Delicious Ambiguity

After looking at about 45 houses in three days, the house we finally bought was not my favorite house or my first choice. Several of the houses that I really liked were sold out right under us or ended up not accepting our loan type. At the time it seemed like such a bummer to receive the news that we couldn't purchase a house that we really wanted, but now that I look back, I can see that God was working in the whole process. I know this because after our neighborhood block party on Tuesday night, I'm confident that we live in the best neighborhood in the best city (I'll also admit the the house isn't all that bad either!).

We were able to meet a good majority of the neighbors at the party and found out that we have some couples our age living really close! We were also able to find some kids for Maida to have playdates with, and maybe some potential babysitters.

Some of the events of the evening included:

-a pot luck picnic-

-Bingo (which I won the very first game of!)-

-paper airplane flying contest-

-shoe kicking contest-

-water balloon toss (Erik and I got second place)-

-parachute games-

-fireworks-

-tattoos-

-toys for the kids to take home-

-a visit from the chief of police and mayor-

-a firetruck for the kids to sit in and climb on-

-a police car for the kids to look at and play in-

-and lots of music and laughter-

We had the best time.

On a completely separate note, I think I'm finally realizing what a sponge kids are. It is amazing how much Maida can learn in a day. She takes in all that she can.

The other night Maida didn't want to go to bed and was kicking and screaming, "No, I don't wanna go to bed."

Erik sat down with her and told her that Jesus' Father requested that He do something that He didn't want to do (die on the cross), and that He said to His Father, "Dad, I really really don't want to do that, but if you tell me to, then I will."

He then got the Bible out and read her Luke 22:42.

So, tonight Erik was gone studying and I told Maida that it was time to get ready for bed. She whined a little bit and said, "I don't want to go to bed."

I told her that sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do.

She then told me, "Mommy, I really really don't want to go to bed, but Jesus told his daddy that I don't want to, but then he went to bed."

SO CUTE.