Welcome Hannah the Hamster!

I can’t believe we now have two hamsters.

Tonight was one big night of shuttling kids all around town. It’s nights like tonight that I really miss Carl’s help. (Work travel) Max and Ava were my helpers.

Max and Jack started out cutting 25 lbs of tomatoes like this…It quickly turned into this…I can’t imagine what cooking will be like with these two when they are teenagers. I am guessing that they will be quite fun to have around.

It has been a whirlwind of a weekend. Last Thursday night as I was packing to leave for D.C. at 4:30 am, I got a text from my Liberian friend that her water broke. At 10:00 pm I headed over to the hospital. I was able to be with her until 4 am. We were both a little disappointed that baby didn’t come by then. The baby was stuck on her pubic bone and wasn’t coming.

At 7:50 am, while I was sitting on the plane with Carl, I got a text saying Tasha was born at 7:30 am. I found out later that she had to push for 3 hours.

In D.C., Carl and I were on a panel to discuss religious liberties and freedom of speech. God was so gracious in sustaining me with 2 hours of sleep.

Date night in the capital was fun but I faded quickly that evening.

4:15 am eastern standard time came early the next morning, so we could catch the 6:20 flight back to MSP. Carl then hopped on a plane to Cleveland to work until late Monday night. I, on the other hand, went to the Restaurant Depot to buy a ton of food.

Returning home, I found happy kids. We ate pizza lickidy split and headed to the Voelker’s for our annual applesauce making. Big kids are really helpful. We laughed at how little we made when they were all little. The total for the day was 25 gallons.

Once back home and with most kids tucked, I went to the hospital to meet baby Tasha. Oh my! I can’t wait to babysit.

After church on Sunday, Grandpa and Grandma took three boys to Brainerd.

Max, Grace, Lydia and myself headed to Albertville for a little shopping and to pick up Adie. She spent the last 4 days camping at Whitewater State Park with a friend.

Max needed a little treat while his sisters shopped.

“I look just like Grandpa. I have a pen in my pocket, one of these shirts and a hat”

I am so blessed to spend the rest of my life with him. He makes me adventurous. He loves me well. #bettertogether

About 3.5 weeks ago, we think Jack might have broken a bone in his hand. Our good friend sells braces and refitted Jack for his brace because he broke the first one. It didn’t surprise me since he rock climbs, swims and bikes like a crazy kid.

We think he’s pretty much healed, but he’s going to wear the brace when he is on the wild side of activities.

This is the sweet baby that I got to help welcome in the world and was the first person to lay eyes on her.

My boys are really starting to get into soccer especially Jack. He comes off the field a sweaty mess with a huge smile on his face. Thankful for a homeschool community to play every Saturday morning in the fall.

It was a fun to gather our students again. I had a great conversation on friendship and why we need authentic community.

Plus today we added South Sudan as another country.