Busy, busy, long, long, happy, happy! =)

How do the days go by so quickly?! I can't believe another week has come and gone. And what a great week it's been:

 

On Sunday the Heck kids and I worshiped at Concordia and spent the day with the Leonards. It's so much fun to spend time with all of them. I know that they will be dressed modestly, they will say things that are right and will not take the Lord's name in vain. They will give good advice, and we'll laugh a lot. How can you not when you have Drew, Bob, and Josh in one room!? Getting to catch up with my Stacy that afternoon was amazing. Just what I needed. :)  Great to have Christian friends!

Monday was another Abby day! Yay! She came with me to hang out with the kids. The kids love her, and she's great with them. We had fun doing birthday shopping and getting stuff for our American Girl camp later this month. Abs was a great help. We went down to Concordia that night for a game night, and wow! It was awesome! Lots of people, lots of laughing, lots and lots of fun! Got home really late, but still got my goodnight kisses from my sweet MM! Again, great to have Christian friends!

Over the course of the week, I was able to meet Kristy and Kelly~ Aunt Shauna's other sisters. She also has Aunt Chas, but I have been blessed to know her for as long as I've known Aunt Shauna. All of the sisters are very pretty, and they're super nice and fun. The kids love them so much! I love it when people come over-- and I love it when people talk about Aunt Shauna. That's something that I've really noticed with the family-- they talk about Aunt Shauna a lot. To each other, to the kids. That is so great. Not only is it good for the kids to hear it from their family, but it's also good for me to hear it, 'cause I can then tell the kids more about her while we're at home together. We also got to see Dudley and Teresa (Shauna's parents) a few times. The kids always love that, too! This family takes time for each other and really loves each other. It is beautiful to watch. Just like when Darren gets home and his kids go running to him with big hugs and smiles! 

Wednesday as a big day. My Carter Man got a hair cut—he was needing one for sure! As kids always seem to, he looked older right away. Just as cute as could be. Then my Kenna Girl got her hair cut—several inches off, and oh! Does she look precious! I loved it before, too, but this is just adorable. But wow, she looks way too big. She is such a pretty, pretty girl. Just like her mommy. She has a smile that could light up every room she walks into. I keep looking at my kiddos and thinking how much they’ve already grown since I moved here… goes too quickly!

Thursday was an awesome day because I got to bring Candice with me! She is so great. She keeps me smilin' all day. We had a day at home and, for once, I got everything marked off my "To Do" list! We went through all the kids' clothes and sang lots of songs. That night Nathan and Ashley and their girls (plus a couple extra) came over for Family Night. It was wonderful to spend time outside playing, swinging, and talking together. Family night is something that I've read about on Facebook for a while, but to actually be there for one! Yeah, it was sooooooooooo great. Christian friends, such a blessing!

Friday was a busy and great day! Building cleaning, Bob and Dustin spending the afternoon with us, taking the kids to the store. Carter saying he loved me, but he doesn't "wike" girls. Going to the park to see Abs, Stacy, Ashley, and her girlies. What a beautiful night it was! I love talking to those ladies, watching those sweeties, seeing the sunshine, and a bunch of happy guys playing disc golf. The Barretts came over for the evening and we talked, laughed, and learned together. It was such a blessing! Those girls are the sweetest and prettiest in the world! The night was very pretty, and it was so peaceful to sit outside and listen to the sounds of the country with Dutches and my MM. I love living in the country. It's my dream kinda house and yard and just life... :) This home is a blessing—full of people who want to live their lives for God. 

And then today! Today started a long time ago, it feels like, but that's just because sooooo many good things have filled today up to the brim! For the first time since starting this “job,” I woke the kids up, and we left the house by just after 9. That didn’t used to seem early to me, but now it does! We went to Concordia and had a wonderful turn-out for our first Ladies’ Class. It was SO encouraging! Stacy did a wonderful job teaching this first week. The park is great, and the kids did so well. Best of all was having Sara there! Then home to drop off Candice and pick stuff up for the birthday party for three sweet girls! It was a fun, pretty, and sugary day! There were so many funny and priceless moments. And there wasn’t a moment when I didn’t wish that Aunt Shauna were there with us. Seeing the smiles of her big girl, the funny puppet shows, the line of kids eating sugar, cuddling her little man who was sleepy waking up from a nap, singing songs and dancing on the front porch, hugging her parents, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews. She was such an awesome lady who kept so many people smilin’ and happy. “A home up in Heaven is waiting…” =)