Memory

We went to the pool the other day and as I was in the water holding Keenan tight in one arm and Elliot in the other I wished I could bottle up a moment.  We were splashing around and squeezing as tight as we could and throwing out heads back with laughter and I just wanted to keep those few fleeting minutes.  The feel of their warmth, their little arms wrapped tightly around my neck, the warmth of the sunshine mixed with the coolness of the water, the sound that their little giggles made complete with their breath on my face, the fullness in my heart at getting that time with my incredible boys.  So many extremely precious moments like that are priceless.  Although you can take pictures to remind yourself of all that was, it is a mere reflection.  It can conjure up only a fraction of the experience and things felt at the time.  I could never describe fully the joy I feel when Lucy crawls to me and lays her head in my lap, the feel of her soft fuzzy head under my hand as I play with her hair.  The feel of kissing Elliot's soft full cheeks.  His chubby little arms wrapping tightly around my neck and pulling me down for one last "nuggle" good-night.  The weight of my precious kids' head on my shoulder as sleep won the battle and they drift off in my arms.  The saltiness when I kiss them good-night before I head to bed because of the little beads of sweat on their foreheads.  Having my whole lap full from Keenan snuggling up to read a book together,  The feel of one of my kids taking my hand as we walk together.  The taste of Craig's kiss and the feel of his arms strongly around my waist.  There are a million things that are only known by experience and only ever fully experienced in the moment.  I can remember thins all day but it's only a memory.  A thought that brings emotion, but not the 5 senses.  It makes me think that these things too are yet another thing pointing us tot he cross and His ultimate glory. "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."  1 Corinthians 13:12.  Much as it is for me remembering, looking back at the dim pictures, the joy of heaven, the Glory of the Lord, the abundance of the love of Jesus, the immense power of His Kingdom are only seen and understood in part.  So much is lost in our human understanding and sin.  It makes me look forward to the day when all will be full and known and complete and bright all the more!!

O-N-E!!!

Hard to believe that our tiny princess is one already!!!  It has been a whirlwind of a year and she has brought so much joy in the midst of the chaos and times of struggle.  Lucy Mae is such a sweet little girl who blesses others like no other.  My friend Flora and I have laughed and been amazed at how she really does reach for others right away and she seems to be drawn to those in need.  For example, she really does love the guy who comes to work for us, Ange, and smiles readily at him as soon as he arrives, but she does not go to him that often.  At the end of November, Ange's brother passed away and it was a really hard time for him.  Right after Ange had heard about his brother his disposition changed and he was obviously broken with the news and continued like that for days after.  One of the days where it was very hard for Ange, I was holding Lucy as I greeted Ange and Lucy LUNGED over to get into Ange's arms.  His whole face lit up and he just snuggled her for a minute, told her he had to get back to work and attempted to hand her back to me.  Lucy clung to Ange with all her might and refused to be let go.  This made Ange laugh for the first time in days and was such a source of joy for him in that moment.  Another day as we were waiting in line at the Nigerian embassy and struck up a conversation with the man behind us.  For some reason, Lucy again lunged to get over to the man.  I dont know this man's story at all, but as he held her and she laid her head on his shoulder, his eyes filled up with tears and he said over and over, "Oh, thank you Lord!"  She is beautiful and energetic and fun and we adore her!!  She makes her brothers squeal with laughter with ease and has non stop facial expressions.  Here are some pictures of us celebrating twice with her and her one year photos.  

We got to celebrate with my dad when he was here a week before her actual birthday which was great! We had some carrot cake and presents and she was excited!  

Singing happy birthday

first tastes of icing

Mmmmm!!

Getting ready to open presents

Checking out her pile of treasures

She got some cute new clothes from my Mama

Pops helping with the tearing

Birthday number two on her actual birthday, yesterday.  Craig said he was convinced Lucy needed German chocolate cake this time.  Convenient since that's his favorite, huh?!

Singing again!

Now she's digging in!!!

But still trying to act a little like a lady :)

Here are her pictures from her one year photo shoot.  The first round of shots we tried to take we ended up not so great.  She was too tired and therefor not smiley or wanting to sit in one place without being held.  But this afternoon we had our giggle monster back with her endless expressions!!

This dress was her little birthday dress. :)    I made it for her with some left over material from some skirts that my mom made for me.  Dont look too close at everything, the stitching is a bit crooked again :)

She has started standing on her own for just a few seconds, but still is not strong enough to take steps on her own.  We'll get there!

And there you have it!!!  Our little princess baby!  Happy one year, baby girl!!

Daddio

My dad came to visit!!!!!!!!!!!  We had the greatest time with him.  My heart is still overflowing with joy from our time together.  We spent a lot of it just showing him around life, playing lots of games, doing puzzles (or for Elliot, doing the SAME puzzle about 1,462 times) reading books, and just being together!!!  This past week was such a gift and we are are so so grateful for him coming and loving on us!  Here are some of the pictures from the week

His welcome committee :)  We were all ready and waiting but then he came through the other gate and snuck up on us.  Elliot was so surprised and happy that he literally could not talk.  He just kept wiggling around in Pop's arms, laughing and beaming!  

There could not be happier boys in the whole world at this moment

Snuggles with Pops

Saturday we spent at the beach playing in the sand, doing ham radio stuff, and hanging out in the kiddie pool at the hotel.  Elliot just had his head covered in sunscreen and his hair was WILD!

Keenan and Pops playing in the waves.  

Just inserting random picture here to go with the one below.  My dad made a new friend!!  This is Joel who is a part fo the ham radio club here in Abidjan.  He helped my dad get a license to operate here and this was taken the day we got to pick it up from him, then he got to use it the day we went to the beach.

One of the coolest parts of the trip was my dad brought a little ham radio that he built, set it up on the beach, and was actually able to talk to someone from Brazil!  After that one contact, he has now talked to people from every continent!  Pretty amazing!!

Sandy face boys!!

Little girl loving the kiddie pool

Eating some chicken, fries, rice, and beans for lunch

All of us at the beach

Sunday we went to church, then to one of our favorite restaurants here, and then off to the pool!!

For some reason, Elliot is terrified of really getting into the water, so we have to take it slow with this guy.  Just some jumps off the steps

Craig and Lucy relaxing

Me and our little gal

Floating.  When did he get so HUGE?!

Keenan, not terrified.

Monday we were off to the market to find some treasures!

The food part of the market

Mmmmmmm.  Hungry, anyone?!

Reading.  Classic Pops picture

Tuesday we stayed home and hung out with this little cheese ball.  We made a guitar  from some trash laying around, and while I was proud of our work, Elliot was only excited for about 30 seconds.  Then he went off to find something new.

My dad brought a bunch of craft stuff for the boys.  These were flexible wax strings that you can mold together.  Elliot made a tree, can you tell?!

On Wednesday we went to a Bible Study at Lycee Clasique, one of the high schools here that we work on to show my dad a bit of ministry.  The boys were very excited about the meeting

The book that my dad is reading to the boys was his from when he was little.  It even has his name written in the inside cover in his little kid cursive :)  Such a fun thing to have

We heard of a miniature golf course here and thought we would give it a shot on Wednesday.  The couse was not so good, but we laughed a lot!  They squeezed 18 holes into the median on a busy street, each of the holes were only concrete and not level at all.  The ball would roll around for quite a long time before finding the bottom of a small hill.  Sometimes it did work to our benefit, however when the hole was at the bottom of a dip!

Elliot never did really get the hang of it

I think that we all tried numerous times to get the ball to go through that little opening.  Even if you hit it super straight, you would hit a bump in the concrete and it would be all over the place.  After this was taken, my dad finally hit the ball perfect, and Elliot started swinging his little legs back and forth.  Right before the ball made it into the opening, Elliot kicked it, and off the green it went!!

This might have been one of the only shots of Keenan actually playing the game.  He just loved running around hole to hole whacking his ball however he liked.  We were the only ones there, so he got to have his fill :)

Just hanging out between holes

Pops helped build a massive train

Thursday we hung around the house and just played.  Had some baseball time in the yard

Wide eyes!  Like he could not even believe he hit the ball that far!!

Keenan's pitching is hard core.  As hard as he can

Batting with Lucy on my hip

Keenan's serious pitching again

Intense

Pops with Lucy girl

My daddio took a little family picture for us!

awwww...

We are so so so thankful for the time we got to spend together!!!!!!!  And now the boys have a count down until we get to see him again!  Only 5 more weeks, and we will be heading back to America for a bit!  It sure did make the good-bye a little easier this time.  Thank you thank you thank you for coming out here, Dad!!!  SEE YOU SOON!!!!!