Luke in a few words

Luke at the duck pond yesterday.

He is starting to use so many words.  I am sure most are unclear to people who don't live in our house, but the kids and I are really starting to understand what he says.  Matt and Emily are having fun getting him to repeat words and follow directions.

Luke loves his Dad!

Luke and Kate

Emily and Luke

 

Just a few quick memories preserved so that we can remember him at this sweet age.

You are loved Luke!



Easter 2014

The official before church picture.

Yes, the older boys are behind the branches!

The girls are squinting!

Luke is paying no attention, or actually trying to escape in every picture!

This is our life with 8 kids and we treasure each and every memory. 

 

After church, we went our to our friend's house to share Easter lunch together.  It was a beautiful day to celebrate our risen savior and enjoy the fellowship of friends.

Our kids at the Leffingwell's home.

We are so grateful that God brought these friends into our life.  They love our family, and support, and encourage us in life.

 

"If the Spirit o hi who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

Romans 8:11

 

 

 

 



Eggs

Yesterday was another cold rainy day in Georgia.  Last year we dyed our eggs on the deck and it was wonderful.  No worries about spilling dye on anything!  This year, no such luck. So instead we opted for the kitchen floor.  We waited until Luke went down for his nap and then the kids had a great time making each egg unique to their own personalities.  Caroline proceeded to drop each egg into the dye and crack several of her eggs.  Andrew dyed his eggs over and over.  The final result were several multicolored to brown looking eggs.  Matt dyed several eggs in Orange and Purple to demonstrate his love for the Clemson Tigers.  Kate wrote with the white crayon to create cats, butterflies, and hearts on her eggs before she put them in the dye.  Emily, being the little perfectionist, slowly and painstakingly dyed her eggs for her small group teachers at church. 

It was a fun afternoon and I remain grateful that homeschooling this years allows us the opportunity to enjoy these fun activities while not rushing around at night or on the weekends.

 

 



Butterflies

We ordered caterpillars from Insect Lore about a month ago.  They arrived a week later as 4 small caterpillars.  They ate the food sent inside the cup with them and about 10 days later the first one went into its chrysalis.  Last week, our first butterfly emerged.  The weather was cold and yucky at the beginning of the week, so we waited until Thursday to release them into the wide world.

After letting the kids handle them, they took off for their new home.

We enjoyed the experience in seeing each new stage and look forward to next spring when we can order new butterflies.

 

"Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord."

Ephesians 5:19



Luke



Luke's Eye Surgery

Luke recently had eye surgery to hopefully correct the alignment of his eyes.  I honestly was quite worried about the actual surgery, but Luke was a trooper and did extremely well.

Uncle Van was also a trooper and volunteered to come from South Carolina to stay home with our other 7 children, so Brett and I could both be with Luke the day of the surgery.

 

We had to be at Children's Hospital in Atlanta by 8:30am.  We left out house a little after 5:45am because we didn't want to get caught in the city traffic.  Luke was in a great mood considering we woke him up at 5:30 that morning and he couldn't have anything to eat or drink.  He managed to stay busy in pre-op while we talked with doctors and signed all the paperwork.  They took him back for the surgery around 9:15.  We are hopeful that the measurements were correct and that this surgery was successful and won't require another one.

He woke up a bit unhappy in the recovery room, which is to be expected.  So, they called us and told us they were going to just bring him back to us in the room

Such a sweet boy.  Just needed to be in Mommy's arms and he went right back to sleep and was out for the next hour and a half.  We woke him up a little after 1:00 and he drank two cups of juice and was ready to go home.  We were back home by 3:30 that day.

 

Luke was covered in prayer that day.  Not only were our family members texting us to let us know that they were praying that morning for him and us, but our sweet small group from church all checked in throughout the day as well as Brett's bosses.  The amazing women that I serve with each week at Community Bible Study all lifted us up in prayer during their Tuesday morning meeting and my great lifetime friends sent wishes over text and facebook.  God filled this Mommy heart with peace and steadied the hands of the medical staff that operated on our little one.    We are so thankful to know and believe that God is in control and is with us always.

 

"For whatever was written in the former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope."

Romans 15:4 

 



Weekend Projects

It is spring, which means we have lots of outside projects each weekend.  This past weekend we spread 100+ bales of pine straw and 90 bags of mulch.  As with any project, we always have lots of helpers....some more willing than others!

 

 

 

We are certainly blessed to have a big family who can all pitch in to make the load lighter.  We worked hard this weekend and are now sitting back and enjoying the fruit of our labor.  We are looking forward to the summer days ahead in which we can spend long weekends outside as a family.