Summer, Summer, Summer

Countdown has begun here:

One day until camp
Three more weeks until I am back at work - Madi will spend a few nights and days with Kathryn and have a few playdates during that week
Four weeks until Madi and I start school and the girls start at their Montessori preschool
Almost five months until Christmas - Madi is keeping track of things she wants to ask Santa for.  Among them are a laptop, Justice gift cards and an iPod charger.

Today was pretty good.  We took the braids out of the girls' hair and they went with very crimped hair to church - looked very cute.  We went to church and Madi learned about perseverance.  Their description is "Perseverance is refusing to give up when life gets hard."  Very fitting timing for the lessons at church.  Madi has really missed you guys and there have been some things that we're continuing to work on with her to grow her - same stuff as before: manners, attitude, behavior - and she's growing a lot.  And growing sometimes hurts and is hard.  Perseverance is definitely a great trait to have and it's neat how it has tied right in with lessons she is learning here.

Both she and Riley told us the memory verses that they are learning at church.  Riley's is "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."  Madi's has motions and is "Those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength.  They will fly as high as eagles.  They will run and not get tired.  They will walk and not grow weak."  Isaiah 40:31
Madi was able to do it while jump roping during the service.  She sat with a few girls that she knows and is very, very excited about camp.  She said she's excited, but a little nervous too.  Which completely makes sense.

After church, we stopped by Target to pick up some sandwich stuff and fruit and chips as well as an aluminum water bottle for Madi to take to camp.  It was the only item that she didn't have and needed.  Then we went over my parents' house for lunch and to spend some time with them.  The girls had some drawing time with my mom while I took Julia upstairs with my Dad and Jeremy so she wouldn't destroy what they were doing.  Madi created a dress out of paper for Riley and Riley made an aisle so that they could walk down it to get married.

The aisle

The Dress

The girls had Tin Roof ice cream with strawberries and hot chocolate sauce.  We stayed for a few hours and then went home.

Once we were home, we did some laundry, the girls played on the computers, Jeremy made dinner and we just chilled as much as that is possible when you're chasing Julia everywhere.  Literally.  She's a mover!  :)

Tonight we read the stories of Esther and the Fiery Furnace (Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego).  I put Riley to bed and Jeremy had time with Madi.  He's still up there with her so I'll be sure to go up and tell her that you'll be calling in the morning.  She isn't allowed to bring any electronic devices to the camp - their rule, not ours - and so she won't have her iPod with her.  She'll be back from camp at noon on Friday so hopefully the two of you can connect that night or Saturday morning our time.