Since when?

How is it that one day when you wake up, your baby is no longer a baby? It's officially happened to me. My Anna is no longer a baby - she's a little girl!

Anna Delight

Since when did you like having your hair done up with ribbons and bows, baby girl? Since when did you start begging to wear your prettiest dresses every day? Since when did I start to feel you pulling on my skirt, wanting me to put on your dress shoes? Since when did you smile like daybreak when I told you you were beautiful? Since when did you leave behind your babyhood? Since when did you become a little girl?

Here's the latest trend...

Anna brings me one of her shoes and begs me to put it on. She'll wear just one for hours! I think she likes the different sounds her little feet make, "Slap, clap, slap, clap, slap, clap," as she toddles around the house.

Grow up, one day at a time, little one -

It's what you were created to do!

Like a butterfly, spreading her wings, my Anna has started to fly!

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Bestest Buddies

I took a few minutes to sit back, watch, and listen as Isaiah and Anna played together today. I've found such joy in watching their little friendship as brother and sister unfold and begin to blossom.

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I'm so proud of Isaiah. He is becoming a fantastic big brother! I love hearing his little voice pipe up, and say, "Anna, you wanna come play with me?" When Anna's having a hard time he gently coos, "It's okay, Anna," (patting her on the back), "Shhh... Don't cry, it's okay."

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Over the last few weeks, Isaiah and Anna have jumped headfirst into experiencing that challenging season of learning to share, learning to put someone else first, and learning to enjoy another person's company. This season has moments that are precious and priceless, but is not without its times of frustration and difficulty. Day by day, I see them grow and mature just a tiny bit more. They are a constant source of joy to us.

Bestest buddies playing together on our front porch. Some matchbox cars and clothespins - what more could a kid want?!!

Today I watched as Isaiah tried to play with his favorite truck. Anna started to take it away, wanting to be included. Isaiah pulled back away from her and I saw that look flash across his face - the moment of decision - to push her away in frustration, or to choose to put her above himself. I knew what emotions were shooting through his mind. I've been there! :)

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I was so proud (and surprised!) when he patted Anna on the back and gave her his truck. Wow!

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Isaiah spotted a lizard today while we were outside today. Here she is:

We have dozens of lizards that run, play, and live in our yard! They range anywhere from 2in. long (the babies) to over 12in long (the males). This is probably a female. The males are bright purple and orange - very cool! Even better, they eat bugs for a living! As far as I'm concerned, they're friends!

Yesterday, I gave in to my craving for something sweet and chocolaty! I made chocolate pudding from scratch. It was sooo yummy! Anna thought so, too. We had some after lunch today, and here she is - "sweet" from head to toe!

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Thankful

So many things to be thankful for...

I'm thankful that the Lord provided us with a home that suits our families needs - perfectly!

I'm thankful that I am finally learning the Hausa language... sitting through a church service and trying to buy vegetables in the market are just not as fun when you can't understand a word that's being said!

I'm thankful that I have such a wonderful husband. Jonathan spent a lot of time making my birthday this past Sunday really special. He even found chocolate to give me as a gift! It, along with some other yummy goodies, were wrapped in lovely wrapping paper that he managed to find in one of the Maradi stores. He decorated my room with balloons and streamers (toilet paper streamers - that's ingenuity for you!), and hacked into my FaceBook to leave a special message on my status. Awww... I just love my man!

I'm thankful for my children. I feel as though I'm watching Isaiah and Anna blossom before my very eyes. Isaiah talks a mile-a-minute now, and Anna climbs fast enough to cause any young mother's heart to miss a beat as she's discovered - proudly standing on the highest surface she can master. They are settling in beautifully - especially since we moved into a home of our own. I could just hug 'em and squeeze 'em all day long!

I'm thankful for sunshine (110 degrees two days ago - how about that!) and I'm thankful for rain (it cools things down so beautifully!). I'm also thankful for the AC Jonathan and I have in our bedroom and in our Land Cruiser! It's a lifesaver!

I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to go out to a village with a visiting medical team last week. It was a dream come true! I realized half-way through my day there that I was actually living a moment I dreamed about over 10 years ago... A dream that, at the time, I thought could never come true. Wow! How good the Lord is to bring me step by step to this place.

I'm thankful for Jesus Christ, and the free gift of salvation that He has given us. I'm thankful for the freedom, the joy, and the peace that I live in because I gave my life to Him. Every day, I am surrounded by hundreds of people who have never walked in, or even heard about, this salvation, this joy, this freedom, and this peace. I was dumbfounded last week when I looked down one alleyway and realized I could see over a hundred people going about their daily lives - and that was just one small street. The thought hit me - "How many of these people have ever heard about Jesus?"

I am thankful for you. So many of you have lifted me up - encouraging me by calling, writing letters, emailing, FaceBooking, sending packages, and most of all praying. I can't describe how much it means. Thank you!

So many things to be thankful for! My cup overflows...