The VISAS never came, and our second 90 day period on our passports is up. We don’t know how long we’ll be here…we don’t know much except that we are together and in God’s hands. If you are not on our prayer team and would like to get monthly updates or weekly updates, just let us know. We flew into Helsinki, Finland and then drove 3 ½ hours north to a college town called Jyvaskyla. This place is strikingly similar to where I grew up: marshes, lakes, and HUNDREDS of trails for walking and Read More
The Little Girl Who Cried Wolf
Last night, some friends here in Iceland invited us to go out to dinner. This was a pretty exciting event since we had't gone out at all yet. We immediately began coaching the kids on good restaurant etiquette. Anticipation was high and the kids both got dressed up, picked out necklaces and bracelets for the big event. When we arrived and walked into the serene, candle-lit restaurant, immediately Colby and looked at each other and said at the same time, "Oh no...Were we supposed to get a Read More
Ever wonder what a diaper is made of?
The other day, we discovered why Darcy always does this when she has to go potty: We were in the car driving across town to visit Colby's brother when Darcy announced to us that she had to go potty. We told her the same advice that we always give: "HOLD IT, Darcy!" However, this time, she cried out, "I Can't...I holding my book!" She had a rather large Elmo book in her hands, and therefore was not able to "Hold IT." She somehow managed to stay dry till we got to our destination where we Read More
Darcy Doodle’s Dental Disaster
Colby here. Well we knew it would happen some time. One of our children would experience some sort of bodily injury and if we were lucky only lose a tooth. Tonight was the night and the playground was the scene of the crime. As Darcy made an attempt to climb something a little too difficult for her, she had a facial collision with a metal bar and knocked one of her two top front teeth. She took it like a champ. Cried for a little bit, but not really a whole lot. Her mother and sister on the Read More
Princess Memory, Anyone?!
Let me begin this post by saying that in the Garman family I grew up in we learned that one never should allow a contender in any contest to beat you just because you think winning may hurt their feelings. I always thought it was a dignified maxim and I still do. When someone beats you, you want them to be able to know that they beat you at your best game, not that you went easy so it would be close.One distant memory from my childhood that illustrates what can happen as a result of this Read More
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…
Today on Mr. Roger's neighborhood, Mr. Rogers went to a dairy farm to learn about milking cows. The girls were oooing and ahhing about it and the sun was starting to peek out from behind the clouds, so I came up with the grand idea of visiting the farm that is right off Bells Hill Road. We packed some snacks and hiked up the hill out our subdivision. It has always amazed me that there is an old farm right between I-95 and Route 1 and today seemed like the perfect day to have a hands-on Read More
Thanks a lot, Cindy!
A few weeks ago, our pastor's wife was in the nursery and showed Darcy that her hair tie could also double as a bracelet. Darcy loved the concept and now enjoys taking her hair out so that she can accessorize with a new bracelet. This results in the fro (pictured here) and a really stressful meal time (especially when she pretends to be Aerial and combs her hair with a fork). I wonder if Darcy will always be a wild woman... Read More
Dirty Darcy and Hygienic Haley
I cannot believe these two children are both mine. Their opposite reactions to the playground perfectly display the different extremes of their personalities. Darcy's reaction is quite obvious based on the picture. Haley has actually gotten quite a bit better. Last year at this time, she refused to step foot on the playgroup in fear that the sand and dirt would corrupt her feet. This week Darcy broke her in and she stooped down to touch the dirt that so mesmerized her sister. Immediately, Read More
First official in-house sleepover
Since Stafford County had spring break this week, Elizabeth and Arianna decided to sleepover Sunday night. It was a very exciting event for my girls and Haley Jane insisted on sleeping in Darcy's closet to add to the festivities. I couldn't think of any good reason not to let her. Although there was a little scuffle in the middle of the night (another story for later), all went well. After having their weekly "kitty club" meeting in the basement (they have a pledge, a song, and Read More
Darcelona
I have heard many mothers describe their little boys as being "all boy."I know Darcy is physiologically a girl...but she is ALL BOY. Not only does she love the mud and dirt (unlike her "first born" sister)...This kid is just tough. Take this evening for example. Colby watched the girls so I could go for a long run before dinner. She apparently landed face-first on the coffee table from a standing position on the couch. Colby admitted to me that he was brought to tears as he cleaned up the Read More