New housepet, new friends

We have a new house pet. About two and a half weeks ago, we brought one of Minnie's kittens in the house. We were considering a puppy, but the cost of the one we want, plus potty training, and barking during meeting, we decided since we already had 5 kittens, and they were litter trained to just select one of them. So, we introduce Penny.

All the animal babies are growing as fast as summer is speeding past. This is a summer I think we will always remember, because it has brought us some new friends! We have had the privelage of spending time with a family close to us, that also has 4 children very close in age to our 4. Little friendships are blooming, and adult ones too! We are planning a trip to the Lake today, and have enjoyed a few suppers together.

Last week, Shawn and I took the children on a small getaway. We went camping and to an amusement park for a few days. It rained the first day camping, then the next day at the park, but the third day the weather was great. On our way home we stopped to offer help with work day at Yellow Springs and drop off our camper(even though it was after lunch and we didn't help very much, so peaceful to be on the convention grounds).

Came home to a great surprise. Well,... great for me. Shawn didn't seem too thrilled about it. At my Mom's funeral, someone sent an orchid. I have had this flower for 4 1/2 years now. It always gets 4 to 6 blooms, but before they open, the buds drop off. While we were away, one of the buds finally opened. I didn't even know what color it was going to be, but it is so beautiful. This picture doesn't do it justice, but here it is.

Our vacation did have a bad note to it. Little Noah was climbing on the bench next to the table, and lost his balance. He received his first black eye due to falling into the corner of the table. I felt so sick for him, I know it was very painful due to the location, very corner of his eye, and the lump that popped out. Thankful it didn't damage his eye. We have decided this is our accident prone child. Sunday evening while our new friends were visiting, he fell in the barn and landed on the concrete, on his sore eye of course, and on his forhead. He is quite the site right now.

Well, convention in a few weeks, major decision in our lives Shawn and I are praying about for our children and have been contemplating all summer long, and me way behind on posting, turns this into too long of a post, sorry. Happy day!