In The Middle

Kathryn and Qavah are often the subject of my posts because so many friends and family members are following their health updates.  However, tonight I have an update on our middle son, Paul Burton.  He is on his way to Washington DC to fly out tonight on a mission trip to El Salvador.  While there, he plans to help with a building project and assist in medical exams given to the children and parents at the mission compound.  He decided to pack light but is taking a guitar with him for playing and singing with the kids.  Then he is hoping to leave the guitar for other missionaries to use, or give it to one of the children with musical ability.  Tonight before he left, we circled around him and prayed that the guitar would be an answer to someone's prayer.  There is someone in El Salvador who has been longing for a guitar and will soon have it in their hands. Using us mere mortals is just one way God works in this world.  Paul Burton gets to deliver the guitar;  but we are all just instruments in God's hands.  We're so happy for Paul Burton, and the joy he will have in giving.

Snack

This was a recent conversation between Kathryn and Qavah.  I'm still chuckling about it.

Kathryn:  Are you hungry Qavah?

Qavah:  No I fixed a snack all by myself!

Kathryn:  You did?  What did you make for yourself?

Qavah:  I got a bowl and put eight marshmallows in it because I am eight years old now, and I ate them all up.

I thought about being eight years old again, being able to help myself to a bowl full of sugar treats and not have it settle on my waistline, and I thought, "You go girl!" Maybe I'm too old to be raising a child!

Tree House Birthday

As I have mentioned before, Paul bought our present home and property with the future generations in mind.  At the time we had three teenagers, so grandchildren seemed an idea for the far and distant future.  Here we are fourteen years later with an eight-year-old, and four grandchildren, a gift from Colin and Jennifer.  The children ran their little legs off on Saturday as we celebrated Qavah's birthday.  Her party included Grandma and Granddaddy, and all of her "forever family."  At the end of the day Qavah crawled into bed and said, "You know what?  This was the best best day ever!"  I'm glad she thought so. 

The tree house has an automatic gate closer at the top. Once the children enter into the tree house, the gate closes behind them for safety.  Paul also rigged up a little basket and pulley to hoist up toys and snacks.  The children had a picnic supper in the tree house and we could hear them talking from below.  They were dreaming about finding pirates with their spy glass that Paul made for them out of PVC pipe.  I couldn't have imagined all of this back when we bought this home, but I am glad Paul did.  Sometimes God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow into them.  This dream now fits perfectly.

Click on the picture below and a little picture album will appear.  To see a clearer picture, click on the pictures within the album.  We are working on the clarity of the pictures and we'll fix them later tonight.  Paul said that there is not one square corner on the tree house and everything had to be custom fit.  It took almost four weeks to complete, working at it a little bit each evening.  My husband told me that sometime soon, on a moonlit night, there will be two chairs up there with two cups of coffee for us.  Nice!

Tree House

Making Memories

Paul has almost finished the tree house.  I will soon post pictures of that adventure. During the time that Paul was trying to devote to the project, we had problems with the pump and pressure tank on our well.  Since all of our well water supply is used for daily living and running our air conditioning system, we went several days without both.  We used the swimming pool for keeping comfortable and clean.  Qavah may think of these days as some of the best in her life because she had plenty of pool fun with everyone.   

I had a lunch meeting today with friends, and Paul Burton took Qavah to the hospital for a blood transfusion.  I think Qavah sees him as a "prince charming" and was very pleased that she got to ride in his car to the hospital.  We are all making preparations for a birthday party for her on Saturday.  Next month we will have had Qavah for four years.  It doesn't seem possible.  

As the days unfold I have a sense that God has enjoyed watching us play, struggle, rejoice, and even cry.  I feel His pleasure in all of daily life, even in the hardships that produce patience.  The world is in such turmoil that the safety of His presence has been even sweeter.

 Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.  Proverbs 30:5

Good Days and Nights

Our air conditioning is now working on the second floor of our home.  In addition to the cool air we have added an ultraviolet light and electrostatic filter to clean the air as it circulates through the duct work.  Gone are the mornings that we wake up with stuffy noses.  The air we breath is refreshing and has the fragrance of fresh air after a summer rain.  It took a long time to work out all of the details, but as the days go by we are finding that it is a pleasure to be breathing cleaner air.  We added the filter for the girls, but we are finding that it is helping us as well. 

Qavah and Kathryn are having some very good days this summer.  We have been able to go out together, and take in some of the fun things happening in our town.  Last night we attended a concert performed by a college choir.  The songs were sung acapella and the harmony was beautiful.  The choir sang Psalms, and even Qavah sat quietly on my lap for over an hour listening intently.  On the way home, Kathryn and I talked about how enriching that sort of music is for our souls. These days are so delightful.  We are savoring them, then enjoying a good night of sleep.  This is what the Psalmist meant by "Let the light of your face shine upon us O Lord.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when the grain and new wine abound.  I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4: 6-8