Project 365, Week 29

Lots of moving parts this week, but the especially good news is the longest, strangest tax season over. On to our summer!

July 13

A very special boy was born on this day 11 years ago. It was a bummer that we were still in tax season, but he's easy going and didn't seem to mind.

He and his dad snuck out to fish for a bit, something he greatly enjoys.

We had his favorite dinner, cheese pizza, rounded out by a store-bought ice cream cake and ate out on the porch. It also worked out that Rocco was able to sleepover. Not much more a boy needs.

Aiden is such a blessing. He is patient and kind and loves to read and learn. He takes all of the nonsense that happens around here in stride. Ten was fun, I know eleven will be even better!

July 14

SUCH a crazy day at work, but I kept an eye on the beautiful skies and breathed. :)

A late start time meant we had slightly cooler temps.

Pop and Kiki were headed out on a road trip the next day, so we all met up to say goodbye. These girls were so sweet chatting it up.

July 15

My co-worker's husband brought her flowers and some for me, too. Fin.al.ly, the end of tax season. I once thought the middle of April crowd was special. These last three days proved me wrong. People are an extra level of crazy 

Junior High met for youth group so while Amanda was there, we went out to dinner with Avery and Aiden to celebrate the end of the longest, strangest season ever.

July 16

J loaded up the last of her belongings and is officially moved out. I have so many feelings about it and am still sorting them out. At the top, sadness for her because the choices she's made are leading her down a hard road, relief for us because it has been a not-good situation for far too long.

In our 8.5 years of doing foster care, we never once had even a day between kids...there was always an overlap. But now we are on break. I don't know how long or what it will look like but we need to heal and regroup and breathe.

Our family has enjoyed doing tree work together at Nathan's property. Its hard, sweaty work but there is an immediate sense of accomplishment, too.

July 17

Bible Quiz. I really enjoy this group! And how handy to have my two teens involved, so I can get feedback on everything I'm doing right and (more often) wrong. ;)

July 18

My sister put together a Wiffle Ball game for the boys so their friend could have a distraction. Such a great group of boys from our church...I'm so glad they have each other! Some of the dads got involved and the moms cheered. So fun!

July 19

The guys went fishing and had success!

Amy and Colombo invited us to share in a fun day with our mourning friends. What a blessing to see them laughing and having "normal" moments. A pool day with friends is good for the soul.

Back flip school.

July's 10 on 10

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

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

This month, the 10th was a hard, sad day, celebrating the life of our friend who finally got to be with Jesus. These three years of sickness and treatments and decline have been tough and there are so many more challenges up ahead for his wife and five children. Its been an honor to walk the journey with them and its been beautiful to witness our church community love and support them all these years. God made us for relationships and we need each other.

Knowing it was going to be a difficult day, I wanted be sure to not skip my life-giving morning routines.

God welcomes our doubts and questions and fears.

Amy and I hung out "back stage" with our kids, who were supporting their friends, one Amanda's age, one Aiden's age. So heartbreaking to see them walk through something like this so young.

Pastor Eliezer and Casey did such a beautiful job with the service.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 

Without the hope of heaven, this would all feel so final. 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, 

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 

There is a really great group of 10/11 year old boys at our church. They were all very purposeful in "being there" for their friend.

From the reception, we went to the orthodontist for Amanda's long-awaited day...braces! :)

Wow, was I so thankful to get home to this guy (he and Avery both streamed the service to keep the crowd count down). I was able to download and process some of the day with him, just like we regularly do. We both shoulder some "survivor's guilt", thinking it unfair that we still have each other when that's not the way it ends for so many others. We are intentional about turning the guilt into gratefulness.

I dropped the girls at youth group. They register ahead of time, bring their own chair, wear a mask and sit six feet apart. But they are together.

I went grocery shopping and came home to these boys quite proud of themselves for making THE best smoothies.

Crossword puzzle time.

Project 365, Week 28

Such a difficult, painful week. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor nearly three years ago, our friend passed away, leaving his wife and five children. Knowing how grueling cancer is, we committed to walking through it with them at the beginning.  In the "ups and downs" of cancer, they've had mostly downs. My friend valiantly took care of her husband, remaining strong and with great faith. We are thankful he is with Jesus and has been completely healed, but for the family the loss is so very painful.

Even in the brutal there have been so many beautiful and holy moments, but the deeply sacred and meaningful ones are not pictured here. 

July 6

We got the news around noon that he had passed, so I dropped everything and went to pick up the daughter who is Amanda's friend. I reached out to Kelly, who is their tribe leader and, without hesitation she came over to be present with the girls.

July 7
No picture

July 8
We arranged another evening together. Maddy and Kelly, both youth leaders came over and the girls spent about four hours in the hot tub, talking about everything from A-Z. I'm so grateful for the relationships they've built, for the ways Kelly and Maddy have poured into the girls and that they are willing for God to use them to reach these young teen girls in a way that I never could.

July 9
The school figured out a way to safely hold soccer conditioning. Avery and Amanda are back to being on the same team and will be for the next three years. They were in the first wave at 8am.

Signs of the times. We squeezed in a dental cleaning for Amanda. The nurse met us in the parking lot to screen her with questions and temp check. She went in on her own while I waited in the car.

July 10
This message has been on my kitchen counter for five years. Once sent to me by a friend, these words have been shared many times over. Today, I texted it to Amanda's friend who, at the age of 13, had to bury her dad.

July 11
Shaun took the boys fishing first thing.

Someone in the neighborhood hosted a ladies hot tub night. After such a sad, intense week of loss it was so nice to spend several hours laughing and talking about things that have no eternal importance.

July 12
My friend was very limited in availability over the last couple years and needed to stick close to home while caring for her husband. It was nice to get the day with them...Coach Shaun held soccer practice for the kids and we all played a rousing game of PIT (there is no other way to play). It was a lovely respite from the hard.

Later, we got to see Shaun's mom who is in the state for the week. Thankful for our porch, the time around the table and slow Sundays.