www.thegoernandts.blogspot.com

Hope to see you all over there!

1. Collect myriads of different size and shapes wooden frames.

2. Choose a color (for me dark blue). While we were visiting my parents we picked up some small jars of paint with a free coupon I got from Money Saving Mom.

3. Take the frames apart.

4. Sand them down (just a little) , and paint them (mine needed two coats of paint).

5. Insert your pictures, and hang ‘em up! I really like how using the identical color for all of the frames unified all of the walls of my upstairs landing.

Martin and Olivia LOVE the hallway now, often stopping to look at the pictures and point out the people they know. When Martin saw it for the first time he got so excited that he came running to me, threw his arms around me, and said “thank you Mama!!!”

Usually at this point of sighing I start thinking about what precious gifts they are, and am so overwhelmed at God’s kindness to lend them to me (us) for these few short years.

Okay, and I’ve read just so many good child-rearing books, and the Bible – so I actually know how I should be handling this. And even as I’m scolding in frustration or letting them disobey and not dealing with it, the Holy Spirit is touching my conscience.

And then at this point I start thinking about how fast their little children years are going by, and start wondering if I’ve already ruined them, etc.

And then. The Holy Spirit comforts me.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

And then I can commit my precious babies and their future into the strong hands of my loving heavenly Father, and know that they are safer there than in my hands even on my “best” day.

1. I am enjoying my children learning to talk. They say the sweetest things that make me just melt. I’m trying to savor these quickly passing years while they are small. Because once they can talk like the big people, I’ll miss those precious little things they think up. A couple of examples right off of the top of my head:

Martin:

We were at a playground swinging on the swing. I was pushing Martin and he was encouraging me to push him so high. “Higher Mama! Ich möchte SOOOOOO hoch gehen! (I want to go SOOOOOOO high). I want you to push me so high to God! I want to swing so high to where God is Mama!”

He had just woken up in the morning and he gave me a big hug and said, “I love Mama so much! I be a good boy today and obey Mama. I love God so much too and obey God too Mama. God say ‘children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right’.”

2. My children in how they relate to one another.

Olivia: although she echoes what we say a lot her big word these days is “NO!” And it drives Martin crazy. Literally. He’ll tell me that he wants a drink and Olivia promptly says “NO!” He says “Yes!” and of course she says “No!” and it goes on and on until one of us tells them to stop. Then he’s so frustrated and asks, “why Vivia say ‘no’ Mama?” The funny thing is (although I can’t smile about it), she does it for just about everything he says. So they have definitely entered the phase where there’s a lot of fighting going on. And although I don’t enjoy the fighting part of it, I find it so neat how they relate to each other.

Even though they fight Martin is VERY protective of Olivia, and comforts her whenever she’s scared outside about something. He talks to her in a soothing voice and pats her shoulder/ holds her hand to make her happy. Funny thing is it usually works a lot better than when I do those things. They just have a special relationship somehow.

3. Our strawberries, cherries, and currants

I love it when the children go out several times a day to the garden to pick the ripe fruit. Not much makes it indoors, and their mouths are usually very red from the goodies they found. Delightful.

4. Mozart

A few years back Christian bought the complete works of Mozart (my favorite composer) for me. Nothing is so soothing…

5. A portable ironing board and hanging the clothes up to dry

There is just something therapeutic about hanging the clothes out to dry and ironing outside while the children play underfoot.

6. Barefeet

Again, it’s just downright therapeutic.

7. Apfelschorle – this is a drink in Germany that I just love. You can get it cheap and it’s not super sweet, but it is VERY refreshing. It’s basically an Apple Juice and Carbonated Water mix with no extra sugar added. Add that to a couple of hours refrigeration on warm summer days, and I’m addicted.

8. Friends – this is actually one of the big things, but God has given us so many really precious friends. Here’s Martin with one of his best buds. We are so happy that Martin has this little friend in our church and play date group.

9. Family – ok I’m getting into the big things again. But really, we have such a great relationship with all of our family on both sides of the ocean, and I’m SOOOOOOO THANKFUL for them! Love you guys!!!

10. Fly swatters – there’s a cow farm next door, and without screen doors we get way too many flies in the house. After last summer we stuck our fly swatters somewhere and I have NOT been able to find them! We’ve been squishing the flies with our hands! How disgusting is that!? So I finally broke down and bought EIGHT new fly swatters, and have really and truly been enjoying not having to kill those flies with my hands.

That’s it for now. Somewhat random? OK, maybe so. But still things that God is showing me are special things from Him. I thank Him.

A couple of my favorite pictures from the weekend with our dear family.

More later.

IMPORTANT!!!

In the mean time, we would greatly appreciate your prayers for our village. Their spiritual state weighs heavy on our hearts. The Musical Mission Team will be here to give a concert this week, and we have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the village. The mayor will be in attendance along with many many other contacts we have made. One large clan in the village has suffered the death of two of their men this last month, one last week. Many from the clan have told us that they are coming, including the two widows of these dear men. We are praying that God will use His Word in the concert to give them an eternal hope. This has served as yet another reminder to us of the lost souls that are hopelessly slipping away into eternity. We yearn, hope, and pray for their salvation. Please pray with us for them! And for strength and joy for the Musical Mission Team, Dr. Dad, and Dr. Mom.

SO, the kids did great on the plane (yay). This was a really really great time for us as a family – not the plane ride, the time together in the USA.

Now that we are back reality is catching up with us – our very large piece of land needs some serious mowing and gardening. We have started on it, but are waiting on our lawn mower to be delivered! Wahoo!

Here are some more pictures to ease my guilty conscience at how sporadic I am at blogging!

After we landed in Charlotte we drove straight to Raleigh to visit my Dad’s family. The kids were immediately spoiled terribly, and enjoyed every minute of it. My grandma had bought all kinds of special goodies for them, and for us.

And then back to Greenville in time for sweet Hannah’s college graduation!

Richard and Felicity were able to come for the big day and we were SO happy to see them again!

We then headed to S. GA where Grandmother fed us her unbeatable South Georgia cooking. At one meal she had 5 different kinds of meat! WOW! Yes, I did gain weight while we were there. And yes, I am determined to lose it – maybe next week.

Then we headed back to Greenville and enjoyed the rest of the time with friends and family there.

Margie and Ronald came from Charleston to see us – they are so close to our hearts!

Martin had to wear this pretty little outfit to bed the night before we left, because all of his clothes were packed. We’ll be pulling this picture out to show his future girlfriend someday. Hee hee hee.

God used these weeks for me as a big refresher. It was just so nice to be with friends and family, and visit the church where I grew up. So many new faces, but so many dear “old” ones too. We’re always happy to be home, but God gave us some special times that will not be soon forgotten! Martin had the hardest time coming back – he cried several times over having to leave Grandpa and Grandma. That’s a good sign though!

Swinging on the swing with Aunt Esther

Playing at the playground with Grandpa

Major static electricity going on – hahaha!

Headed to a concert at BJU – had some great babysitters

Arnolds/ Kellys/ Görnandts

Visiting the Greenville Zoo

Family Portraits at JCPenney!

There’s been so much more going on, but we’re going to make the most of the time we have left here!