Let your light shine.

We lit some lanterns with the Grubers and grandparents in Michigan a few weeks ago. 

  Look at the delighted faces of those children when the first lantern goes up. It reminds me of shining he light of Christ to others. What joy filled my heart when I understood the salvation that comes through Christ. Let the good news of Jesus be a light to those around you and may they be filled with the joy we see on the faces of these little children.

"Us-ies"

We took Grandma to Victoria Falls while we were in Zambia. Being the end of rainy season, the falls were at their fullest, meaning we got soaked from all of the spray. While Daddy, Grandma and the three eldest braved the wettest roads, Anastasia and I wandered the paths taking photos of ...ourselves. 

Ok. We took some of those amazing waters as well. 

Bed Hair

I wish my hair would bounce like this when I woke each morning! What a stunner :)

Fashion

How cute can you get?

Toddler Bed

Did I say a while back that I would share a photo of the toddler bed Nate made for Ambrose? I should know by now that if I say such a thing, it probably won't happen. However, here is the toddler bed that Nate made Ambrose using 2 x 4s a looong time ago (about the middle of last year). I promise Ambrose has been sleeping on it (and not the floor :) since then. Don't forget that Nate made this without all of those nice pieces of wood you can get cut at your local hardware store. I think a lot of the wood is from the crate that we shipped our stuff in. My hubby is a resourceful man!

If you're wondering about the pink curtains, Ambrose is sharing a room with his sisters. We originally planned to have a girls' room and a boys' room, but that was when we thought number four would be a boy. We now have our kids sleeping in the same room and they LOVE it! We'll update it to be more neutral … one day. The third bedroom is set aside for visitors. Care to come and see us? There's a room just for you!

Bruiser

I love having a boy! This boy is becoming our little bruiser. He got three bleeding lips last week alone, and a scrape to the head that warranted some serious bandaging. He doesn't have much fear, and I'm guessing that like most boys, he loves jumping, climbing, running and rolling without having much discretion as to his own safety.

This face isn't from pain because of the scrape, it's a typical Ambrose face after a sad wake up from time. It can go either way with this little boy. But the face sure did add to the photo!

Anastasia - one and a half

My dear, sweet Anastasia. What a beautiful, big, clever girl. 

She has been the baby that has caught on the quickest with a lot of things - She learned to sit up, crawl, stand and walk the earliest. She was also able to do the actions to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" from a super young age. She is a happy girl, a fun girl.

Thankfully, she has transferred from the age of ripping up books to the sweet stage of looking at books. We'll often find her lying on Ambrose's bed or sitting in the big easy chair looking at a book, albeit it sometimes up-side-down. She, of course, loves being read to and there is nothing like her lit up face and giggles when I sit on the floor and ask her to bring a book to read.

Unfortunately, she hasn't learned the difference between a story book and a coloring in book. Her texta marks have therefore been permanently added to many of our favorite books (not to mention the furniture, walls and floor :).

She loves being outside and one of the first places she runs to is the strawberry patch. She'll plonk herself down in the middle of it and eat anything that slightly resembles a strawberry - be it red, white or green.

She is so full of life, curiosity and exploration. She is copying a lot of her parents' and siblings' actions. It is heart warming to look over and see Anastasia studying you so that she can fold her arms in the same way you are. It has been a good teaching time for the kids (and us). Anastasia is learning from you, so what kind of choices are you going to make today?

We love our baby girl, and are so thankful that the Lord gave us our little Anastasia Rose.