The End of VBS and Swim Lessons...

Friday morning at 7:30 AM the girls took over our bedroom.  Jana and Angela were already in dress up clothes....

While Victoria came chanting, "DVD.  Momma, DVD...."

Following some cartoons and breakfast, we loaded up the minivan headed to our last day of VBS.  Once again the older three nearly left me in their dust as they hurried along to their respective classes.  However, when we turned the corner to the preschool area Victoria became extra clingy.  In fact, as soon as I passed her on to Ms. Carey she was in tears.  Despite the fact that I will never quite enjoy watching tears fall on my children's faces, it was in a way a good thing she reacted in this way.  As a new parent, it is a good sign of attachment to have your child cry for you.  So, I will take this opportunity to praise our Gracious Lord for entrusting these precious children to our care.  Thank you, Jesus, for the signs of progress we have and are seeing in each of our children.  May you continue to show Yourself mighty in and through their lives!

It took only a few minutes (I'm told) for Victoria to recover and begin dancing with the rest of the children.  :)  I enjoyed a quick shopping spree at Target and Walmart for some necessities.  It is amazing how time flies when you're having fun?!.  

The kids had a wonderful time this week at VBS!  When we sat down for lunch together we asked them how their week was... did they have fun... are they sad today is the last day... etc....  (Yes, for those who asked, we communicate in English and they are still communicating in Russian BUT we are understanding each other more and more each day).  When we mentioned it was the last day, they all displayed their frowning faces.   Special thanks to all who helped make VBS a blessing and success this week!  Thank you Randy S. & Chad L. for all your leadership!  Thank you to all who loved on our kids!  They had a blast!  May all who participated grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Before swim lessons we snapped a few pictures of each with some of their VBS crafts...

My camera battery died before I could take Victoria's picture, SO here is a picture of her picture craft.  For those who remember, she is wearing the t-shirt we were presented with the day Abba Father Ministry was founded back in November 2007!  Praise God for all the great things He has done!

Swim lessons were extra special today because Papa got to attend.  It was quite a change from hearing each of my children yelling, "Mama!  Watch!" to "Papa!  Watch!" (In Russian of course)  They were so proud (and rightfully so) of their accomplishments in the pool.  We are SO grateful to Leah Thaggard, her sister Katherine, and Leah's children to blessing us this week with swim lessons and fun!  Thank you, thank you, thank you...

One more great big "THANK YOU" to Stephanie Weathers, Amy Thornton AND Kelly Lowery for babysitting our children this evening so we could enjoy a date night!  Enjoy we did!  Tony took me to the Walnut Circle Grill downtown, then on to Kohls and Target.  Perfect getaway.   

Tomorrow (Saturday), Tony is taking - or, I should say - Paul Koonce is taking Tony and James fishing!  AND, Babushka & Dedushka Merida are driving down from Kentucky for a few days.  We are so excited!