Happy and Busy Days

Our four plus two cousins!

Moriah Mei has a new bed!

Grandma plays the Wii!

 These past couple of weeks have been full of the normal, happy busy stuff that makes life good. I am thankful for God's faithfulness as He shows it in the day-to-day things. I have been especially thankful for the opportunity to live near family. We lived away from Colorado for the first twelve years of our marriage. While we knew that we missed living near our families, we had no idea of the rich blessing that awaited us when we moved back. Some recent examples include attending church with Andy's parents. It has been exciting to sit under the same great teaching with them and discuss the things we are hearing. I also love it when we can just join them for a meal and hang out together like we did last Saturday. The kids thought Grandma hadn't had enough time on the Wii yet! 

My parents, despite having nine kids and many, many grandkids, have made time to help me with my laundry, cleaning and ironing. What a huge blessing...not only having the jobs done, but spending the time together. 

Along with my parents, we have been caring for my nephews while my brother, sister-in-law and niece are in Africa. I have enjoyed watching my boys enjoy their cousins. It is also fun to hear the cousins laugh at Moriah. They think she's really funny! We have managed do our school work and keep everyone fed...no small task with six kids in the house! 

We had a recheck at the neurosurgeon for Moriah's spine last week. Everything looks great. She is back to her physical and occupational therapy as well.  She is beginning to show her two-year old will more and will make quite a racket when she doesn't get her way. She is growing in her attachment to Andy which is very encouraging. She greets him happily when he comes home from work. 

Last night as I was reading books to her, she looked up at Andy and then back at me and said very happily, "MaMa, Dada." It seemed like she was thinking "Life is good. I have a forever family!" As the days go by, I think how good it must be for her just to have day after day of normal routine stuff.  She is sleeping all night in her own little toddler bed. It has been great for all of us to have her sleeping so well in her own space.  Sometimes I have felt frustrated with our sleeping arrangements. We have three bedrooms upstairs, so Moriah and Kimberly share a room. There is a ten year age difference between them, so sharing a room poses challenges. Kimberly has lots of tiny stuff, Moriah puts everything in her mouth. Kimbelry is a young lady, Moriah is a stinky baby. Kimberly wants a little privacy, Moriah wants to be wherever Kimberly is. You get the idea. The thing I have realized, though, is that this arrangement is actually a benefit for both of them. Moriah doesn't like to be alone. I'm sure that she sleeps better knowing that Kimberly is there. It is also an opportunity for Kimberly to learn to keep her things picked up and to learn to be patient with her sister. The good thing is that they love each other very much. I pray that they will always be close even though there is a big gap in their ages. Moriah has been singing a little made up song that goes, "Jie, Jie, yuv you, Jie, Jie yuv you." (Jie Jie is her Chinese version of big sister).  It is super cute. Moriah also says "Lia Li" for Josiah, but she doesn't have a name for Caleb yet (much to his disappointment).  I'm sure his turn will come to have his own cute nickname from Moriah.

We continue to rejoice in God's faithfulness and provision for us!