More Beach Time

I felt the need, now that I am a little caught up to post some beach pictures from our trip earlier in July.

I think this is the first sunset over the ocean I have seen since our honeymoon almost 25 years ago!!

We rented a home that would house all 13 of us (some of David's family) and it had this beautiful beach just a few steps down the road that was for all sense and purposes private to the homes in the area.

Hannah and I had fun running from the waves.

And running into the waves!

We found this rock at low tide had some very small tide pools.

But you had to be careful when the waves came in!

Hannah was very adventurous! I was a little worried because it is always so cold and windy on the Oregon coast that she would get too cold. Once that starts happening it takes her a very long time to warm up, as she has NO body fat. But she did great!!

My wonderfully handsome husband looking for more finds to show the kids.

My contemplative Hannah! She is always watching. Like she is taking the whole world in. I would love to know what she thinks. She does not have the ability to really voice her thoughts or emotions very well yet. More on that in another post.

Caleb with his cousin, Luke, searching out the best driftwood for a fort!! As you can see they had plenty to choose from. It was fun to watch Caleb with his cousins for a few weeks. He loves to help little kids. He loves to be the director! He does not like to be left out. He can change games or play mode in seconds and be happy about it. And he can go and go and go!

Luke, Jonathan, Rebekah, Caleb, Hannah, and Abbie in the fort they built.

Caleb's baseball team. Interestingly we have dealt with some racism from some persons on the team, whose own race has dealt with racism for generations. I have always choose to stay a watch lots of practices to make sure I am comfortable before I will leave any child at a practice alone, I will not do that with this team.

Caleb is enjoying his experience, though I do believe he is feeling that he is being treated differently. We talk.

Thankfully Caleb has had the opportunity to attend a baseball camp for the last two days. A large part of the coaches of this camp, from Southern California, are of many different races. It is nice to see him able to interact with all of them and be treated with kindness and respect by all.

No, the world is not colorblind. But we will choose to walk with love and integrity with all those God puts in our path. And maybe, they may see the love of Christ in our actions.

Watch This!

Watch this video and ask yourself, "What can I do?" and then do it!!

We are not all called to adopt or foster, butif you are a Christian you are called to care for the widow and the fatherless---

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:27

What will be your role?

Moving On..

So what now..

Now that the floors are done, I have the slow process of painting, trimming, cleaning and decluttering!

Not a real fun job, but praying the dividends will be nice!

I am also starting to reap the not so great dividends of two little kids who have been through a lot this summer :(

Hannah is..

having language issues--expected, but still needs to work through!

having bathroom issues--some expected, others beyond my imagination!

having 'deer in the headlights' look again--think 'fight, flight, or freeze' response to stress, can be as simple stress as asking her a question.

having school issues--same as above, but highly exaggerated.

Caleb is..

having immense listening issues--always been an issue, now times 3!

having the 'freeze' response to questions--normal, but again highly exaggerated.

having boundary issues--now also pulling Hannah in too.

Now understand this is not every moment, nor everyday.

We have had some amazing times and amazing breakthroughs this summer also.

But we do need to get back on a schedule for all of our sakes.

As I said, I still have lots to do to have the house put back together, I need to get Drew ready to head off to WSU in 3 weeks, and still need to schedule for the coming school year.

I would covet your prayers as we head into this adjustment time.

School is always hard for the kids, hence stressful for all of us. Any great ideas would be appreciated!!

I am working on a surprise box with immediate prizes for the kids. Something that is paid out later is never a real good motivator.

A Clue...

Any guesses as to what we have been up to?
Let me just remind you that Erinn and Michael's wedding was just 3 weeks ago.

Yep, that is 300+ sq. ft. of tile and 300 sq. ft. of laminate flooring!!

And David was gone this week for the tile episode!!!

Thanks Darryl and Becky for your help with tear up!!

And thanks Dad for all your expertise and help in getting the tile in this week!!

Fishing and Life

We have been beyond overwhelmingly busy. I will try to get some of the pictures up soon.

But for now more pictures from our week at the coast.

Caleb had the opportunity to go deep sea fishing for the first time--Think he looks excited?
And he's got one one---actually he caught his limit of 7!

Caleb and the captain of the charter boat who was great with kids!!

David and his son with their catch!

My proud boys on our last day of break before our world became even busier than I could believe!

Too Precious...

Hannah had her first T-ball game tonight after one practice.

I could not decide what to post, so I posted lots, just smaller!

Now that I got I what do I do with it?

Ready...

Set...



And, yes, that is the next runner right behind her. He was actually in front of her for a while--LOL

I got it again and I still don't know what to do with it!!

Oh, you throw it!! And maybe the person on the other end is actually watching, but I do not think I ever saw anyone actually catch anything!!

Oops---missed that one!

Caught it, just don't let Dad see how I do it!!

And now I got this throwing thing down. Now if the catcher was actually watching instead of drawing in the dirt!!

Lots of fun!! She had a wonderful time!!

Probably Wouldn't...

....that is...

You probably wouldn't believe it if I told you we are totally redoing all the floors in the downstairs!

Yes, that is right, just one week after wedding #2 in 4 weeks we have no floors downstairs and rooms torn apart upstairs ready to be painted!!

Am I crazy?

Well not really---but my husband just may be!! LOL

So very little blogging!!

Just trying to keep my head above water and my eyes open when I am driving!

Indian Sands Overlook

This beautiful overlook was our first stop on the coast.
Hannah and I---and yes, it was hard to smile with the wind whipping sand into your face!

I think it looks like I am try to push him off, but I was just leaning into the wind and holding on for dear life!!

A Little Cold!!

On our hike through the Redwoods we found this rope swing, that of course the guys had to try out!

I really love this goof ball guy!! He was the first in--and almost the last!!

But he did get his brother, Stephen, to give it a try!
Then he conned his 60+ year old dad in!!

Now we have to understand the the first time he swung out and then came right back, but be did eventually let go!!

And this guy was saying "NO WAY, DAD!"

But after some discussion on courage---and the fact that Drew would have been the first one off if he had been there---well he 'manned' up and off he went!!!

And climbing along this precarious ledge was the way back!! Gotta love those blinding white legs and bellies!!!

See any similarities between father and son?

And yep, David had to do it two more times---the only one who braved it more than once!!

And yes, it was VERY COLD!!

A Stop Along The Way!

Guess were we stopped on our way to the coast?

Any clue?

Who can resist a stop in the beautiful Redwoods as you drive through to the coast?

My charmers at their best!!

Caleb and Hannah with Grandma and Grandpa Jordan---that is a big tree!!

These two deserved a break as much as us, after the craziness of the last two months. They were amazing helpers and quite the troopers on those long days!!

A family moment, at least the family that we are down to most of the time now!!!

Loved this stump on the side of the old stage road!

It dwarfed the kids!!

Abi, Hannah, Caleb, Rebekah, Jonathan, and Luke

Can you see us trying to relax again?

David and his little troop of followers and leaders---all anxiously looking for the rope swing (pictures to come).

Abi, Luke, Hannah, Caleb, and Rebekah with what looked like a lightning struck tree.

Trees are made for climbing---even the giant ones!