It’s been a wonderfully blessed month. The “transition” to summer has taken place: less school, hot weather, and going to bed each night listening to the croaking of frogs. Yes, summer is officially here. :)

April showers bring May flowers. Indeed they did! :)

– I recently got a pair of glasses. I need them only for reading, computer work, and driving, so you probably won’t see me wearing them much. But here’s a picture of what I look like wearing them…

– One morning I was baking in the kitchen, and I saw this priceless scene out the window. I ran to grab my camera, and I’m so glad I did. Ahh….a boy and his dog…it doesn’t get better than that!

BUT then again, I had this dialogue with Jonathan that very same night:

Jonathan: Brookie, can I have Greta’s pelt when she dies?

Brooke: (!!!!!!) No.

Jonathan: Well, whatcha gonna DO with it?

Brooke: I’m going to bury her in the ground.

Jonathan: Brookie, you could get 100 DOLLARS for her pelt! What a waste!

(FYI: He didn’t get very far in convincing me. That was pretty much the end of the discussion, but I could barely contain my giggles.)

– I am very happy to say that finals are over! I have enjoyed my online classes, but I’m glad to have a break. Wesley and I were both pretty fried by the end of them! :) We finished classes the same day, and after leaving the campus, Wesley took me out to Chipotle for a celebratory lunch. Finishing classes is especially big for Wesley because he is now “officially” done with high school! We were both very grateful and happy to have A’s in all of our classes.

-I’ve been working a bit on my photography skills. Here are several pictures that I’ve taken. To see the excellent work of other photographers, visit http://www.godsworldphotography.com.

-I have been very blessed to be Mom’s training partner for her triathlons this summer. We do runs and bikes together, and it is a blast – and also a challenge –  to keep up with her! I am so grateful for such a sweet and spunky Mom to do things like this with! :)

– This month’s encouragement I will save for my next post, as it is rather lengthy. It’s a devotional by Charles Spurgeon, and our whole family was incredibly blessed by it. I hope you will be too! So until next time, have a blessed evening!

Two days ago I went downstairs to find a massive fort made out of blankets, furniture, couch coushins, sleeping bags, and just about everything else in the room. Austin and Jonathan had spent the morning constructing it. I realized that they had been down there an awfully long time! They gave me a tour of their fort, and asked me to take some pictures of it. :)

So I came downstairs and saw this:

Oh my – just looking at the outside made me want to explore it! And with the owners’ permission, I did. :)

The entrance.

The entry room.

Jonny-B

Austin and Jonathan named this room the “visitor’s center”. It was the largest part, and most visitor-friendly!

One of the nooks under our foosball table.

One of the hallways…

…which led to a meeting room…

…which led to a secret passageway.

The boys named this “the room of refuge”, as it’s hard to find and get to. It was made in case of an attack from older siblings. :)

The room of refuge had an escape door…a very tiny escape door….but not quite older-sibling-proof. Wesley and I both managed to crawl through. :)

This led to a passageway underneath our hida bed which led back to the entrance. Well, after I had gone though the whole thing, I was very impressed. Of all the inside forts made by us Noble children over the years, I’d definitely say that this one beats them all. Austin and Jonathan are very creative. I am constantly amazed at what they can make with a tub of LEGOS or with a chunk of wood and a carving knife or anything else. What a blessing they are!

I hope you’re having a wonderful Wednesday! :)

This is the first time I’ve posted twice in one day, but I just really wanted to share this song with you today. It was written by Sara Groves, from her album Conversations. The title of this song is “He’s Always Been Faithful”, and the words are so beautiful. I was baking in the kitchen this morning, listening to this song, and I was encouraged so much by it. I hope you are too!

Morning by morning I wake up to find the power and comfort of God’s hand in mine. Season by season I watch Him amazed, in awe of the mystery of His perfect ways.

All I have need of His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain He did not recycle to bring me gain. I can’t remember one single regret in serving God only and trusting His hand.

All I have need of His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song, the theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long. God has been faithful, He will be again. His loving compassion, it knows no end.

All I have need of His hand will provide. He’s always been faithful to me.