Our Library Champion

Ok! Two weeks into summer and Josiah has completed the summer library reading program (18 hours) AND the Barnes and Noble reading program (8 books). Great job! We went to the library and he received a free book, lots of cool coupons, a magazine and this sign! Once we get to Barnes and Noble, he can pick out his free book there too.

I am SO GLAD he loves reading now! Those Hardy boys books are the best!!!!

Friday Experiment: Week 2

Grandma Haerer and baby joined us today for our fun! You can read all about it here.

Our Trip to Cox Arboretum by Josiah

We went to a park with some friends. (Caleb, Ethan, Adam and Abigail) We saw lots of things. We saw some turtles, some big fish, and here are some pictures.

This is the big fish. It was about 3 1/2 feet long.


Here are some crazy turtles. The little turtle did a swan dive into the water but the other turtle stayed. And here is a video of the turtles swimming.

Pictures and video taken by Josiah too!

Treasure Hunting

Grandma and Grandpa Haerer took us treasure hunting today! Ok, the actual name is "geocaching", and you can read all about it at www.geocaching.com.

They checked the list and found out there was cache near us at the park across the street. They printed out the coordinates and then Josiah held the GPS as we walked around the pond, through the paths in the woods until we finally found the hidden box with "treasures" in it. We put in some goodies and took out some. In the picture, Josiah is displaying the special coin which he took out. Once we got home and signed in online, we found out that this is a trackable coin, so we have two weeks or less to find another cache and put this coin in that one.

Josiah thought it was really cool. The other kids were pretty pumped about their treasures too. I liked the walk through the nice shady woods! And of course, VICTORY once we found it!

Happy Father's Day to Gabe!

Hurray! It's time to give Daddy his presents!The kids gave him some fun things, but the best present was the movie tickets!

Gabe took Josiah, Kiersen and Liam to see "UP" as their Father's Day adventure.
They all had a great time! We are all thankful for Gabe!

Dedications and Special Verses

We did a special "dedication" for each of our children, basically acknowledging that we give them back to God, and asking Him to bless them, lead them, and draw them into a relationship with Him when they are old enough to understand. For each one, we selected a verse that just seemed to fit- a verse full of wisdom and promises of God. Here is a picture of each child at the age of their dedication and their verses. Josiah's dedication was on his first birthday.

^{Ephesians 3:17-19}

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Kiersen's dedication at 6 months old.

^{Proverbs 3:5-6}

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Liam's dedication was when he was 15 months old. We only have video, no pictures, but this is him at that age!

Isaiah 6:8

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 40:29-31

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Aliya's dedication at 16 months old.

^{psalm 37:4-7}

⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

Our Family Celebration:Kiersen's Birthday, Aliya's Dedication and Father's Day

Make a Smilebox slideshow