day twenty five

Come home
Come home
Ye who are weary come home

Sweetly and tenderly
Benjamin is calling

Calling his grandparents
Come home

coming soon to arms near you

Gramma and Grampa

before you pack up
In a jar, if you can
please bring some sunshine
to pour in my hand

to put on my head
and let it trickle down
squirm through my toes
melt into the ground

it would be lovely
it would be fun
to have in a jar
just a wee bit of sun

to keep and to hold
through the wind and the snow
keep my hands snug
and my cheeks all aglow

if sunshine you can't get
you can't put in a mug
then I'll take the next best
a bright joyful hug.

Love
Benjamin

day twenty three

Gramma and Grampa,










We're counting down the days!!!
We're thinking about supper with you!!!
We're ignoring the thought you may be jet lagged!!!
We won't acknowledge the yawns and looks at the watch!!!
We will hug you and hug you and let you kiss us lots and lots!!!
We will sit and listen to stories and adventures!!!
We will hear about what God is doing in Cambodia!!!
We will hear about what God is doing in your lives!!!
We will think about what you share with us!!!
We won't leave you until we have to!!!
We will be there to see you when you come home!!!
We won't be thinking about anything else except you!!!
We're getting pretty excited!!!
We're thinking about seeing you soon!!!
We're counting down the days!!!

Love love love
Benjamin

A hit!

Hello Gramma and Grampa,

YOU SAW AN ELEPHANT?????? So cool. Was it? Was it a happy elephant? Oh please say it wasn't a chained and scarred elephant. We'll think it was happy and devoted to it's owners like Mathey.

Speaking of which, he was a success! It was like he had practiced for years for his opening debut. Mommy opened the door to the stage and out he came on his own, in front of the whole church, and daddy sat in the front pew so Mathey could see him and Mathey ate his treats for the whole sermon and almost made it through communion but when the ushers were coming back up to the front, he barked at them. We were so proud. The second service he ate the treat in record time and then started strolling around so mommy went and took him offstage. He was a hit.

The sermon was about prayer and the Luther quote "that you would pray as a dog takes after meat" and Mathey eating his treat showed really how truthful our prayer life should be. Drooly, noisy, fully engaged. Not clean words with no heart. It was a really good metaphor. After church mathey was a hit with lots of kids, adults, and seniors alike.

To cap off, Al Rowney was taking family shots, and the timing was perfect, so hopefully the pictures turn out because mathey is in them. Aren't you proud you're related?

Lovingly yours
Benjamin

day twenty one

Hi Gramma and Grampa

Mommy read your comments out loud and (hic)daddy wanted to know if you were counting his chins or mine :)
We had a good (hic) day today, daddy went to get some needed dress pants and shirt and (hic) tie from the Mayor and not only did we meet his father (who told us what a colic-ee baby he was (hic) and that he didn't speak until he was three) but the very dressy very intimidating tailor who helped us just about squealed when we told told him not only do we own a Mathey, but he was across the street in the car. (hic) So now, Mathey has been inside Atch & Co.! Mommy says we are high class.

I had (hic)mommy up every hour last night, and she doesn't know if it's teething because I have nothing more to show for it. We all went for a family jog today, the sun was (hic) shining and the sidewalks finally plowed from our 25 cm storm last week.

We get to turn the calender (hic) over and see what day you come home. That makes me very happy. (hic)

I love you
Benjamin

oh, and (hic) I have the hiccups.

(hic)

very smart

Grampa and Gramma

Daddy was home at lunch today, it was awesome! He had a research day and had to fill out applications for the fellowship spots available. Then we went and bought Mathey some treats for his stage debut this Sunday and bought extra to make sure he liked them.....he does.

I am sitting on my own now, as long as I don't rock too much.


Mommy puts me on the couch or in the crib in case I fall over (which I do). And this blog has been a learning experience for me, as soon as mommy puts me on her lap and starts the computer, I know to lean forward and hit my hands on the desk, like she does on the keyboard. I am very smart.

I love Sophie, and I can now get her into my mouth easily. I chew on her legs and head and feet all the time and then mommy has to change my shirt because it gets drool-ee. Mathey and I have so much in common. I hope I don't say that when I'm in highschool :)

Mommy and Daddy look forward to seeing your photos when you get back, and we all miss you. Ok time to go get ready for bed.

Kisses and hugs galore
Benjamin

day nineteen

Hi Gramma and Grampa

I would tell you to hold tight to someone's hand in busy markets like the one you described. Don't get lost!
I would also tell you to wave at the warm sun for me, as it's brrrrcold here. We are all doing well, I had a lovely day, going for a walk and then a surprise afternoon as daddy came home at lunch (wow) and so we had a boys day while mommy went to work. mathey went with her to practice for his big show this sunday at church. He is very exited.

My teeth still bother me, and I haven't anything new to show for it, and my hair is going to be so long when I see you mommy threatens to put it in pigtails.

I love you
Benjamin