Six weeks and counting for baby Kyler's arrival. Kolby and Gabby love touching my belly, kissing it, and talking to it. It's pretty cute how excited Kolby is to have a brother. My "baby to do" list is pretty big, but I have been blessed with some extra time this week to get stuff done. That feels good. Gabby is now in her big girl bed but has developed some new habits :) like sucking her thumb and carrying the pack n play sheets around everywhere! No one has ever seen her suck her thumb outside the pack n play...but now she is doing it all the time. She likes to ask Jon and I to hold her like a baby and rock her. Oh man! This should be fun for her when the real baby arrives...
Our quick run to France...Jon practiced taking care of both kids on the flight while I sat across the aisle in bliss! He did a great job by the way. We are practicing for the long flight to America. My job will be easy compared to his I think. I guess it depends on Kyler's personality...
Kyler likes coffee :) Waiting for our flight home from Lyon.
Okay, and so does Gabby! I swear she steals my cup often and this is what happens...she seriously drinks it all.
Kolby enjoying his beverage of choice...with his new friend Marty. We visited Toys R Us in Lyon...a WHOLE new world for them! I'm sure Kolby has been there before but he didn't remember, Gabby has never been there...and we were pretty overwhelmed ourselves. What a treat! Toys R Us, McDonalds, Starbucks, a mall, and our favorite mode of transportation--subways, metros, and lots of walking. It was a refreshing time to just be together and enjoy life a little.
Gabs lounging at Starbucks...it's hard to believe how grown up both our kids seem some days. We were trying to enjoy how easy it is to travel just the 4 of us right now. They are such experienced little travelers that it makes our trips pretty enjoyable (for the most part!).
A baby shower for our friend Susie...who is due next Saturday. We are all pacing around waiting...and praying she has her little girl before Ramadan starts...but there is a big chance both of us will give birth during Ramadan. Veronica is due in Feb. with a BOY! So our girls (Gabby and Ellie) are 6 months apart and our boys will be about 5 months apart. We have had a great support system through friends here...so thankful for that this summer being huge pregnant, 2 kids, the heat, and no car! I have had to rely on our friends for LOTS of help!! Thanks, friends!!
Jon bowling on a Friday night with friends.
Kool-aid popsicles with Daddy outside one day while playing in the sand box and baby pool.
This morning I am reading Philippians 4...being reminded by Paul that my contentment and reliance on Christ should not be based on my circumstances. Of course, this summer has been a roller coaster for us it seems like. Kicked it off with moving to a new place (harder than it sounded back then!), our mode of transportation stuck in the shop for 2 months, an off or on internet...just to name a few things that sent us spinning a couple times. It has been serious work to not lose my mind most days...just ask Jon! Poor guy. But now that we have our truck back (as of Friday) and our internet back (as of Friday too), it's amazing to me how my stress level has dropped and my contentment level has went up. Maybe I failed the contentment test this summer :) or maybe I have grown. I hope I have grown....at any rate, my stomach has! But I hate that my contentment relies so heavily on what is going right around here and what is going wrong.
These verses also grabbed me, written by Paul:
"I have received FULL payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:18-19
The song in my heart this morning...we've received full payment this summer...from prayers, words of encouragement, packages, pictures, letters, phone calls, emails...all fragrant offerings!! Everything we needed to help us survive. May God meet all YOUR needs also...thinking of you this morning, family & friends!
And now a performance from Gabby...imitating Alex the Lion in Madagascar II.
