Grandpa and Grandma have enjoyed an evening each month for the grandchildren from a particular family to join us for dinner, playtime, and Bible time. Last Tuesday evening was Grandpa and Grandma’s special time with Nathan and Melanie’s children. It is always a wonderful sound when our front door is thrown open, and a bunch of little voices and giggles can be heard as the grandchildren come piling in.
After dinner, Grandpa and Grandma’s planned activity was sidewalk chalk. We had quite the city, including streams, lakes, and miniature people decorating our driveway very soon. We ended the evening with a nice Bible time. Melanie has done an excellent job teaching Abby and Bethany to read, and they are able to read their own verses even though Abby is only finishing first grade and Bethany is still technically a preschooler.
Anna
Bethany is working very hard at coloring her stream.
The Uncles found this jeep out for the trash and were able to get it up and running with a few minor tweaks.
“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11
Dad has cut the boys’ hair for as long as I can remember, but just recently a new barber and hair stylist stepped onto the kitchen floor (the place where haircuts take place in our home). Mary is the newbie and has done amazingly well. She started by watching as Dad cut hair, but very quickly Mary was ready to jump in with the clippers and give it a try, under Dad’s tutelage. The guys were just fine to let her experiment and learn on their hair, but I can testify that they didn’t have one bad haircut! At this point, Mary is totally independent in her haircutting. Now even Dad doesn’t havego out to a barber but is able to stay at home and get great haircuts from Mary. Good work, Mary!
Serving Jesus, Anna
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
Recently, Nathan and Abby went on a quick, unexpected trip together to a funeral which left the rest of the crew at home. I knew that Bethany and Christina would be missing their roommate, Abby, so I offered to sleep in their room in Abby’s bed. Of course, they both were very excited.
Four-year-old Bethany quickly filled me in on all the scoop of how the bedroom runs. She showed me how to climb up into Abby’s upper bunk, told me what time they went to bed, and what time they could wake up. She demonstrated how Abby’s bed light worked. Then she informed me that she and Abby wake up earlier than Tina and use their bunk lights so they can have their quiet time reading the Bible. She also told me about prayer rounds. It was so sweet, because one of them came up with the idea of having a prayer time before they go to bed.
Sure enough, we had just crawled into our beds and settled when it was time for prayer rounds. Bethany told me that they pray for a specific person’s family each night, and they each take turns praying. Tonight the prayers would be for Uncle Christopher and Aunt Anna Marie’s family, who were recovering from a stomach bug.
Betsy and Tina’s prayers were so sweet. I wish you could hear the recording of their little voices.
Betsy started, “Lord God, I pray for Joshie, that the flu would be all gone from him, and that he would just get all better.”
Two-year-old Tina was next. “Dear God, I pray that the baby would be healthy and strong, Amen!”
Then B continued, “Lord God, I pray in the family that is Uncle Christopher’s, that they would be just healthy and strong, and the baby would be healthy and strong, and that Joshua would get better in the night, and that he would never get sick… and please just help their family go to Uncle John’s birthday party *(side cute note: we had celebrated John’s birthday late and the party already happened)* and all the birthday parties and that he would never get sick again.”
Tina prayed even more, “Help their baby to be healthy and strong, and help nobody to get sick, Amen.”
I prayed between them, and we kept going until it was time to go to sleep. I am looking forward to sometime joining them when Abby is there. I love their hearts for praying. They have such tender spirits and are often quick to ask to stop and pray for someone when they hear of a need!
Serving Jesus, Anna
Bethany Christina Christina and I Abby is an amazing big sister.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
We celebrated Joshua’s birthday at the park with pizza and cupcakes. It was a wonderful summer evening. The children loved playing on the playground and running to their hearts’ content. Sweaty smiles and birthday songs floated around as Joshua blew out his candles. He was quite delighted with the whole evening, and his cute giggles were a delight to everyone. He loves Gigi’s “lawn mower” and was pleased to take it for a spin.
Joshua and Bethany Abigail Mary and Christina
Anna and Christina Joshua loves to toss rocks into the water and watch the splash. Anna Marie and RuthAnne
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4
Saturdays are wonderful family days! This last Saturday was perfect, and the whole neighborhood was out. Spring is a great time to get all sorts of odd jobs done. Isn’t it fantastic to soak up the warm sunshine once again?
Dad was trying to save an old printer. It was a very intricate operation. Unfortunately, the patient didn’t recover. We tried almost everything, and sometimes it works: sometimes it doesn’t.
“I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.” Psalms 7:17
Yesterday afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful outside Aunties’ playtime that included much laughter, joy, running, and games. We were giving “airplane rides” on the swings and talking when we asked Abby and Bethany, “What are you looking forward to most about Christmas?”
Bethany immediately replied with a twinkle in her eye, “The Moodys!” She followed that by quickly saying that she had already done her memory verse! {{Sarah’s note: She and Abby each told me their verse–talk about melting my heart. Beautiful!}}
Serving Jesus, Anna
“Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.” Psalms 119:57
The Maxwell family and ministry blog of Titus2.com.
