Silas swims

Silas swims the backstroke

Silas has been on the Apple Gators swim team this summer. Their season is almost over and he is really going to miss it. He has been going to "swim team" every weekday morning from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. He has also competed in two swim meets. He never wins...but he loves the water and has been a great member of the team.

Thad's Birthday Party

We had such a good time at Thad's birthday party.

He was surrounded by Godly families who were willing to take time out of their week to celebrate his birthday - most of whom had never met him. Forty moms, dads, cousins, grandmothers, sister and brothers swam, ate pizza, swam, ate cake and ice cream, swam, watched Thad open presents and then swam some more.

By 8:00 p.m., we were all exhausted...but so encouraged by the love that was shown to our family. I'm thankful for our life in the Spirit and others who choose to live their lives in the Spirit as well. God has blessed us greatly and now Thad has been blessed. Please pray for our family and his future.

Another one "bites" the dust

Silas at 9:30 p.m.

Silas pulled another loose tooth this evening after our swim. We noticed that both front bottom teeth were loose this morning but one was much more loose than the other so we assumed there would be several days (or weeks) between the teeth coming out. No way, not for Silas.

He's been messing with that thing all day and finally told me, "e-mail the tooth fairy and tell her I've got another one". How can you argue with that?

Silas lost his first tooth

Silas this morning at breakfast...

Silas just after lunch...

The first lost tooth is just as exciting for the second child as it is for the first. Without any warning, Silas woke up with a loose tooth and it was out by 2:00 p.m. He worked on it all morning with his fingers and tongue and then asked me to pull it out. I worked it loose and then he pulled it out himself.

Homesick

Have you ever been homesick? Well, I have and it stinks. Especially as a child, homesickness is more than just a feeling - it takes on physical forms like stomach ache and tears.

Emma is in Nachogdoches for the week (going to day camp with her cousin, Thad) and she had a bout of homesickness yesterday. When we spoke on the phone, she was in tears - ready to come come. In fact, she had already packed her bag! As it was early afternoon, I told her that Abby was asleep and I could not go anywhere until she woke up. I assured her that I would make a plan with Jeff's mom and call back when Abby was awake.

Thankfully, Bonnie was a 2nd grade teacher for many years and understands the emotions and outbursts of 8 year olds. As it turns out, a bit of distraction and fun solved the problem and Emma stayed without having to call again.

Thank you, God for loving grandmothers!

Meanwhile, back here in Tyler, I had two smaller children who were anxious to get in a running sprinkler (after nearly 2 hours in the pool)...

Three extra wishes

Today was Silas' first swim meet. He and Jeff left at 6:00 a.m. to be in Lufkin by 7:45. He swam in three races and came in dead last every time. Thankfully for us, Silas loves to swim and could care less whether he was first or last.

As soon as he was done with his third race, we all converged on Nanne Sue's house in Nacogdoches. Earlier in the week, Silas had requested a cake to celebrate his first swim meet. Nanne Sue and Thad accepted the challenge and created a cake that looked like a swimming pool. Even though it was not anyone's birthday, Thad decided they needed to add three candles to give Silas "three extra wishes". What a sweet and thoughtful cousin.

After lunch and "pool cake", we got out in the back yard and the kids played with water balloons:

After about half an hour outside in the 100 degree weather,

we went in the house to play some games. Jeff got in on the action:

One game the kids love is "button, button" where Nanne Sue plays the piano. The object of the game is not to hide the button from her, but the kids think it is so funny to do so...

What can be better than a day at grandma's house with a super fun cousin?

Silas the Psalmist

This last semester, Silas' Wednesday night bible class learned the 23rd Psalm. Thanks to two women of God, the little boys in that class have learned the entire chapter.

Several weeks ago, when Silas was just about done with school, he stuck his head into the office of our pulpit minister to tell him about learning these memory verses. Silas held out his piece of paper and recited the entire chapter (of course, he cannot read so the paper was just a prop). In a moment of insanity, Jeff (Christian) asked if Silas would like to say it in front of the church.

Silas said, "sure"
Jeff said, "it will be in front of like a million people"
Silas, "OK"

Nanne Sue (Jeff's mom) came from Nacogdoches and Nona (my mom) was sure to get a front row seat. I slipped down to the front row to get video and up Silas went onto the stage.

and now, the rest of the story.....