Blessed- Matthew 5:3-10 (The Message)

Yesterday was rough. These are the words God guided me to this morning:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You're blessed when you're content with just who you are- no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you will ever eat. You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full' you find yourselves cared for. You're blessed when you get your inside world- your mind and heart- put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into Gods kingdom."

New Picture Video

A picture video from this year's Friar-Steele-Clayton vacation on Emerald Isle, NC has been added to the sidebar links on the left. You can also follow the link below.

Fast connections:
http://micahsteele.net/Videos/Emerald_Isle_2008_v4.wmv

Slower connections:
http://micahsteele.net/Videos/2008EmIsle.htm

The video for the Barham-Steele vacation on Pine Knoll Shores is still under development.

Links updated

For those who had noticed in the first place, the links to the picture videos on the side bar have now been fixed.

Happy Birthday Naomi!

Tuesday the 19th was Naomi's birthday. We had a little celebration for her last night just us at home. We had pizza and I made her a cake. She opened presents from grandparents and us. We let her stay up late just to check out all of the stuff. If you ask her how old she is she says "I two" and holds up a random amount of fingers.

Tessie and Rexhina are Here!!

Our students are here and we are so glad to have them. They are both so kind and I think that they like each other. The kids are adjusting pretty well. Isaiah has had his momomts... Tessie brought the kids some traditional Vietnameese clothing and they put their new clothes on right away. Naomi wanted to sleep in hers.

Miss Priss

Hazard on the Front 9

Isaiah had a shocker when he unknowingly walked in front of a swinging golf club earlier this week. It involved lots of screaming, blood, and a trip to the ER for a thorough glue job.

Painting

I am trying to find fun things to keep the kids busy while I am putting away veggies. One day last week we got out the watercolors and that entertained for quite a while.

Cooking Breakfast

These are pics of Isaiah making breakfast last Sunday. He LOVES to cook. He said he wants to be a chef and a man when he grows up. I have been slacking on blogging because we have been very busy. Putting away vegetables is taking up alot of my time. Also, Rexhina (pronounced like Regina) arrived this week! We are so happy that she is here. She is such a sweet person. Tessie is arriving on Monday and we are looking forward to meeting her too. They both start school on Wednesday and we have alot to accomplish before then.

Lake Delhi

Our friends Bjorn and Sarah Hill invited us to their familie's lake house this weekend. Isaiah got out of his box a little and rode on the jet ski with Micah and Bjorn. We had a great time.

AY McDonald Park

Isaiah on the play equipment at the park.

Views of the Mississippi from the park.Isaiah with his and Naomi's favorite friend, Paisley. Naomi refused to be in the picture!

Stuff

Well we are getting back to normal after being gone and I think the kids are really glad to be back here. They have played with their toys and have been very content. We are trying to get some vegetables in the freezer and Isaiah has become quite the helper. He has a gazillion questions as ususal but now wants to do many things that I do. He has really enjoyed snaping beans the last couple of days.

One of Isaiah's new favorite things to do is to meet the mail man at the mailbox and grab the mail. He usually does not say anything to the man, he just has a big grin. Today when he went out he ran as fast as he could to the box to meet the truck as it was almost at our house and he got the mail and yelled "Have a great day!". He giggled at himself all the way back up the drive. He was SO CUTE! I almost cried.

In other news, we are getting ready for two exchange students to join our family. They will arrive on the 14th and 18th. They are both girls and will be seniors at a Christian school nearby. Tessie is from Vietnam and Rexhina is from Albania. We are anxious to meet and welcome them. Isaiah and I are having fun preparing for them. He has painted them pictures and wants to make presents for them. He told the lady at the furniture store (we bought bunks for them) that he is getting two new sisters. I am enjoying decorating a room for teenage girls. I will post a picture when I have it done- if its ever done! I think I could keep adding cute things in there for a long time.