My thoughts this week

When I saw her standing next to the pool, I couldn't help but wonder what she'll look like in ten years getting ready to dive in at a swim meet.

I can't believe she's only two. I look at her and see a 5 year old. Where did my baby go? This is my favorite of her dresses, and it's the last time she'll probably wear it because it's too small (I couldn't zip it all the way up without choking her).

Lydia is shy around Fiona and Catherina every morning, but by bedtime they are best friends!

My girls love ice cream almost as much as I do! We eat it together every night!

I'm so silly, but I got really excited when Nanny showed up Friday to babysit the kiddos, and they were all in coordinating orange and white!

The first 48

Catherine and Fiona have been with us for two days now. They slept for almost half their time with us so far! The girls are part of a group of 325 students from Chengdu, China, visiting the US for 5 weeks. Three weeks will be in Houston. They attend school (at Second Baptist) from 9-3:30 and experience "normal" american life with their host families. I picked them up from their first school day today, and Fiona (on the right in the picture above) asked me a question about a nickname for God. She heard that we sometimes call God "Mr. Saturday" because He created man on Saturday. Oh my, I did not even know where to begin with my response! I praise the Lord for the opening to a discussion about God, creation, etc. The girls received Chinese/English Bibles at school too. I was SO SO SO excited because I wanted to show Catherine (on the left) that the saying on her tee shirt, "love never fails," is a quote of 1 Corinthians 13. God wonderfully orchestrated both opportunities to share His love to them through me. I also loved thinking about how Catherine's trendy graphic tee shares the Word, the Truth, without her even realizing it. God is amazing.

On a different note, I told them I was 29, and they told me that was way to young to have a baby! These are career minded girls!

Welcome, Fiona and Catherine

Our Chinese students arrived this afternoon. Lydia immediately began playing with and bossing them around! We hope they settle in and feel comfortable quickly.

my sillies

4th of July Weekend

We spent a long weekend in Corpus Christi, visiting my parents in their new house. We were happy to escape a hot and rainy Houston weekend for the sea breezes in Corpus! We went to the aquarium (twice). Lydia liked seeing the dolphins playing with toys.

We also went to see tall sailing ships that were in port for the weekend. When you looked straight up the mast, you felt like you were moving. It was actually the clouds that were moving though!

Despite a hurricane leaving the beaches full of seaweed and the waters unusually choppy, we still spent a morning at the beach with Lydia.

Dan played 3 rounds of golf, my mom feed us too much food, and dad made ice cream.

It was a good weekend!