Naomi arrived home a little earlier than expected Friday afternoon. We had to jump out of the pool and race over to the church to pick her up. We were very glad to see her. Then we proceeded to go to CiCi's Pizza for dinner that night. It was a relaxed reunion. I bought Esther her first pair of flip flops on Saturday. She is so fond of them that she slept with them on her chest for her nap that first day. They are the first thing that she thinks of each morning. Chad and the boys went fishing Saturday morning while the girls and I went shopping for his Father's Day gifts. The kids were sick on Father's Day, so we celebrated it a week late. We got him a pair of athletic shorts and the new United CD. He said Saul has no fear when fishing, therefore Abram has gotten a lot braver too. Both boys love to fish just like their dad. Abram is now baiting his own hook, casting and taking the fish off the line. Apparently, Saul would just grab the fish right off the hook, and Chad had to hold him by his shorts so he could release the fish back into the water. That's my boys! I love for them to do that stuff with their father. What bonding!

Back to Naomi- she had a great week at camp. She felt good except for having pink eye in both eyes! Wow! I had that once and it is pretty miserable in the morning. She told us that she drank hot chocolate and orange juice with breakfast and then Dr Pepper with lunch and dinner. No wonder she was dragging when she got home from camp. I told her that she was probably having withdrawal symptoms. She has never has that much caffeine in her life. That's camp for you. Freedom! Also they would stay up until ten everynight. Naomi grew up a lot last week. I'm so glad she got to go. She spent Saturday afternoon and evening with Alena and her family. It may have been too much after a week at camp, but she had fun anyway. It ended up being another late night for her.

Sunday after church, both Paloma and Stran came over for the afternoon. The kids horsed around in the pool and rode bikes and played dress-up and whatever else they could think of to do. That evening we had life group. There were four couples including us and nine kids and two babies. It was total chaos (well not total) but still very good. I have come to the conclusion, and Chad agrees, that we will have to get a sitter at least to keep an eye on the little ones (and feed them and get them drinks) so that we can have discussion without being interrupted every five minutes. Esther was the main one whining. I think she has simply made a habit of it since being sick all of last week. Anyway you live and you learn.

I am feeling much better this week. I had really been in a funk the past couple of weeks. Thankfully the burden seems to have lifted. It's funny how everything can look so bad when one goes thru a season like that. I just felt angry all the time. Everything seemed to get on my nerves. I'm grateful to feel like myself again. I'm sure Chad is too. Most of my discontent was aimed at him, whether he knew it or not. I have no doubt that my enemy was shooting arrows at me nonstop. Thanks to God though I came through it with not too many wounds.

Right now our preacher is teaching on the different names of God. I continue to be challenged in my walk with Him. It is good. Not always fun, but good. Time for me to go to bed. I'm tired.

I pretty much just dragged around today. I am still dragging- probably won't write much. No, I am not sick, just worn out, I think. Esther was still feverish mid-day, but I hope that will be the last of it. Naomi comes home tomorrow. I'm ready. I miss her and I am anxious to hear all about her first camp experience. The first two nights that she was gone, Esther slept in her own room- I believe because she was feeling so sickly. Last night and tonight she insisted on sleeping on the floor in the boys room. I figured she would have wanted to sleep with them every night, but everything is different when there is an illness in the house. I wonder if Naomi will come back a little more independent after her week in the mountains. Either way, she and Abram are going to have to step up and help me more around the house because I cannot do it all. I see that more and more clearly each day. Alena, the girl that we co-host with another family from church, is here for the next month. She comes each summer from another country for six weeks to stay. We had her two summers ago full time. Last summer we had moved away, so another family picked her up. This summer, since we are back. we get to co-host. The other family keeps her most of the time, and we just take her a couple of days. Actually it is working out great because I am not responsible for getting her to all of her doctor appointments and so forth. She just comes here for a couple of days to have fun with the kids and to give the other family a break. She is nine, like Naomi, and comes from a family of six kids. She is second to youngest. Anyway, when she comes over, she is a big help to me without my even asking. I see that Naomi and Abram could be doing much more in the way of clearing the table, unloading groceries, andother little quick things like that. The timing is just right since I am about worn out. And really, the kids don't seem to mind. I've started asking them to help with extra things and it hasn't killed them yet. I never did anything as a child, so it is hard for me to realize what kids CAN do! They receive an allowance now and understand that it is for helping out with chores. I think Saul is ready for a little bit, too. He is so LOUD! Everything that he feels seems to come out in a yell or a whoop or a wail. Nothing quiet about him. That is simply how God made him. What type of man will he be, I wonder? Good night.

Wow! Is it really the middle of June? Where have I been? I don't even know. We just celebrated Saul's 4th birthday. He got to be sick. Isn't that special?! Then of course, all the others have followed suit. Naomi almost didn't get to go to camp. I sent her anyway. Hopefully all is well since I have not heard anything. They are only five hundred or so miles away, so there is not much I could do now anyway. Except pray. Since my last blog, I have finished up the kids' schoolyear, went to my niece's graduation in LA, set up an above ground pool for the first time with Chad's help, of course, and prepared to send my daughter to camp in another state. I am past the half-way point in my pregnancy. All is going well there. The sun has arrived in west Texas, which is good if you want to swim, not so good if you are pregnant. Actually, I still am pretty comfortable. The old belly is starting to get in the way, though, especially if one is trying to hold sick kids in one's lap. I am trying to enjoy the summer, but the work never seems to end. God is faithful, as usual, I must admit. He has not given me more than I can endure (1 Cor. 10:13).

I ordered the kids' curriculum for this upcoming year today. The total came in at less than $500. I am becoming realistic in what I will actually be able to accomplish during the school year, especially considering the birth of a baby at the beginning of it. I think I am at the end of my thoughts for today. I will hopefully try this again tomorrow. It is nice to be back.

Esther loves to pray at mealtime and bedtime. We don't always understand what she is praying, but she is faithful and the cutest part is that she often follows her prayers with the line "Jesus is coming" in a very sincere voice. We don't know where she learned it, but we love to hear her say it. I always reply, "Yes, Jesus is coming." We're to have faith like a child, you know.

My good friend from Kentucky and her family were here to visit Tuesday evening and Wednesday. The first night they had dinner with us. She has three girls of her own, so we sat all the kids at the dining room table while we adults just ate in the living room. Well, Esther was sitting between two of the girls, both of whom she did not remember. To Esther they were complete strangers. While everyone else began eating their dinner, Esther just sat there tight-lipped and glancing around. Twenty minutes later when everyone was done and had left the table, Esther, finally sitting alone, began to eat her food. And she cleaned the plate. She did loosen up by the end of the evening, and we all had a wonderful visit. Yesterday we went to Frontier Texas! which is located here in town. It was really interesting and kid-friendly. It told of the history of this particular part of Texas through film, artifacts, and art. Saul and Esther had no problem staying with us. It was great!

Last night I had my first Pampered Chef party. My friend is a consultant, so I hosted a party for her. There really are some fantastic products in Pampered Chef. Chad and I both like to cook; me mostly out of necessity. Therefore, most of the products really appealed to me. I only had three people show up, but I have a couple who want to look at the catalogs. I love looking at the catalog!

Today I think we will do a little shopping. I just noticed that Bed, Bath & Beyond has a clearance sale on sheet sets. I need to get some for the kids. Then we will just mosey on through the rest of that shopping center afterward. Stores like Old Navy, Ross, and others are there. Have a good day!

Wow! It's been almost two weeks since I blogged last. I guess I sort of checked out there for a while. I think it is partly due to being pregnant and tired right now and partly because of the homework that I have to do as part of my bible study class. Anyway, I've missed it!

Earlier today, I tried to take a pregnancy test at the local health unit. The doctor who delivered Esther no longer delivers babies, so I had to find a new doctor. The new doctor requires that I bring in proof that I am pregnant, but it can not be a home pregnancy test. That is why the kids and I made a trip to the unit this morning. I had called yesterday to find out the procedure and was told "I think they do a blood test." Okay. She thinks they do a blood test. I arrived this morning during the designated hours and entered the nurse's office. She proceeded to ask me how many periods I had missed and since it wasn't two yet, I would need to do a blood test. The stipulation for that is that you could not have had any relations with your husband seven days prior to the test. If only the woman on the phone yesterday had given me some details! Anyway, I said I would come back in a couple of weeks because I wasn't in a rush anyway. My first appointment with the doctor is not until April 17th. Well, the nurse strongly encouraged me to do the blood test when I return, but I told her the urine test would be fine with me. She frowned at me like I was a 15-year-old schoolgirl. I left. It struck me as silly that she would want a housewife and mother of four to take a blood test for proof. Seems unnecessary to me. Either test will show proof of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the kids behaved themselves very well out in the hallway. Saul didn't like the idea of waiting out there, but Abram told me as we left that Saul tried to be defiant by not sitting in his chair like he had been told to do. However, when a lady walked out of the office, he quickly found a seat! She didn't even know he was supposed to be sitting down. I thought it was funny! He's not so brave yet.

It is much cooler today than it has been in over a week. Still nice, though, mid-sixties and sunny. I was able to get the kids to church on time yesterday for the evening meal without having Chad's assistance. It is so much nicer when he is with us. We sat at one of the kiddie tables. Obviously, we don't do that normally because Chad would never be able to fit his knees under one of them. I did so last night to give Saul and Esther some freedom and fun, and also so that I wouldn't feel obligated to try and talk to any grown-ups while attempting to keep the kids in line. After we ate, I also was able to get them to their individual classrooms and still manage to arrive at my destination with a few minutes to spare in which I could chit-chat with my friend before the session started. It's so nice to have friends. *Especially the ones that I can stay on the phone with for three hours! Whew!* My friend here in town and I are getting closer all the time. We took our daughters to watch a play Sunday after church. It was nice... and spontaneous. Chad has really made an effort in the past year to allow me to do things spontaneously with my friends. It has been so nice. I really try to allow him the freedom also to participate in things that come up suddenly. Actually, it is pretty easy for us to do so since we get to spend so much time together on a regular basis. I look forward to him getting home this evening. We had a nice talk last night before we went to bed. He had made good traveling time and was able to have a relaxing evening. I hope it goes as well today since bad weather is forecasted for the midwest. I have to run a few errands now, so I'll be signing off.

I just finished curling Naomi's hair. It looks lovely, and she is so happy. Yesterday I let her play around with my hair while I was reading with Abram on the couch. I think that was the high point of her day, if you can believe it. I was planning to let my hair grow, but I will definitely do it now. She enjoys fixing hair so much that it would be good practice for her to work on my hair. Maybe she will even learn how to braid it for me. Esther won't let her do very much with her hair because it knots so easily. I have had to start braiding Esther's hair every night before bed just to keep it from becoming a bird's nest while she sleeps. She has beautiful hair, but it is labor intensive.

Chad left this morning to fly to St. Louis for a walk-thru at a base out there. He will be home tomorrow evening. We don't like for him to leave anytime, but now he will have to miss the Wednesday evening service at church, which he enjoys very much. It won't be as easy for me either to get all the kids settled for dinner. Actually it will probably work out just right since we usually have about 20 minutes to spare. I am supposed to lead my small group for the ladies' bible study tonight. I really like the women in my group. I didn't know any of them before we started. One of them homeschools also.

I'm off for now. Bye.