Snapshots Summer Camp 2015

For some reason my blog does not want to upload pictures right now.  So this is the only one I will post for now from our camp last week.  We had our first English Camp of the summer at the same pension we always host it from.  Our theme this year is "snapshots," as in the snapshots we take of ourselves, and the snapshots we view other people or events by in life, and what those snapshots say about us or others.  We're also looking at some different snapshots of God and what we can learn about Him from those.  We're asking questions about why we take the snapshots we do of ourselves, why we set up the moment in certain ways, what we're trying to express to others, why we judge others by only a snapshot of a moment, what can we learn from them, and what can we learn from God and about God.  The first camp was a wonderful camp and being with the students and our helpers was awesome. We made many new friends and some great new memories.

The kids also did well and handled the changes and the chaos well.  In our lives here they are accustomed to a lot of change, being with various groups of people, and being away from us at certain times, so once again they managed going through these experiences well and as best they could at their ages.  Some of our dear friends and students here came to camp to solely help us with the children while Josh and I were away helping with English classes and leading many different games and then discussion groups and programs in the evenings.  Thankfully there are many fun things to do around the pension that the children were able to do with our friends.  They enjoyed playing outside, playing in a gym, playing on a playground, swimming inside, and watching the older students play various sports and activities. Jakub even participated in some of them alongside Josh, like water-balloon wars, skits, and frisbee.

It was an enjoyable, exhausting, emotional week with the students and I think we all loved it very much.  This week we're back in Olomouc doing various programs and devotionals for the students, as well as getting ready for the next camp, which will begin this coming weekend.

CThanks for your prayers for our church here, for these summer camps, and for our family as we do these various activities and events.  Please keep them coming!

Pretty things...

This beautiful little girl has started finding many things "pretty."  She will notice if I change my shirt or if I have showered and fixed my hair and make-up, and then she'll say "Mommy, that's so pretty!" or "Wow... I like that.  It's pretty."  She has such a sweet and gentle voice when she says it, and sometimes she'll then close her eyes and make this really big, sweet, close-mouthed smile and point her face up and it's like she's soaking in the whole moment or the whole thing that she finds so "pretty."  I just love it and I just love her!

Today I took Jakub for a little spoiling while Sofia stayed home for her typical after-lunch nap time.  I took Jakub to the mall for lunch with friends, then play time for him at a children's indoor play center, and some shopping.  I found this sweet little dress for Sofia on sale (and a cool shark shirt for Jake) with multi-colored birds on it and I knew she would love it.  When we gave it to her at home she immediately wanted to wear it, and twirl in it, and she said it was so pretty.  I loved that Jakub was just as excited to give it to her and see her in it as she was to have it.  Such a fun moment and fun day of spoiling them both.  It's something we don't do too often, which makes these moments such a sweet treat!

On a side-note, I have to brag on Jakub a little bit (and I just want to write down the moment to remember) for being a very kind brother today.  His treat was to eat at KFC in the mall for lunch.  And when he found out he could have the kid's meal box for lunch, with a toy in it, he immediately said he wanted to pick a toy for Sofia to have.  He picked a tiger flashlight that was just perfect for her and was so excited to give it to her.  He already has a flashlight at home and he wanted her to have her own as well.  I was proud of him for thinking of her and giving it to her without taking it for himself or taking it back from her.  I was proud of him.

What a good day with lots of blessings and love!  And pretty things!

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Happy Summer!

Yeah!!  This sweet boy finished school this week and our summer times are officially beginning!  Here in the Czech Republic they finish school the last day of June and usually resume with school the 1st of September.  The summer heat arrived just in time as well- it's around 90F each day this week and it's a sudden and hot change for us.  It's made for some beautiful play dates outside this week... and an eagerness to play in the shady parts of the parks.

Above you can see Jakub 2 weeks ago on his school field trip (with his beloved friend Johanka).  The weather was still cool then.  And his brave and wonderful teachers took the whole class on an all-day field trip that required a bus and train ride to a nearby village.  There, they hiked through the woods, and paths, and creeks, learning about wildlife, picking berries to eat, making small woodpiles for fires, drawing on rocks in creeks, and being treated to a village restaurant lunch.  I know the kids had a magical and memorable day with their teachers.  Jakub loved it!


Here are some more pictures:

Here's Jakub's life-long best friend, and school mate, Míkulaš.  They learned how to pick wild raspberries.  I'm sure they were delicious!

Here are the 5 year olds- who have grown so much in the last year!  Next year they will officially start Kindergarten together.  It will be their last year at školka and almost all of them have been together at school since they began at the age of 3.  It's been a joy to watch them grow together over the past 2 years.  I can't wait to see what the next school year will bring for all of them.

Some facts I don't want to forget about the end of this school year and Jakub:

- His closest friends are still Johanka, Terezka, Mikulaš, Filipek and Maxicek.
- He still loves to go to school each day and learn and play with his friends.
- He can count to 300, but he gives up sometimes in the 200's out of boredom.
- He can write his name, Sofia, Mom, Dad, Papa, Nana, Grandma, Pop, and Book
- He's beginning to try to read on his own, can sound out some simple words, and likes to read books with us each night before bed.
- He can still do simple addition and subtractions, he even quickly does addition in his head and surprises us with some of his correct thoughts and answers with numbers.  Seems that numbers are his thing.
- He speaks Czech as well as any other 5 year old and the teachers say his pronunciation is spot-on.  I'm so proud of him for trying and for speaking and not letting it hold him back from anything.  He's even helped me already in a couple of situations with kids.  It was great!
- He did well at the school olympics this year and loved the various competitions.  He had one of the longest jumps in the triple jump.

That's all for now. :)

We're Policemen!

Here are some of the kids that come to our English Program for children.  We had so much fun this week learning about firemen and policemen, and then we made these police hats together.  I've really enjoyed doing this program for the past several years, but of course it was a sad transition when Sarah Keen moved back to the states and I then did the program alone for a while.  It's been a joy the last year to have help from our new co-workers Kaylee and Madison.  When they lead the event I can then sit back with my own children and enjoy and participate in it fully with the other mothers who have become very good friends of mine.  Yesterday was one of those days.  Unfortunately, Sofia was recovering at home from a stomach flu, so she wasn't with us.  However, that gave me and Jake the opportunity to do the class together just the two of us.  That's something we've never really done as I was the sole leader when he was a baby and toddler, and by the time I had help to lead I already had Sofia.  Today I was able to love on him and experience the program as Kaylee lead it.  We had a lot of fun and my favorite part was making the police hat with him. :)

Joy in times of struggle

It seems we are in another phase of life, or maybe merely a moment in the grand scheme of things, of trials and struggle happening all around us.  It's not always directly related to us, but it's touching us through our family, friends, and loved ones.  It seems there are currently a lot of burden to carry. However, the Lord says we can cast our burdens on Him and He will sustain us (Psalm 55).  I find that to be true.  And through this truth we can continue to find hope and joy in many beautiful situations and in the people around us.  Despite the difficulties we or those we love are facing at this time, God has recently gifted me with such beautiful encounters from which I will cherish memories for a lifetime.  And I hang on to the joy and His promise, and it sustains me.  He sustains me.


Here are some of these moments in picture:

A wonderful evening with one of my closest and dearest friends here in Olomouc.  She and her children spent hours with us one friday night playing, painting, eating pizza, and playing some more. Sona and I had such encouraging and important conversations about our faith, marriages, children, motherhood, and more.  It was such a blessing to me!

This is from a girls night we hosted for our students at our center.  We discussed anchors in life, who and what they are, why we have them, and how Christ is our anchor.  We also relaxed together, enjoyed good conversations, and many moments of laughter.  I know I needed it!

These photos are from an evening spent at a Graduation Ball for some of our students who attend the same High School (the ball is known as a "ples" in Czech).  I felt like such a proud friend/mentor/Mom to these students and was honored they invited us to see this special ceremony alongside their families.  It is a unique experience here as each graduating class puts on a special performance for the audience, there are photo booths for taking pictures together, there's live music, videos made by students, dancing, and tables to sit at and spend the whole evening visiting with everyone.  We had such a lovely time!

And then of course there are these two.  Two of the greatest joys in my life right now.  They are precious and life with them gets better and better.  This was a sweet moment of them working together to do this large ocean puzzle (thanks again Laura and Rosten!).  They are just the best and amazing gifts given by God.  I'm extremely thankful for them.  How could I not look at those smiling faces, witness the love shared between them, and not find some perspective and joy in the midst of trials and worries.

If you read this and you pray, please pray for us, our friends, and our families.  So many of them right now are going through times of loss, heartache, extreme health situations, and struggles.  We hurt with them and for them.  I'm thankful that God says we can lay our burdens on Him and He will sustain us.  He promises to be our Rock, our Refuge, our Strength, our Comforter, our Savior.  The One who sustains.  And it's true.

Karneval 2015

Here's Jakub at his school "karneval" they had recently.  I know I've said it before, but I just LOVE his school, appreciate all the teachers do for them, and am extremely grateful that we were accepted to it.  Jakub has experienced many new and exciting things here, as well as been on many adventures I'm not accustomed to pre-schools doing for such young children, like ski-trips and bus rides to nearby castles.

As they do each year, they recently held a carnival for the kids and invited the kids to dress up however they would like and plan for a day full of games, fun, and adventure at the school.  I usually make Jakub's costume, but this year we decided to let him pick out a more elaborate one.  He chose spiderman, of course, and loved it.  The spider on the chest lights up.  I was just as enamored by it as him. :)

I am so happy his teacher captured this expression on his face.  It actually says a lot about her and the school as well.  This is his "I'm very happy, but a little embarrassed to express it, but still happy enough and feel safe enough with you to show it a little" face.  He wouldn't just let anyone have this expression and it's one more reminder that his teacher is awesome and that he is happy at school.

You can see above some of the fun things they did throughout the day.  Bag races, obstacle courses, balloon fun, and posing for silly pictures.  They also danced, exercised, listened to music and sang, and enjoyed eating special treats.



And here are the amazing teachers we've enjoyed having for 2 years now.

 

And his classmates...

Just a few things about Jakub at age 5:

- He's 4 feet tall and measures around 97th percentile for his age.  He's an entire head-size above most of his classmates and peers.  Not only does he look older, but often prefers to play with kids older than him as well.

- He loves to ride his bike outside, even in the cold.  And recently we've been enjoying sledding a lot with the winter weather.  He's not afraid to go alone and even to slide on his body on the ice down the hill near our home.

- He's physically fast and strong, which sometimes gets him into trouble when playing with others as he can hurt them quickly when playing too rough.  This obviously happens a lot with sister.

- He eats pretty much anything without complaint, except cooked carrots, peppers, and mushrooms.  He prefers them raw.

- He's enjoying praying again on his own and volunteers to often, which makes my heart and soul happy and thankful.  He often prays for everyone in the world to be ok and for God to watch over them, prays for family members, and almost always asks that God help each of us 4 to listen to Him and to each other.  Sometimes Sofia already wants to pray with him or she tells him what to pray for and he obliges, which is sweet and kind.

- His best friends at school are Filipek Vanek, Mikulasek Vejmola, Alex and Terezka.

Love you Jakub!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Sofia!

Here you are on your 2nd Birthday.  You are just the sweetest thing (though plenty sassy as well) and you were especially happy and energetic on your special day.  You knew it was your birthday and you could clearly say "I am 2" well before the big day.  We practiced a lot. :)



The day started off as beautiful with clear, blue skies and very cold temps.  There's still snow and ice on the ground from the previous weeks weather.  We had a nice, normal Saturday morning full of play time around the house and getting ready for your small birthday party later that afternoon.  Jakub drew you a birthday card at breakfast time and that was so kind of him to do.  No matter how much you two might argue at times, he has a really protective and loving side for you as well.  He couldn't wait to tell you Happy Birthday and to sing to you.

I spent most of the morning working on your cake as well.  I had it in my mind that I wanted to make you a really special, beautiful, girly cake.  What turned out was good enough, and tasted great, but wasn't as pretty as I had hoped.  Still, it was fun and I was looking forward to making it for you and thinking about you the whole time.

And while you and I were cooking and playing during the morning time your brother and Daddy went out to get you birthday flowers, which I also used on your birthday cake.  They were gorgeous!

And after your nap time most of our teammates, who are more like family to us here, came over to celebrate with us.  Mitch was away in the U.S. and Monika was away at her home in Slovakia, but the rest were able to be here.  They love you very much!

Here you are with Kaylee, Madison, Conor, and Alyssa.  You loved opening your gifts from everyone and then eating a bunch of cake as well. :)  You also seemed to like us singing Happy Birthday to you, but you were also shy with all of the attention and hid your eyes at one point. :)
Here are some more pictures from that time.

Of course brother wanted to be right there with you and had a hard time not opening everything for you or showing you how everything works.  I can't wait to see you two play in one more year from now when you can really keep up with him.  I think you two will have a lot of fun.  Right now you love to follow him around and you think whatever game he comes up with is the best.  You really look up to him and it's sweet to see.  I have to add here while I'm thinking of it that one of my favorite things is watching you see him for the first time when you wake up or when he gets home form school.  You immediately look for him, ask for him, or call out to him (Kubo!).  You want to hug him and hold him and talk to him right away.  He doesn't always want this, but even when he pushes you away (as older brothers often do) you keep on loving on him or following him around.

Above is you opening the necklace and earrings he gave you.  He picked it out for you and was so happy to tell you that he thought of you and picked it out all by himself.  It was a great moment to witness him publicly loving on you and giving you a gift.  You loved it and wore the necklace to church on Sunday with your birthday dress Daddy and I gave you. :)

Jakub decided to take some pictures and made me do a silly face - his favorite thing. :)

There are so many more pictures I could add.... You were just so sweetly and innocently happy to be experiencing and enjoying a birthday with the people who love you so much.    After opening all of the gifts you and brother began playing with many of them.  He loved the play-do set Madison gave you and played with that a lot while you blew bubbles and played with a monkey game Kaylee gave you.  Conor and Alyssa gave you an apron, which was perfect, because Daddy and I gave you a small kitchen and you already have a lot of play-kitchen things to cook with.  You love to cook and make me food- especially pizza!

We also made a birthday dinner all together which consisted of soft tacos, avocado dip and chips, a mexican bean dish, a bean and corn salad, salsa, and fresh cucumbers and bell peppers sliced.  It was yummy and you loved it!

We had such a fun time together!  Here are a few more things I want to remember from this special time when you turned 2:

- After the party was over, everyone had gone home, and we had cleaned up the house, your Daddy and I spent 1.5 hours watching videos of your birth, your first day at home, and brothers first time to see you and hold you.  It was wonderful!

- I made another cake with flowers on top and took it to church on Sunday so we could sing to you and celebrate with our church family.  It was very meaningful to me to do that.  And there you received your gift from Nav, which was a painting I asked her to make for you.  It's a beautiful, starry night with 4 owls sitting in a tree- one for each of us in our family.

- You are speaking all of the time now and saying many 3 word sentences.  You repeat most anything we ask and pretty clearly now.  You say many English words (I counted one day but stopped around 100...) and in Czech you say "Doma (home), pa pa (bye bye), ahoy (hello, goodbye), tady a tam (here and there), ne (no), and jo! (yeah, yes).  Our Grandmother here, Babi, keeps you 2 times a week and says you understand her completely now, even if you don't say everything back to her yet.

- You can count to 14, though you miss numbers here and there of course.  But you get close to getting it all right each time.

- Your favorite stories or cartoons are still Barney and Baby Bop, Curious George, and Princess Holly and Ben Elf.  You ask to read these books at bedtime every night.  You love to be read to and you will listen for as long as someone wants to read, which is great.

- Your favorite colors, because of Barney, are still "Barney Purple" and "Baby Bop Green."

- This winter we have had a lot of snow and ice recently and you LOVE to ride on the sled with Kuba and also to sled down the hill behind our home.  You are not afraid to go down it and you love to just be outside in general, even if it's really cold.  You aren't even afraid to run on snow and ice, which always scares me to death.

- I don't know your health stats as we haven't had your 2 year check-up yet.  I plan to do that this week. :)  You seem very tall though, for your age, and you talk more than most kids your age around us.  You wear 2-3year old clothes and your shoe is a 26-27.

- You have a baby doll that you call baby that goes everywhere with you and that you must sleep with.  It's sweet to watch you take care of her.

- You sleep well by yourself in your bed each night, still a crib, and you sleep usually from 8 to 8.  You share a room with Jake, which you both seem to like.  I think he finds it comforting to know you are there.

That's all for now.  More to come soon!  Happy Birthday to our sweet little girl.  We love you so, so much!