What a mighty castle this was in its’ day!!  We saw a drawing of what it was way back then – it had a huge moat and drawbridge.  I kept envisioning the battles that must have taken place right here.

Psalm 18:2       The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.

Psalm 71:3      Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou [art] my rock and my fortress.

I love these verses – I love knowing that God is MY fortress … As the verse says, I can CONTINUALLY resort in the strong refuge of God almighty.  How many people sought refuge within the castle walls of Rokvere?  There had to be a sense of security for the people that sought refuge here.   God is our refuge … if we allow Him to be.    We may not be fighting against swords and spears, nor flesh and blood, but we are wrestling against the darkness of this world, against  wickedness.  I feel the Enemy of Satan even today in my own journey of life.   I am just so thankful for the High Tower that we can run into and be safe.

Okay … onto lighter and brighter things … my family!  : )

Lots to do at this castle!  There were quite a few people dressed up to make it more festive and fun.

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This castle has BOYS written all of over it!  I mean, is there not a boy alive who doesn’t like knights and castles to explore and swords??

Okay … this castle has LITTLE BOYS and BIG BOYS written all over it!   Just a little sword fighting thing going on here.

I mean seriously, I think Bob had just as much fun as Samuel!  How fun!

My sweet family.  I am blessed!

Ahh … my strong prince.   Sophia finally gets to lead her brother around, so she announced.  : )  These two are so much alike in personality.  They both want to lead and Sophia just had to rub it in.

My little animal lover.   Sarah played on this horse for a very long time.  I can’t remember what she named him, but I am sure she will remind me tomorrow when she sees this picture.  Maybe some day she will get a real horse of her own.

So, my Sophie girl thought this was going to be like a petting zoo.  It was NOT!  This poor little goat.  Can you see the terrified look on this little goat’s face??

And yet some more tortured animals …

and some more ….

and yet even more unfortunate animals!!

Sarah is “making stew” over an open fire.  And this is when I told my family that I am so glad to be living in the day that we are living in.  I just cannot see myself cooking a meal over an open fire like this.   Do you ever feel like you make the same meals over and over again?  Well, back then, I would imagine that really would be the case!

Just had to add this one.  I love this man!  : )

Sarah’s Mama in FL gave her a book about a year ago – God’s Wisdom for Little Girls.  We read this often at night time together.   Well, Sunday morning Sarah got up bright and early and made her bed and cleaned her room.  I complimented her on a job well done and she said, “I am God’s little girl now, Mommy!”   She then went downstairs and poured her and Sophia some cereal and said, “Sophia, will you sit by me because you’re my very best friend!”  ( The morning before she was about to hit Sophia over the head!  What a difference! )  AND then, later that day, I went downstairs and Sarah was brushing Sophia’s hair and putting barretts in it – all because she is “God’s Little Girl.”   There is absolutely nothing in this world better than to witness your child accepting Christ.  To think that our family will spend eternity in Heaven is more than this Mommy heart can take!!    God is so good to me!!

Normally Sarah keeps to herself.  But, yesterday, I took her with Samuel and me to the gym where Samuel takes acrobatic lessons, and Sarah walked up to a couple girls ( around 9 or 10 ) and shared with them that our family is missionaries to different countries and we tell people about Jesus.  She then went on to tell them that she asked Jesus into her heart and told them about Jesus dying on the cross and how he rose again.   The girls told Sarah, ” we have never heard that before!”.   So, my little girl has boldness to share her faith with those around her!!   I am talking about a SIX year old little girl!!  God has blessed me more than I ever imagined!

I just never know what is going to come out of my kids’ mouths!  It makes me nervous sometimes.  Last night Samuel brought out his Go Fish card game.  He said to Huang very enthusiastically, “Mr. Huang you should know how to play this game!!!”    Mr. Huang replied, “Why is that?”   Samuel says pointing to the back of the card game box, “Because it says RIGHT HERE that this game was made in China!! “   Huang burst out laughing, thankfully not offended.   What a fun moment!

This is Lisa.  She is such a sweet Christian young lady.  Sophia just loves her!  She sits with Lisa just about every Sunday.

One of our favorite ladies at our church in Minnesota, Grandma Srader ( as my children lovingly call her ) sent the girls some jewlery-making kits.  So, I pulled them out last night and we had a lot of fun making necklaces and bracelets.

Lisa went home with a couple necklaces and bracelets the kids made for her.

Yesterday also happened to be Independence Day here in Estonia.  The tradition is that everyone eats split pea soup for lunch and these pasteries for dessert.  My husband and at least two of my kids hate split pea soup so I decided not to go with that Estonian tradition.  I went to the grocery store around lunch time and there were about 40 people in line to get these pasteries.  So, I got what I needed and by that time, the line was down to about 6 people and so I got my couple of boxes of these pasteries, too.    They look pretty but Bob and I were trying to figure out what makes these so special??  They’re just a bread-type pastery with a glob of whipped topping and powdered sugar on top.    The day is also know as National Sledding Day – like a big outdoor festival.   I thought it was so neat to see all the people sledding down hills and cross-country skiing on the sidewalks.  It was really fun!

My husband asked me if I could get any more sentimental??!!   Probably not!  I knelt beside her bed the night before her birthday and just watched her sleep – her last few moments of being 3.  I was remembering how 4 years ago how sick I was with preeclampsia in Brazil and although I was a month from my due date, I had this feeling she would be born soon.  I am just so glad God gave Bob and I this girl!!  : )

Caroline and Sarah.

Sophia got a musical jewlery box with some jewelry of her own.

Sophia loves butterflies.  A VERY homemade cake.  : )

Sarah’s poodle cupcake cake.  She loved it because it looks like Mama and Papa’s poodle, Fofa.

Sarah’s present – a puppy dog, of course!  She named it Buscuit.

Sweet sisters.  The outfits were bought by my good friend, Tatyana.

The guys being good sports!  Bob, Dan ( our visitor from the USA ) and Andrew.

The girls bedroom.  Sarah loves puppies so she has her little puppy corner and Sophia likes butterflies.

Samuel’s dinosaur room.

Samuel’s friend Chad.  He is the son of a missionary couple here.  I am so thankful Samuel has this little friend!

My Love.                                                                   Best buddies!

Best Friends.                                                                Sophia Faith – age 3.

I have been wanting to give Samuel a recipe and let him make something on his own for him to learn measurements.  I had to wait for the perfect opportunity, though.  My little Sophia LOVES the kitchen and she takes it over every chance she gets.  And she is only 3!!  So, the other day Sarah and Sophia were watching Lady and the Tramp and Sophia fell asleep so I jumped at the chance to get Samuel in the kitchen by himself and not have his little sister hanging on him ( and telling him what to do – you’d have to understand Sophia’s personailty to understand that ).  So, I asked Bob to print out an M&M cookie recipe and Samuel made them just about all by himself.   So, I will share with you our yummy recipe!

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups candy-coated milk chocolate pieces
• In a large bowl, mix sugar, eggs, shortening, and vanilla thoroughly.
• Add flour, salt, and baking soda to creamed mixture. Blend well. Add 3/4 cup of M&M candies.
• Drop dough by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet. Slightly push a few candies on top of each dough ball with remaining candies.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 9 to 11 minutes, to your liking.