Listening

“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.”-Jane Austen

My Sister-in-law shared this quote with me the other day and it sums up our life perfectly these days. Isabelle turns 3 on Friday. Seriously, how is that even possible?! Not only is it hard to believe she'll be so old, but how in the world is it the end of the summer already?! The summer has been full and wonderful. We enjoyed a week away as a family, and have spent a couple great days at the beach. Life keeps going though and now its time to turn our minds towards what is next. Isabelle's birthday signals the final weeks of freedom. Soon the alarm clock will require I rise and shine and the evenings will be full of preparation for the next day. 

Isabelle and her friend Afiffa enjoying lunch at the beach.

In September we will be hosting two different groups of volunteer teams. One of the groups is from Spain and only half of them speak any English! The other group is from our hometown and brings with them family and friends! (SO excited!) We will also jump full force into school. Josiah will be home schooled this year while Benson and William head back to the private Arabic school near us. Hopefully Isabelle will get to go to a local preschool so she can pick up some language. 

Benson and the awesome sand castle he made with Joey.

Spending lots of time together this summer has afforded me lots of time to challenge the kids in areas we're lacking. Mostly that has looked like me reminding them what their "job" is in our family. To listen and obey Mom and Dad. We seem to go over that a lot, everyone seems to think its their job to tell everyone else what to do. Recently I've realized that just like my kids my "job" is also to listen and obey...Christ. I listen all day to little voices, but so often I fail to listen to the only voice that matters. 

Celebrating my birthday in July.

 

This past couple weeks has been hard. Someone I love deeply is making choices I don't like or agree with. My heart is heavy and broken and I am often crying out to God to change the situation, work a miracle and bring about something new. Today my heart is heavy with this call to listen. Listen to the promises, listen to the truth and wisdom found in the Word. Let the voice of Christ permeate my day to day and know that, I should do my job, He will do His. 

Family hike to a secluded beach.

So as I head into Fall, I need to work to make a change. More time listening to the one who formed my heart and knows my needs. Because I believe all these quick successions of busy nothings will someday add up to something in His grand plan.

Summer Break

Today is the first day of summer break. Sigh. Let me tell you, it's been a beautiful morning. 

First, everyone slept until 8. That is unheard of in this house. Unheard of. Then Josiah decided he'd like to clean up the kids room before breakfast. So on his own initiative he made all the beds, picked up the dirty clothes, put the toys in the basket, etc. It's amazing what a good nights sleep will do for you! 
After breakfast the other two boys went to play on their own and Josiah sat to read to his sisters. 

Now everyone is playing, just happy to be together and having fun. I know that our summer will have its moments of drama and fights, but I am enjoying the peace for the moment. Ya for summer!


Reality Check: As I finished typing this WWIII erupted between to two sisters...
I still say Ya for summer ;-)

Like New!

After two weeks away my awesome grey van is back and looking better than ever! I thought we were having some mechanical work done all this time (we were part of the time) but Joey had arranged to have some much needed TLC done as well. So I was pleasantly surprised when the grey van pulled up looking spiffy and with a new third seat!

We didn't have a third seat before so there were always kids sitting on the ground in the back, standing back there, having a wrestling match or a whole plethora of other activities happened back there. So, now we have a great third seat, everyone has a spot and everyone is super excited! This third seat folds up to make room for stuff in the back, and there is lots of leg room which is nice since the middle seat has little leg room at all. Isn't it great?!

He also fixed the passenger side door that wouldn't open from the inside, fixed windows, stripped areas of rust and painted. It looked like a brand new van. Oh, and there is a new radio! How fun is that?!

It was such a nice surprise because I do really love this old van, but some of its quirks were getting annoying. Now, it's so nice!

In other news it's World Cup time around here. Every night we've been watching a few games. Joey stayed up to watch the USA game, and the boys are watching and practicing outside every chance they get. They've even brought the World Cup to the breakfast table. This morning we had pancakes and I looked over to see soccer stadiums being built with pancake pieces.

There were lots of discussions about what plays were happening as they ate with pancake pieces dancing across the syrup "fields" to score a goal. 

These kids, they kill me.

We keep waiting for summer break. Yesterday we finally got the official word, the last day of school party is the 26th. Not sure who is more excited them or me. Just a few days after school ends we begin the holy month of Ramadan, which means no work for Joey and lots of beach trips. Yup, I'm counting down the days!

Finally, Father's Day is not a Moroccan holiday, but I did barely remember and pull off a few special treats for the day. We are so blessed by Joey! He is an amazing Father and I can't even imagine doing this without him, I couldn't do this without him. Praise The Lord I don't have to!

The Beast & Other News

Summer is officially around the corner. Yesterday Josiah got his schedule from school saying he has two weeks until they start vacation. Lets just say the boys are very excited. I have to admit, I am too. Driving back and forth twice a day is not really my favorite thing ever. 

Driving is especially annoying these days because our grey van, which I normally drive, is in the shop. So I've been driving the white van, which I affectionately call "The Beast". 

While this van is awesome and my husband seriously loves it, it is not a van that women in Morocco would EVER be seen driving. Ever. So everywhere I go I am literally pointed at, laughed at and often times applauded (and not in an encouraging way). I should be use to this kind of attention being a foreigner here, but driving The Beast has been more than I like. I am so looking forward to the return of our little grey van and a bit more anonymity. 

In other news we got the pool set up on the roof and have enjoyed a few days swimming. 

Poor Phleebs is too small for the big pool.

She wants to get in SO badly!

Finally a pool of her own. Just the right size.

The kids and I both love the roof and all the fun it affords us. Looking forward to summer afternoons enjoying some iced tea and watching the kidlets burn some energy. Maybe I'll even get a tan! 

Birthday Weekend

Yesterday was Joey's birthday. So this is officially his birthday weekend. We decided to keep things simple and enjoy a birthday at home just our family. The sun has officially arrived bringing with it warmth and fun. We began setting up the pool and visited with family on skype. It was really nice to be just us after weeks of others being with us. Not to mention we ate hamburgers and had coconut cream pie. Have I mentioned how I'm pretty sure my love language is food?!

Isn't this guy handsome?! I can't express what a blessing he is to me, nor could I express how much I love him. Praying for a year FULL of blessing for you Love. Happy Birthday!

This morning we got up and headed to the beach. It was loads of fun. Kinda windy, but already the water is warm. The kids had a great time. Perfect way to kick off the weekend.

Building sand castles

Making sand angels

Playing ball with Dad

In the end they were worn out. It's so much fun having summer be here and it sure is nice for Joey to have a birthday so we can have a reason to celebrate! 

Preschool

Recently a friend of mine has had to take her new little baby to the Dr. for follow ups and vaccines. She has two older boys who would be a huge handful while she waited for her turn at the local clinic. So, I've been watching them. It's a lesson in patience and language learning forsure. Both boys seem to understand English pretty well but they mostly speak rifi and Arabic. We work together and little by little we can sort things out.

Today my friend and her sister took their kids to the Dr. so I had an extra little girl with me. This little one understands a lot more English since she lives with someone who speaks English, but she doesn't know me as well as the boys do. She started out her visit crying and wanting her mom.  I decided to pull out the playdoh and have a little preschool hoping it would help her relax. So far it's been a huge success. 

Nothing like hanging out with little people to stretch my language skills and keep me giggling.

Isabelle

I always wanted girls,...just not as much as I wanted boys. Since I was a self proclaimed "anti-girly-girl" the thought that I might end up with an emotional, pink-loving, drama-making, manipulating little thing living in my house...well, it was pretty scary.

With all of our kids we waited to find out the gender of our newest blessings. As we waited for baby #4 everyone was excited and hoping for a girl. Even me! August 22, 2011 dawned bright and beautiful, we were in southern Spain after all. We got to the hospital, got settled, surgery underway and suddenly she was there! Our little princess. I remember asking a few times if it was a boy or girl - they said it in Spanish first and I couldn't really focus enough to understand. She was beautiful and sweet. One of my easiest babies. Crazy brown hair sticking straight up. I was hooked.

Don't get me wrong she so far has proved to be everything I was afraid of. Emotional- always, and obsessed with all things pink (I had NO idea it started so young!), she can create drama out of a speck of dust and her Daddy and brothers would follow her to the ends of the earth. All of this and she's not even 3 yet! Lord help us as she gets older!

But Isabelle is still sweet and beautiful too. I love watching her care for babies and kids smaller than herself. She is amazingly helpful and can actually see a way to help before I ask her! She likes having things in place and pretty organized, but makes a mess with the best of them. She is shy and a bit of a diva, but once you've won her over she's your friend for keeps, unless she's in a bad mood, then just stay out of her way! 

I am so  blessed to have Isabelle in my life and to have the opportunity to be her Mom. I am learning so much about myself watching her grow and thinking about what truths are vital that I teach her. I find myself talking with God about what sort of girl she'll be and begging him to protect her heart and mind. We've only just begun this journey of raising our girls, there is so much more to cone and loads I am pretty scared of, but I can say without a doubt I am SO thankful God gave me girls, especially my Izzy.