummy. We try to notice him more often now. :) Of course he is very capable of letting us know when we have not paid enough attention to him and rightly so. It's been getting more and more fun to have two kids!

The Big Three Ohhh.....

Yes, the moment we have been waiting for has happened. Seth officially turned 3o and now is mature enough to start Seminary. (without a bachelor's degree you have to be 30 years old to get your master's degree) I'm ashamed to say that we didn't have a huge party for this event, but enjoyed a fun day together as a family and then had dinner with my parents and sister Bethany that night. Seth did hit a hole in one on the local frisbee golf course, a wonderful birthday present. He also received at least six books on the "must read before school starts" list and I'm pretty sure we will never leave the house without one of them along!

In case you didn't know, Seth will be starting school in January '09 at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, getting his Master of Divinity degree. This is one of the main reasons why we moved back to this area, so that we were close enough to my family and close enough to Regent for Seth to commute from this side of the border. He is so very excited to start school and I am so very proud of him for following this calling on his life. He loves to study and teach the Word and although we are not sure where we will be led once school is over, it's an amazing opportunity for him to be able to sit under such great professors at Regent. And yes, that is a Pocahontas birthday bag you see in the picture. It's been passed around my family for birthdays for at least two years now and has a tear in one side, but it is precious to us all.

Father's Day

Seth had three days off in a row this weekend, so it felt like Father's Day was more of a Father's weekend. Isaiah loved having daddy around so much-his favorite thing to do is ride on Seth's shoulders, even if Seth is just walking around the house. On Sunday we relaxed at home before heading to my parents house for dinner and our official Father's Day celebration. On Monday we packed up the kids and the car and spent the morning at Hovander Homestead in Ferndale. It is amazing to watch a three year old explore new places-the wonder of what could be just around the next corner is something we tend to loose as we grow older.

After the park we went to a shop in Fairhaven where you can paint your own pottery. They fire it in the kiln and you can pick it up a few days later. Seth and Isaiah painted a triangle shaped plate with a train stencil and I think it will turn out great! After an ice cream cone and a visit with Dirty Dan Harris in the Village Green, we headed home worn out and thankful for the day together as a family. Elias was a champ-he smiles and laughs a lot now and really did well for only getting a few cat naps in the stroller all day.

3 years and 3 months

Isaiah (3 years) and Elias (3 months) in their new digs from Vietnam
Why Vietnamese children wear pig hats, I'm not sure, but my sources tell me that this hat is legit

A 3 month old can't pose for you, so this is pure and unadulterated
This was a fun tower that lasted all of 15 seconds. The yellow dump truck in the background soon became a wreck and haul vehicle and the tower is no more

Sabbath

There is something to be said for a Sabbath. Not that I want to get theological about it (although that is a basis for it), but when you really and truly experience the REST of time away from the normal rush and strain of life, you know that it is a divine moment.

A couple weeks ago, my family experienced a Sabbath time together-not on a Sunday, but on a day when Seth had off and we just took our time strolling through the woods near our house. Even with an energetic 3 year old and a 2 month old, we were able to see the beauty of creation and know that we are a small part of the big picture.

Then there is the blessing of a coffee shop break for a mom. An hour away from diapers, runny noses, ouches and yes, even away from puzzles, Thomas the tank engine and naps. My mom has given me the gift of time lately. Just an hour or two here and there while she watches the boys, but it has been a refreshment to my soul and I'm so grateful. Thanks Mom and thanks to the
Creator of our souls who formed us and made each of us exactly how He wanted us to be. He knows that I need breaks like these and realistically that we each need the sabbath time to rest and be re-energized for what He has next in our lives.