a few painting pics

just wanted to share a few new pics...
i am gradually (finally) learning to use the digital camera :)!




painting, well fingerpainting, for eva,
our fall decorations!
you can see what micah thinks of her mess.

mara joy, looking on, and looking forward to the day

she can make that kind of a mess, with paint, that is!

we certainly have some fun, happy kids here!

love to all... from all the sells!

fruit picking on a beautiful day

Today, we went apple picking.
We also picked pears and grapes.
They were yummy!
Daddy took a picture with his phone.
Elias

well, i tried to upload that picture and with no success...
of course, we forgot our camera, but the lovely woman who owned the orchard
took a pic with hers, and promised to email it to us, so hopefully we can still post it.

joel had the day off today (yom kippur), so romped around in an orchard
picking, fresh organic fruit. lovely weather, and a most needed way to spend a morning.
we are finding it so recharges our energy and commitment for living in the city,
if we can just get out once a week. well, we have known this for a while.
it just takes alot of commitment to make it happen in our stage of life.

what has also recharged us, though, was a weekend at the ccda conference here in philly.
we got to sit on some awesome speakers, like tony campolo, shane claiborne, wayne gordon, etc... and we were really encouraged in our life here, even though theres alot about it,
that does not make sense at the moment.
we were just convicted to find joy in where God has us.
and to feel blessed to live in a place where need and devastation is so plain,
because it makes God's power, and our powerlessness, so much more real.

well, hopefully, there will be time to share more later... vanessa