Kate’s imagination!

Katelyn’s imagination is shining all over our house right now - she sings songs she knows, ones she makes up, tells stories we’ve read and stories that pertain to her and Megan’s current playing, she narrates her actions and acts out stories we’ve read (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Cat in the Hat, Little Miss Muffet). Here’s a video of one example!

Outside in the spring!

Prayer letter

We’re sending out (almost) monthly prayer letters with specific updates about the church plant here in Belleville. If you want to receive one please let me know and I’ll send it along. (I can do snail mail or email, if you prefer.) Prayer is our most important support while we are joining God’s work in Republic County - both for us to pray and for others to pray. And I try to remind myself of this every day.

A monkey!

Megan is a climber! When she climbs up on a piece of furniture she says, “Muck-eee” and then, “Ooh-ooh” so I know for sure what she meant. She also notices pictures of monkeys, toy monkeys, monkeys in videos. Too bad we haven’t been to the zoo lately!

And she’s started singing, “E-yi-yi-O … cow! MOO!!” (Did you guess the song?)

Side note: I think she’s almost weaned. We’re down to once or so a day. Sure some mixed feelings on that one.

Easter Dancing!

Happy 3rd Birthday Katelyn!!

Singing and blowing out candles.

Hugs for her little sister in the morning.

Meg knows where to get the most bites of cake!

(Sorry these pics are a month late!)

Who is my neighbor …

Well, I’m on a mission to meet all our neighbors here in Belleville! And neighbor really means everyone in Belleville, and Republic County, and whoever else I come across. Anyway, it’s been easier when the days are warm and sunny because people are out in their yards … and happy, so they are willing to talk - especially when I have my cute (they said so, too, not just me) girls with me!

The funniest thing is what they have to say about each other! I’ve learned who’s friendly. Who has a dog. Which dogs are friends with each other. Who doesn’t really talk to anyone else (so no one knows them). Who’s heard of our church (it’s Landmark Church. It’s new in town. It’s an E-Free church. Sound familiar? No. Well … we’re working on that). Most are happy to meet us and more than willing to chat - which I love also!

Ok, I’m really going to post a new pic of the girls, and of Kate’s birthday a month ago, and video of Easter - as soon as the technology jungle upstairs gets sorted out after our move …

A humbling bedtime

Last night as I’m tucking Kate into bed:

Kate: Lay by me, Mama.

Mama: O.K.

K: Say something.

M: What do you want me to say?

K: Pray.

M: You want to pray?

K: No, you pray.

M: Do you want to hold my hand while I pray?

K: Yes. (taking my hand)

So I prayed, she listened, said Amen, let go of my hand and went to sleep.

Maybe I (Mama) should have thought of that - pretty convicting. It really is the little every day things. Both in raising kids and walking with God.

Poptarts and chicken

Tonight just before bed Kate used the potty (which earns her a “special treat” - anything from M&Ms to suckers to freezy pops to Cheetos) and asked for a special treat. So I asked what she wanted and listed a few to choose from.

After thinking a moment, she said, “A poptart for a special treat.” Ok, we can do that. So I gave her half a poptart which she ate sitting in her high chair, and then I gave a small piece to Megan to pacify her. Well, Megan finished hers in two bites then climbed to stand by Kate to beg for more bites. Kate gave her the bites and they finished the poptart.

Meg must have decided to reciprocate so she climbed down and found a piece of chicken she’d thrown on the floor at supper, got it, climbed back up by Kate and offered it to her. Kate obediently opened her mouth and tried to accept the gift, but lack of coordination caused the chicken to fall onto the tray after a couple unsuccessful feeding attempts. Megan then looks at Kate and says, “Beek-ooo” (thank you) so Kate picks up the chicken, tells Meg thank you and eats the chicken! (Which was, by the way, more chicken than she, Kate, had eaten at supper!)

Who knew?

Knaub N°5! (a new perfume?)

Ok, so it’s not a new perfume.

But Knaub N°5 will arrive in mid October much to all our delight! You can watch the pregnancy progress on the little “ticker” on the right side of this page. (Not that babies ever arrive quite when you expect them!)

The mama is pretty sick to her stomach, so the husband is picking up SO much slack - dishes, cleaning, cooking - and the girls don’t seem to be affected at yet. They like to see babies and look at them, even hold them, but I’m sure it remains to be seen what a real, live one in the house will be like! How much crazier than 2 can 3 really be? (I know some of you are laughing at me, probably should be.)

Please pray for all our safety - mama and baby, “big” girls as mama and daddy are going out of town this week, us as we travel. (Let us know how we can pray for you, too!)