Summer 2009

So much has happened this summer I don't know where to start! I cannot believe that the last post was a month ago! This summer has been great in many ways. Last week we had some family time which was WONDERFUL!!!! Ludie and the entire OM team has been going going going really since May but it has been non-stop, something everyday since the beginning of July. That is good! That is what we are here for, well not for being busy but for working hard at what God has called us to do. Above is the picture of the 12 cups of blackberries Griffin and Ludie picked (and the bushes are not even full yet, they are getting there, those were just the first pick of the "crop". They are wild blackberries that grow on the side of the road. The plum tree in our yard is full and Ludie and Griffin just filled up one of those big bowls with plums. I feel like Bubba Gump: "We gonna be havin some plum tart, plum muffins, plum jelly...". (and I love it!)

This summer Griffin got to participate in Art Camp offered at the church we attend. He loved it! He is into hip hop dancing and each day got to do dance, drama, crafts and music. The theme was Joshua and the battle of Jericho. You can see him in the picture of their end of week drama of Joshua. He was one of the guards. It is amazing to come to a place and expect to work with others, but to benefit from the work that is done in your own family is such a blessing.










Griffin and Ruthie also got to participate for the first time with the Big Red Bus. She loved the puppet shows and he loved the games. She even learned the dance moves to a song that we Have to listen to and dance to daily per her request. She has really started talking a lot and as you can see her hair has really started to thicken and grow. I can almost put it in a ponytail.








Ludie walked up to us while we were at the Big Red Bus and I just teared up at the thought of having our whole family here working with and enjoying the bus. You'll see a picture I took from the upstairs of the bus of Ludie sharing the Gospel with a group outside the bus.











During our family time we spent some of it working around the house. I can keep the house running but there is a huge difference when the man of the house is here handling things. Can I get an Amen!? There are just some things a woman can't do-or doesn't want to do. :) He gets the hard stuff.

We also got an opportunity to go to the Dublin Zoo. We took the train there which was fun for us all. It cost less to ride the train than it did to drive there. We also enjoyed just playing with the kids, and the kids enjoyed not being strapped into car seats. We had to walk from the train station, through Phoenix Park (beautiful flowers!), to the zoo. What an adventure for us all. We ended the day with supper that we picked up and ate on the train ride back. Ludie taught me what a Doner Kebab is. I am hooked!

















We also went to the opposite coast to Galway via train (our favorite way to travel now!). We spent the day in Salt Hill at the aquarium where we got to pet sting rays, dog fish, and hold starfish. And like every trip we have made to an aquarium since I have known and been married to Ludie, Ludie made me scream in the middle of it by picking up a dog fish out of the tank. At least I did not splash anyone this time. We walked back to the train station. A storm came up for a couple minutes while we were walking, and it felt like being a on a roller coaster while it was raining. We had to duck behind a stone wall to stay dry from the rain going sideways. After it passed though we saw the biggest and brightest rainbow we've ever seen. I learned that I cannot walk fast anywhere for a length of time as I start to have hard contractions.



































The last day of our family time we went to pick up the newest member of our family. His name is Hunter. He is an English Spaniel mix (we think with Greyhound). We found him via the internet for an offer free to a good home from a man that was moving from the country to the city. He is fully house-trained and lets you know when he needs to go outside and he is great with the kids. He took off today into the neighbors yard. He jumped the stone wall and proceeded for 30 minutes to chase the sparrows while I kept yelling for him to come here! Then finally I said "sit". And he did! Well okay then, now I know how to get him. However when he is chasing the birds there is no way to catch him. I think he's faster than a horse! The neighbors scared him half to death when he scared them, and he won't be running towards their house anytime soon. He had been hanging around the house well when we took him out so I thought I would take the leash off, and off he went! Down the lane and straight into their house. They did not know him yet but can you imagine a dog as big as a greyhound running into your house full speed?









We have only 8 weeks left to go in the pregnancy (after this weekend). We are working on getting ready for the baby to come. I am excited and cannot imagine what it will be like when he or she finally gets here. We have a couple girls names picked out but are still having trouble with boys names. No telling though! You'll just have to wait until it comes to find out. (PS We don't know whether it is a boy or a girl).

Oh...and one bit of exciting news is that fellow OM'ers Dax and Sarah are our next door neighbors! We love it. Pray for them though, they have to put up with us. :)