Vander FRIENDS

We got to have an awesome week with the Vander Griends! Susie and I enjoyed being together while taking care of these 6 boys. Anthony and I have been studying friendship together, especially the example of Jonathan and David; our friendship with the VGs is so valuable. (Doug and Anthony were grad school roommates and ministry teammates.) Susie is good at friendship, but as you can see -- also good at photography! We figure that if we have a catastrophic Christmas card photo op again this year, we have a nice plan B.
I like this picture because this is Paul's thing right now -- putting his hand out, reaching out to everyone. Metaphorically, let's hope he keeps that desire.
These beach/swimming pictures are at Sherando Lake; it is a GREAT place to visit! Micah and Lucas had almost as much fun as their dads!
If you are that close to Nelson County, a great dinner at Basic Necessities is a necessity. Thank you, again, mom!!!
Aren't our Blue Ridge Mountains gorgeous!?
"Their better side!"
Asher, 3 months, and Paul, 9 months will someday have great fun together, when their development will be as comparable as their weight is now.
Last Sunday, we got to go to another lake with our Covenant group from church. Micah says, "Watch out, Faith and Nate! Paul is an experienced demolition crew!" Here is proof that Paul is a VERY capable crawler. He's actually spending most of his time standing (holding on with one hand) already.
These goof-ball boys are still playing well together, even though Paul can crawl to follow Micah all day long. Micah is usually the follower in ANY other relationship, so we'll see what happens.

Entering the Ranks of Mobility

Although you can't tell by this photo, Paul is officially crawling, to the dismay of his resting father. He therefore has entered the ranks of mobility (as well as nobility, we humbly think!) He started out bear crawling, awkwardly avoiding his knees, but has now mastered the art of using his hands and knees, so I'll get him scrubbing the floors soon.
Vacation Bible School was great and finished up a week ago, but I was too busy to take any worthwhile photos. I'm thrilled that Micah still knows his 5 Bible verses, right Lengauer girls?

Last week, we went back to see Anthony's family and this time he came along.

Micah got to play with his older cousin, Mekenzie . . .

while Paul played with his baby cousin, Jack and Jack's watch-dog Gracie.

Uncle Steve is the good sport swinging with all of the kids . . .

while Grandma Jo is the good sport helping Micah play games. At the lake where Andrea and Steve live, they had LOTS of fun Independence Day activities for the kids and us big kids! Micah competed in his first sack race and he was the youngest participant.
I don't have a recent picture of the two of us, but Anthony and I entered our 7th year of marriage yesterday, and we have heard about the "7 year slump," but we are planning on having it be our first Jubilee Year! (Leviticus 25*) So far, a highlight of this year together was listening to Anthony and Micah belt out "Jesus Loves the Little Children" in Spanish towards the end of a long car trip yesterday!

*Yes, we know it is supposed to be every 50 years, but we can have 1/7th of a Jubilee year and it has a better ring to it than a Sabbath year.