A Long Time Coming...

To all of my readers, I am sorry it has been so long! What is really sad is that I have about five previous posts that I wrote in part and never finished or published. But today I am determined to finish this post and publish it!

Life here has been eventful. We have a lot going on with various ministry adventures here in Lancaster city and we are also trying to remodel our attic into a bedroom for the boys before Christmas. We are toying with the idea of buying a different house and it seems like there is a never ending pile of laundry and housework to get done.

The kids are always keeping me busy and the last few weeks have been full of snowball-throwing, stir-craziness and temper-tantrums! We have had some good times though and I am really enjoying this stage despite the constant noise that accompanies my two and four year old sons. As well, Ellie has her own voice and has discovered how to scream...it's so dear...especially at the dinner table :-). She is crawling, pulling herself up to stand and eating just about everything she finds on the floor. She is so sweet and loves to smile and laugh.

Tom's job is going very well, the kids are really enjoying life and I am seeing glimpses of my sanity now and again. I really do praise God for the amazing gift of children and despite the chaos that comes with little ones, I really am going to miss this when they are grown. I love their little laughs, silly sayings and the extreme enjoyment they find in life. I can see when I put them to bed at night, the comfort and security they feel when Tom and I tuck them in and pray with them. As each day teaches them more and more about the dangers of living in a fallen world, it is evident that they feel safe in our love for them...and that makes all this striving worth it.

Here are a few funny sayings from past weeks:

Zachary was trying to get Ethan to answer him and Ethan refused to speak. After a moment Zachary said to me, "Mommy, Ethan is a quiet creature."

In the van the other night, Zachary kept yawning. Finally he yelled to me in frustration, "Mommy, I can't get these yawns to stop coming. How do I get them to stop?"

When doing catechisms with the boys, we asked the question, "Who are the three persons of the Godhead?" To which the boys replied, "Um, God the Father, Moses..." We are working on that one :-)

When playing with his little friend, Anya, the other day, Zachary and Anya were playing with one of her dolls and pretending that she died and then rose again.

Today Zachary said to me, "Mommy, when I grow up, can you call me Spider-man?"

Ethan hurt his ankle today and came limping into the kitchen crying in frustration, "But my foot won't work anymore!!! It's not working, mommy!"

In the van the other day, Zachary said to Tom, "Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be just like you." Ethan then shouted triumphantly, "And I want to be just like Mommy!"

This time of year is always hard for me as I get homesick for my family and friends that are far away. The more I enjoy my children, the more I am saddened that so many of the ones I love do not get to delight in them here with me. Nevertheless, I am thankful for blogs, email and digital cameras that make sharing life with those far away more possible.

Well, blessings to you all this Advent season. I am going to try and post before Christmas and my goal is to get a Christmas card out this year. Do you think it will happen? I think I may also do a Christmas letter on my blog...but that might be too ambitious. We'll see. Also, if you're reading this Aunt Marcia, I am praying for you! I pray you will have electricity soon!

Peace In Christ...Andrea