Busy Weeks

We have been keeping busy here at our humble abode. Joel has had the last week off from school and summer school. He painted Rachael's new room, and it looks really nice. I am nearly done the clean up work upstairs and once that is done I will post a few pictures. But now I notice how much our hall way needs a coat of paint.... these projects tend to grow as they go along!

Nate, Jerem, Rachael and Benny enjoyed going to Vacation Bible School with our neighbors. They had a great time and we really loved watching them in the closing program. All the kids get up on the stage area and sing and say Bible verses. Nate and Jerem got a prize for reciting all five Bible verses. Elijah was thrilled that the Matt Redman song, "Never Let Go" was one of the theme songs and we played it over and over here at home to help the kids remember the verses. Eli loves that song.

Last week Joel and I took the kids to the Mennonite Information Center and Hebrew Tabernacle in Lancaster. We got to watch a short movie on the Amish/Mennonites for free (there is a neater one that you have to pay to watch) and then we went on a tour of a full scale reproduction of the tabernacle. The older kids really loved it, especially the burning incense and peeking behind to the Holy of Holies. I was pleased that Ben, Eli and even Asher were so good and quiet. The lady giving the tour asked lots of questions for the kiddies to answer and even Benny remembered a few of the plagues in Egypt. Isn't it so fun when you realize they are paying attention during Bible time?? Joel has been reading Exodus to us this summer and Benny doesn't often look like he is paying much attention, he is usually trying to get others to laugh at him.
After discovering a gorgeous park with a playground on some back road in Lancaster, We went to WaWa and bought a yummy picnic dinner. We had been blessed with a WaWa card unexpectedly and we used some of it this way. We had hoagies, hotdogs, chips, fruit salad, and apple wedges and chocolate mini donuts as well as chocolate milk and iced tea. Here is a tip. Coffee cups with the spouted lids make great cups to grab for the kids to drink out of if you are eating grab and go food like we did. They are like free, little sippy cups! This park was gorgeous. I think it was in East Paradise. The day was beyond beautiful. We had the best family time there, eating, talking, playing on the swings and slides. On the way home,Joel drove along every back hidden country road he could find for a ride that had us thanking our creator the entire time. It is simply beautiful here in the summer. The smell of corn and wood smoke, tabacco growing, the beautiful puffy clouds. We love discovering new playgrounds. It is something we try to do when we go away somewere with the kids, and we always have fun.

We helped Joel celebrate his birthday this week. We spread it out for a few days. He and I went to the Olive Garden for lunch one day, We gave him his presents after breakfast on his birthday and the following evening we had german chocolate birthday cake and sang to him.. Happy Birthday Joel!