Luke wasn't extremely thrilled about starting school up again because he "was having so much fun playing at home". He's a little homebody. I like that he likes being at home & obviously is secure here, BUT part of life is simply "doing". We do our best to give him ample free time to just play and be a 6 year-old kindergartner. Fortunately, once he got back into the school building, all was, and continues to be, just fine!
The early part of January was COLD! So, the kids entertained themselves inside...
One day, I walked into Luke's room to get some laundry, and I found a toolset opened up on his bed...I never did figure out *exactly* what he was doing -- Ha!
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My friend, Alissa, invited me to join her at a basketball game (Wichita State). I was thrilled to go to yet another college basketball game! So fun! (But the walk to and from the game was a wee bit cold).
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Kate's little friend, Brahm, resumed his time here. Fortunately, there have been some planned playgroups and library story times to go to!
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We were hit with a few car issues....sigh....my car had an oil leak which was quite expensive to repair (insert clearing of throat here). But, God's providing us a few ways to hopefully help pay for it.
About two days after we got the news that my car was going to need this expensive repair, Marc discovered an oil leak under his car...big sigh...
To fix the oil leak in his car was going to cost only *slightly* less than what the car was worth (his car was a 2003 Ford Escape with 225,000 miles). SO, we made a relatively fast decision to buy a "new to us" car for Marc. Here's the proof of the 225,000 miles. (The Ford Escape has been oh so good to us)...
Luke, who doesn't like change and must transition slow, needed one last pic of himself with the car which is now gone...
AND, I guess I need to get a pic of the "new to us" car....
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Our family participated in an event at church called "Passport to Nations" (which was a part of a weekend event called "The Mission"). I volunteered to put together an information table about the country of Spain!
Marc & I, along with another couple (who happens to be very close friends of our's) also, that same weekend, participated in a service project which was simply AWESOME! I won't put a report on the evening on this very public site since it ended up involving some serious needed prayer requests of some local people, but I will simply say "I was touched" by the evening.
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Instead of pics from that evening (because I have none), I'll post another pic of the kids....simply walking out of church, hand-in-hand :)
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Once the weather did warm up, the kids & I went to the zoo (of course) with my friend, Alissa, and her son, Ian.
It was all fun at the zoo until Luke made a poor choice with something he said...sigh...at that point, I was so mad, angry, frustrated, and disappointed. Then (and since that time), I have spent time trying to discern how much of our kids' poor behavior comes from something they're imitating from their parents vs their behavior which is simply their innate sin nature.
#parentingisnotforwhimps
I'll move on to a more light-hearted topic -- Ha!
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Actually, this next topic is not light-hearted, but it's a biggie right now for us.
Marc's parents are elderly (ages 90 and 82), and Marc is an only child...his parents still live at home, independently. Starting last summer, Marc & I have been working *somewhat* diligently on getting them into a retirement facility. Their names have been on a waiting list for several months.
About 1 1/2 weeks ago, I received the AWESOME phone call that their name was at the top of a list for an apartment! WOO-HOO!
Last weekend, an official decision was made to take the apartment. Two days ago, Marc & I accompanied his parents to sign the papers. Sometime within the next 4-5 weeks, we'll be moving them into the apartment. Then, we'll be cleaning out their house to put on the market.
Just breathe, Sarah. Breathe.
It's a daunting job, but it simply has to be done....
(No real interesting pictures yet here)...
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And, pure randomness to finish off this long post....
I gave the kiddos donuts the other day in the car after Luke got off of the bus. I needed to run an errand for Marc's parents, and I wanted them entertained. Neither child refused the donut...
I did a "Make Your Own Pizza" thing for lunch the other day while Brahm was here. I failed to get a pic of the oldest child (Luke) -- which is sad because he required the least amount of assistance which *would* imply my hands were the most free for picture taking -- Ha!
I like this next pic...
I like how kids like forts. We haven't built nearly enough in this home. I need to change that.
This fort was built almost a week ago AND is still up as I type this post.
SO, that's a quick synopsis of our January! Perhaps I'll get around to posting again sometime soon!
