Revolving Door

It has been a great few weeks at the Cole Home!  We have had so much fun seeing so many people!  It started with Memorial Day – we hosted Robert’s brother & family and our good friends from Irving the Byerlys!  Then, my Uncle and Aunt arrived for about 6 days, followed by the Lewis family for a couple days.  Then, today we said good bye to cousins from Houston!  Whew!

What fun!

We enjoyed the slip0n-slide on memorial day, blueberry picking & baseball with my uncle, hanging out here with the Lewis family,and the last 2 days we played on the lake with the Bensons. 

My kids are going to start really start acting spoiled after all these fun visits!

And pictures, oh my!!  Here are a few from my camera roll from the past 3 weeks or so :

With Uncle Ed & Aunt Wren

		Baseball fun with Uncle Ed VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

With Lewis Family

		Fun with the Lewis Family VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

		Boating with the Bensons VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Monday Multitude

So many things to offer up thanks for this early Monday morning ~
{linking up to Ann @ Holy Experience}

~ hopes for a computer to return home tomorrow
~ grateful for an uncle who offered to ensure it will work properly
~ prayers for 10 heading to Malawi today, special prayers for Grant, but protection and big things for all
~ a hot shower, every day, those in Joplin don't even have a cold one
~ a 7 day challenge to not complain (really? even though I have kids?)
~ VBS nearby for children to attend
~ trying to have a more serving heart & knowing the good it will bring
~ breaking bread with friends : laughter at the table
~ another great gardening class with kids who want to learn
~ watching the Maverick's win the Championship - I love that Jason Terry answers every question first with God!  Love that man!!
~ a little boy who reminds me over and over how loved I am, even when I am not so lovable
~ an amazing week and a half of family and friends visiting!

God is good - it may not always look good with out eyes, we cannot see the whole canvas, we only glimpse pieces.  God is good in Joplin with no running water.  God is good in Malawi where there are so many people who have never heard.  Pray with me for our team going to Malawi - that God would be more real to them than ever before and would move mightily in their hearts!  Praying for miracles to happen while they are on the ground in Africa!

Kids, Kids and more kids!!

What a perfect couple of days we have had! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with the Lewis Family! It is so fun to watch your best friend’s kids grow up – even if it is with visits a year apart!  Watching all our children grow up and deepen their friendships is such a gift too!


We did not take the whole gang : 8 kids ages 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 – out except to church on Wednesday night. Staying close to home was a great choice as the kids woke up and fished, played some afternoon baseball and walked the dogs every day. We even managed quiet time each afternoon for the dads and the youngest of the kids. It was great!  Not to mention many meals eaten outside made for 4 very happy adults at meal time! 

Sometimes it is easy to feel like 4 kids can be overwhelming – and that you do not really get to see the individual personality of each child with all of them together. This week proved that to be a lie. As our 8 children played together, in small groups, and sometimes solo we were able to see each of our children’s personalities shine.