Vacation #2!

H & G's class performance (G in pink on end, H in back)



Tito being a good little brother to his sister



the 3 brothers



shuffleboard champs!



v'ball champs- McCracken v.2


H&G's sweet class


buddies :)



<3 Jack & Gabe


for Brett


all the Mac girl cousins :)



"Just one more high five" :)







All the 14 greats + 1 grand


Most of the clan


More loving Jack



First fish!






We are so spoiled- 2 sweet vacations in July. This one a special treat with 40 of 41 McCracken family descendants. Such a gift to be there...

Vacation #1!

Finally some pics from July...

hot day!









TT singing his favorite "ABCs" opera style






T wants in the pic :)



T wants in again!









Anniversary party!


What a treat this sweet week was with the Coady family! Will never forget it...

Quite a July

We had quite a July...

Still recovering, but so thankful.

Sweet meetings, trips, vacations, time with family and friends...humbling to receive such sweet, undeserved gifts. Will post some pics.

And thankful to be "home" to Glen Ellyn for the month of August and on- with only trips for Craig in September to Seattle and MN. Many plans for getting organized this week...homeschool!?, still things to be unpacked, put away...routine figured out for this season.

(441-457 of endless gifts)
* sweet morning prayer with sisters
* humbling, life thoughtful conversations
* time to discipline
* forgiveness, new hearts
* anticipation of baby brother
* little boy "roar"s
* sweet girl song motions
* play time with Wil & funny dollhouse conversations about "no espn.com for the rest of your life" punishment, but a secret computer upstairs that could still be checked.
* missing my little (oldest) boy as I drive away from his "sleepover"
* schedules- weeks. the rhythm of weeks
* Words for the weary
* sermons to download
* new prayer cards

trip to the grocery store...

Took Hudson and Titus with me to the grocery store the morning after we arrived. Grace was sound asleep for her nap at 8am (after waking up at 1:30am for the day) :)

I think the trip started with some comments about how cool it was that the store had 2 doors- and shortly after (not softly), "This is a fun place." (before we even looked at anything). Wondered what the man next to us thought when he heard all our excitement at entering Jewel!

Next we saw a man with a Cubs shirt on. This would be a big deal in China- don't know we've ever seen a Cubs shirt on someone outside our family, but Hudson was thrilled- and said, "Mom, look a Cubs shirt! He must be from Chicago!". :) Titus then proceeded to say "Hi, ayi" to a sweet lady who passed by and said hi to them. Ayi is the word for auntie in Chinese.

There were screams at the sites of Cubs/Sox gear ("I cannot believe my eyes!") and "They have CHEETOS!". I'm sure we were quite sight to see/hear...

I think it was partly the out-of-it ness of jet-lag, but also a gift we enjoy to get to go to Jewel :)

Also noticed how trained our ears are to listen for English speaking kids, not our kids' voices. Just about every English speaking kid we hear- outside or at the park- we turn our head thinking its H, G or T...thankfully there's quite a few non-English speakers for neighbors here too!

Here's T fighting jet-lag one evening...

Gifts...

- the cool breeze through the window
- kids sleeping past 1:30! and actually past 6:30 this morning!
- green, green, green
- soft kleenex
- cereal
- a Savior who is sweeter- to whom these things don't compare...
- family who welcome us back with much love
- our friends we miss
- birds' songs
- the kids' excitement at airplanes in the sky, "our car", the library!, lucky charms, a little kiddy pool outside
- fresh fresh air
- a sweet church home to return to
- the smell of grass
- baseball game fun tonight
- year-round yummy fruit!
- a sister who reminds me to enjoy these gifts- but also reminds me of the sweetness and privilege of living overseas
- the Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all
(420-440)

We miss these friends...and more

swings!