A New Adventure

This summer we started a new adventure - swim team.  We have several friends whose kids do swim team.  Of course, two years ago we were glued to the tv watching Michael Phelps take home the record medals in all of his events.  And the Monkster has always loved the water.  When he was four years old he jumped off of the diving board (both low and high dives), and at 6 he swims like a fish.

So we decided to dive in (pardon the pun) and try it out for ourselves.  We started with practices in May and had our first experience with a meet this past Saturday.  It was totally chaotic, but fun.  I had no idea what I was doing in helping him check in for races, of which he was scheduled for 3 but ended up swimming 4!  We met some great new folks whose kids are also pretty new to swim team that we "tagged" along with.  Pretty soon I was in the flow of what to do and where to go.

Monkey swam the 25m free, 25m back, (both 6 and under) , then swam the 8 and under 100m relay, and the 10 and under 100m relay - both relays didn't go so well for our team.  Of the four who swam in the 10 and under relay - 3 were 6 years old and 1 was 5 years old.  Needless to say, they didn't win the race - but they swam against the big dogs, and they finished with HEART!

The highlight of Monkey's day was coming from behind to win his heat in the 25 M backstroke!  Way to go!  He earned a point for his team by coming in fourth overall.  I was so proud I was tingling - or maybe it was the heat - probably both!  As a matter of fact, it was so hot that I almost past out... not good for an expectant momma - but I drank tons of water, tried to stay in the shade, and only came out when the Monkeyman had a race.  Whew!  By 12:30 pm we were in the AC in the van and headed home to tell Dad and Chopsy all about our day.  

So expect to see many more swimming pictures for the next few weeks.

(our races)

(relaxing before the meet starts)

25m freestyle

(coming from behind in the 25 m backstroke to win the heat!)

(100m relay)

(kinda fuzzy - but the stamp he got for taking first in his heat for the 25 m back)

1000 Gifts: God's Wonderful Creation

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
         Wonderful are Your works,
         And my soul knows it very well. 

Psalm 139:14

0399.  my eyes opening to the breaking of a new day

0400.  Vacation Bible School

0401.  Helping Hands helping special friends

0402.  a full weekend and our first swim meet

0403.  a determined boy - swimming his heart out - and doing well

0404. new friends

0405.  the precious lending of a copy of Scripture by a friend to another who has misplaced hers

0406. encouragement

0407.  God's provision of peace for an overwhelming mom

0408.  the cleansingness of tears

0409.  air conditioning

0410.  a toothless boy

0411. celebrating 11 years of marriage to my best friend and husband... has it really been 11 years... looking forward to many, many more

0412. and the words to remind me in the delicate pages of Scripture that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

1000 Gifts: Dads

 How incredible is it that the Lord gave us fathers as an earthly picture of Himself... flawed though it may be... He wanted us to understand how much He loves us. For this blessing of fathers - we give thanks.

388.  Godly men who have been mentors, teachers, guides, and friends to our family.

389.  my husband, their dad - king of tickle attacks, stories, horsey rides, and "man-town adventures"


390.   him, being understanding of "boy stuff" because not that long ago he was one too

391.  an evening swim at the pool to enjoy a special Dad's day

392.  potty training - finally finished!!!!!

393.  beginning the new adventure of swim team for our oldest

394.  serving those having trouble - teaching my boys the attitude of a life of service - washing feet

395.  a quick trip to a family wedding - Jeremy's granddad getting remarried at 80 something - nothing like an outdoor wedding on a farm

396.  summer reading

397. My dad, always willing to help however he can, even though far away.

398.  knowing that this time next year there will be another set of toes crawling around the house - a blessing from the Lord.

1000 Gifts: A Gift of Praise

We praise Thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
We lay it before Thee, we kneel and adore Thee,
We bless Thy holy Name, glad praises we sing.

375.  Another year of life - celebrating God's blessing of the 8th anniversary of my 29th birthday.

376.  A week of fun with my brother-in-law and his family... fun at the pool, a day at the beach, cookouts, stories, and laughs! 

377.  Finding out that God has blessed us with another boy!

378.  The need for a new washer and dryer - and seeing God's almighty hand providing exactly what we need & a friend with a truck to help hubby go get it.

379.  The technology to be in contact with far away loved ones instantly - through text, email, and other electronic media.

380.  A picnic at the park with friends

381.  An upcoming conference to learn more about teaching at home.

382.  An evening thunderstorm.

383.  A cool morning walk.

384.  The wonderment of watching tadpoles become frogs - God's special design.

385.  A certain child's stubborn independence... reminding me of how independent I can be - yet remembering in watching his stubbornness that I need to lean on Jesus - just as he needs to lean on his parents.

386.  Our weekly worship gathering 

387.  God's perfect timing 

Snips and Snails

Well - we are embarking on a very familiar journey...the journey of little boys.  We had our ultrasound last night and the result from the pictures was - Boy!   There are many positives from this - I already have a ton of boy clothes and toys from the other two ahead of this little one... no weddings that we will have to pay for completely... carrying on the last name again... and less drama (?)  :).  However, there are downsides as well... the area around the toilet will be clean for only 5 minutes after I clean it....my grocery bill is going up exponentially... and boys are known for not calling their mommas or keeping in touch with them after growing up.


God ordained this little one to be a part of our family... He specifically chose us for this little one and chose this little one for us!  How AWESOME is that to think on!!!!  Nothing happens by chance, but it is all providentially ordered by the God of the Universe!  The Lord has already established the number of this little one's days.  He knows everything he will ever do in his life.  He knows his first word, when he will get his first tooth,  his first bump, etc.  And even more - I know that the LORD loves him, even now,  because my little boy continues to be knit by the Almighty Creator!   My sweet little boy is being fearfully and wonderfully made!  What a precious thought for this momma!  I just can't wait to meet him!

Psalm 65

 There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God,
         And to You the vow will be performed.
    O You who hear prayer,
         To You all men come.
    Iniquities prevail against me;
         As for our transgressions, You forgive them.
    How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
         To dwell in Your courts
         We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
         Your holy temple.
    By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation,
         You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;
  

Who establishes the mountains by His strength,

         Being girded with might;

    Who stills the roaring of the seas,
         The roaring of their waves,
         And the tumult of the peoples.
    They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
         You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.
    You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;
         You greatly enrich it;
         The stream of God is full of water;
         You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.
    You water its furrows abundantly,
         You settle its ridges,
         You soften it with showers,
         You bless its growth.
    You have crowned the year with Your bounty,
         And Your paths drip with fatness.
    The pastures of the wilderness drip,
         And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.
    The meadows are clothed with flocks
         And the valleys are covered with grain;
         They shout for joy, yes, they sing. 

 

Psalm 65