a trip to the zoo

Friday, Jaden and some friends went to the zoo =)  It was a fun trip!

the kids are all packed in the van 

getting ready to ride the zoo choo

all the kiddos at the star

childlike

Jaden and I were strolling around our neighborhood this morning and just chatting.  Well, Jaden was talking and I was listening. 

Anyway, Jaden is super excited about moving.  He thinks it's great.  And he has a running list of things he wants to get:

1) a puppy
2) a playground (swing set)
3) a four wheeler
4) a camper trailer
5) a fence for the backyard

Everyday, the list grows by one or two things.  So, as he was reiterating to me his list, he stopped for a second.  Then he asked me if we have enough money to get all these things.  I told him that we might be able to get one, maybe two things.  To which he said we should just take a trip to the money store.

Money store? I asked.
Yes, the place where you can go get money, he said.

Hm.  Wouldn't that be awesome?  I thought.

This conversation showed me how free and wide the world is through his eyes.  He doesn't have lots of responsibilities.  His toughest decision is whether or not he wants to wear shoes. 
It showed me how very innocent and childlike Jaden is right now.  How very sweet his heart is. 
And I found myself wishing that he could stay this way forever.  I know that's not possible.  He will grow and change and find his own way in life.  But for right now, I want to enjoy this stage in life....just a little while longer. 

books and books and books

We've been reading lots of fun books from the library lately.  Here are some of our favorites:

Take Care, Good Knight by Shelley Moore Thomas is a fun book!  She wrote a few other Knight books also. They are about the adventures of a knight and three little dragons.

Fairytale News by Colin and Jacqui Hawkins is a neat spin of fairy tales.  They combine many favorite childhood fairy tales into a cute story.  And, at the end of the book, there's a "free" newspaper.

This book is a cute story of how some friends play pretend with a red wagon.  I love the imagination!

sing priase and not be silent

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tool time

There are kids' workshops at Home Depot on the first Saturday of the month.  So, this past Saturday Derek took Jaden and his friend to build their projects =)

Jaden is very proud of his hammer

Jessica is practicing her skills

painting

all done =)

our little carpenters!

joy unending

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" ~John 15:11

This morning at church the visiting pastor taught on joy.  He used the first eleven verses of John 15 as his sermon text.  He encouraged us to "abide in Him" as Jesus told the disciples.  He also encouraged us to seek joy in the Father, because nowhere else can true, real joy be found.

And I think somewhere during the offertory the Lord showed me that I am seeking joy elsewhere. 

I am looking for joy in how my day went. 
I am seeking joy in people I hang out with, phone calls I make, things I fill my calendar with.
I am trying to find joy in stuff I have, or want, or "need".
I am not seeking joy in the Lord.

True, real joy is only found in Him, regardless of circumstance.  The Lord is the only Source of unending joy.  And when I abide in His love, He promises that His joy will remain in me.  And even more, that my joy will be full. 

I want my heart to be full of His joy.  I pray for my heart - that it will be overflowing with "joy that is full".

strawberry picking

Summer time means berries!  We went strawberry picking with ladies from church this morning, and then spent most of the afternoon preparing and baking yummy things with what we picked.

the fields!

Jaden was my big helper

he's just the right height for picking berries

then he got hungry and started eating instead of putting them in the bucket

and ended up looking like a mess!

bringing the berries home!

jaden is very good at mashing berries

freshly cut and washed

attempting to make jam........not sure it's gonna work, but I wanted to try it anyway =)