Kid-sitting in March
Ralph and Sharon went on a special trip together to the Middle East tracing Paul’s Missionary Journeys! They got a taste of the “Holy Lands” which they found to be a very enriching, enlightening experience bringing the Bible to life. See their blog for photos….
We were very glad to “aid and abet” their departure so we that could have their kids J and Ralph could get a very much needed break from his busy and stressful work/life.
It was enjoyable having R&S’s well-behaved, well-adjusted, sweet kids living with us over the 2 weeks they were away. All of them except Timmy stayed with us – no, not all 6 at once! – R&S had worked out a complicated, detailed plan of care between both sides of the families!
The first week we got to enjoy Andrew & Daniel
We appreciated Andrew’s unexpected humour and his willing helpfulness.
J Here he’s pumping the pedals to make the
sound come out so Daniel can play the old pump organ! There’s team work for you!
He was also very ready to help Oma in the kitchen – what a fine husband Andrew will make some day!
LOL! Daniel’s knows how to relax while he works too! Altho, trying to write in the air while balancing on a 2 separate uneven surfaces – 1 rocking and 1 rolling – uses a lot more energy than writing on a desk! Maybe it was just that he found his math so easy that he needed make it more challenging!?!
Daniel has great enthusiasm for everything! He especially delighted in playing with & teasing Tia, and feeding her and he was also the self-appointed “official poop-scooper” for one day – which was much appreciated!
“Wave, wave bye-bye!”
He was also quite eager to help make delicious applesauce - something he obviously had experience in already!
It was a delight to have David and Bethany the 2ndweek – so cute and relatively easy to care for (if it weren't for sicknesses). David was really talking now and it was so neat to be able to get to see his sweet character emerging – very intelligent little guy too, he hardly missed a thing! Sometimes I called him "puppy" by mistake - or sometimes on purpose just to hear his cute "I not puppy! I little guy David!" Wish I had writen down more of the cute things they said!
David figured 2 years old was not too young to do dishes too! He did a very thorough job - also of soaking his pants and the floor as well!
(sorry, I can't turn it)Tia soon learned that her ratings fell drastically when real kids are in the house! And she found out that she had more bosses to obey and perform for – but also more fun and playmates! Thankfully she was very obliging and good with the kids, letting them do what they pleased without protest and not nipping or barking at all! The puppy classes we just finished before this were helpful and just in time!
“Shake a paw”
Puppy kisses :)
Cozy, reading time – Tia wasn’t too interested and retired to her proper place warming my feet J
Watching fascinatedly as Tia laps up her food and licks her bowl clean!
Warning: DO NOT let your kids get this close to just any dog while its eating!
I trained Tia from day 1 to be very polite with her bowl/food and to allow us to take it away mid eating, or to touch her etc so I knew it was safe for these two – but, I still instructed them to keep their hands together and not to touch her or her bowl while she’s eating.
In between, Betty came with her kids, staying at “the M_ _ _ _ Cres hotel” (run beautifully by Tinie in their absence :)) overnight and visiting us and the others during the day and swapping kids everywhere she went! What great cousin time this afforded them! Worked out really well!
Who’s walking who?
Daniel came back again – he couldn’t wait to get back because “Tia will miss me”
So, as you can see Tia puppy is still very cute and delightful but she doesn’t come close to the kiddies!! How much more precious are they, created in God’s image and with a surpassing real capacity to love & obey & communicate and to worship Him with their childlike faith & trusting ways.
Here's she was actually running down the hill pulling Sarah behind her!
