Our Day at the National Zoo!

Yesterday, we spent the day in DC at the National Zoo! Our family, along with the Delage family (also in the PC) headed to DC to see all the animals, enjoy the nice weather, and redeem Rob's last day off before his classes started today! We really had a great time and it didn't get too hot! We were going to take the Metro there, but decided against it since we could all ride in the Delage's 15 passenger van together.

The boys really had a great time! They got to see all sorts of God's creations: a red octopus (Joel was scared of it), a tiger, two lions, a huge comodo dragon, otters, a sloth bear (not related to a sloth) gorillas (in the picture), pandas (just like Curious George sees at the zoo!), elephants, and hippos, just to name a few! It was quite a memorable day and one we will certainly want to repeat, especially when the weather is cooler! And the best part about this fabulous zoo is that entrance is FREE all year!

Being with the Delage family was such a treat! Ken and Tiffany have four children, including one (age 2 also!) they adopted! I believe the Lord has quickly answered our prayers for a couple we "click with" and can really share life with! It was fun getting to visit and get to know them better and letting our kids get aquainted also! The Lord's kindness was all over the day!

We are Officially "Reconnnected"

Well, we've been here a week, and after much "blood, sweat, and tears" (literally!), we officially have a home phone and internet connection! We are no longer living on a stranded island...which I am more than thankful for! (And we didn't even have to contend with the "Others", but it still seemed pretty awful!)

No, but seriously, even in the midst of our impatience and frustrations, the Lord has seen us through and provided much greater than we deserve! We were released from our cell phone contract, had our "land line" connected, temporary dial-up internet connected (until we get dsl), dinner provided, AND given a FREE desk for Rob from our apartment office (they got new furniture and were getting rid of the old)! UNBELIEVABLE! We truly are doing so much better than we deserve! And He really does give us "blessings, ten thousand beside"!

Joel's Birthday

Okay...ignore the lame picture...I was testing out how to do it and now I don't know how to delete it! Of course, now that I look at it, this picture, though lovely, looks lonely...sort of how I feel right now. Don't laugh, but this whole, being without a phone really stinks! I feel totally isolated, or like I'm on one of those hills in the picture.

Yesterday was Joel's second b-day which we celebrated with the oh, so original, dinner at McDonald's! He and Sam both liked it, so I guess I can put off being "Super Creative Mom" one more year! We ended the day with an ice cream cake bought at Giant (the local grocer) and singing happy birthday while Sam blew out the two candles that Joel was afraid of. Oh, and Daddy and Sam sang the "Joel-er Bear" song to him...pretty memorable stuff!

In the celebrating of Joel's birthday, I was reminded of that Saturday morning he was born and the night before when we left Samuel with our friends. Samuel was only eight months old at the time and yet somehow I felt like I was betraying him. The next time I saw him he would not be our only son...he would have a brother. And now, two years later, as I watch my two boys play and always want to be together, I clearly see the kindness and goodness of the Lord, not just to Rob and I for another dear son, but to Samuel as well. He will not have a childhood memory that doesn't in some way include his "Bubba", Joel...and that is a wonderful thing! They are inseperable, and though it isn't always smiles and laughter at home, they truly are friends AND brothers!

And in this transition to MD, I am SO thankful to the Lord that they have each other! Many of you back in Frisco won't hardly believe this, but last Sunday, our first at Covenant Life, the boys were thankfully in the same class, and BOTH went in without screaming or crying! (Sorry to disappoint Marie!) It was a true grace of God b/c we had really prepared ourselves for the humbling worst...of course there is always this week!

Me Made It!

Well, after three long and tiring days of driving from Frisco, TX we finally arrived to our home away from home in Gaithersburg, MD. The picture Rob uploaded to show me how to post a picture, though a bit random, seems somehow fitting. It reminds me that God's glory shines just as brightly in Gaithersburg, MD as in TX, and his grace is, and will be, just as sufficient for us there as here!

Our current struggles seem to be in the area of technology...it seems we really can't live without it!! Our cellphones don't work in our apartment, and our wireless connection is come and go. We feel a bit disconnected from everyone, and a bit frustrated, but it has been a great opportunity for us to meet our neighbors! Rob, as I am typing, is off to ask another neighbor what cellphone service they have! I think he is actually enjoying it a bit!

And so in closing, I am reminded of a line from my favorite movie, "Anne of Green Gables", where she is off to college and writing a letter home to Marilla and Matthew and writes, "And so, the sun will keep on rising and setting whether we get phone and internet service or not." (italics mine) Thanks Anne, for keeping it all in perspective!