Fun with the Cousin

A week or so ago, I went out to visit Laura Lyons' garden with her.  She has a huge and amazing garden so while Laura worked on a few things- the boys and I got to hang out.  I tried to capture a few pictures of the boys at the garden. :)  Ok, so they really enjoyed playing in the mulch.

I think this picture is so funny- they are both hanging on for dear life- they prob. think- I am going to fall out of this swing. :)

Touch A Truck

A few weeks ago, while Michael was still in Israel, a few friends told me about Touch A Truck.  It was free at the fire station.  In Israel, Jeremiah grew a huge love for buses!  And ever since we have been back, the boy just wants to look at books with trucks or vehicles or anything that moves.  So here are a few pics from the event.  We even ran into Amy Samad with her son Jack, Jeremiah's buddy.  The boys had fun playing in the scoop of on e of the tractors.

Jeremiah driving the tractor!  He is ready to go out to the farm!

J literally running to the bus

Driving the bus

Jack and Jeremiah- buddies

Jeremiah driving John Deer tractor

One day Jack and Jeremiah decided to have an indoor picnic. :)

Visitors and Crafts

This weekend, we enjoyed a visit from our sweet friends Michael and Anne Marrs from Southern Seminary.  It was fun to be able to catch up with them.  Jeremiah loved Uncle Mike & Aunt Anne- he took a special liking to Uncle Mike.  Michael also took a quick trip to the Pompeii exhibit downtown with his dad while J and I stayed home. 

Today is laundry day.  Instead of looking at the concrete, yucky walls of the basement- today this is what I see.  Last week, my sister-in-law Laura created a very cute wall covering for our laundry machines.  I know some of you crafting people out there will love how she did this.  :)  It definitely adds color to our drab basement and Laura is great at using the resources she has to spruce some things up. 

Last Days in Israel...

 One of the last days in Israel, we went to Tel Aviv- a very modern city on the Mediterranean Sea and visited Jaffa- used to be Joppa.  We also went to a museum in the city- Jman wasn't too fond of all the artifacts- he kept trying to play in the mummy's sandbox.  We also visited the Philistine city of Ashkelon.  We saw some ruins of the ancient city and then went to the beach for a little bit.  Jeremiah loved the beach- though he wasn't too sure of the water receding the way that it did. 

                               If daddy can try out the old olive press, so can I, says Jeremiah.  :)

 A view from the sand dunes of the Mediterranean Sea.  It got a little windy from the top of those dunes.

Our last day together, we went and walked in the Old City one more time and we enjoyed our last walk on the Ramparts walk which is on top of the walls of the city.  It was so fun to see the view from walking along the wall. 

What A Weekend!!!

 We were so thankful to have Michael back on Friday!!  He arrived on time but very tired!  Thankfully, we were able to celebrate his homecoming by dressing like cows and getting a free meal at Chick-fil-A.  Both boys were in bed by 8pm that night so I had a quiet Friday evening!

 Jman loves having his Daddy back- he literally ran around the house being so excited and loves his Daddy!

 Michael definintely had a beard when he came back- we almost didn't recognize him- but now it is gone- his Nazarite vow is over.  Saturday, we celebrated Michael's homecoming by going to LaRosas so Michael could have a gluten free pizza which he had been hungering for- Michael's meals the last few weeks consisted of chicken, corn and rice.  I am sure he will not be wanting that for a long time now.

 On Sunday, Jeremiah had his first real boy wound.  He fell on a bookshelf in the nursery during church.  When they came to get me from the service, I was not prepared for his cut on his forehead or all the blood.  I responded just the way I thought I would in a crisis- getting very lightheaded and queasy.  Thankfully- this time there were lots of medical people around to help.  I was so thankful for all the sweet ladies that prayed for me and took care of me and thankful for Dr. L who came out of the service to look at Jeremiah and tell us our options.  He said we could either have it stitched or glued shut but it needed to be closed but we had to wait until swelling had reached its height.  So we took the boy home gave him lunch, a bath and sent him for a nap.  Later that evening- the wonderful Dr. L and his dear wife Stephanie helped glue the wound together with Michael.  I on the other hand was outside with their kids- fearing that I again would become lightheaded and pass out.  Michael said Jeremiah was quite a trooper and didn't even really cry.  What sweet and amazing friends that not only glue our child together and then they feed us dinner- what a blessing!  Only our sweet friends!

 Kinda hard to see- but his wound after it is glued shut- looking much better- as least I can look at him now without getting sick. :)

Coming Home...

Michael is officially on his way HOME and we can't wait!  We are praying for safe and quick travels and for health!  Apparently Jordan, Michael's traveling buddy, got sick on the drive to the airport with a stomach bug.  We are praying Jordan feels better quickly and the Lord gives him strength and that the Lord would keep Michael (and us :) from getting it!  But we are excited that Lord willing we will see him in less than 24 hours.  They fly out at around 5pm our time (midnight) their time and will arrive in Cincy around 1pm on Friday.  We can't wait!!!!  Again I think of the faithfulness and goodness of God!  I think the most we have been apart was maybe a week and the Lord has been so faithful to help me these past 3 weeks! 

Mount of Olives & Garden of Gethsemene

 One day we hiked up to the Mount of Olives and to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Of course, we had to stop and take a picture of a bus as Jeremiah LOVED all the buses he saw in Israel.  It was his favorite thing!  The Church of All Nations is at the site of the Garden of Gethsemane and there is still a small garden.  A bit different than I had pictured it but it gave you an idea at least of what it might have looked like.  Some of the areas around the Mount of Olives and even at the top can be a little more dangerous so we tried to play it safe and pretty much stayed at the base. 

The Church of All Nations

Some of the trees in the Garden

Of course we saw this lion and had to take a picture with it!

Eating dinner the last night at a nice restaurant!