Last week in April

When I'm quiet, I'm learning. So it's often best that I say little. But here I am to share my experiences, maybe a few little things I've learned lately- some are new, some are things I seem to have to be reminded of over and over. It's all old wisdom, just being etched on a young mind.

• Pride comes before a fall, even if you don't realize you're being prideful- the fall will teach you that.
• God will never give us more than we can handle, but He will push our limits- it's character building.
• Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child- when we become adults we put away childish things ~ or try.
  On the other hand, we are loved in our child-like faith.
• Friends and forgiveness are good medicine- so is sleep, a valuable and often underappreciated commodity.
• There is unavoidable maturity with age (for most) and this is not bad. -from a girl who hopes to be forever carry the virus of the Peter Pan complex.

This week, as many that have gone before it, was very busy and therefore occasionally painful. But I am nothing if not thankful that I lived it, and glad to be anticipating many more like it. The way He is working in me could not be better- as, of course, He does all things excellently. I hope you can look back on your life and say the same.

On Monday we celebrated my dad's 53rd birthday. The big day was actually Friday, but, though Kari and I both had written it in our day planners, we still managed to forget.

The week ended with an unusual climax- David and I spent all of Saturday babysitting at our home for a family of 7. It was quite an experience, but really enjoyable over all. Our teamwork skills were tried and found to be in excellent condition. We feel quite satisfied that we made it through the day. The kids still seemed to like us when we saw them at church this morning and we are sighing with relief. We have a whole new appreciation and respect for their courageous parents. And we see more clearly why God generally sends children in to families one at a time.

We are still planning to build our family through adoption and hope to put in an application to the adoption agency we've chosen sometime in July. However, don't get all hyper- we intend to draw this process out over a year or more. David will be going back to college (locally) to get a couple of certifications for his new position at the bank. Our hope is to get a referral just before or soon after he's completed that process. We are eagerly anticipating meeting our first daughter from Guatemala. In the meantime, we are happily meeting the new babies that friends and family are introducing to the world.

David rocks naptime! The new generation-love laptops...

"For ME?!" Dad's favorite kind of Blizzard is Butterfinger. Isn't it genius- they'll make it into a cake! Good idea Kari! Thank goodness he's on that low cholesterol diet- he HAD to share. :}