Welcome Home, Jake

Jake made it home last night around 9pm. Saying that he was wound up with excitement would be an extreme understatement. He spent a few hours showing us everything he had purchased (his favorite was a full size Canadian flag) and telling us everything he did. My favorite part was when he said "Mom, they shouldn't just call it World Changers, they should call it Life Changers because you really get a lot closer to God while you are there". He then told us all about their nightly worship services and their Tuesday night 'concert of prayer'. He was excited to tell us about spackling, painting, landscaping and spreading concrete. All in all, he had a fantastic time and can't wait to go again. Rumor has it that next year's trip may be to Alaska. I may just have to be team leader on that one : )

Hannah and Lily are thrilled to have him home. Lily, because he is her best brother. Hannah because 'everything is boring without Jacob'.

Mom and dad are happy to have him home and thankful for all that he has learned and experienced over the course of a week. We pray that he carries it with him and continues to grow.

Jake in Canada

Jake is in Canada this week on a mission trip with World Changers. He left at midnight on Friday night and got there around 4:30 Ottawa time on Saturday afternoon. He was a bit nervous but very excited about the trip. He called on Sunday to let me know that he was put on a team that would be leveling and rebuilding supports on a porch, doing some landscaping, etc. He also mentioned how great church was that morning and that they had listened to a great preacher. If you feel inclined, lift him and his group in prayer this week to ask God's blessing on their work and that they would get the opportunity to explain to others why they are there doing what they are doing. If interested, you can visit his work site on http://www.world-changers.net/. Go to the tab titled 2008 Projects. Then, go to July 12-19 and click on the link for Ottawa, Ontario.

Hannah is a little envious that she did not get to go with Jacob (she was too young). I remember feeling the same way when I could not go on youth trips when my older sister did. But, she is getting to spend some quality time with us and getting to stay up late, etc. She also gets to boss Lily around more, and that makes her happier than anything else in the world : )

Lily misses Jacob (her best brother). On the way to church yesterday she looked at the empty seat next to her and said "I miss Jacob..." and fake sniffled a few times. She also slept in his bed last night so she wouldn't miss him so much. She also gets to get bossed around by Hannah more, and that makes her angrier than anything else in the world : )

Kermit is finishing up a few things in the basement. My parents are moved back in (most of the way) but there are a few lingering things to complete. There is a light at the end of the tunnel (a dim one, Kermit says).

I have been trying to hold everything together while things are chaotic...what else is new! I can't believe it is already the middle of July! The kids go back to school on August 20th....it is quickly approaching. AAAAHHHHHH!

Putting Things Back In Their Place....Soon I Hope!

So one thing that Kermit didn't mention in all of his vacation posts is that our basement flooded while we were traveling. The biggest issue with this is that my parents live in the basement so a lot of their 'stuff' got trashed. We actually found out it was flooded on the day we were traveling home. My sister had come by the house to check on it and discovered the problem. We had been having record rainfall for several weeks running and either our sump pump couldn't keep up, the power was out too long or it all came in the back door. Whatever the cause, we took on about four inches.

I have to say, I was speechless when we got home and I realized that my sister and brother had come over at 8pm one night and stayed until 4:30am the next morning and cleaned out the entire basement of all of my parent's belongings (trust me...that was a job!). They even went so far as to rip up the carpet, cut it and roll it so the garbage man would pick it up the next day. They are such a blessing and they have no idea how much that meant to us.

Anyway, Kermit spent two days ripping out all the drywall, etc. We then had to let it dry out for two weeks. The drywall guys came this week and it should be ready to paint tomorrow...YES!! It will be great to get the parents back in their room. They have been living in our small living room for the last several weeks. Let's just say it's time to put everything (and everyone) back in their respective places : )

All in all, we have taken it all in stride. The kids have helped do the demo and done a lot of clean up. We have just decided that we don't know why God wanted a new basement in his house...but he is getting one!

The kids are enjoying being out of school. Jake has truly become a teen and wants to sleep until 10 every morning and then wants to stay up late each night. Hannah has been reading like crazy and trying to design clothes for her American Girl doll. Lily has been entertaining us with her version of all of our VBS songs from last week. She doesn't always get the words right but she sings them with gusto!

Closing for now or I'll keep rambling : )