Grateful 2011: April Edition

Celebrating with friends. Gardening. Micah teaching. Dinner with friends. Cheap compost. Date night and friends that help. Village raising. Music to sing to. Thrift store shopping. Family and memories. Mark! Extra time with M. Micah coming home! Oatmeal cookies. Audiobooks and dry roads. Community. Extra time with friends. New opportunities. Boundaries. A new back door! House projects. Hearing from Najim. Gathering with friends and family. Seeing the little man get excited about eggs. Adoption gatherings. Friends. Help from friends. Rice bags. Clean sheets.

Quiet Entrance

If you have ever entered our home through the back door you may have noticed the sticky door and the noise it makes in order to get it open. This noise and the occasional sound of someone kicking the door to help it open have acted as our doorbell for the past three years.

Well, say good riddance to the sticky door and noise because it is gone! Micah, with the help of a good friend, replaced the back door and installed the new very quiet and much easier to open door!

A bonus to the new back door is that while installing it Micah found two wires hanging from the door jam. What did they belong to you might ask? Our actual doorbell! So, no more kicking needed so we know you are coming in! The little man was super excited about the doorbell - even though he still can't reach it and just stands at the back of the door and screams, "DING DONG!"

Unusual Sleeping Place Part III

M. fell asleep watching and waiting for Uncle Mark. It didn't matter how many times Micah or I told him that it was going to be a long time before he came to visit again - he refused to give up his post. Such a dedicated little man.

Finally a Place to Sit!

While in Rapid I was able to sneak in some thrift shopping. I didn't find exactly what I had set out for, but was satisfied with the purchases. As previously mentioned, I had big hopes for the bench/shelf that I found. For a while now, I have wanted some thing in the kitchen that would allow for someone to sit - if they so desire - while either taking off shoes or chatting with the cook. I knew that my purchase would require a little bit of my time and creativity.

With a little work I was able to pry it all apart and rotate the bottom shelf so it would no longer be upside down. I may at some point paint it, but that will be saved for those long summer days with warm weather. I may also create a cushion for the top, but again saving that for the long summer days when I don't have so much to do after a day of work and a cute little man wanting my attention. So for right now the shelf has been turned right side up and I picked up some baskets for storing winter gear.

There is still some debate about the usefulness of the bench in our teeny tiny kitchen (the little man loves it- while the bigger man is skeptical), but for now it is staying. Feel free to come see it in person and then you can let us know your thoughts and cast a vote.

Backwards Day

Sometimes we have a backwards day and don't realize it until we are getting ready for bed.......

Happy Easter!

We had a nice time celebrating Easter Sunday. We gathered with family and friends for a wonderful meal and then spent the remainder of the day hiding and finding and hiding and finding eggs around the living room. The little man was ecstatic and had to open E.V.E.R.Y. egg to see what was inside before hunting for the next one. Hope you were able to gather with family and friends and enjoy the day as well! We greatly missed those of you that weren't gathered around our table!

Ellison the Elephant

The little man has been enjoying the story, Ellison the Elephant. The book comes with an audio CD so he has been enjoying the jazz music and the book being read to him over and over and over and over..... you get the idea. We are also enjoying the decrease in activity levels. :) Thank goodness for good books!

Thrifty Finds

Went thrift store shopping while in Rapid and came across these finds. I have big hopes for the bench/shelf and hope to share soon.

*Sorry the picture isn't that great - it was a heavy item to carry and once it made it to the floor I didn't want to really worry about moving it again.

25 Years

We traveled to Rapid City this weekend to celebrate with Micah's parents the 25th anniversary of their service to South Park UCC.

Twenty-five years is a long time to serve a church,
to serve the people of that church,
to share in the joys and pains that comes with the church,
and they have done it well.

It was a joyful time full of remembering.



There were so many who shared and
reaffirmed all that we know of these two great people.

We were very proud to be sitting with our family
and reflecting on the example they have provided us,
the love they have given to us and many MANY others.

Flying Kites!

This week in Preschool they were learning all about the letter K. To finish the week of, each kiddo made a kite. The little man was ecstatic to bring it home and try flying it in the sky. He is so proud of his work!

Without Shoes