The Marshall Family Adventures: July 2014

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Country Life

We have been really enjoying living in the country. More than I thought. It is so beautiful out here! The sunsets, the reflection of the trees off the pond, the blue herring that we watch catch his breakfast every morning...

Addy caught the first fish out of the pond.

The whole family works together outside and we have so much fun!

Our first get together was with the worship team. Our second was a "family reunion" 4th of July. We love having people out!

We got a couple of kitties! Chloe loves them. They are afraid of the other kids, but Chloe is surprisingly gentle!

GOATS! It's been a great project for Addy. She takes care of them every day and will sell them in about a month and get her college fund started.

Of course there are all kinds of bugs. Caterpillars and grasshoppers are the kids' favorite to catch.

A relaxing paddle boat ride is nice at the end of the day. When you go out with Luke it's not going to be relaxing. He thinks you must constantly pedal.

Even babies notice the fingerprints of their Creator in what He has created.

Catching fish is so exciting!

Our neighbors have a pool. We've gone swimming a couple times. Brooke's "gobbles" are just for looks. They don't do too well keeping the water out!

Ahhh. The sunsets.

God is Good. All the time!

The past few months have been a little stressful. There has been so much change! But through all the trials and uncertainties, we have a constant. God never changes, and he does all things for the good of those who love Him! He has used so many diferent circumstances to show us His kindness to us right now. Addy gave me this paper a while back with some verses she wrote out for me. She thought they would be helpful to me. They were just what I needed to hear. She is such a sweetheart.

It has been awesome to see how God is making things unfold. His plan is something I would never have thought of! A couple days before we moved out of our house our neighbor's house caught on fire!

We wanted to help them if we could, so we offered to let them stay in our house. It turns out they need to rent something for 4-6 months while their house is being fixed, and our house is perfect since we are right across the street. So their insurance is paying us rent. We don't have to pay the utilities, or pay the higher cost for insuring a vacant house! And they get to be right there to watch the progress on their house.

We have been getting Addison't medical bills from when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Our insurance paid some, but our portion is still really high. A friend told us about a program that Children't Mercy has that pays a percentage of the bill if you meet certain qualifications. We filled out all the paperwork and mailed it in and waited. Today I called to see if they had received the paperwork, and they told me that it had just been processed today and that our portion was covered 100% and we would be getting a letter in the mail explaining it! I couldn't believe it! Through the trials, the times of joy, the sadness, the excitement, God continually shows Himself to be a BIG God worthy of ALL praise! PRAISE GOD!

From the mouths of babes.

It was a 7 Up kind of week at our house and Luke asked Brooke if she wanted some. Brooke promptly replied, "I can't! It says 7 and Up and I'm only 5!"

Chloe(age 2), was jabbering after dinner. We turned on Wheel of Fortune and a commercial came on so we muted the tv. It was a commercial about cars, and Chloe proceeded to describe everything that was happening. "There's a red tar and another red tar and it's going fast and it's turning..." Scott says, "We've got a commentary!" Immediately Chloe replies,"TOM AND JERRY! I WANT TO WATCH TOM AND JERRY!" Scott didn't understand why she was suddenly talking about Tom and Jerry. I said, "She thought you said Tom and Jerry, not commentary!" As we were getting ready for bed she said, "Why didn't we watch Tom and Jerry?"

Brooke, age 2, was getting ready for bed. Her diapers were on the top of the dresser. When I went in to help her, she already had her pajamas and diaper ready to put on. I said, "Brooke, how did you get your diaper down?" Without missin a beat she replied, "It was magic!"

While riding in the van Luke said, "Mama, I won't get married until you die. I want to live with you until you die and then I'll get married. That's what I'm gonna do.
Addy: I want to get married before you die because I want you to see my kids.
Luke: Oh...Well, I'll get married before you die, but I still love you more than anyone else.

Grandma Sharon took the kids to a carnival they were having at the school while Scott and I went to Topeka for a Dr. appointment. While they were there they went to look at a bunny in one of the classrooms. Brooke looked at the bunny for a while, then pointed into the cage and said, "There's chocolate chips in there!"

Luke asked why I don't just take the baby out if I'm ready? I told him I was going to let the baby decide when to come out. Then Addy said, "If you're going to let the baby decide that, then why don't you let us decide whatever we want to do?"

One of Luke's favorite books is "The Prince's Poison Cup." It's a book that portrays Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. I was having bad heartburn and he comes and whispers in my ear, "Mama, just think about the Prince's Poison Cup. That was way worser."

While tucking Brooke into bed the other night I said, "Brooke, you're getting so big! What happened to my little baby?" She immediately sat up, lifted up my shirt, pointed to my belly button and said, "Baby in tummy!"

Scott is reading Proverbs with the kids for bible time. He read Proverbs 12:1 - Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Scott asked, "What does that mean?" Luke said, "Well, it means I'm stupid." Then he said, "I guess I love spankings."

Brooke and Addison were talking. Brooke just babbles now, but Addy was babbling back. Then Addy stopped and said, "Brookie, sometimes we speak English."

While holding Luke's hand and walking down the street I told him, "Luke you have strong hands." To which he replied, "I know. That's so I can drive big green tractors."

Tonight before bed Addy said, "What's the difference between self-esistent (existent) and self-sufficient?" Scott explained it and then said, "they're kind of alike." She laughed and said, "They even kinda sound alike." The whole time I'm shocked that she can even pronounce those words!

Scott told Addy he was going to take her on a daddy daughter date. She got really excited and went up to her room to get ready. She not only got herself ready but she laid out clothes for him to wear! Black windpants, blue shirt, and running shoes. Not bad for a date to Claires and Braums.

On Luke's date with daddy they went to Braums for breakfast. As he was eating his pancakes he briefly paused and said, "We have GOT to do this again."

Addy says, "There's 3 things I want for Christmas, 3 things, only 3." I say, "Ok, what are they?" She says, "I want those things that you look through and see things. (binoculars) I want to be in the Sound of Music, and I want to spend the night at grandma and grandpa's whenever I want."

While riding in the car Addison asks, "Mommy, do the neighbor kids know Yahweh?"

Addy says to Luke out of the blue while riding in the car. "Lukey if mama gets fat it means she has a baby in her tummy."

Luke is in the habit of telling me, "Thank you for the yummy food." at dinner. One night he was really enjoying his meal when he let out a really big burp. Scott looked at him and said, "Luke, what do you say?" Luke replied, "Thank you for the yummy food!"

I asked Luke to pick up the living room and as he was picking up he started singing the song from Annie, "It's a hard knock life, for us!" Yeah, he has a really hard life...

After cleaning her room Addison proudly announced that she "cleaned it like a mother would clean it."

Luke was walking around with his shirt off and a post it note stuck to his chest saying, "Here's the good news! I have some good news!" I said, "What's the good news Luke?" He said, "JESUS!!!"

Someone asked Addison how old she was and she said, "I'm five. I'm a whole hand."

Every night at dinner Addison asks Scott if he is going anywhere or doing anything tonight. If the answer is he is staying home she always says, "Can we go on a daddy daughter date?" Then Luke says, "No I want to go on a daddy daughter date...without Addy." They love time with their daddy.