Soul Dough

After finishing blogs for Zech's three older siblings, I turned to my wife and said, "What should I write about Zech?" She looked over to Zech napping on our bed, his doughy fingers still holding headphones to his ears. The look on her face said it all… all that we can't say. Unmistakable love, but there was also a wince of sympathy.
Zech is so 'much.' I don't know how to say it. Most all the time Zech brings us joy and energy and curiosity, but we as sinful human beings in our diminished capacity for love can only take so much before we find it taxing. Zech has the indefatigable ability to come to you with fond queries and desires until you can no longer respond in kind.
Heidi had a knowing look of compassion for a boy who will have the life long vocation of learning the hard way.
We pray regularly for the self-control, patience and wisdom that only God can give so that we can strengthen our boy the same disciplines. I can only imagine what God has planned for a boy who couples all of his natural talents with those learned through self-discipline.

Inverse

Harley and I were snuggled up watching Little House on the Prairie when she turned to me and said, "I want a wife."
"What would you do with a wife?" I asked.
"Like that." she said gesturing toward Michael Landon on the screen.
"A husband," I corrected, "You want a husband. What would you do with a husband?" I asked.
"I would marry him... I'll be a cowgirl, and he'll be a cowboy."
I told her that sounded like a good idea, and we watched a little more Little House on the Prairie.
Then Zech chimed in and said, "I wanna marry a girl cow and I'll be a boy cow."
I ventured a guess, "You mean you want to be a cowboy and marry a cowgirl?"
He smiled and laughed as he realized what he had said.
Zech is a lot right now... He is a lot of fun, and he takes a lot of energy.

After a harvest party, Zech had candy and gum. I made the rule that he couldn't eat gum in the house after finding it on tables and chairs around the house. So the next time he wanted some gum I sent him out of the house. ...Where did I find gum this morning? in my shoe...

He's just a lot of fun...

Zach loves to play, he loves to make us laugh, and he is learning so much. We are so thankful to have him be a part of our family.

Fitting Right In...

Visiting some Church friends...

Visiting a neighbors chicken coup...

Zach really has adjusted well to Mali. He runs around with a bare bum most of the time, he is always dirty, and often picking his nose. We are working on some of these bad habits, but consequently he is potty trained after one month in Mali! And we are thankful for that. He has no trouble saying NO to kids who are overstepping their bounds, and he feels that way a lot with the kids in our yard. They want to grab him and hold him or tease him... He marches all around the yard and does what he wants... it is pretty cute. He is starting to repeat words too... I wouldn't be surprised if he is the first of all the kids speaking Bambara!

Yea... he's potty trained...

Zechariah says thank you to Lulu

Hi mom,

I just wanted you to see how excited this boy was to get some gum from his Lulu.

We are really excited that he is pretty much potty trained. Of course he is still at the stage where we have to remind him ten times a day, and as often as not we have to make him sit on the toilet. But, hey, beggers can't be choosers.

Zech is always quick to meet other people's needs. While we are eating dinner Zech will notice that Drew has finished his bread, and he will tell me to pass Drew another piece before Drew even thinks to ask. Or if Jethro is crying, even a little bit, Zech will run to find us and tell us that 'the baby crying..." Even if that baby is three feet away from one of us.

You know his name means 'God remembers the afflicted.' I have to remind myself what a blessing it is that Zechariah is becoming the person that we prayed he would be, and he is not even three yet. Praise the Lord.

We are excited for our move to Mali, five weeks from this morning. And we can't wait to see you there. Don't worry, we'll give you door to door service and put you up in the nicest place in Kadiolo!

Long overdue

So... I don't know why we haven't up-dated Zech's page. He's changed so much! He's getting around really well with his hilarious little crawl. He's developed a little temper, but it goes away fast. He's had his first hair cut... but we barely took any off. We love his baby curls. I'll put a video of his crawl up soon.

Zechariah is pretty good at sitting up now. I wouldn't leave him alone yet, but he can do it for a long time. He is fantastic at grabbing things and getting them into his mouth. His teeth have been bothering him. Two cut through a little over a week ago (the bottom front two).
Zechariah loves to look up into the trees. That's what he's doing in these pictures. Joe and Drew and I were playing Risk. You can see pictures on Drew's blog.