So due to the heat wave – mmmm, yes (dripping with sarcasm)- we have been entertaining ourselves indoors. And also due to the heat wave my poor littlest one has a won’t-go-away-and-very-painful diaper rash (yes we went to the DR. and got some helpful cremes) that is thriving on the heat and moisture. While I try to introduce my children to God’s worldview through our missions wall and talking about God’s work around the world, I wouldn’t have anticipated Africa to be visiting our hygienic living. So we’ve been doing life like Africa does it for my little Abi-bare-bum.

Abi being bare bummed means we are spending a lot of time playing with washable large Legos on the kitchen floor. Thus, I introduce you to our Lego creations:

And for obvious modesty reasons, baby girl is not pictured beside her creation.

In other news: 

Matt and I are 1/2 way through our adoption trainings. And can I just say here that while obedience to God’s call in our lives is a wonderful thing, these classes can be like PULLING TEETH for our social work majored, my foster care worker past and our “we can really read the policy manual too” annoyances. But alas…. perseverance, friends, perseverance.

We headed out to Aunt Jes’ work picnic/festivities. And I will post an entire post to that goodness. But let me just say here that it was a BLAST!

We got a bunkbed set off freecycle for the whopping price of $0. And while we need to purchase a ladder to accommodate the set when we plan on bunking it, I’d say free is an awfully nice price.

O, and then there’s this critter, who has enjoyed the freedoms of our preparation of our guest bedroom (second kid bedroom) to receive whomever God is adding to our family. Yeah, this freedom-seeker, took to contemplation atop of our queen box-spring before it found a new home elsewhere (the box-spring and mattress found a new home, not our cat… I promise….).

• our first family mission trip – tagging along on the youth mission trip. We hope not to be a distraction, but to delight in Jesus together, while we still get our NEEDED naps in. =)
• Home assessor – whom I LOVE- makes her first home visit the day after we return from our mission trip. And yes she will see our parenting of our crazy-off-schedule kids then. 
• Family vacation to Myrtle beach 7 days after returning from the mission trip – no we’re not COMPLETELY insane, but yes we are driving… for 13 hours… with a 1 and 2 year old. 
• Then Matt starts back to seminary for the Fall semester. I’ve been so use to his break that it’s going to be a real adjustment. 
• And intermixed in that 4 week span we will be completing the remaining adoption classes (three hours a piece of “joy” – refer to above commentary).
• And then by mid-September we will be completed with classes, waiting for our homestudy to be finished in 1-2 months post our class completion and then praying and waiting for our phone calls. 
• Oh yes and add in some serious closet cleaning and repainting of our second kid bedroom amidst all that – and beginning some homeschooling amidst that as well….. 

IT’S GONNA BE GREAT!!!!!!