You Know You're the Mom of a Bunch of Kids When. . .

1. You know that a grilled cheese sandwich made in a sandwich maker can be "inflated" if a hole in the bread is discovered and properly blown into.

2. You know that two year old little sisters learn with lightning speed and precision how to lock an outside door that a big brother exits, and then manage disappearing acts that would put magicians to shame. They are given away by their giggles.

3. You know the minute differences between rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles.

4. You used to delight in baiting fish hooks for your little boys who are now big, but since the necessity has passed as they have grown and taken over that role for their younger siblings, so has your desire to bait fish hooks.

5. You know that big boys who don't care a thing about personal hygiene all of a sudden never forget their deodorant after getting chafed while working outside on the first 95 degree day of a hot South Carolina summer.

6. You know that you can radically change your teenagers' musical interests by casually mentioning that you like that song they're listening to.

7. You know you will mortally embarrass your older children if you sing Kirk Franklin gospel/rap/hiphop songs along with your iPod at the top of your lungs while on the treadmill.

8. You know to buy the cheap rafts and floaties at Walmart--they will all get popped anyway as the children jump from the diving board onto them.

9. All the noise is music to your ears. . .

One Thing I'll Miss About This House . . .

. . . the beautiful sunsets!

Packing Up And Having Fun

Having just moved here almost two years ago, the boys knew exactly what to do when the empty boxes started coming into the house! They spent hours building forts and knocking them down, then rebuilding. One fort took up our entire great room and the other was in our dining room. They had a blast!

With the very appreciated help of several (very good, might I add!!) friends and fellow church members, we got our entire family of nine 2/3's of the way packed for Costa Rica. We got the house mostly packed for its eventual sale, and many things were carefully put into storage, or donated to our local Christian ministry. Our house was pretty much turned upside down and then righted again all in one week in time for a realtors' luncheon held here. It was absolutely unbelievable how much we got accomplished and how the Body of Christ came together to help out. It feels SO good to have this much of the move (and mess) behind us! : )

What We've Been Up To This Summer

Time . . .

is marching on! I can't believe it's been three weeks since I last posted an entry! These last three weeks, we have ordered trunks in which to pack, purchased plane tickets, packed the house from top to bottom and end to end, planted flowers, watered and watered those flowers, taken care of chickens while Trey was gone (which I was astonished to discover how much fun that is!), bought many household items from a missionary family who will be leaving language school before we arrive, and, last but not least, our Gabriel cut his foot and had to have four stitches (put in by Daddy). WHEW. It makes me tired to read all that, but I know that God was right here with us--leading us step by step! For that I am blessed beyond belief--there is no way we could have gotten through these last weeks. . .but God!