Summer of Firsts- and LASTS!

These past few months for my little family have been one of growth.  We have been busy with all the normal things of summer- swimming, time at the lake, sleepovers, and various other things that make up the sounds and times of summer.  But, we have also had a lot of firsts this summer.  We lost a dear family friend.  Mr. Steve, as my children called him, was my sister's father-in-law, and the music minister at our church.  I also had the priviledge to travel the world with Mr. Steve and worship with him both overseas, and in our sweet church here at home.  It was my children's first experience with death.  Thayne is my thinker and he had a lot of questions and tears.  Gracey took it all with stride and after she made sure Mr. Steve was in heaven with Jesus, she asked what was for breakfast.  When I told Lissie, I told her that he was dancing in heaven with Jesus. She responded with a 2 year old's understanding of "ok" and that she wanted to dance too!  So do we, baby Lissie, so do we!

Gracey and Thayne also got to go on their first mission trip with us a few weeks ago.  We went with our youth group to Hicksville, Ohio and did some church beautification, and a 3 day VBS.  I have never seen my kids have so much fun.  Thayne in particular did really well.  He tends to shy away from people he doesn't know, but he really opened up that week to the youth and had a blast.  We weren't in the car for 10 minutes on the way home when they were asking if they could go next year.  It was such a blessing for my kids to get to interact with the youth who had been children and had gone on mission trips when Chris and I were youth.  It's so awesome to see the circle of growth throughout the age groups at our church- that the kids we have taught are now teaching our own.  I hope their first mission trip gives them a heart for missions, and that in the years to come, they will always have a "Here am I, send me" attitude.

We are now in the throes of VBS at our own church, and getting ready for back to school.  All my kids will be in school this year; Lissie in her first year as a preschooler, Thayne as a kindergartener, and Gracey in second grade.  We are fully OUT of the baby stage- good bye diapers,bottles, and spit up forever!  We are blessed!