Easter Sunday

It was a rough weekend in our home. But let us start with some of the happy highlights.

This video may make you dizzy as it was filmed by my daughter. I danced at two services before our own church service. Here we are at the sunrise service at a harbor. Moms, young ladies and a keiki make up our group here.





Here is an English version of the song if you aren't familiar with it.



Here's a quick snap of the kids. Digging into some eggs. Like the lovely spring flowers that were brought to me last week?




On our Praise God list is the fact that #3 safely made it home with help on Saturday after he wandered off.

On the other hand-
#1 has a broken tooth thanks to an impatient sibling who pushed him out of the way into a door. We've been at dental offices today as many people have looked at it. At this point he will be a plastic 'fix'. After he has braces in the future they will do a more permanent fix. Poor kid has such a sad looking mouth.

Ack, those are just some 'highlights' of the weekend. Thank goodness we can lean on our Lord and Savior when things are trying to get us down.

Cheese

cake that is!!

Two with a new hair cut. The oldest had the 'bright' idea that he could cut some of his hair and then mail it to someone he hasn't seen in awhile. I guess the person likes to ruffle his hair so he thought this would be a good solution? Hmm, when does the age of no supervision required come?? I mean he was suppose to be writing a letter, not craft time or beauty school;)

My birthday was this past Saturday. Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!
Here is a 'traditional' picture of me with my eyes shut!


We went out for lunch and then to the zoo. I had a pineapple upside down cheesecake-yummy! #4 thought the little birthday sundae they brought me was just his size so he claimed that(and some on mine and James' cake too-that boy eats!) I enjoyed the 'little' tiger cubs at the zoo. We got to see them up close as a zookeeper talk was going on. Although we couldn't hear the keeper I enjoyed the tigers a little closer. #1 found out that if he rattled on the bushes the cubs would come to the fence to 'play'.

Saturday

was a busy day as expected. We started with Awana games and ended with a walk on the beach. The beach was much more relaxing!! Having to be in a gym all morning is not my ideal time but the kids had a good time and there was a playground outside so Daddy took the little kids on breaks to play.
I had another appointment with my midwife. Baby is doing great. Good heartbeat and growth:)

Sunny days

Some pictures of our time outdoors today. In no particular order.

#4 ran to me to show me his new pet. A picture, blurry though it may be follows. He did not want to leave his new friend. I was afraid I was going to have to wrestle it away from him, in order to leave.

3 little black crabs. They found many different kinds. #1 brought one to me that looked like a shell with legs asking what it was. I reminded him of The hermit Crab a book by Eric Carle. As he was putting into his collection bucket he realized that he had two other crabs also, he had picked them up just thinking they were sea shells.

#4 watering the rocks.....because they aren't slippery enough!



Found by #2 with great excitement. Mom, mom it's moving in my hand!






#4 from a previous day.

warm weather is coming

This year as given us a taste, a small taste, of real spring. Or at least spring as we remember it! You know what most of you have been going through the cold one day and warm the next. Of course our extremes are not so much but it makes me
look forward to summer! Well, except that I remember how HOT summer is,
yes one is never happy;) But I am looking forward to getting to the water more often.
Brief update on us:
*We have finished the second bath tub, it is installed and ready to go. So exciting to have a fully, functional second bath! Later this year we plan to update the vanity and probably the floor in the kids bath as well, so pictures will probably wait until then.
*James and #1 started working on a flower box for our courtyard today. Will be so excited to get some more things planted!
*#2 has an ultrasound scheduled for April 14th at 1pm. The last scan showed no mass, if this one also shows nothing then we won't have to scan her again! Please keep her in your prayers.
*We've had another bug going through the house. #2 was the first to get it(really what I do not want to hear from her is 'my stomach hurts'. Ironically this was on the day when the hospital called to reschedule her US, 2 weeks earlier than it had been) Of course she preceded to loose her breakfast and then was fine the rest of the day. Last night it was #3, same thing was fine all day today. So I have been stricter with not allowing anyone to drink/eat after each other and hand washing. No more sickies please.
We've not much to talk about, just enjoying the sunny days and working on attitudes:) Planning on doing stuff around the island, hiking, exploring etc.

You really get a sideways view of the 20 week belly here;)



A view from beside the house. I love looking at the water.


The kiddos pausing in play for a quick picture.

Patience

Many times the issue of having patience has come up. Usually by moms- usually by Christian moms. Of course the running joke is be careful what you wish(or pray) for because the Lord doesn't just give you patience, no He gives you situations in which to learn patience!
I was reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 today as part of my devotional. My bible also has little scattered devotionals throughout and I wanted to share that bible devotional with you today.

This is by Barbara Bush,titled Contended Heart, Patient Heart

It is common to hear women bemoaning their lack of patience as if it were the most difficult gift to pry from God's hand. In fact impatience stems almost solely from our exaggerated notions of what is due us. If we could but lower our estimation of the importance of our time, our plans and our feelings, we would find ourselves almost automatically more patient.
If we are impatient about the same things that anger God-repeated sin, inattention to his Word, social injustice-we cannot really be called impatient (as long as our opinions are expressed in love). Neither can we expect a woman to remain totally unperturbed if someone smashes into her new car. Certainly 'learning patience' is not an acceptable reason for failure to discipline a rebellious child. Patience is not the same thing as resignation or the cynical attitude that always expects the worst possible outcome.
Patience is a more positive trait. It is the ability to bear affliction, delay and interruption with calmness, perseverance and confidence in the goodness of God (Colossians 1:11-12). It is inward peace as well as outward control. It is the submission of our schedules, our viewpoints, our dreams to the greater plan of God, with the conviction that he has a good reason for every delay he allows to come our way.

I don't know about you but I find myself often losing my patience. As the manager of the home I have to have a schedule of sorts to go by or it is way too chaotic around here. I generally say it's a loose schedule, more of a guideline so I can make sure we are staying on track with caring for the home, school work, etc. Yet little things can frustrate me so much into losing my patience. I found the last paragraph of that article helpful in restructuring my thinking. Control is an illusion, I do know that. But giving it to God, remembering that His plans are so much better than mine -well this is my new challenge to remember this at the height of my frustration of a trial matter! What is losing my patience going to change anyway?!