Exciting park day...

Judah busted open his lip at the park yesterday. He is 17 months old, so he did not break Caleb's record of stitches at a young age. As I washed it, I could see that it was pretty gnarly-jagged and pretty deep. But, seeing as how we have done stitches in this area before, and they just ended up getting pulled out during their sleep....I was pretty sure we wouldn't do stitches. Fortunately, my brother works for a hospital, and Ben had done EMT training quite a while ago....so, Ben got him all cleaned up and my brother brought the "super glue" they use in the ER. I'm so thankful for God's provision in this way, seeing as how
Judah didn't really realize he was hurt, so a couple of hours in the ER with me vs. the Fab Five didn't sound enticing. Ben did a great job and Judah seems to be pretty much back to normal. He will have a scar, but it won't be nearly as bad as it would have been. It's always an adventure having four boys. :-)

"Wash Me"

"Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness, 

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You..." 

Psalm 51:7-13

     It was one of those days-where my mom and I had packed up all the kids and we were headed for Costco and Trader Joe's.  We stopped to get gas in town, and they have recently added one of those fancy new "car washes."  My mom gently pointed out that our car was in *ahem* desperate need of a wash.  So, for $8, we got about 8 minutes of total entertainment.  Judah was a little scared, but comforted sweetly by big sister.

     But it got me thinking...sometimes, we are just driving around in our big white Suburban, unaware of how filthy we have become.  The dirt piles up slowly, and before we know it, we are covered in it.  I loved sitting inside the car, hearing the water beat down upon us, seeing that white foam soap cover the car, even feeling the power of the air beating against that big tank of a car as it dried it off....It all reminded me of our God, and His desire to wash us in His word, and the power of His Spirit to make all things new.  Sometimes, it is through His washing that although, He may not take away the things that are causing sadness or pain or momentary difficulty, He does infuse us with the power to have joy in the midst of the washing. 

Ventura County Fair, 2012

Wow! What an amazing day! We ate all the food that we never eat, saw a few animals, played with the wooden toys, and rode rides!
We ate:
Funnel cake
Spiral fries
Chili dog (well, Ezra and Noah shared one)
Cinnamon roll
Slurpees
(mommy had a YUMMY veggie burrito!)

Emma rode the ferris wheel with grandma, the merry-go-round, and the super slide.
Caleb rode the dinosaur spinning things with grandma, and the super slide twice.
Noah rode the cars twice, and the super slide once.
Ezra rode the cars once, the train once, and decided not to do the super slide once he got to the top. :) Brother Caleb went up and rescued him.
It was an amazing, lovely day at the fair! :-)