July at the Dale Home! :)

Summer wild flower season is under way and lupines are beginning to pop up everywhere! This picture was taken on a much needed alone-time-with-Jesus walk the other day - what a Creator we serve!!

This week we were able to reconnect with some friends from NC. They have a little one of their own and my friend was talking about how challenging it can be to entertain a one-and-a-half year old. I laughed, remembering all too well those first few years home alone with first Ian and then also Julie-Joy.  There were days I thought I would lose my mind from sheer boredom.  There are only so many times you can read "Go Dogs Go!" and there were days the kids had at least two baths just to keep them busy!

Life right now is anything but boring as it seems to be rushing down the road at break-neck

speed.....and we're so thankful for Lillian (here's a picture of the birthday girl!) who calls all of us to slow down regularly and enjoy that season of life when kids are little. It hit me the other day that this year we have one in high school, one in middle school, one in elementary school and a baby! This coming week we're meeting with a school administrator to make a plan of action for Ian's high school years!! In the mean time, the kids are busy with summer sports activities (the girls are swimming, Ian just started practicing with the high school cross country team). The times of the day when we can sit down and fully reconnect as a family are becoming more and more precious as I realize they will pass all too quickly.

Yesterday evening our family drove down to the Fraser Fields, parked the van and sat together in the back "oo-ing and ah-ing" at the fireworks. Sweet memories!!

We have several prayer requests for this season so I'll list them in bullet point:

- Lillian's health (she is having some testing done as she has dropped significantly on the growth chart) - mostly that she would take in fluids - she has refused to nurse all week and refuses all forms of fluids in any shape or form (straw, sippy cup, bottle, spoon, regular cup...you name it we've tried it!), so we're getting really creative with liquidy foods! Our prayer is that she would start drinking milk very soon as it has a lot of calories that she really needs right now.

- preparations for this coming school year and good conversations with teachers for Ian and Julie-Joy.

- staff housing at Timberline continues to be a need and a challenge

- the third guest group of the season is now here (we're SO thankful for a full summer season - it's also a lot of hard work). The staff has had very little down time. Thankfully Reid was able to take yesterday and today off. Please pray that the staff would be refreshed and ready/able to serve with joy!

- the continued ability to find creative ways to reconnect: e.g. Reid took Ian with him for a Denver Sam's Club and Restaurant Depot run for Timberline and that provided some good conversation time in the car; Reid and I try to reconnect in the evenings by going on a walk, playing tennis (I am not very good and he is very patient with me! :), or going to the store together.

- our family is excited because this coming week my Mom and her/our friend Anne arrive for a ten day visit (my Dad will be here two nights before he goes to England for the annual directors conference). Anne's daughters were some of my dearest friends growing up (fellow Torchbearer kiddos!) as well as our next door neighbors in Germany (and the reason I drink tea today! :) - I haven't seen her in 14 years so it'll be especially fun to reconnect!!