A New Lyon Cub!

We are so excited for a new Lyon cubbie to join our crazy crew. Justin and I had a sweet date at CPK where we found out together (I took a test but didn't look at it until our date!) The girls were very excited when we told them. There is no doubt that Kalena wants another sister (she informed us she wants 10 sisters, and that she prayed to Jesus to ask for twin baby sisters) but we are sure she will love a baby brother too, she just doesn't know it yet. We are so thankful to God for the gift of another child. We don't deserve His kindness and love.

Stroller Nap

Katelyn was playing next to me while I was cleaning the girls room. All of a sudden I realized she wasn't crawling around anymore. She had wedged herself into the doll's stroller. She tried a little to get out, but didn't seem to mind she was stuck. She gave up trying to get out, and in another couple minutes, she was fast asleep! It was so precious!!

The Bogstad's House

Sara was playing with her playhouse and people yesterday and I was in the kitchen making dinner. I thought I miss heard her so I poked my head around the corner to listen. Sure enough, she was saying "It's the Bogstad's house." Every person and animal she had was crammed into her play house.

The Bogstads are a very dear family to us. They have been at NorthCreek Church for a long time. I babysat their kids, Justin and Dave served on Jr. High staff together and Justin asked Dave advice on dating me (thanks for approving Dave!). Chris came to live with us in L.A., was very involved in our Epoch Bible Study and is now managing our house there. He is such a solid man of God, it is hard to imagine I ever babysat him! Alli is a huge encouragement to me, as she strived diligently to lead and disciple a huge group of female students at UC Davis, and is now very involved in Kaleo. She is always striving after the will of God and trying to live her life in a way that pleases Him. We are so privileged now to be back in ministry with Dave and Cindy in Kaleo. They have served the group so faithfully and it has been such a huge encouragement for us to watch and learn from them as a God fearing, God honoring couple. Dave's teaching in Kaleo has been encouraging and convicting!! They have been so generous opening their beautiful home to Kaleo events. What an example they are... even to my 2 year old!! Even little Sara recognizes the importance of the Bogstad's house :) We are so thankful to the Lord for allowing us this wonderful time, and relationship with the Bogstad family.

Katelyn is 1!!

Our sweet little Katelyn is 1 year old! We love our little Katie-bear so much!! It is hard to believe she is now one, because she still looks so much like a little baby (not much hair and only 2 teeth). We have nicknamed Katie our little "Monster" because she is very strong, and can plow right over Sara and over most toys and things that get in her way. When the girls are playing and Katelyn starts heading towards them, they yell "Here comes the monster!!"
Katelyn loves to read, to play with toys, and eat. Her favorite foods are cottage cheese, avocado, bananas, any kind of meat and bread. Katelyn has taken some steps on her own and can stand up on her own without help up, but she is not walking yet. She can, however climb up onto a two step stool in the kitchen and can almost climb right into the sink! She can also go from our wooden high-chair right onto the table if she is not strapped in.
She is a huge cuddler. Even right now as I write, she is standing next to me with her head in my lap. She is always putting her head on me to cuddle and I love it. Occasionally I see her cuddle one of her sisters and it is so sweet! I am so glad she is already finding comfort in them. Kalena loves to cuddle her, which includes grabbing her around her waist and rolling around the floor with her while their cheeks are pressed together. Katelyn loves it. A friend was babysitting recently and Katelyn was extremely upset after a nap, until Kalena came to comfort her. Immediately when Kalena comforted her she stopped crying and was ready to play.
The three girls have started to play together so well, often I hear them from another room and they are all three giggling uncontrollably. I love that they love each other so much!! I pray that their relationships between each of them continue to grow and would be strong, healthy and productive in their lives to encourage one another to be more like Christ! I am so excited to watch all three girls grow closer together!

My Little Ponies and Total Depravity

Kalena and Sara play with My Little Ponies everyday now. They love them and play really well together. I ease dropped on them one day and heard this: "Sara, this is the God pony, this pony is going to be God." Somehow a My Little Pony being "God" immediately caused me to step in and re-direct Kalena, instructing her that God is not in the form of a pony. She then stated, "But mommy, the ponies need a God, they are all sinners!!!" I opened my mouth, thinking I was going to reply with something wise, but nothing came out. I shut my mouth. "You are right, sweetie, the ponies are sinners." I backed away and let them resume playing. She might not have a grasp on God as a Spirit being that we are not to make an image of, but it seems she is catching on to the doctrine of total depravity :) It excites me when I see that the hard work and words I poor into them each day didn't just go in one ear and out the other as so often it seems. Moments like these that catch me off guard and show me that they are learning about our Creator are so precious. I thank God that He is instructing their hearts, and I pray He continues to reveal Himself and His Truth to them more and more as they grow. I want them know Him personally, to trust Him, and to Love Him.

My New Favorite Word

One of my favorite things to hear Sara say is "probably." Here is my best phonetic rendition: "Plobly"

Sara got very tired during trick or treating since during the day she was too excited to take her nap. I knew it was time for her to stop when at one house, the woman offered Sara candy and she replied "No, thank you," stuck her thumb in her mouth and turned around to walk back to me. The lady about died. Not quite what she was expecting from a trick or treater!

For several days now we have been having "Welcome home daddy surprise." When daddy gets home everyone gets a little candy treat. Recently while eating candy, Sara exclaimed "My mouth really likes candy!"

Sara Bear

Our sweet squishy smily Sara is now 2 1/2! This half a year has flown by! Sara still such a funny little girl, always trying to make us laugh. She wants to play games and be tickled all day long. Her new favorite word is "usually" and she uses it frequently. I was making asparagus and Sara came in the kitchen to see what I was doing. When she saw what I was making was green, she asked what it was. I said it was asparagus and she said "Mom, I don't like es scary gas." Then when Lisa (our neighbor and dear friend) was trying to get her to eat it she exclaimed "I usually don't like asparagus." She is just so funny because she is so talkative and has so much to say about everything! We are constantly amazed that she can articulate her thoughts so well. When she gets really excited about something, she gets so overwhelmed that she can't speak in coherent sentences and she raises her little hands up by her face and waves them around. It is so cute and funny and I just can not contain myself when she is in this state. It is simply hilarious.

Every time she goes down for a nap or bedtime, she wants me to cuddle her. She still sucks her thumb and plays with her belly button to sooth herself, but she has also added pressing her belly up against anything cold. This sounds weird... and it is :) When she gets tired and starts sucking her thumb and playing with her belly she will go up to the wall, lift up her shirt and press her belly against it. While lying in bed she will roll over to the wall and lie flat against it to feel it cool against her belly. I typically have cold hands and especially now as the weather is changing, my hands are always cold. So, it has become routine that when I cuddle her, I press a cold hand against her warm little belly. She smilies and puts her little hand on top of mine. She is so precious.

I pray for my sweet Sara Bear to be able to use her humor and spunky personality for the Lord. I pray she will become excited about worshiping our great God and that her energizer bunny demeanor will never go away but will be used mightily for the sake of God and the Gospel. I pray that Sara will have a love for Jesus Christ that is greater than mine. Thank you God for the gift of Sara Grace!!!