A few updates

Joel's newest job is drying dishes. I have to say though, I can't stand to be in the kitchen while he is working because the clattering is so bad and the dishes seem to just fly out of his hands here and there. I had to put a stop to his high "towers". Thanks to Corelle, he's only broken one so far :)

Joel hasn't quite mastered the English language or some basic concepts such as time, which can be amusing. Here are some of his recent phrases:

On a week day, many times: "Is Daddy at work or in bed?" (I suppose that's because he worked the night-shift last month and he leaves before Joel wakes up)

"Are we going to the world today?"

"Yesterday I want to go outside."

"You bingy!" (no idea what that means)

After waiting for food at a restaurant for a loooong time, he threw down his napkin and said "I QUIT!" Then, "Daddy, what does quit mean?"

"Why did God make this house?" "Why did God make this food?" ... and many, MANY more

Every night, when I put him to bed we have the same conversation. I tell him I love him and he says, "Why do you love me?" And I say, "Because you are my son." Then he says, "Why are you my son?" I say, "No, YOU are MY son." "Why are you my son?" I just give up there every night.

Today at lunch I told Joel to eat his soup. "I'm not hungry! My tummy's not hungry, my legs aren't hungry and my head isn't hungry. Nobody's hungry."

Holly's little friend comes to visit every few days.

Holly's other friend :)

The kids had a ball on these boxes and it became their favorite play spot for a few days until we found a spot to store them (the boxes, not the kids :)

Our little lady... she looks so sweet and clean but just the day before I was gardening and took her out with me for the first time this year. One minute she was standing there afraid to walk or touch anything, and the next she was eating dog poop! I think she will be in a playpen from now on. I feel like a very bad mom right now and I'm looking into de-worming her.

The kids were off and ready to play as soon as Steve got to the property on Saturday. The progress is slow but finally the foundations are complete and backfilling is done.

(Joel, Marie, Emily & cousin Brianna)

As we were reminded today, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Heb. 11:13-16