Acker Country Living: Sweet Summertime

Here were are again, over a month past another birthday. John turned THREE back on May 22! We had so much fun celebrating him with a little friend party I dubbed "Dudes and Dads." We invited a few of John's closest buddies and their dads over for an obstacle course, water balloons, silly string, and food. It rained almost the whole time, so it turned into puddle-jumping, silly string, puddle-jumping, eating, and puddle-jumping, which was just as fun as my best-laid plans. What's cool about boys-only parties is that I felt zero pressure to make something beautiful. For Sus's princess party when she turned three, a LOT of time and effort went into making beautiful things because girls appreciate that (Susannah definitely does). Boys couldn't care less. So we spent half the money, I spent half the time, and John had 18 times the fun because he's the most fun-loving, happy kid in the world. Here are the party boys after some preliminary puddle-jumping:

Just a few more quick things about John. I don't know why, but I assumed that by the time he turned 3, John would become a normal little boy. You know, like real reckless and destructive and all about wrestling or whatever. While John is absolutely a boy's boy with his love for heavy machinery, outdoor adventure, and the like, he is the kindest little soul there is. He loves life and people so hard. While he is definitely not perfect, he has a goodness about him that's incomparable. Anytime we are picking out a show or movie to watch, he always, ALWAYS says, "Is there a mad man in it? I don't want the mad man one..." He's never concerned about mean dogs or scary monsters, aliens, or the like; just angry and/or malicious villains. He seems to long for a world without antagonists--like the Lord is already building in him a desire to make things "on earth as it is in Heaven," starting with his cartoons, of course. I pray he steers clear of mad men as he grows, and that he himself continues to choose goodness over evil. (That's not too over-spiritualized, is it?? Ha!)

John is also a good friend and a good listener, and he is so funny AFV just needs to come follow him around for all future episodes. We love him so much!

Sister Sus would run this little house if granted permission. She is so strong and confident, it makes me so dang proud. She takes the role of the boss whenever the resident bosses are not looking, much to her siblings' chagrin. But Susannah has a heart of gold and an aim to please, so she rarely-if-ever takes it too far.

The kids went to another local church's VBS last week, and when they had their closing ceremony to get their little completion certificates, Susannah's teacher said, "Susannah Acker, my little all-star. Susannah listened to every lesson and knew the answer to every question all week!" And then when I was talking with the teacher afterward, she said, "When is Susannah going to kindergarten? Because she is definitely ready," to which I replied with a toss of my hair, "Oh? She's just starting preschool this fall." My head was so big after all that I could hardly fit through the church's double-doors on the way out. And the thing is, this is all her. Susannah is self-taught in most everything people consider amazing for her age. We do not have rigorous at-home preschool (about once a month I get motivated enough to print off a worksheet for her to do after she's begged me for 6 days straight to do school stuff), nor do I demand she sit and listen and prove story comprehension. She just loves learning and excelling.

More than all that, though, she has this sweetness in her spirit that manifests itself in empathy, helpfulness, and laughter. We couldn't dream up a more amazing leader of the pack for our troop of kids over here!

Mary Girl is nonstop! I'm sure I've written this before, but she is definitely going to be the toddler who gives us a run for our money. She has the sweetest little rebellions multiple times a day, doing the exact opposite of whatever it is we've asked of her with the biggest smile on her face and loud giggle. She knows how to get away with murder, and that giggle is my kryptonite as the law enforcer (her daddy's, too).

Her fourth molar is going to break through any day, which brings upon my least favorite transition of all the transitions: bye-bye paci. Mary loves her pacifier ("pa-pa") more than either of our others, so I'm already dreading it. But she's got binky-teeth bad, and I'd really rather her not remember ever having it, soooo... we'll probably take away her paci next month. Pray for us!

Mary has a collection of words now, as well! It's so fun hearing her talk. Most often used word is "No," which is not surprising, but the cutest phrase she has is, "Good girl!" She praises herself now when she does things that we normally praise her for. For instance, she can't stand being wiped off, so when she stays still, we always praise her. So now, when she's being still, she say, "Dood doyl!" I melt into a puddle somewhere around 16 times a day.

And a quick house update: we've got some siding up and a well going in! We still don't have a good idea of when it will be done, but still hopefully this fall.

Lastly, I wanted to share a verse that the Lord has been writing on my heart over the past year or so. "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16, emphasis mine). While I haven't experienced any times of intense confusion or difficulty recently (or ever, if we're being honest), I have been working on memorizing this verse for a long, long time and cannot tell you how many times I'm so thankful that I've had words of encouragement to offer friends who are struggling. What a beautiful promise from our Lord: the rough places will be made level; it's what He does and He doesn't forsake it. We don't know when or how, which is the hard part; but we know He will. AMEN.

And enough with my rambling! Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure:

The best daddy!

I admit that I staged this, but they weren't mad about it!

I wanna eat her.

Spying on Sister while she sleeps!

Petes best friend from W&M got married earlier this month, and we had an amazing time celebrating Abe and Blair!

The W&M crew (and some non-Tribe spouses) at the rehearsal dinner.

Hanging out under our only front yard tree that offers any kind of shade.

HOW is this girl SO beautiful already?!?

She prefers to rest her head while eating.

Mary meowing at the kitten we found on the side of the road. For a split-second I wanted to keep it. And then I came to my senses (READ: Pete reminded me of my senses when I called him to ask if we could keep it).