Updates All Around {Day 9}

Ok...first of all...did you know that Betty Crocker Butter White Cake mix actually uses butter? I was just so blown away by that! I thought for sure it was just artificial butter flavor added to the mix or something. But no! Instead of oil you use butter. Amazing I tell you.

Now that we have that out of the way, we can get on to the other things :)

I figured that since I abandoned this blog for almost 6 whole months I ought to update you a bit on my little family since I kind of left you hanging. Ok, so grab some tea and let's get started. (FYI: I am going to do this update by age. Because that way I get to go first. What? There should be some perks to being the old geezer around here!)

Rachel:

That would be me. Apart from the obvious, wife, mother, housecleaner (sometimes) responsibilities that I have, hmmm......let me think about this. Oh wait, yes that's pretty much all consuming. There is not much more I'm afraid to say :) I did lead a college girls Bible study at my house again this semester & loved every minute I spent with those girls. They bring me so much joy & I am so thankful for their presence in my life. I turned the big 3-0 this year and that was a little wild. I still see myself as a 22 year old, but I guess it's time to move on from that. I've been reading Jane Austen (again) and fallen in love with her writing (again). Sometimes I think I should have been born in the 1800s....love that era! I also somehow sustained trauma to my side and have inflammation in my ribcage. Very random. And in the words of my best friend Aprile--"you know you're too busy when you sustain trauma to your body and you don't even remember it happening". Very wise woman she is! Too too funny! I've loved decorating our new home & have painted something (picture frame, canvas, candlestick, etc...) almost every day. I love painting very very much. Ok...I think that's about it for me. I'm sure there's more b/c that sounds a little lame, but there it is. Oh, and I'm reading Radical by David Platt & I think you should read it too. Oh, and I'm praying that God will let me go to India one day soon. (And maybe adopt from there one day.)

Matt:

Matt is still loving his 2 jobs. He is still working for Innovative Mission Opportunities (http://www.imoi.org/) leading teams of students on mission journeys into the 10-40 window. I love that he gets to do this & I long for the day that I can be more involved. He went to Ethiopia in March, and is going back in a couple of weeks. He is also going to China this summer and is hoping to maybe go to Kazakstan in the fall. He is also working at our church as the Pastor of College & Young Singles. He LOVES his job & is doing a wonderful job leading our students. I know I'm biased, but I think he is the best College Pastor around--he is incredibly gifted as a speaker/dreamer/mentor & I love watching him live out his calling. He is having to do yardwork again (our rental property had a lawn service) and he is so super duper overjoyed to be mowing the yard again. He has read a thousand books since January, also turned 30, has gotten more addicted to Dr. Pepper than Starbucks (praise the Lord...much cheaper addiction!!) And has been a big help with the girls.

Nanners (AKA the stuffed monkey that I still sleep with):

Just to give you a little history....when I was 7 I needed a favorite toy b/c all the cool kids had favorite toys & I was always subject to peer pressure in such matters. So I lined all my toys up on my bed and after much thought I picked up the yellow Puffalump monkey & said, "you are now my favorite toy. I will love you forever." (I even wrote a book about him in 6th grade comparing him to the Velveteen Rabbit) Nanners turned 23 this year & has been in my bed almost every night for those 23 years. And I'm not ashamed to admit it people. He is very lovable and he supports my back. And sometimes I catch Matt snuggling with it in the morning. But don't tell him I told you that b/c he would get all blushy & then get mad at me & then deny it vehemently. Some day I'll take pictures and show you proof. Anyways, my beloved Nanners (picture below) also sustained trauma. To his leg. I washed him and I think he just gave up hope of surviving the ordeal. His leg ripped right open. He pretty much doesn't have any stuffing anymore either. I don't know where it went...I guess it just disintegrated. Here he is in all his stuffing-less glory, and another picture for you more gory types of his injury:

Oliver (AKA our unwanted cat):

We still have our cat. We wish we didn't. He ran away today and we were all a little happy about it. But then I found him. Stuck under our (turned off) lawn mower outside. Strange cat. Does anybody want him??????

Ava Marie:

Where to start with crazy, silly, adorable, sweet and hilarious Ava. She is such a joy to everyone that meets her. My favorite thing in the last 6 months is the way she talks about God. She has the most tender heart & that girl is grasping some deep theological truths. I never realized how amazing it would be to watch your child fall in love with your Savior. I know I've said it on here before, but God is pursuing my daughter & it is the most beautiful, awe-inspiring experience in parenthood thus far. Ava turned the big FOUR this year and just finished up her first year of preschool. She completely blossomed this year, and is one smart cookie! Her favorite things are dancing, the color pink, helping Mommy cook, doing everything "all by myself!!", art, swimming, singing and using her imagination. She is still addicted to her purple hippo Lola & I think we have a Nanners in the making. She says the funniest things and I'm loving this age so so much. The other night we let Ava sleep in bed with me as a special treat. Matt graciously slept on the couch so we could have some Mommy & Ava time. I thought she was asleep, but all of a sudden she rolled over and asked if we could cuddle--just for 10 minutes Mommy--and then we can go to sleep. Then she whispered in my ear, "I just love you so much Mommy. You're my best friend." Oh my goodness--I've never experienced anything so innocent and sweet. I don't think I will ever ever ever forgot that moment.

Jane Leilet:

Jane is now 19 months old and as of TODAY has been home for 6 months!! It is so hard to believe that she's been here that long already! It is seriously flying by. She has come so far in the last 6 months. Her vocabulary is really starting to blossom and she has the sweetest little voice. Especially when she is keeping it little & not screaming :) Some of her favorite words are: hi, bye, see ya, sorry, happy day, Aduh (Ava), Mama, Dadden (Daddy), poopy, stinky, diaper, and water. I'm so proud of how far she has come in her speech. She is now running everywhere she goes & is into EVERYTHING! She loves to climb (uh oh), swim, and take baths. She also LOVES to eat and will eat anything we put in front of her. Except bread. Crazy child, doesn't she know that bread is one of the 7 wonders of the world? She is super cuddly when she first wakes up and I love that. She is still very aggressive and laughs at the word no. Working on those 2 things. Her laugh is contagious and her smile is radiant. She is a little stinker drama queen, but she is one fun kid. She is like a magnet when we're out--everyone is drawn to her. She says hi to everyone and I feel like she makes people feel special.