St. Lucia tradition!

This was a fun craft I helped with in K4 yesterday

October brought Soccer

 

 

 

I wish I had a picture of Meme with the girls as she was there almost every time they played.  I needed her there as they played at the same time and we were crossing back and forth and Meme would run and get water and rescue them when needed.  Bryan and I at different times couldn't make it to a game.  Meme was there standing in the gap.  Henry loves kicking that soccer ball.  Though it is in his blood (Annie played and plays now) we can say that watching the girls brought it out of him as he had a blast chasing his ball.  Though it seems I might be starting a roll call I don't want to do that, but I want these girls years later to read and know how much their family loved them near and far.  Showing support just how they could through calling and checking in on them to watching them play.  Not many have so many people to love on them.  Can you believe Essie's K4 teacher came out to watch her.  Such a blessing on so many levels to have her teaching Essie.
Though many more wanted to come... so that is why we are posting pictures.  They were cuties in their shin guards and cleats!  Both played so hard and gave their best effort.
Esther had one friend that if she and this girl were playing at the same time they would hold hands and pick flowers.  However, if either was out there on their own they were after that ball.  Adeline played so hard with such a big smile on her face.  She was a great sportsman chatting it up with the other members on the team most games :)  
I love my girls so much.  We thank God they can run and play and chase after these balls.  Thank you for fields to play in and folks to coach them.    

Fun riding bikes!

Funny Comparison

So yesterday Adeline out of the blue told me that The Grinch is just like Satan.  I was intrigued, so I asked what do you mean by that.
Her reply:
Well The Grinch was trying to steal Christmas, but Satan goes around trying to steal love. 

Yes my child I think you are right!

Satan wants us to think we are nothing, give nothing, be angry, keep records of wrongs, watch out for number 1, loose hope and fail.  But as God says He is love and this is what he specifically says about love:

1 Corinthians 13

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We have a second chance every day: Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Romans 5:3-5 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Jeremiah 29:11 I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  

^{A little baby name Jesus, Immanuel, God with us came to this earth to give us hope.  Jesus gave us everything when He gave himself on the Cross to die for our wrongs, taking our shame and our debt then conquering death to give us the gift of living forever in heaven with God and have abundant life here on earth while we learn all we can about our God.}

September Happenings

 My sweet Essie is a gift from God.  I love how much she and Adeline are alike yet different.  This girl took on hydra-sliding behind the boat this summer.  She also is a swinging girl.  If you are at the river she is either in the water or on the swing.  

 

This girl Adeline is a jewel!  She loves her family so much. She too loves it at the river.  She loves the sand, the boating, swimming and swinging.  She loves her Henry too!  Below she is into decorating with her lovey - Blankie. 

Both girls love making apple pie with Meme and Papa!  We all love eating it! 

In September we also celebrate many Birthdays of grown ups.  Can you believe I didn't get any pictures of Annie, Myself, Bryan or Martha with our cake/pie! Happy Birthday everyone! 
We thank God for you all

Cinderella ballet with Meme!

Essie's snack craft nativity at school!