Seven...and counting...

B.J. and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary yesterday.  The day was fairly ordinary, but little tokens of appreciation and shared memories made it very special.

 We started the day as we usually do ~
tea and devotions at the table.

I sent a box of SweetTarts in B.J.'s lunch (we always used to share SweetTarts on our trips to and from MI ~ he loves them).
He sent me flowers.   

 He came home early enough to give all of the kids moped and motorcycle rides.  I picked up my sisters' TV and VCR so we could all enjoy our wedding and honeymoon videos (we haven't watched them since our first anniversary).

  So after supper we all settled down in the family room ~ our children were overcome with excitement; B.J. and I were overcome with memories.  We especially enjoyed seeing the faces of family and friends as they were ushered into the sanctuary prior to the ceremony and as they came through the line to congratulate us and laughing at our antics as we drove 520 miles through Alaska in one day.  

Three things struck me as we watched the footage of our ceremony, reception, and the beautiful Alaskan countryside.  First, we are all creatures of time.  Some of the faces we saw belong to those who have already gone to glory; the rest of us have aged.  Second, what a blessing it is surrounded by family and friends, to belong to Christ's bride.  Earlier in the day we had been helped by two friends from church ~ one watched our older children while Nathan and I were at the doctor, and another brought us a meal.  Then the video reminded us of the loving support of all our "witnesses" on our wedding day, support that we still feel today.  Third, I was struck by how much my appreciation of and love for my husband has grown since we were wed.  By the grace of God, this "thing" called marriage truly does get better with time.

"...Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.  Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.  For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death."

Psalm 48:12-14 (our wedding text) 

All photos copyright Maurer Photography

Birthday Bash

     Well, not really, but having Grandpa & Grandma, Uncle Jerron and "the Aunties" over for grilled hamburgers this past Saturday was enough of a bash for Willem.  He turned 4 years old on Sunday.  What a fun day he had on Saturday, too - the weather was beautiful, and he and Leah spent a good part of the day at an auction with Daddy.

Will's gift was a train.

(Daddy had a lot of fun playing with it, too.  :)

And don't forget birthday cake!  Will's fascination with airplanes has decreased to the point that he didn't request and airplane cake again.  This year it was...

...a helicopter!

Meanwhile, I've been trying to capture Nathan's sweet smile on camera.  This is closest I've come thus far.

Friends

This worksheet warmed my heart.

The instructions read:

Draw a picture of your favorite pet on the left:
Leah drew a cat (no surprise there!).

Draw a picture of your friend on the right:
Leah drew Willem.

Chubba

Our (growing) Little Man

Labor Day Fun

After the annual Labor Day pancake breakfast, B.J. took us all to a railroad museum - what an interesting, well-kept place!  Too bad we only remembered to use the camera

while waiting for our tour...

     

Whose kids are these, anyway?  ;)

Covenant Children

Nathan was baptized this past Sunday.

He was baptized with his first cousin, Moriah, which made the day even more special.

Lo, children are a great reward,

A gift from God, in very truth.

With arrows is his quiver stored

Who joys in children of his youth.

And blessed the man whose age is cheered

By stalwart sons and daughters fair -

No enemies by him are feared,

No lack of love, no want of care.

Psalter 359:3&4