And What Has Phares Been Doing Lately?

Being a much happier baby due to some chiropractor treatments.

He's also been learning to "stand up, stand up for Jesus."

He's not a very happy soldier of the cross yet.

Mervin's Treasures

He takes a nap with that stuffed dog every day, and, as soon as he wakes up, he wants his tape measure.

And the hat is often on his mind.

Breakfast Table Business and Politics

At breakfast one morning we had lemonade, but it wasn't just any lemonade. (And it wasn't the fact that is was all natural that made it special either.)

"Charity, the more we drink of this stuff, the richer you become."

Says who? Says the carton.
(Check out the words above the man's hat.)

Charity drinks to her own wealth.

At the other end of the table, conversation turns to politics, and a budding orator vents his disapproval of the US tax system.

Taxes are so high these days that the government thinks we're having big families just to get tax deductions. *rips off bib* I didn't come into this world just to be a tax deduction!

A Proverbs 31 Baby Shower

Mrs. Hoffman "openeth her mouth with wisdom" just like the Proverbs 31 woman she was sharing about.

The young women...

...being taught by the older woman. That's right: a biblical model for baby showers!

I'm pleased to announce that the prophecy on the baby sleeper has been fulfilled. As of last Saturday, Jon and Monique are the humble parents (I'd be the last person to accuse them of pride :) of a little girl.

I had the honor of being Monique's "secretary" for the evening.

Who gave the beautiful quilt? I say it must have been someone who seeketh thread and fabric and worketh willingly with her hands. ;-)

Aunt Becky seems to know just where she's needed.

There were many irresistible things on the menu that night, but, trust me, "the bread of idleness" was not among them.

Mrs. Clayton - busy knitting - is proof.

Ah, posing - such a rarity on this blog.

Out in the shadows, girls gather.

Girls scatter.

And that, in a nutshell, is the story of the evening. Women gathered and, eventually, they all scattered. But, in between, they fellowshipped together, blessed one another, and were a testimony to what God will do for those who trust in him. Much thanks to you, Karen and Abigail, for your skillful organization of the event.

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Hoping you'll have a blessed two weeks,

Carmen

Hello Everybody,

Monday we picked strawberries; Wednesday we picked strawberries; Friday we picked strawberries; today we weeded the flowerbeds; today we mulched the flowerbeds; today we picked the peas... Whoops! I forgot this isn't a gardening journal. It's photo blog right? Okay, well, forgive me. All that stuff is true, but you won't find photos of it. Why no photos of it? Well, I figured you'd find photos of the Martin family floating in the air a bit more interesting than such down-to-earth stuff as gardening.

The Martin Family Airborne!

That's right. We're flying just like the birds.

Ever hear of spread eagles?

Mervin hasn't got his wings yet.

The parachutist discovers that...

...it is a long way down.

Some of us don't feel quite at home in the air yet.

While others just cross their feet, spread their wings, and enjoy the ride.

He's so at home he can make it appear the opposite. Now that takes skill.

Clayton zooms in: "I just got back from Mars and there ARE aliens there!"

That news was enough to bring us all down to earth.

And you know what? Some people actually think that being down to earth is more fun.

Clear the helipad. Another one's coming in for landing.

Bewitching

I've been noticing that Grace likes coming for piano lessons even better these days. It's not as if she asks me for a longer lesson though. Strange, very strange.

Update on the Little Boys

I suppose when you're this age, having Mom go away two days in a row is pretty traumatic.

Give him a hammer - he becomes a man.

Give Clayton a knife - he becomes an entrepreneur.

That's right. There's money to be made in recycled copper these days.

Now that school's over for the year...

...I'll give you an idea of the high levels of academia we have been reaching. :-)

The scholar.

Uh... the snacker?

How is anoint spelled?

Two N's - definitely two N's.

The answer key begs to differ.

And the eraser wriggles back and forth, so happy that he isn't out of a job after all.

A Visit to the Mills

We felt as much at home as Noah did in the tree.

The Mills' raised beds reminded us of our raised beds and made us feel even more at home.

And the pool table - that reminded us of the pool table we do NOT have at home.

Dad, past pro, tells Conrad to "tap the red ball just so or else you'll hit the black ball out, and then, well - you'd be history."

The pressure not to be "history."

Mr. Mills watches history in the making.

Eight ball meets carpet and Conrad's in the history books.

For the most part, the Mills seem to play fairly normal things, like table tennis.

But when you come across Hannah and Candace playing matchbox cars, you kind of start to wonder. :-)

Whatever you may have concluded about the normalcy of the Mills' activities, their light controls are indisputably not normal.

Riddle: What do you get when one big family shares a meal with another big family?

Answer: Lots of dishes (and lots of girls to do them).

Thank you, Mills, for your hospitality.