I thought I would post a few picture of the fish we caught at camp.  This year we ended up with only 9 fish.  I was a little disappointed but I’m sure Gabe’s not (he doesn’t like to eat them as much as he likes to catch them.)

Dear Sweet Little Naya girl,

     Oh how I wish you were here with us!  I know that God has another plan for your life but that doesn’t stop my heart from hurting.  I had such wonderful plans for you, for us.  I had a bedroom all ready that you were going to share with Jubilee.  I had thought about clothes for you but didn’t get too far into that because I didn’t know what size you were.  I had visions of taking you to the beach, eating pancakes with you on Saturday morning and just loving you abundantly more than anything.

     I realized that this week some of the families that committed to children the same time we committed to you are going to get their children.  My heart is empty.  I won’t travel to Ukraine this summer to meet you.  I won’t get to snuggle with you and give you a mother’s first kiss.  I won’t get to know what you smell like or what texture your hair is.  I won’t know what foods you like or if you have a deep raspy voice or a high pitched one.  There is indeed a big hole in my heart.

     I love you and I’m glad you didn’t have to spend another day without a mother but I’m so sad I’m not her.  I’m glad you didn’t have to spend another day in the orphanage.  It’s bittersweet…

     We had a super productive Memorial Weekend.  I know that isn’t the reason for Memorial Day but it worked well for us. 

     Mike and Gabe made a run to the garbage dump on Saturday.  We had several things just that needed moved out to open up more room.  We had two clothes washers that had served out their days and then died and a clothes dryer that also had the same fate.  We had a water heater that was half broken but had been replaced, a double stroller that got left in the rain and started to mold (not unusual for anything here in the Northwest), a couple of glass closet doors that had been broken, and a moldy shelf that was in one of our sheds.  Needeless to say, I was super glad to see all those things go.

     Sunday we had a great time of fellowship at church.  We had a covered dish dinner (the Pastor’s wife has a personal objection to calling it a Potluck) for the missionaries that were visiting.  I always enjoy being able to stay and talk at leisure with the members of our church without having to worry about what we will be eating for lunch.  The construction theme of the lunch was cute and the paper on the table to draw blue prints for our dream homes was a particularly bright idea. 

     On Monday I got the craft bug and made an apron for my good friend Joan.  I found this pattern a couple of years ago and instantly loved it.  I am especially a fan of the fact that it’s two sided and doesn’t need to be tied.  The apron doesn’t take that long to make but I did a few things in between making it so I worked on it most of the day.  I really liked the way Joan’s turned out so I am going to make a matching one for me.  (On a side note Beth and Jubilee are in need of aprons so that is going on the to do list soon)

     We took a family trip to the grocery store and bought a bunch of picnic type food.  It rained all day but we cooked hamburgers anyway.  I made some potato salad and cut up watermelon (Beth’s favorite!).  We sat down to a very yummy lunch (even if it wasn’t ready ‘til 2pm).

     We finished up the day with a game of Phase 10.  The game is to be continued…