Project 365, Week 21

This week was exciting as some of the non-essential businesses were given the green light to open! We were the first ones in line!

Watching and experiencing the excitement and joy of seeing people, some for the first time in months, its so evident that God created us for relationship.

May 18

The neighbor ladies got together for hot tub and fire pit...fears, frustration, disappointments were shared. For most, this is a hard season.

May 19
I'll only say about this day that Shaun is a rockstar...patient, steady and intentional in his parenting (and homeschooling!).

This field I pass everyday on my way to the office takes my breath away...I finally pulled over to try to capture some of its beauty.

May 20
Speaking of beauty, the sunrises this morning week were incredible. I love that the sun rises early enough this time of year that sometimes I wake up to the light pouring into our bedroom.

For Connecticut, this day was a partial opening of the state. Since the kids have school off on Wednesdays, Shaun and the kids picked up Amanda's friend and they went out to lunch and did some shopping and did their part to open the economy back up.

They also did the family run, but since I had to cover the office I missed it. They forgot to take a picture but at least they brought me ChickfilA. :)

May 21
Amazing weather!

May 22

We had a truckload of mulch delivered and now we have a large project ahead of us! No need to hire a landscaping crew when you have three tweens/teens. :)

May 23
Last year Amy introduced me to a farmer's market that is a great place for plants and flowers...quality, variety and price are all outstanding. We arrived at 6am along with the rest of the crowd and got our goods. This is a perfect year for extra yard work. :)

May 24
Its a long story, but this day I was in Home Depot three times at two different locations. I also went to two different Walmarts but one had the line snaked around the building longer than I was willing to deal with. Crazy times.

Amanda wanted to do a sleepover outside in a tent. Not only did Pop let us borrow his tent, he also brought it over and set it up with her. She was quite pleased!!

Avery and I drove to visit with her friend who she hasn't seen in person in months. The girls were crying happy tears. We had a lovely lunch with Sarah's family, so grateful to have people time.

Shaun and the kids began working on putting overhead lighting in the bedrooms, which included fun adventures like crawling around in the attic.

The friends were very happy to be together.

Aiden was so sweet to want to do a fire for the girls. He kept checking with Amanda for just the right timing so it would be ready when they were. He has found a purpose with being the fire maker in the family. :)

May 25
The dog slept in the tent with the girls and at some point in the night they had let her out. When I looked out the window in the morning, Ginger was still faithfully guarding them.

When it looked like the weather was going to be nice, we threw a cookout together. We kept it simple and outside. Its so nice to be with people! Even with all the nonsense happening, I'm still so grateful to be an American and in awe of the people through history who felt strongly enough about honor and freedom and liberty to die for the cause.

Project 365, Week 20

Life is hard and also, there are so many miracles sprinkled throughout everyday life, just for the finding. I love to ponder and notice how bitter and sweet, brutal and beautiful are most always woven together. Life is good and We can do hard things are two of my very favorite sayings and they are rarely independent of each other. It is just the way of things.

With my camera I love to capture the life-is-good parts....its one of the ways that I express gratitude. But that doesn't mean that the pretty, easy parts are good and the hard, uncomfortable parts are bad. I have found (and I reminding myself again) that some of the most beautiful and holy moments are in the suffering and pain (which can usually only see when you look back). And a really good time to be wowed by a sunrise and other daily miracles is in the middle of a pandemic. Or sickness, or relationship trouble, or financial hardship.

May 11

May in Connecticut is absolutely enchanting. The green is so fresh, the flowering trees are in full bloom. The memory of short days is still fresh and as such, the early-rising and late-setting sun is still a novelty not taken for granted. I'm often stopped in my tracks by the beauty and majesty of it all.

May 12
He's up and at school early. Less because he's a diligent student and more because he wants to get it out of the way. Though his teacher offers an optional video meeting twice a day, he usually opts to just work on his own.

May 13
A stunning start to the day.

Post-family fun run in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot. We've gotten pretty good with the order ahead app and curbside pickup. However, this time my sandwich didn't make it in the bag, something we discovered too far down the road. I sent them an email and they credited me, but it made me realize that I haven't given them any positive feedback, even though a visit to them has become a highlight of our weekly lives. Thank you, Chick-Fil-A for the important role you play in our family. :)

I love watching/listening to my kids Facetime with little cousins.

May 14
Start a fire in the afternoon, wearing pajamas? I mean, why not?

I discovered a robin's nest, right next to our front walkway, at waist height.

May 15
Since we were going through our old town to get the pickup truck, we stopped for a little treat, for old times sake.

We also took a little detour to go by one of my favorite spots during this time of year. I love that quarantine affords us the time to stop and smell the roses.

Several days this week the conditions were prime for a rainbow and finally, we spotted one!

May 16
Bright and early Avery and I hit the Farmer's Market. She's a good company girl.

Then we spent quite a few hours filling containers and making our yard look pretty. Its happy work that pays off over and over all summer long.

We were particularly amazed by these.

How do I know God loves me? Because everything is more beautiful than it needs to be.

May 17
All three babies hatched!! We're trying to leave Mama Robin alone so she can do her thing but we are so enthralled by this up-close viewing of nature in action.

A good sign! The game we spend hours and hours a week playing has been moved out to the porch!! :)

My neighbor sent this photo. Lots of boys!

While the other three went golfing, Amanda and I took a road trip to get ice cream for some much needed connection time. Life is hard, particularly when you are 13.

Shaun's patience and steadiness are astounding, even in times of adversity and suffering...like teaching a resistant, math-challenged middle schooler. ;) Oy!

May's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Sunday...Mother's Day). {Document a snapshot 

of your life; find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

Pretty, pretty sun that comes through the front windows when the house is quiet and the day holds so much promise.

Aiden asked if I wanted to read with him. When I joined him on the couch, he said he'd "fluffed" the blanket for me. Ha!

Avery usually beats me at Boggle, but I keep trying.

Kim came over and it'd been a while since we'd seen each other so I got caught up on her life (the parts she's willing to share at least) and we spent several hours together, walking, chatting, playing games.

Long after everyone one else got out to prepare dinner, Aiden and I stayed until we were good and prune-y. For whatever reason the hot tub makes him very chatty and I get peeks into his heart.

The girls worked hard on dinner...and cleaned up after.

We even ate in the dining room on china and with candles. It was very special.

We ended the day watching Little Women as a family. And this is how I know Aiden and Shaun truly love me. :) It was a good day.

In motherhood, I spend lots of time battling fear, certain I'm getting most of it wrong, desperately wanting to control people and outcomes but knowing I can't (and shouldn't). I listened to my kids express their love and appreciation and chose to believe the words they were saying and thanked God for his grace that covers my gaps. Truly.