For all intents and purposes, this was our last week to work on the main part of the lake house. Two days shy of the one-month mark from the closing day, we handed the keys over to the tenant.
What a project! What a whirlwind! What a crazy month!
August 18
At the lake house, a team was working on re-finishing the floors. Honestly, it felt so nice to hand over the work to someone else for a couple days.
At our house, this duo was working on re-claiming the lawn.
Over the course of many days together at the lake house, my young nephew and B began to form a special friendship and my SIL Sarah was able to get to know her as well. When B's other home fell through, Sarah and her family, who are licensed for foster care, decided to take her, which meant B got to go straight from my house to Sarah's, and with enough time to get enrolled in school for a fresh start.
What started out as a weekend respite turned into most of the summer and I'm so glad I got the time with B. Though the adults in her life have failed her, she continues to smile and be brave and start over. Against all odds, she still has a child-like innocence and a big heart. It was a happy thing to have the social worker take her, knowing she was going to a great home and I would still get to see her.
While the social worker was there, I missed a call from a mom friend, letting me know that Aiden had been in an accident. He was riding on the back of an ATV with his friend, he hit something hidden in tall grass and they both went flying over the handlebars. After my friend and her husband reviewed the scene they concluded, God spared the boys' lives this day.
Aiden had concrete burns on his arm and leg, a broken big toe and was shaken up. We were (obviously) thankful that his life was spared and also for the important lessons he learned at a relatively small cost.
August 19
Amy and I left for MSK early in the morning, our continued quest to get some relief from the pain. This phase was an injection, some sort of nerve-blocker. I wasn't prepared for it to be a whole procedure in the OR but I'm willing to go along with what they thing will help.
By 1:00 I was back in Connecticut. After collecting a couple boys (Dakota was still with us), I took Aiden to his pilot medical exam. This doctor did things old school and was personable and witty and I was wishing we could have him as a family doctor! He casually asked Aiden about his 24-hours old bruises and concrete burns, but ironically, that is not why we were getting medical attention.
And that evening Aiden had soccer tryouts, with a broken toe. I admire toughness!
August 20
Shaun was at the lake house early and sent me a picture of the newly stained floors. It got communicated through a couple different people, but this dark color was not my understanding of the plan. We sent some pictures to the family group chat and the response was favorable. A couple of us met with the floor guy and talked through options, ultimately giving him the ok to leave the dark and proceed with poly.
In the late afternoon, immediate family and a couple neighbors gathered for a memorial service for Shaun's dad's wife, Grandma Diane. My dad did the service and made it a beautiful, meaningful time. He played a couple hymns on his guitar, prayed and shared some words. And he had asked Amanda to read a passage of scripture as well.
I stood by his side as I've done thousands of times and when he made the slightest move, I instinctually knew he'd be handing me his Bible so he could play his guitar. Brought me back to when I was eight years old. It was special.
After, everyone came back to our house to share a meal.
August 21
While the floors were being worked on upstairs, there was plenty to do in the yard and in the basement.
August 22
Ceiling tiles were delivered, the goal in the basement being cleaner! and brighter!
August 23
The floors took two days longer than promised, which meant we were finally able to get in the house on Saturday. The problem with that is our tenant's move-in day was also Saturday at 9am. So...we rallied. Shaun got there at 4am-ish and people started arriving about 5:30am and got right to work.
It was a scramble to move the furniture back into the rooms and finish up projects we thought we were going to have the last two days to do. Once our tenant moved in, we took to the basement and outside for fun and play and work.
August 24
The next morning, we loaded our car and Amanda's with everything she needs to live away from home for the next eight months. Then we set out for Pennsylvania.
What a different experience doing college drop-off in the second year! It didn't take any time before people found Amanda, with hugs and catching up and delight.
Amanda's beloved, kindred-spirit roommate Journey from last year graduated from the one-year program, opting not to come back for a second year. Amanda made just a couple requests for a roommate, cleanliness being at the top.
She got matched with an international student, Shayla who is from Australia. Since she came with just a suitcase, she doesn't make much of a mess. ;) We were at Summit just a brief time so I didn't get to meet her, but Amanda reports she is happy with the match.
There is a large discrepancy in the quality of the dorms and Amanda got the least desired, but she moved things around and cleaned and was determined to make the best of it.
(Aiden was in the car doing a live football draft).
After a very long day, we were back home and it was so sad to see her empty room at the end of the hall and Avery's too. It is good and the way its supposed to be and we are so blessed and I mourn the loss of what once was.
All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
~Lady Julian of Norwich
