A Poem from Saudi Arabia

(Excerpt from 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, www.worldchristian.com)

"He Inhabited the Depth of My Heart"
I beheld his light from afar
from behind the mountains, from behind the horizon. 
He arose like the light of the radiant morning filled with joy. 
He arose within my soul so filled with darkness, 
my lost and confused soul, my soul that did not know the meaning of rest. 
Yet he visited me like the gentle breeze.
Like the fragrance emanates through the hills. He visited me...
He inhabited the depths of my heart and settled there within. 
He filled my soul with purity, with life. 
He is Jesus, the tender compassionate one Jesus, 
          the source of my joy, Jesus, the anchor of my soul.
I adored him since I first met him, 
          and have melted in passionate love for him.
And how could it be otherwise?
For he has loved me from days of old.


This poem was written by a Saudi woman who believes in the Messiah. We can all ask ourselves if our own relationship with God has the depth and beauty we read in this text. Do I know Jesus in this way?
And please be praying for the dear Muslim men and women around the world during the special time of Ramadan.

Just go with it

Every once in a while, things get a little crazy around here. And every once in a while, Ellis and I look at each other, throw up our hands, and say "just go with it!"

This morning has been one of those times. Our little play area turned into a big mud hole, and we soon had a situation that would rival a scene on the Beverly Hillbillies.

But you know, the kids are having a blast, and I've had a whole hour sit and rest without having to resort to a television screen.

Corrie has been cranky all morning, but now she's happy:

And Mac has had a blast building a "Muddy Truck Castle"

Hey, we've got a bathtub and a washing machine. So today, we're just gonna go with it.

A series of unfortunate events...

I am pretty sure any parent with a blog could create a post with this title. In fact, I have read a few good ones lately. Well, after the events of the other day, I just couldn't help joining in.

It all started about 7am, when I heard a stirring in Mac's room. I found him standing up on the edge of his bed, naked, and peeing all over his bed, books, carpet and toys. "Holy Cow! Stop!!!!" Unfortunately, he did not. (They say you are not supposed to give spankings when potty training, but I decided this was an exception).

I started to clean Mac, strip the bed, get some clean underwear, and was starting to clean up the rest of the room when we heard Corrie stirring.

"Alright Corrie girl, sit here at the table and eat some cereal while your brother and I clean up a big mess!"

As I was soaking up puddles off of various book/toys and deciding what to just plain toss in the trash, I heard a sound from the kitchen. "Oh man! Corrie!" An entire bowl of cereal was all over her lap, the floor, and the chair. Corrie's response: "More milk, please?"

Things get a little blurry after that, but as far I can remember, I gave Mac some cereal and then Kelly called. We started talking and before I knew it, Mac was no longer at the table, but was walking by with the dustpan saying, "I clean it up momma." I remember thinking, "Wait...Clean it up?"


I looked in the living room and saw a trail of poop going from the coffee table to the bathroom up to the toilet. Oh man. "Uh, Kelly, I gotta go!"

By now Corrie was down from the table and was begging for her turn with the "shovel" (the dustpan), so she could shovel the poop too. Good thing I learned a lot of boxing out skills from sports, because I had to keep both kids away from the mess long enough to shut Corrie in her room. I got the mess cleaned and the floor disinfected, and went to rescue Corrie (very upset from being trapped in her room).

When I went to get her, this is what I saw:

  

She had totally covered her legs and feet with pen stripes! She looked up at me like, "what? did I do something?"

About that time I heard a splash, and a "help mommy!" What in the world? I ran to bathroom to find that Mac had literally fallen in the toilet bowl. He was covered in the water and there were smears from his still un-wiped (oops...forgot to do that in the confusion) bottom all over the toilet. Why was he even on the toilet at this point?

So, after getting Mac in the tub, cleaning the bathroom, and remembering I still hadn't finished cleaning the original mess from Mac's room, I resigned to plopping both kids on the couch and turned on a movie.

I came back to see that Mac had gotten a box of graham crackers and the kids were enjoying crunching into them and crumbling them everywhere all over the couch.

Are you kidding me? You know, at that point, what can you do. I got the grahams back into the kitchen, and started to try and vacuum. Wish I could say that went well, but another poop incident and broken picture frame later...and we were ready for an early nap.

I am just thanking the Lord these kids can't tell time yet.

And you know, in the midst of my cleaning, I was thinking about how the day will come when sweet little Mac and Corrie will find themselves in messy situations that I can't just wipe up clorox. My heart will be breaking for them, and I will be on my knees praying. Much easier to be on my knees scrubbing the floor while I have happy kids sitting in the other room. This is a sweet season, even if it is a little on exhausting side!

The Johns' Front Royal Resort

Free hill rides for anyone who can fit on a toddler car!

Mac loves to "crash into the water"

Corrie just likes going along for the ride :)

The Bumpies

You know, it's the little things...like the little bumpy strip on the ramp going into the grocery store. Who knew those "bumpies," as Mac and Corrie like to call them, would provide such joy and excitement?

Every time we roll over that bumpy ramp, Mac and Corrie start hooting and hollering and squealing with joy.

Sometimes I think about trying to plan my grocery shopping around a time when I can just alone...no whining kids, no random shoppers literally covering their ears because Mac is in another of his "singing" phases (he sounds like a high pitched siren)...

But then again, going alone is just another average, boring trip to the store.

We just love it

We do. We really do.

Any time we get a chance to visit our old stomping grounds in Durham, and especially when we get to spend time with the Rockes (our "buddies," as Mac would say), we really love it.

We have even developed our own little traditions for the trip from VA to NC. For example, our favorite Rest Stop...the one just over the border in NC. It has a bunch of tree stumps everywhere that the kids love to climb on. This last trip was the first time they were old enough to have some independence on those stumps. It was really fun.

This was the stump of choice for this trip. The kids took turns standing it on and jumping off. Well, Mac was able to actually jump. Corrie pretty much just stood there and looked cute in her travel outfit (she picked it out...can you tell?) and then walked off of the stump with her best imitation of what a jump would look like if she knew how to do it.

Here is Mac in action. I said, "Nice jump Mac!" He said, "Mommy I not jumping I flying! I am a SPACE RANGER!"

Corrie is happy and looking cute.

And once we got to NC, we had a lot of fun doing our usual activities:

Eatin' snacks at the neighborhood park...a favorite place for me and Kelly to take the kids (mostly because of the fact that it is entirely fenced in, and we can generally sit and visit with each other without having to worry about anyone escaping!)

And the kids were loving being able to climb. Not pictured here is Jack, the best climber of them all! Kelly was about to get a really good picture of him showing off one of his climbing tricks, but he fell right when she went to take the picture. Darn!

And we can't forget the Museum of Life and Science!

 Our little herd has grown since the times we used to go with just Cal, Mac and Caleb Sui. 

And I had a really special treat on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. While Kelly was tutoring, I was on kid duty, and more importantly, Luke duty :)  Shortly after Kelly left, I heard a sweet little newborn cry coming from Luke's direction. When I went to check on him, I picked him up and he just snuggled so sweetly right into my chest! I could hardly hardly hold back the tears that came immediately to my eyes. This little one will melt your heart for sure.


  

Another special treat was watching Mac and Corrie interact with Luke. I have been wondering what they will think of their new brother or sister when the new baby arrives. Corrie loved to sit by Luke in his bouncy seat and watch him, and Mac was very sensitive to Luke whenever he heard him crying. I expected either complete non-interest, or a lot of dangerous interaction (I am sure there will be plenty of that eventually...well, there was one dangerous interaction, but we'll talk about that another time). At least for now, it was nice to see such kind interactions between the three of them.

 

We were pretty sad to leave on Friday, but at least Kelly and I got to splurge on on our traditional trip to Starbucks, and the Lord really blessed our drive home. I was surprised by how much me and Mac and Corrie were enjoying being together, and the time passed by quickly. 

Probably my favorite thing was when we stopped at the Wawa gas station to get Daddy his favorite treats. I was wondering how in the world I was going to keep both kids from touching the walls in the bathroom when I had to go in there. Normally I can swing it pretty well as long as we can get in the handicap stall...but this time there was a lady in there forever! Darn! Let's just say I had to be really creative in that tiny little disgusting normal-size stall. Any mom will know what sort of lengths of creativity I am talking about. And I was also wondering how I was going to keep the kids from running wild in the store after being cooped up in the car for 3 hours. What a pleasant surprise it was to overhear this conversation:

Mac: "Corrie, hold my hand."

Corrie: "Gank You!"

Mac: "Ya welcome!"

The two of them followed me happily through the store the whole time, holding hands! (That was the first time they have ever done that).

And Kelly, I just want to tell you thank you so much for inviting the Johns' Circus down to stay with you this past week.  We know it was not as restful as your prior few weeks had been (is that an understatement or what?) Hey, staying up late, getting up early, having kids throwing up in the middle of night...all totally worth it. Your friendship is such a gift...one that blesses our whole family. Can't wait to see you guys again! 

Panning for gold

Yep...this place has it all!

Party Van

Today we all piled into the minivan to head off to the Museum. Calvin said, "It's like a party in the van!" A neighbor walked by and said, "looks like a whole lot of crazy in that van!" 

Both statements are true!

Also, couldn't help posting this one too. Calvin and Mac playing the sandbox, pretending to be Buzz Lightyear. They kept trying to fly and yelling, "To infimary and bay-yayer!" (To infinity and beyond!)

Whoops...

Yep, it was one of those days when you just say, "whoops!"

Started out with my realizing there were no bowls for the cereal. What? How is that possible? Oh, forgot to turn the dishwasher on...whoops! Sorry Mac and Corrie, but you are eating out of tupperware and measuring cups today.

And then we were driving home from visiting with a neighbor and we passed a local police officer. "Hello!," Ellis waved as we turned in our neighborhood. When we pulled into our driveway, we noticed the police officer had followed us home. "Is there a problem, officer?" He pointed out the registration sticker on our windshield...just a few months overdue. "OH...so that's what sticker is!...Whoops."

Happy Anniversary to you, too

Yesterday evening I was surprised by roses and chocolates and a husband who said, "Happy Anniversary!"

As I reflect on another year, I am pretty amazed, honestly. I am thankful. Does "thankful" even describe it? Well, let's see...how many years has it been now? We can never remember until we start counting the number of World Cups we have been married for.

I would say this year has been something extra special though. We have had some of our most difficult times, and we have seen the Lord meet us right where we are and knit us together in Him. Is there any more wonderful gift we could have?

So Ellis, "Happy Anniversary to you, too." It's been a very memorable 1 and 1/2 World Cups worth of marriage with you.


And, as we prayed last night: "Thank you Lord, for the years you have given us, and for however many more years you have ahead for us. We treasure every one and we thank you for them all!"

Happy 4th of July!

Babies

Lots of babies around here lately. 

 Baby watermelons

 Baby sugar snap peas

 Baby zucchinis

 Baby green beans (the cutest of all baby vegetables, in my opinion)

 Baby Figs

Baby oranges

And, probably the most exciting (and possibly cuter than a baby green bean): A baby Johns!

Due date is a bit of a mystery, but modern technology predicts some time in December. Meant to announce this quite a while ago, but we lost the ultrasound pictures. I just found them in the infant car seat in the basement. How did they get there? Who knows, but this baby is quite a genius to already be able to put itself in a carseat. 

When you marry a Johns...

You may be sitting out on the front steps one evening and hear some strange noises coming from the roof...

Ellis: "Were you surprised to see me up there?" (With a headlamp and a chainsaw at 9pm).

Me: "Nope." 

And I really and truly wasn't.

Little Mac had a special lullaby outside his window tonight!

Here ya go Ellis...

A Picture of us on the blog

Had fun with you today, honey!