Whoooooosh!

There went our summer!

Seriously, I was just getting into the groove of the atrocious summer hours the Oaks have from 8am-6pm (M-Th) and making my plans for all the fun things the girls and I were going to do on our Fridays together! And now, it's almost over! Holy cats - June and July went fast. There's no telling how fast August will go.

Highlight of the summer is, hands-down, our annual vacation to Traverse City. The whole Gilson fam heads up to a house on Lake Leelanau. We had a fabulous time living life in the most beautiful area in Michigan. Grace has grown by leaps and bounds in her swimming abilities. She ran out with anyone and everyone who was going to jump in the lake. She is fearless and I can tell she will be a strong swimmer, she was underwater more than she was above it. We had to tell her to stop diving off the dock, I was afraid she was going to go headfirst into the boat launch. She is getting to be so big. I can hardly believe I will have a 5 year old on my hands. She is anticipating K4 at Howie and looks forward to riding in to school with Grandpa. This will be my first summer in AGES to go school supplies shopping!

Annie has grown tremendously too. Her current favorite phrase is, "Mom, Phineas & Ferb are making a title sequence!" (don't ask) and she is turning out to be one funny kid. I wish I could capture some of the looks and expressions on her face. She is becoming completely mischievous ( I don't think I spelled that right. Kate?) and infuriates and delights her sister all at the same time. I am enjoying seeing her personality emerge despite wanting to do everything Grace does. We've been experimenting with her diet and doing quite a few restrictions with it (think BLAND food ALL the time) and for the most part, she has been "pook"-free, unless she gets hurt. Then, it's all up with it.

Now if we could just get her to sleep...

I take my previous statement back.

The highlight of the summer was not our trip Up North, although that is in second place. :)

The highlight of my summer, maybe my year is that on Sunday, July 18th, 2010, back in a little yellow Sunday School room, Gracie prayed with her mama and asked Jesus to forgive her sin and the "boss of her life." I cannot tell you how precious it was! It was a bit unexpected, although we have been working with Grace and explaining salvation for awhile now. I have no doubt in my mind that she understands what her decision was and who Jesus is and what he has done to pay the price for her sins. I have no doubt in my mind that she understands that he rose again from the dead and is with God, in Heaven now. And I also have no doubt in my mind that she understands that Jesus loves her. I pray that she will continue and hold fast to this decision she has made and that Clint and I can train her up in the way that she should go. I can see a difference in her daily decisions and demeanor already. We are so thankful and proud of our Gracie girl!

Oh, what? You want to see pictures? Yeah, of course.

I'm horrible at taking pictures. I do have a few of the girls on vacation. I'll post them, just as soon as I can figure out how to get them off my phone!

TTFN!