2nd Birthday Party Highlights

The kids had fun in the inflatable deflatable pool...

and an attempt at eating lunch was made...

but ultimately birthdays are about cake!

It was a fun day, but it tuckered us all out.

 

Bittersweetness...

Today is my baby's 2nd birthday. Hard to believe. While I am so excited to see her happy, healthy and independent, I am also sad to see her, well, independent. This is the day where I can no longer refer to her age in months. This is the year where diapers will no longer be needed (fingers crossed). We will soon have to dig up the instructions on how to turn her crib into a bed.  Baby Center sent me an update about my preschooler, not toddler anymore. *SOB*
The reality is, she IS my baby...and always will be.  Our plan is to not have any more biological children, but most likely adopt again...most likely a child between E and C's ages.  So, it is with bittersweet certainty (pending a catastrophic failure of birth control) that another baby will not be in our future.
On the other hand, many of my friends keep pro-creating on a regular basis so I will be able to live vicariously through them. :)

Happy 2nd Birthday my little Bug!!

June 26, 2008

June 26, 2010

Meet Travis

THE STARFISH STORY
Once there was a wise man who had a habit of walking
on the beach early each morning.

One day, he saw a young boy far in the distance and,

as he got closer, the wise man called out, 

“Good Morning! May I ask what it is you are doing?” 

The boy looked up and replied, 

“Throwing starfish into the ocean to save them.”

Seeing hundreds of starfish scattered along the
shoreline, the wise man commented, 

“But you can’t possibly save them all!
There are far too many!”

With that, the boy reached down and
picked up another starfish. 

He threw it into the ocean and replied, 

“It made a difference for that one.”

For about 5 years now, Tom and I have been supporting a little boy in Uganda.  His name is Travis and we "adopted" him through the Mirembe House - Starfish Programme.  This program (and our monthly donation) helps him attend school and supplies him with text books and other necessities.  Travis, however, is not an orphan.  He lives with his Grandmother who is gracious enough to send us yearly updates on how Travis is doing, and to thank us for our support and gifts.  She always starts her letters with "Dear Godmother & Godfather Thomas Recke Family".  This is a special treat, knowing that through the grace of God, we have an extension of our family living in Africa!  That reminds me... funny story:  I showed C the picture and read him the letter.  The conversation went something like this...

Me:  "C, this is Travis.  He lives in Africa and we send him money to help with his education.  Do you want me to read his letter to you?"

C:  "Yes!" (jumping up and down and clapping...he is so enthusiastic, bless him)

Me:  blah, blah, blah (it didn't say that, but I'm omitting most of the letter here so as not to bore you too badly)..."tell me, how is my brother?  Is he good?  Is he getting taller like me?  Does he like football & running like me?"

C:  "I HAVE A BROTHER?!" (more jumping up and down, more clapping)

Me:  "Well, sort of.  Mommy and Daddy are Travis' Godparents (not literally, mind you) so Travis is like a brother...a God-brother."

C:  "I have a BROTHER!!  I want to see him!"

Me:  "We can't right now because he lives a long ways away, but hopefully someday we can travel to meet him."

C:  "I can't wait!  I'm going to go tell Daddy I have a BROTHER!!"

Me:  "Make sure you bring the letter with you so Daddy doesn't freak out..!"

C's reaction to all of this really brought home the kind of excitement and enthusiasm we should have as followers of Christ.  To help even one child is such a blessing...reminding us that we can make a difference in this world, one starfish at a time.

Happy Fathers Day!

To my awesome, incredible Dad...

and to the other Fathers in my life...

 love to you all and thanks for being there!

(that "object" in front of them is my first attempt at working with fondant on cakes...
don't laugh.)

June Misc. Stuff

(misc. stuff...is that redundant?  Oh well)
Hard to believe it's only June 17th...we've done a lot this month! Water-logged camping trip aside, we have had a great time with Grandpa Al this week. Let me share some pictures with you since I now can unabashedly show off my new camera. Although, you'll have to forgive me for the ones that have focus or lighting issues. I'm still learning...




I love these Pics with Grandpa and the kids reading a book...

We also purchased a new addition.  We bought a new (used) playset for the kids.  This was a gift from Grandpa and us in order to get the kids to play outside more because these kids deserve it.

 

The fun part of assembly
(I forgot to take pics of the wood-strewn-across-the-yard phase)

 The finished product.  This was put together in 1/2 a day...not bad, boys!

Argish was a bit perturbed that we were building this contraption where he typically goes the bathroom, but throwing the ball a bit made it seem not so bad and his attitude got better.

C also had his first t-ball game today.  He did really well, aside from the fact we had to talk about not doing somersaults in the field while he waits for kids to hit the ball.  For those of you not familiar with t-ball games...it makes professional games look like non-stop-adrenaline-pumping action, by comparison.

So, that's our summer so far.  Hope yours is fun and exciting too!

Swagger Wagon (who knew we were so cool?)

A day in pictures

         

                        Can you guess what this is?

Or this?

No?  Perhaps this will help narrow it down...

It's the downside of having a German Shepherd.  Yes, that's his fur all over the yard from a good brushing.
Too bad they don't do "Locks of Love" for dogs, Argish would be a gold mine.

And since I was having fun with my new camera, here's some other (more enjoyable) pics:

He is going to be SUCH a heartbreaker!

I think she will be too! :)

Thought for the day...

“Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

(Anonymous) -a quote from A Hole in the Gospel, by Richard Stearn, President of World Vision.