Happy summer days

Happy summer days. The childrens garden has been flourishing with sweet peas, tomatoes, onions, garlic, flowers, herbs, weeds and now God has given us a squash. I'm not sure what kind it is. I found it growing on the compost heap while I was digging out compost for our fruit trees. I hope it's a zucchini plant. We planted many of those in the garden and they never came up. I planted them too early I'm sure. Anyway, we are thankful for God's provision for our table.
Every day I put my hands on the cherry tree and ask God to heal it. It's just a little tree, I'm not worried about it. We can plant another if it dies but, God hasn't given us the money for another. He's just given us this dying one. So I pray that it heals and I thank God for his provision. We always have good (sometimes not our favorite) food on our table.
The goats are very sweet. I thought I had grown hard because I don't like dogs. But, then we got these goats. They don't bark. They make a sweet "maaa" sound. They eat my weeds and fertilize my ground. They drink out of a bucket of water for days without needing any more. I've only fed them once, the day they arrived, with a big pile of hay. I also move them around the yard on a tie out so they can do my mowing.
Our garden of children is also growing. Ephraim will soon be taller than me, and is so happy and industrious he's a genius really. Havilah has decided that she is too old to throw fits and is decidedly happier. I kiss her on the head and hug her throughout the day. Asaph is trying hard to stop bugging and arguing but, he enjoys those things so much that it's difficult to give them up. He kisses me on the lips and jumps to help out anyone that he sees in need. Zuriel is a whiz at math but, struggles with her attitude. I need to snuggle her more. Naphtali is so funny and loud and happy. For weeks after the birth he would pray at the table, "Oh Lord, please help me not to have contractions".
Our new wonder, who I affectionately call Professor Lamb, is changing every day. I'm okay with that. I know that if the days that pass are worth re-living once I've gone to my eternal home then my Lord will let me re-visit them or at least watch them again. If not, I will not be sad about it.
Adoption Update: Nothing much is happening in this regard. We are waiting to be able to begin the Dossier.

I've found that it is helpful and encouraging to change the schedule in the home when we are becoming dissatisfied with it, and it's no longer serving us. We usually do this about every 6 months or so. Here is out new schedule in case you're interested.
7am wake the kids - kids clean rooms and get ready for breakfast
7:30 breakfast and bible
8am chores
8:30 Ephraim and Havilah and Asaph have their first class
9:30 Math for everyone (Naphtali has coloring, play room time and get into trouble and bub time), Zuriel and Asaph also have writing during this time
11:30 Lunch and bible
12:00 chores
12:30-1:30 family reading time
1:30 Ephraim and Havilah rotate Latin and writing days, Asaph reads, Z and N and mama nap
2:30 get up for free play time
5:30 straighten up the house for Papa
6:30 dinner
7pm chores, get ready for bed
7:30 practice songs together, Papa read bible, Papa read another book
9:00 bed and multiple requests for water, hugs, snuggles, tuck-ins etc.
All night Mama sleeps in between snuggling times with baby Nehemiah