Project 365, Week 32

Honestly, this was a really hard week for us, which is not reflected in the photos (and that I'm not quite ready to share here). Putting this post together, I was reminded again of the wonder that sweet and bitter can reside together. That life can be all together beautiful and brutal. That joy comes in the morning. And that God is concerned with the details of our lives.

July 31

My rescuer! When we bought our first fuel injected car more than 20 years ago, Shaun gave me a scary speech about the dangers of running out of gas with that type of car as opposed to the old kind that you just dumped a little fuel on the carburetor to kick start it. I took him seriously enough that I've never run out of gas in a fuel injected car. Until this day. 

Knowing we were going to be trading in our Acadia, I was trying to keep just enough gas but not too much because yes, I'm that cheap apparently. But trying to save $5 backfired and I ran out! Once Shaun put gas in, the car started right up...no trouble! All these years I thought it would be bad to run out of gas and yet it turns out....no harm done. {wink wink}

After paperwork, we brought our "new" car home. With the 8-passenger Suburban we got in the spring, it didn't make sense to keep the 7-passenger Acadia. So now I have a 39 miles/gallon little car that I can use when I'm by myself or am running just a couple kids. Its also a car that my licensed teenaged daughter can drive and probably a line of kids behind her in the years to come.

Aren't hoses so much fun??

August 1
This was a hard, traumatic day. But as I was driving home, I felt seen and loved, knowing this sunset was just for me.

August 2
No picture.

August 3
Our local DCF office gets points for beauty and charm. J and I had a meeting with several people to get school decided for the fall, which actually just involved me telling them our plan and asking them to ok it.

August 4
At one point, all 8 kids were skipping rocks....so cute to see them lined up counting skips.

August 5
Sarah and I are training for a full marathon in October and this weekend the training schedule had a half marathon on it. Sarah found one that was close and free...perfect! Perfect, except the day dawned rainy. So much so, that most of the drive there I was toying with turning around and instead spending the morning in sweats and holding a coffee. But! I'm glad I stuck with it. I felt so great and the two-hour run did wonders to clear my head and heart.

My time was 2:11...nothing amazing but it was a win for me.

 
Amazingly two teens and a tween wanted to get up at 7AM and be out in cold rain to support me. So sweet!

August 6
Remarkably, we got rid of a whole bunch of kids, leaving just K at home for a couple days.

J has SO been looking forward to ranch camp and the day finally came. I helped get her settled in and thought the accommodations were pretty nice.

When I got home from drop off, Shaun was changed and ready to take me out on a date. It was a perfect evening to sit on the patio, kidless...it felt like a normal person thing. :)