Project 365, Week 26

This first week of summer came with amazing weather (even though now we're starting to need rain). We're managing tax season and summer vacation and transitioning a kid out and all the other things life brings. I'm on a daily hunt for peace and beauty, that's one reason I love taking pictures....it keeps me on the lookout for the good, the beautiful, the blessings. No matter what is happening all around us, its there. When we do grateful list, Aiden will often start out with I'm thankful for the breath in my lungs! Yes, there is that and I'm so thankful!

June 22

We took the dog to swim and cool off in the lake and Avery couldn't help but join. We were the only ones there on a beautiful summer evening.

June 23
Big news on the family run...Amanda came up from her consistent 4th or 5th place and WON!

June 24
Happy 15th birthday, Avery!!

She took the day off from her regular babysitting job so she could enjoy her birthday, but then a neighbor asked if she was available to babysit and she agreed. So, I took the afternoon off and took my three along with the two boys Avery was watching and we played at the lake.

Amanda so sweetly bought lots of little items, all of Avery's favorite things and took special care to make a fun presentation.

For dinner, we tried a local, authentic Mexican restaurant. It was the perfect weather to sit outside enjoying the evening and celebrating Avery.

She's a wonder, this girl. She lives life with exuberance. She's loyal and hard-working and is always up for what's going on. She loves God and loves people, especially very young ones. With her very first breath she taught me about the wonder and gift and blessing of being a mama. We're so grateful for her!

June 25
Pop and Kiki came and picked the kids up for a night out so Shaun and I could go on a date. It was SUCH a great night for us all!

June 26
"Together again!", Sarah said. She got to sleepover for Avery's birthday and we had the baby, too. They watched youth group on the porch while eating dinner and then met with their small group in the hot tub. Times are tough. ;)

June 27
Beach day!

At one point in the day we circled up and had a really meaningful conversation about real life stuff. You just really never know when kids are going to want to talk!

I took Sarah and Avery to do a drive-by for one of their youth leaders. SO sweet! (And also ill-timed rain, though its the first we've had in weeks).

June 28
The two-year old is fast so thankfully we have lots of hands and eyes to help watch him.

June's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Wednesday). {Document a snapshot 

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

Breathing deeply, seeking peace, quieting my heart. Especially when life is hard, I find it necessary to turn the volume of life down.

Part of my "new normal" has been sanitizing surfaces every morning, serving and protecting my family. I love the sun that streams in the front windows.

Its a hard-knock life being a kid in this house. I have several morning favorites that sometimes get blasted if you're not up when I think you should be. Songs like Its a Good Morning or Happy or Good Morning are some of my go-tos.

Ready to work with just the essential drinks. ;)

The roses are beautifully blooming in the parking lot.

We had a drive-by to pick up Aiden's 5th grade t-shirt. I refrained from making him get out and stand in front of this building he'll never again attend.

Heart talks on the back porch. I'm practicing listening instead of lecturing.

Golf in the front yard with neighbors.

Junior Bible Quiz via Zoom. Aiden's team had essentially qualified for nationals, but it all got canceled. Which is ok for Aiden since he has another year but tough for the 6th grader on the team who won't get another chance.

Teen Bible Quiz in person! The youth leaders were meeting in a different part of the parking lot and when the teens and leaders spotted each other it was such a sweet moment. They were ALL so excited to see each other and it was such a picture of the important roll of community.

Project 365, Week 25

Our first week officially on summer break, while for the first time still in tax season! Life is still strange everywhere you look, but there is also a return to some of the things we know and enjoy.

June 15

Our school district organized an "item exchange"for us to pick up locker contents and to drop off text books and Chrome books. I was impressed with the coordination and efficiency. Three kids, three different schools, one stop!

I had to open the plastic bags to rummage around for library & text books thought it was sweet that Amanda had a picture of her cousins hung in her locker. :)

We picked up Izaya and took him out to dinner to celebrate his graduation. He has an understanding that the life he wants is not going to be handed to him and has dreams and a good work ethic. He's a remarkable kid.

Memory lane...this was his 5th grade graduation...

and this was at Disney, just a week or two after he first came to live with us. I could never fully express or even sort through all the emotions and feelings that are attached to this foster care journey. But sitting with him, celebrating his high school graduation, my heart was full, and for the 10,001st time, I marveled that God would have chosen me for this. I think of a favorite verse in Corinthians 13

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

June 16
My friend and I took our 8th grade graduates, who are friends, and their little brothers and headed to the beach for the day to celebrate their accomplishments.

June 17
Avery had a babysitting job this week and Aiden joined her so that left Amanda home alone for long periods of time. We're working through how to most help her make use of some of her days. Did you know...there are 168 hours in a week...when you're 13 years old, that is a LOT of time!

June 18
Researching something or other. I love to overhear their conversations.

June 19
Avery babysat all week and Aiden joined her for a couple days and finally they had Friday off! They went for a 12 mile bike ride with Pop and then hit the hot tub. This was the "hi mom" they sent to me while I was at work. :)

While the girls had youth group, Aiden and Alayna battled it out in Monopoly.

After youth group is streamed online, the girls get on a video calls with their separate small groups. Amanda's time with her group is clearly life-giving to her.

June 20
While the house slept, Shaun and I enjoyed a date in the hot tub, complete with meaningful adult conversation. :)

Aiden's friend from school got baby goats so he went over to play for a bit. Surprisingly, he's got quite a bit of farmer in him. :)

We had a family picnic with a luau theme...the kids wore the garb that Grandpa brought back with him when he visited Hawaii.

Hours of fun on the trampoline and water slide...the cousins delight in being together...my kids have just begun to understand what a special thing they have family-wise.

June 21
Father's Day! We threw around a few options, but ended up doing a basement project, where it was cool. Because it was Father's Day there was much teamwork and cooperation and next to no fighting, for the win!

Three of us worked on the flooring and two of us cleaned out/organized a section of the storage area.

Looking back I don't remember how or why but, of my own accord I began working out consistently when I was 13ish and never looked back. In these 30+ years I've had a wide range of workout equipment/spaces/programs, some years at the gym but most at home and this is by far the most amazing space I've had. I'm so grateful...it feels like pure luxury! The end result, at least for now...

We ate a late lunch and then played games.

Shaun called about a tee time, not expecting to get anything, but they were wide open so he and Aiden were off in a flash. The girls and I took the opportunity to go visit my dad. He's one of the good ones and I'm so thankful for him.