Grassstains.net

This evening after getting home from watching the new Iron Man (not as good as the first, but fun none the less), I found myself catching up on various feeds I follow.  I came across one on recent flooding in Guangzhou, and realized after a quick glance at my watch that it’s now been eight months since Emily joined our lives.  We are so thankful for her, and are enjoying the way she has enhanced our lives.  She is a delight and a joy, and we are infintely blessed!

Maybe tomorrow . . .

Currently, these are Emily’s favorite words.  I’m not even sure where she learned them, but would have to conclude that it was probably from me or Karen giving a less than clear answer.  Suffice to say, she has come to use these two words multiple times in a day usually when she has been told no.

“Can I have some gum?”  No! “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Can I go in Andy’s room?”  No!  “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Can I take a shower?” Not right now, we are leaving.  “Maybe tomorrow?”

Emily, leave the cat alone.  “Why?”  Because it’s trying to sleep.  “Maybe tomorrow, I can pet it?”

“Can I have some water (she gets cut off from liquids at 6:00 pm, to spare the midnight sheet changing episodes)?”  No more tonight, sweetie.  “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Dad, where you go?”  To the store.  “To the store, can I come?”  Not this time.  “Maybe tomorrow?”

Emily, don’t touch the knife.  “Why?”  Because it can hurt you.  “Maybe tomorrow?”

“Can we go grandma and papas?”  In a few days, we will see them.  “Maybe tomorrow?”

Maybe tomorrow . . .

Happy Birthday to Andy who turned 8 today.  The dude is turning into an amazing young man, and it is hard to believe that it’s been 8 years since we brought him home from the hospital.  We started the day with French Toast, and then playing with all the Lego’s and Bionicles that Andy acquired as gifts or with birthday money sent his way.  Later in the day, Andy had his friend Ryan over, and we went and played a few games of Lazer Tag.  All in all a great day, and we pray for many, many more to come.

This week also marked the end of all major office work.  While there are a bunch of little things that have to still be done in the way of touch ups and trim finishes, they can easily be done even while the office is finally occuppied.  The inspections went off without a hitch, and Gregg spent the week unpacking books, putting things in the new cabinets and drawers, and hanging pictures.  Many thanks to Tim Schweitzer, who organized the work, drew up the plans, built the cabinets, and worked his butt off to get this project done.  While Tim did the lion share of the work he was joined often by Motor Berghoff, Bob Stubbs, Robert Franks, and Tim Carroll who framed things out, ordered supplies, hung sheet rock, put in floors, hung windows and trim, and generally answered any lame questions I had.  Paul Blais was the electrical guru who answered all of my questions as I wired the room (and I called a ton).  Ray Keen showed up to do the dirty stuff like put in insulation and crawl under the house to tap into the duct work for the heat and AC.  Thanks too, to Neil, Tim’s brother in law who painted all the trim after spending his day painting.  Everyone of these guys are amazing, and we are so thankful for their servant’s hearts and amazing insights

More spring break running around . . .

We spent Friday driving through the gorge, and stopping at the kid friendly places along the way including the Bonneville Dam where the fish ladder was seemingly devoid of fish or sea lions, and the fish hatchery there at the dam where we fed the rainbow trout, and either marveled or recoiled in disgust at the huge sturgeon they have swimming in their ponds (this depended completely on one’s gender).

On Saturday we drove up to Olympia, WA to spend the day with our friends Paul, Callie, Kayla, Kelsi, & Logan Jones.  It was great catching up with them, and hearing all that God is doing in their church where Paul pastors.

Little Mermaids

Herman the Sturgeon

Multnomah Falls, and the ever serious Chastain clan