"Lost" Photos ~ NINE ~ Thinking back to the first snow day...

...they all loved it,

except for...

our littlest peanut!

Multitude Monday ~ 1000 Gifts ~ A Puzzling Word...

"Goodbye...

...first commonly used in the 1590s, from godbwye (1570s), itself a contraction of God be with ye, but influenced by good day, good evening,...

...puzzling, because in the midst of saying one, there just ain't nothing that feels too good about it. Have you ever noticed that before?

By this time next week, we'll have started our trek back to Niger... so we are in the midst of packing decisions and tearful goodbyes. I'm sure my lists will be short these next few weeks, not because I don't have much for which to be thankful, but mostly because my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to God and to great guys and gals, because goodbyes hurt, because packing is taking up so much time and because all of it is physically and emotionally exhausting.

#271 A church van to borrow for the next two weeks

#272 Our friends at the supporting church who's letting us borrow their van

#273 My Nana and Pop-pop - their faithful prayers and support through so many years

#274 Spending a few too short days with Nana and Pop-pop, the best grandparents a girl could ever dream up

#275 An amazing day canoeing on our favorite river with friends and family

#276 A delightful gal and incredible mama who baby/kidsat our littlers so we could have this awesome day with our bigs

#277 Sunshine on what looked, starting off, as though it would be a rainy, cloudy day

#278 Walking on the beach, visiting, digging my toes deep into the sand while watching their smiles, listening to their laughter

#279 The sweet sorrow and trickling tears of goodbyes that hurt... dreadfully... Shakespeare nailed it on the head when he wrote his oft quoted lines: "...parting is such sweet sorrow."

The Amazing Ant

About a month ago, while we were visiting friends in North Carolina and we went exploring a bit, Tim noticed that Elsie Mae had stopped walking and was absolutely entranced by some little drama that no one else had noticed...

It is amazing when you see a life lesson from the Bible taking place right before your very eyes... and incredible teaching moment for both the parents and the kids. Proverbs 6: 5-7 says "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."

And if you think the pictures are amazing, check out the video...

"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer..."

~Proverbs 30:24 & 25

"Lost" Photos ~ EIGHT ~ "I Think I Can!"

And he did!"

His very first success all by himself at a Lego kit.

This was back in November... He doesn't even need an instruction booklet to do one like this now. What is it about guys ~ big and little ~ and Legos?

FINALLY Pondering a Puzzling Story

I've read through my Bible several times now (although still struggling to make it all the way through for the first time in French) and usually I love stories from the Old Testament and seeing specific ways that they can be applied in my life. Judges 19-20 was NOT one of those stories. In fact, it was typically one of those ones that I'd race through 'cause it was "on the schedule" then think: "I'm sure God has this account here in the Bible for some reason, probably an important one, but I really don't have time... or the desire... to figure this out and let the Holy Spirit show me why." And then I'd move on and think no more of the story until I'd stumble over it the next time. When our Sunday School class was looking at it a few weeks back, I decided I'd better let the Holy Spirit talk to me some about this story and stop trying to run from a story that I found revolting, confusing and hard. And that very fact - that God doesn't try and hide the ugliness of this world and His chosen from those who are seeking to know Him, but instead allows us to see the good, the bad and the ugly - is one of the reasons why I'm convinced that the Bible is totally and completely God's Word, totally and completely inspired by Him while scribed by men's hands.

Answers.com summarizes these chapters this way: "The war against the Benjamites commenced with an incident when the people of Gibeah assaulted a Levite wayfarer, surrounding his house and demanding that he submit to homosexual practices (19:22). When he sent out his concubine in his stead, she was abused to death (19:25). The man cut her body up into 12 pieces and sent one to each of the tribes, demanding revenge for the foul deed (19:25-29). In the subsequent inter-tribal war, Benjamin was decisively defeated. The Israelites took a vow not to marry Benjamites (21:1); but, fearing that one of the tribes would vanish, the people nevertheless continued to effect marriages with them, resorting to subterfuges to avoid breaking their vows."

My summary looks something like this (my typical, initial responses: Levite takes concubine (big no no), procrastinates leaving dad's house, ends up in inhospitable (another no no) Gibeah at nightfall. Old man takes pity, invites Levite and concubine into home. Depraved people of Gibeah ask for Levite for NOT nice reasons. Old man and Levite refuse (good choice). Old man and Levite give them concubine (What? Really? ...angry, unkind thoughts about those two men... why doesn't God stop this?). Concubine abused, killed (Selfish coward! Really not liking the Levite right here). Levite cuts her into 12 pieces, sends her to all Israeli tribes (Gross). Tribes gather and declare war on Gibeah (First "yay" moment - Israel standing up for what is morally right). Judah leads charge. Is massacred (huh???). Tries again. Another massacre (NO WAY!). Finally seeks the Lord (about time, but why wouldn't God bless them for doing the right thing on their own initiative?). God gives plan and victory. Arrangements made so hasty vow doesn't wipe out Benjamites (just really wierd).

Any way you look at it... it is an AWFUL story.

Sunday School discussions and further "thinking on these things" has led me to make several observations and one huge application in my life.

1. Sin in our lives clouds our judgment. The Levite took a concubine, a practice clearly condemned in Scripture, and then we see procrastination... undecisiveness... pride... a failure to protect/provide for the needs of his family... lots of poor decisions and not once is it recorded that he asked the Lord for guidance.
2. Hospitality, or the lack thereof, can be a good spiritual marker, because hospitality (even when inconvenient) is obedience.
3. Those who have strong convictions in one area can be very weak in others, myself included.
4. All too often, we look for our own solutions in difficult to impossible situations. I wonder what would have happened when the townspeople came if the old man and the Levite had prayed or relied on God instead of trying to figure things out themselves.
5. The old man and the Levite hadn't learned from the lesson of Lot and his family in Sodom and Gomorrah - was this because they weren't familiar with God's Word, His story?
6. I often look to blame others for my sin and mistakes - and so expect others to enact retribution instead of seeking forgiveness and then seeking God's will for my response.
7. Using shock/inflammatory methods will usually get a reaction, but it may not be a God-pleasing, God-honoring one.
8. Rising up to fight injustice and to look out for God's cause in my own strength, without consulting Him first, is not guaranteed success - no matter how right I might be.
9. Anger towards the things that anger God is not sin; arrogance and assuming I am the one to be God's mode of correction, that I'm going to put the sinner into his/her place is sin and is an attitude that does not please God. Confrontation and correction must come from a heart of humility.
10. It is easy to assume I know God's will and then ask the wrong question... with serious consequences.
11. I'm not just to get angry about depravity and its victims; I'm to be totally and completely brokenhearted at sin in the world and in my life.

As I think of all these lessons I've been pondering, the one that convicts the most is the arrogant attitude it is so easy to adopt when I see someone clearly doing something stupid... selfish... sinful... when there's no question in my mind that the behavior or action is contrary to biblical teaching... and I assume that I should confront and correct. Then I do so, not gently, nor with a heart broken, first by my own sin, by the damage sin is causing in another's life and finally (most importantly) by the agony every sin has caused my Savior... but arrogantly, delighted to be God's rod of correction in this particular instance, happy to set someone else straight and lift myself up (in my own eyes) in the process.

And the place where this sinful chain of events, responses and reactions is most likely to occur? Right in my home, with my family... my children... my husband... just as it occurred within the family of Israel. Ouch! This fits in so well with another "idea" the Holy Spirit has planted in my soul - but that will have to wait for another time, another day...

...as will any thoughts regarding chapter 21... the conclusion of this story... because I'm still pondering that part! :-) So tell me, what do you think?

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Photo above was originally published on July 11 in a post by biblereadingcompanion at Closer Day by Day, How to read the Bible in a Year and I thought it worked perfectly.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Lost" Photos SEVEN ~ Once Upon a Time at a Preschool Program

What happens when we ask OUR church to pray?

Our faithful, big green van ~ by the way, every time I looked at that van, it was proof of God's great love, even in the little things, because my "dream" vehicles have almost always been that color... such a little thing but such a special thing for this mama ~

...that has carried us safely over lots and lots of miles in two furlough years...

...sold!

THE.VERY.NEXT.DAY!

Oh Lord, please forgive, yet again, my surprise at your faithfulness.

Multitude Monday ~ 1000 Gifts: "Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So...

"...Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

#244 picnic school reunion at the lake

#245 watching cousins play

#246 big guy cousin who is patient with his little girl cousin... even when he doesn't really have a clue what she is saying

#247 another birthday of our country and the freedom for which she stands

"...Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

#248 running into friends who are actually more like family at a church barbecue when I really didn't think I'd get to see them again for 5 years or more

#249 a great guy I used to care for when he was just a little tyke is engaged

#250 reunions at the lake

#251 renewing old friendships

#252 seeing God's faithfulness in the lives of those friends you rarely see

"...Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

#253 a big green van that carried us through two furlough years - that is now sold to and will be carrying a family of 9 who also loves Jesus

#254 from scratch chili and cornbread

#255 6 suitcases packed and right at the weight limit

#256 learning something new... working to make it become a habit

#257 amazing friends

#258 looking forward to a coffee date with two sweet ladies

#259 a young lady we love, almost like one of our own (we'd take her in a heartbeat), here to visit for a few days

"...Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

#260 a day to ride horses

#261 baby "nuggles"

#262 enjoying a classic story of good and evil yet once again

#263 seeing that same story through the eyes of a few more of our children

#264 holding hands with my guy as we walked through Target together

#265 having the time to organize before we leave this time

#266 godly examples for my girls

#267 listening to him play while they sang

#268 homefried onion rings enjoyed with forever friends

#269 new haircuts and highlights (guess who got what...)

#270 looking back at photos~ the memories they bring and the sweet tears that flow

"...Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

from Psalm 107

"Lost" Photos ~ SIX ~ When Life Gets Crazy Busy...

...and you are trying to figure out how to pack everything you think you'll need and your family of 10 thinks they might want or need as well as several bits of equipment for the recording studio...

...into 19 suitcases that can't weight more than 50 pounds apiece...

...it is easy to start to feel like you are going crazy and you start pulling your hair out (even though you really DO love your new haircut)....

It is at times like that when it is really nice to remember calmer, more peaceful times, like this ~

Tonight, I'm remembering, and treasuring, this delightfully quiet and peacefully sweet moment.

If only...

I find the Old Testament fascinating... the stories, the cultures, the people, the way God worked... Sometimes, as I reread through stories that I've heard all of my life, it is amazing the things that the Holy Spirit causes to leap right off the pages and into my heart where I "cud-munch" on them... sometimes for a really, really long time. The story of Dinah has been one of those stories.

Before, when I heard teaching on the story of Dinah or we'd study it in church/Sunday School, she was most definitely a "bad" girl. Matthew Henry writes: "Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob’s only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother’s fondling and the darling of the family, and yet she proves neither a joy nor a credit to them; for those children seldom prove either the best or the happiest that are most indulged. She is reckoned now but fifteen or sixteen years of age when she here occasioned so much mischief. Observe, her vain curiosity, which exposed her. She went out, perhaps unknown to her father, but by the connivance of her mother, to see the daughters of the land (v. 1); probably it was at a ball, or on some public day. Being an only daughter, she thought herself solitary at home, having none of her own age and sex to converse with; and therefore she must needs go abroad to divert herself, to keep off melancholy, and to accomplish herself by conversation better than she could in her father’s tents.... Her pretence was to see the daughters of the land, to see how they dressed, and how they danced, and what was fashionable among them. She went to see, yet that was not all, she went to be seen too; she went to see the daughters of the land, but, it may be, with some thoughts of the sons of the land too. I doubt she went to get an acquaintance with those Canaanites, and to learn their way. Note, The pride and vanity of young people betray them into many snares."

Needless to say, Dinah was never one of my heroines... and I never gave her story any more thought until...

...I was teaching a Bible study to 15 and 16 year old girls. They wanted to study different women in the Bible and they chose Dinah for several reasons - she was probably close to their age, her story is tragic and there is just something magnetic about those less than nice girls.

The first thing that struck me as I began looking at her story again, was that while the name Dinah means "justice," it is questionable whether she received any at the hands of her world or her family and she is really barely mentioned at all.

The bulk of her story is contained in Genesis 34.

"And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife. And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come. And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done."

I think that what struck me most about this passage is that it is not clear from the biblical text that Dinah actually did anything wrong. Her desire to see the daughters of the land is never condemned. We just don't know for sure in reading the biblical account. She may have been maliciously and deceptively sinful - she may have snuck out of her father's house, she may have lied, she may have dressed seductively and actually gone looking for boys while telling her mom she wanted to meet some girls her own age. But she also might have been a young girl, the only daughter in her father's house, who'd just moved to a new place and who wanted to show herself friendly so that she could make some new friends, who became a victim of her new neighbors, her family and her world and culture.

I guess I tend to lead towards the latter interpretation over the first, maybe because I've watched my own young girls as we've moved them halfway around the world, entering a new and not totally familiar culture and the first thing they want to do is make some friends. They are great friends within themselves, but God designed us to enjoy relationships and my big and little girls love to get to know other girls wherever we go - be it a new church in another state or a new school in a foreign language in a different country.

The key thought the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart is the need for discernment - as parents and as individuals - when we enter those new situations (and life is filled with new situations - on an almost daily basis). As finite human beings, we can't begin to see the train of consequences a simple action like "going out to visit the daughters of the land" might start rolling. I think this fact is emphasized in this particular passage by the fact that "and" begins almost every sentence... each action was a reaction provoked by the previous event and there was very little forethought or intentional planning.

Thus, perhaps one of the most important things I can model for and teach my children is the need to think through possiblities and potentialities before choosing on a particular path, whenever that is possible; we need to know the reasons why we do what we do - to know that we are not just reacting to or following the lead of the world and culture around us.

One other thing I've taken from this Bible story, even today... as we are preparing once again to return to the land where God has called our family to sojourn, is my need to extend grace to my big and little girls (and the rest of my family) while we make yet another huge transition... and be prepared to extend grace for those inevitable times when they do not discern wisely in the things they choose to do and/or say.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fireflies

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Photo by "wooly1974"

Giggling ~

*giggle*

*giggle*

*giggle*

*giggle*

*giggle*

...'cause it still cracks me up to see our "clone warrior" in a suit and so intent on his target...

Can't you see those deadly and focused eyes?

*giggle*

...and that's even with a pretty girl threatening to give him a kiss.

Multitude Monday ~ 1000 Gifts

So much for which to be thankful including ~

#238 full days

#239 busy days

#240 kids working hard

#241 anticipating homemade pizza for dinner with friends

#242 God-given strength that has allowed us to keep working late into the night

#243 house emptying actually on schedule

#243 moving... tomorrow... so the rest of the list will need to be continued... next Monday

"May the heav'n rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation..."

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

"Star Spangled Banner"

-Francis Scott Key

Wrights Broadcasting Truth to Niger, Summer 2010 (Prayer Letter)

“For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you… That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”

Col 2:1-5

Time in the States… Home Assignment… Furlough… You know, it really doesn’t matter what you call it. But regardless of its name, it is a bit of a strange time for missionaries: both bittersweet and delightful, busy and yet decidedly not. This furlough has been very different from earlier ones because it has been a full year. We actually feel like we’ve been able to catch our breath and establish relationships with many folks in our supporting churches. Unfortunately, that brings us to the hardest part of this missionary life. There is no doubt about it, when folks ask us what is the hardest thing about this life to which God has called our family it is the goodbyes. We teach our children that each sad goodbye on one side of the ocean means some wonderful hellos on the other… but it still hurts. Please pray for us. The leaving doesn’t get easier the more we do it… in fact it gets harder to hug that last time our loved ones, family and friends… each time. And, as Paul wrote, we truly feel as though He’s knitted our hearts together with some amazing and wonderful brothers and sisters in the Lord over the course of this past year. We wish we could take you all with us…

But it is worth it… We don’t often get a whole lot of feedback and wonder if God is using what we are doing to make a difference. Then a fellow missionary with whom Tim has worked in the studio writes: “I would also like to take the opportunity to tell you again what an important role you have held in our ministry to the Songhai. Because of your help in making and copying cassettes, thousands have heard the Gospel message in their heart language. You have been very professional, patient, and helpful over the years, going beyond the call of duty to edit and complete recordings for us. We are thankful to God for your faithfulness to The Task with the talents He has given you.” Hearing of people responding with openness and excitement to hearing God’s Word, His story and the truths contained in the Bible: "I want to hear more stories like this. They are sweet to me. I want to eat them until I'm full." … well, it helps motivate us to keep on making sure that we get the only sweet stories that satisfy out where they can be heard!

Pray for Niger

“The people of Niger are once again facing severe food shortages. Erratic rainfall in 2009 had a heavy impact on harvests. The first signs of a food crisis were seen in early 2010, as food stocks were depleted earlier than usual and there was an exodus of young adults leaving their villages to seek work in cities and abroad. Now there is no doubt that the country is again in the grip of a nutritional crisis… A recent nutritional survey …between May and June 2010 revealed that …The severely malnourished children account for 3.2 percent of the total number of children in this age range in the country. The youngest children are the most affected, the survey found; 4.6 percent of all children between 6 and 35 months old in Niger are suffering from severe malnutrition.”

~ “Niger: MSF Responds to a Recurring Nutritional Crisis” (Doctors without Borders)

June 20, 2010

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“‘Our generation has never experienced such a situation and it is well beyond anything we anticipated. Thousands of animals… [in Dakoro, southern Niger] have already died because of the first rains and we are expecting more losses,’ said Boureima. The first heavy rains fell in the southern region on 16 June. Sudden temperature change, the physiological demands on the digestive system of changing from a fodder to a grass diet, and water-borne diseases are always taxing for the cattle. "Since the animals are already extremely weak, many are expected to die with the first rains," said NGO Action Against Hunger's (ACF) West Africa regional representative Patricia Hoorelbeke. Cattle were hit by last year's drought, which left the country with limited grazing land and caused the price of animal feed to soar, making it unaffordable for subsistence farmers. Hoorelbeke said the most at-risk animals - cows and sheep - were also the Sahel's most common. Camels andgoats are generally more resilient and more likely to survive the first rains.”

~ “NIGER: Mixed blessing of first rain” (IRIN)

June 29, 2010

Important Dates

• July 7 – Move out of the house
• July 11 – Speaking at CBC, Midland
• July 16-18 – Traveling to visit grandparents
• July 26 – Indianapolis
• July 27 – Fly from Indy to Casablanca, Morocco
• July 28 – Fly from Casablanca to Niamey
• July 31 –AISN Rec Center!

Support Story

In our last prayer letter, we asked you to pray and to consider what you could do to help our family return to Niger and the ministry the Lord has given us there… Once again, God has done amazing things through His people. Why does that continue to surprise us? Like the father of the demon possessed boy, we cry, “Lord, we believe! Help, Thou, our unbelief!” As of the end of June, we are at 91% support, have the necessary funds for outfit and passage, a place to call home our first year back in Niamey, tuition for the kids’ education… Once again, God has lavished us with His love through the largess of His people. Thank you seems so inadequate… but we do thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

Checking the List

Hmm… it is almost time to go:

• Hats and sandals… ✔
• Long sleeve shirts or no? Actually they do come in handy in a Niger January when the temperature plunges to a chilling 50 degrees... ✔
• Doctor appointments, hearing/vision screens and lab work… ✔
• Dental visits… ✔
• Studio stuff… ✔
• Vaccinations… almost ✔

Soon we move from Midland to Lansing, which is our usual “launch point.” We say a BIG “THANKS!!!” to Mom & Dad Stewart, who let us invade their home and spread our stuff all over the place while packing. They are also our usual airport taxi chauffeurs along with Richelle’s sister Julie. This time, Lord willing, we’ll fly out of Indianapolis on the 27th of July. They had the best deal to get all 10 of us plus our stuff back to Niamey (NIM as the airlines would call it), Niger.

Praises

1. We are ready to go back. It has been a great furlough, we’ve got the best sending church ever and we’ve made lots of new friends, and enjoyed some time with our old friends and family too.
2. We thank the Lord for additional supporters that have taken on part of our support. We appreciate you and your vision to see God’s Word proclaimed in West Africa.
3. Health - even with the ups and down, we have had a good, restful, mostly healthy time in the States.
4. Safety on the roads. I think we must have full-time guardian angels and they were definitely with us on our last trip out East.
5. Support. At last check, we have around 91% of our needed support; with the blessing of our sending church and EBM, we’re headed home!

Petitions

1. Flights, itineraries, small children, checked bags, carry-on bags, laptops, musical instruments, diaper bags, video cameras, visas, layovers…. THAT is a long enough list. Please pray that it all goes well. We value so much that army of folks who pray for us as we travel.
2. Settling into our house. God has provided us with a place to stay for our first year.
3. Integration into ministry - studio, office, school, Beniera churches, ladies’ Bible studio, Sahel Academy... WE CAN’T WAIT!! Please pray for our re-entry into these areas of service.
4. At the studio, we will be reorganizing and continuing our two weekly radio programs. In addition to these, we will soon begin the production of a children’s radio program called “Sheep Tales” and a ladies’ radio program.
5. As funds permit, we plan to construct an additional control room and recording booth at the studio. We presently have about $2,000 of the needed $10,000 for this project. We were working at capacity a good part of last term and truly believe that with the additional space, we will produce and provide higher quality radio programs, Christian music recordings, scripture recordings, and audio film tracks. We are excited to see what God will do with this ministry.

Thankful to be serving our Lord together with you,

Tim, Richelle,

Brendan, Rebekah Joy, Nadia, Anna, Victoria, Jonathan,

Elsie Mae & Mary Michelle Wright

zzzzzzzzz.....

We just got home and the two littlest ones are sound asleep... and if the blackened bottoms and grimy toenails of their bare little feet (looks like I'll be washing sheets tomorrow) are any reflection of the fun they had running around barefoot over grass and mud, chasing a ball, swinging, sliding, climbing trees, riding Grandpa's riding mower, picking up sticks, building fires, roasting marshmallows... then they must have had a GREAT time...

Which reminded me of this post, to which I had wanted to link...

I've had medical professionals tell me to get rid of pets, use antibacterial soap... even not allow children to play outside. And when one was sick in the hospital (with malaria) and then because she was weak, her immune system lost the battle to other bacteria and critters already present... I almost began to believe them.

I'm glad I didn't; I'm glad our kids have had the feedom to play in the rain (and mud), walk through muddy forest streams, bury themselves in the sand, dig caves and dirt sculptures for their beannie babies and plastic dinosaur and animal toys to inhabit. Nothing beats that experience of playing in the dirt ~ it really does do "a body (and soul) good!"

...dontcha think?