Our oldest sister was born this day many years ago.
Risa is extremely loyal, devoted, and compassionate toward others and their feelings. She is conscientious and responsible, and very much a needed part of our family. Risa is quiet and unassuming, and filled with a large number of facts. She often surprises me by knowing so much, she's like a living Wikipedia sometimes. =) It may have to do with the fact that she is an avid reader, and is often found with a book.
She has a great work ethic and is very responsible. Since working with our Dad (he is a construction worker) he has said that she has worked as hard or harder than any young man he has had work for him. She is ready to accept responsibility for the many things that need to be done, but she is also very patient with her sisters who *ahem* are often leaving, her recently cleaned areas, a mess. Risa constantly lends me stability through her excellent commonsense-and-wisdom-filled perspective.

Risa is a supportive sister,

a sympathetic friend,

a gentle daughter,

a modest and hardworking young woman,

and a shining example.

She lives the meaning of her name as a clear bright light for all to see, glorifying God through her quiet acts of service.

Happy Birthday, Risa, we love you!

Little Children

Have you checked out the date today?
12-12-12
Pretty cool, right?
I don't have much to post about, but I couldn't not post on 12-12-12! =)
What better to write about than kiddos? Doesn't the thought just bring a smile to your face?
    Having little children around, little siblings to be more specific, is so great. It changes life completely, just about everything is done slightly differently if you have little siblings, but it is one of the greatest blessings to be able to be around loving little boys and girls all day. If you don't have young children in your home let me tell you, you definitely may have some funny quirks that you will never learn about until you see them imitated by a child.

Let me tell you a little about what the children in our family are up to these days..

SquiRe

SquiRe has been trying to perfect his hand stands (and "kung fu").

      SquiRe has been quite the big brother, trying to instruct his little siblings as much as possible. This morning I over-heard the three younger siblings arguing over a toy.
     Squire told Goldilocks, "I'm trying to be the peacemaker. Cuz if you let me play with it now, then later when I'm doing school you can have. So we'll both get it."

This is a picture of SquiRe and his goatee, just like Dad's but made out of suds.

 

      SquiRe really loves animals, and knows more facts about most of God's creatures than most kids his age. The other day I was playing 20 questions with him and he asked for a hint. Normally I don't give hints but I thought of a way to give him a hint that would never help him. I told him the animal was an isopod and he guessed it right away! He impresses me a lot.

Ephesians 5:1- "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."

 

Goldilocks

     The other day I walked into the living room and Goldilocks and Jack were sitting with my school books on their laps and with a giggle Goldilocks told me, "I'm doing chemistry!"
     "I do maf!" Jack added.

This is Goldilock's' favorite dress up dress. Probably
 because it looks most like a wedding dress, her favorite
 type of dress. [This is a picture from the "princess
 photo shoot" I said I would post about.]

     She loves to be a lady, and adores all things princess-y. Sometimes before bed she would ask me, "Mari, am I a princess?" Now that she is confident she is a princess she says "I am a princess." and asks me "Mari, are you a princess?" Of course the answer is the same. God in heaven is my Father, and He is King of kings.

Matthew 18:2-4- "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Jack

     He was singing "Jingle bell, jingle bells, jingle bell" and Mom asked him, "Jingle bells, Jack?"

     He replied, "Yeah, Mom, all da way!"

     Later he was playing knights and dragons with SquiRe and they pretended dragon wanted to eat them. "Stop!" Jack yelled.

     "I can't, I'm hungry." SquiRe said in a dragon voice.

     "Jesus help you!" Jack retorted.

 

     Once again you can see an example of how little children imitate. Jack is a happy worker (yeah, he is happy he's just... camera shy) putting away laundry because he sees his daddy and mommy (and bigger siblings) being happy hard workers every day. (He really does love to help clean dishes and do laundry.)

     Jack is getting so big he can now ride his big brother's old bike.

     One thing you will hear from Jack a lot these days is "Peez, do it!" or "I do it mine-self!" This morning he was sure he could button his pants, he worked on it a very long time and if he thought I was going to try it he would tell me, "Almost dare."

Jack buttoning his jacket all by himself.

 

     Psalm 127:3-5 - "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

 

     I hope you are having a great 12-12-12, and if not, I hope these pictures and stories made it a little bit better. I'd love to hear any cute little children stories you have! Please comment and share them. =)

          ~Mari