God is good. . . and now we have a van that we all fit in!!!

I am still in shock.  Seriously. . .   I have been asking everyone to pray for us as we try to find a vehicle for our growing family.  I have been mildly terrified and simultaneously grumpy as we have a nice mini-van that is barely seven years old, which has MANY YEARS left in it.  In any case, God is good and has taken care of us.  The parents of a friend I met in high school (and her sister that Gordie met in college - small world as my high school and his college are two hours apart) happened to have a 12 passenger van they no longer require as their children are grown now.  After some phone calls and meeting today, they are now the proud owners of our Ford Escape and we are the proud owners of a 12 passenger E350 Ford GINORMOUS van.  I was hesitant to even look at the vehicle after they told me over the phone that it had 180 thousand miles.  But I am so glad we did as it is a BEAUTIFUL VAN (and not white!!) and just amazing.  It drives better than the 12 passenger vans I used to drive for my university (when I would pick up new students at the airport).  I am still utterly in awe.  To add to it, after a little testing (and some readjusting of the garage door), we think it MIGHT EVEN fit in the garage!!  (And after many MANY driving lessons, Gordie might even be able to teach ME how to put it there!!  :)

I just keep looking out the window in shock.  We are so blessed.  Thank you, God!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

A birthday evening. . . through pictures. . . 

Birthday Brownies. . . minus the candles because. . . 

Candles put in birthday brownies too soon. . . that melted the bottoms - oops!!

So we improvised with "other" candles and children to bear them.  (3 representing 3 and 3 for 33 :)

Daddy blowing out the candles - and turning off Miriam's candle (it was electric - and was not considered "valid" so it did not throw off the three for thirty-three bit)

Paul loves birthdays!

Group shot, just after the candles were blown out.

Since I am cheap and did not feel like wasting wrapping paper. . . and we did not have a gift bag large enough for our gift, I let Rebekah color on the bag they gave us at the store.  

Back of the bag - yes, we got the gift from JC Penny. . . it was a blanket, in case you were curious. . . and I somehow managed to miss getting a picture of it.

These are all the kids in the family.

And here are "Dad and Mom"

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!  We love you very much!!  And we thank God for the amazing husband and father you are for us.  Love, your wife and children.

7 Quick Takes for a Thursday in February

Yes, "traditionally" 7 Quick Takes is done on Friday, but I feel like posting today and I think I can rock this format in the time I have so, there ya go :)

1) Miriam and Paul have been making my life miserable at daily Mass.  I'm seriously contemplating the cry room next time. . . which is huge for me as I'm really NOT A FAN of cry rooms.  I see their purpose, but I feel so distanced from everything going on and then the older kids have no immediate need to behave either and. . . basically I'm afraid that if I am in the cry room, I will not focus on their behavior as much and then will they ever learn to behave??  (Of course, focusing on Mass more would be nice.  . . )

2) Today, even though the younger kids were not particularly well-behaved (almost the exact opposite, actually) we still ended up making a triple-batch of homemade donuts this morning.  Rebekah and Samuel helped a ton (and I mean REALLY helped - not "helped" like the little kids do).  And now those two are baking the rest (in the donuts as I sit here and type this).  What a moment of bliss. . . 

3) Miriam is getting a lot more words.  (Seems she LOVES to practice them during Mass, too. . . sigh.)  She has the basics: baby, kitty, bye, ball, more, MINE.  I find her trying to say more (as in repeat after me) but often she just says the first letter and considers it good.  I find it entertaining.  I don't think any of the other children did this.

4) We are looking at a possible van this weekend.  It is old, with a lot of miles, and makes me nervous already and I have not even seen it, but it is very affordable. . .  I'm trying to keep an open mind about things, but even though my husband is a pretty-amazing mechanic, he gets busy and things still cost money and all, so I'm frightened to think if it would break down.  I wonder if I would feel comfortable taking an older van on trips and such. . . but then again, who knows the next time we will be taking a trip anywhere.  Although we COULD afford a modest car payment (say to buy our current van again), I also do not like wasting money, either.  It is a tough decision.  Lots of prayer in this for sure.

5) My kids are IN LOVE with this new music CD I found on Amazon.  It is from the "Dogma Dogs."  Seriously, they BEG for it.  It is peppy and fun and in-line with Church teaching.  They sing about Lent, the 10 Commandments, and about anything else you can imagine.  A great purchase and a real hit here!

6) Rebekah wants to learn how to make coffee so she can make coffee for Daddy and I in the morning.  Although I could probably teach her, I have not done so yet.  But it just melts my heart that she has such a desire.  She is such a blessing.  My friends all tell me I must be "raising her well" but I think she is just one of those super-sweet kids that practically raise themselves!!  I definitely am not taking much credit.

7) Samuel has finished THREE of his school textbooks (Math, Geography, and his Reading Textbook, we will still read novels and such, though) for the year and it is only February!  That boy can really "rock things out" when he focuses.  I already purchased our science book for "next year" and both kids are SUPER EXCITED about it (as they will be doing it together - one hardback textbook and they each have an age-appropriate notebook to go with it).  So I told them when they finish "this year's work" we will start in on Science early. (I'm thinking maybe over the summer.)  Who knew more school work could be such a motivator?

And some fun pictures to end with. (my favorite part of the "journal" posting form that I am including here - hey it is my blog, I can break the rules if I want to :) 

 Happy Thursday!!