March'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!}

*This post had some wonky formatting things happening...I did what I could but its going to stay.

I come back to God's Word day after day, not because I'm "religious" or "spiritual" but because I'm really not. 

Currently, my workouts are CrossFit-esk...usually about 20 minutes.

Again today the sun rises. Amazing.

Once the kids get on the bus there is a quiet, still house and Shaun and I can get some time together.

Tough to make a day at the office look interesting in photos. This was before they extended the deadline so it was quite busy.

I pack salads for us and most days we get to sit together for a quick lunch break. Its a treat to have our offices next door.

Z checked in, as he often does, this time to tell me that a pen prompted a sweet memory of his time at our house. Its always so good to be in touch with him...he's always so warm and affectionate.

AT Bible Quiz we took advantage of the warm afternoon and did the before and after football game outside. 

Back to the office for an appointment, a now top 20 client.

Finally...home and settled in with my reading buddy. 99% of the time I read before falling asleep. Sometimes its a page, sometimes its several chapters...grateful for rituals, even in the crazy.

 

Project 365, Week 13

March 22

Studying Bible quiz questions involves lots of movement. :)

March 23

Shaun invited me to go for a walk and the morning was breathtaking.

This house is in the neighborhood of one of our rental properties. Over and over we've witnessed a man stumbling up the sidewalk in the middle of the day, out of his mind on substances. Very sad. This day when we dropped Shaun off, there was a cute little girl, maybe six year old, sitting on the porch drawing a picture or doing school work. I was shocked that she's living in those circumstances and imagined bad (but statistically likely) scenarios. I desperately wanted to kidnap her. And then I quickly remember that I actually have a license to take children just like her to my home. 

And that day I got a message from the social worker "I know its your busy season with taxes but...", asking if we'd do respite care for a sibling pair. If I'm being honest, I would've rather just felt bad about the girl for a couple days and then forget about her.  But as with most of our world's problems, I really believe change can happen when we're doing what we can with our little corner of the world.

March 24

Early sun on the way to the airport with Amanda. She and a friend were headed out to Sioux Falls, SD where our friends are putting on Passion and the Cross at a theater in that city. Amanda was nervous and excited. I was so proud of her for being brave and trying new things!

March 25

She made it! :)

My little engineer was working on a school project with cardboard and a marble. When we were little, my dad made a wooden marble game and my siblings and I spent a large portion of our childhood playing with it.

March 26

The bulbs I planted in the fall made their appearance...so exciting!

Packed theater (taken from Brent's IG)!!

March 27

When I came downstairs for the day at 430am, the 9-year old was already awake and with lots of words to say. In an effort to keep the rest of the house sleeping, I offered screens. He doesn't like watching movies, so that was tricky. There was a full party going on before the sun was up.

Interjection...Aiden got to sleepover at Pop and Kiki's. They had some "business" to take care of involving a fish hatchery. Aiden got to go fishing and ride the tractor.

And in SD, Amanda was visiting the family farm and, to her great delight, got to shoot a gun for the first time.

Back at the house, it was a beautiful day and we spent every minute we could outside. Sarah stopped by for a visit and drove herself (!!). It was the craziest thing to see her pull up in the driveway.

After naps we hit the park which was fun for all ages.

March 28

At 630am we were out playing soccer in our PJs.

For years Aiden's been asking to play football. The answer to tackle football is "no", so this flag football is a nice taste of it...and he gets to be on the same team as Rocco! This was their first game. 

We found a common interest with the boys. :)

I spent the afternoon bringing everyone back to their homes and the four of us got to watch a movie together, uninterrupted. :) Shaun had to work quite a bit but Avery and Aiden were a huge help with the kids.

 

Project 365, Week 12

The snow has melted and spring is in the air (and on the calendar!)....how sweet it is!

March 15 

If daffodils are sold in the store, spring can't be far off.

March 16

My history-loving boys. The depth of their knowledge is truly remarkable.

March 17

Last year I took great pains to make corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day and I also bought the traditional Lucky Charms. There was complaining about the meal and much enthusiasm about the box of cereal. This year I skipped the meal and Aiden (of all people!!) asked why I didn't make corned beef and cabbage. Who can know how the world works?!?

March 18

At least tax season will be over before school is over. That is all I ask.

I got to listen to a podcast and watch Amanda work hard in the cold rain.

March 19

We had a few extras overnight and they all did facials. :)

While the girls were at youth group, the boys (mostly Rocco) stepped up to care for the little guy. So sweet!

March 20

Happy First Day of Spring! 

To honor Spring's arrival, I wore a flower shirt.

On this Saturday morning, a customer stopped in to sign documents. When I told him that his wife would also need to sign, he said that would be difficult. After shuffling papers for a bit he paused and looked me in the eyes and I could tell he was weighing whether or not to share with me. His wife is about to die of ovarian cancer. After surgeries and treatments and a whole lot of awful, hospice is involved and he is having to face the reality that soon his partner of 40 years will be gone.

Though its costly for me to step into others pain, it is also my honor to share in those deep places of the heart, to talk about the "underbelly" of cancer that you spare others from, to share what its like to face death in such a real way, to wonder what it will be like to go on living without the love of your life. 

There at the front desk, we spoke of those things and then he thanked me for listening and said he felt better. For a moment I could only nod while my mask caught the tears and snot that ran down my face. 

Cancer is a reality I face everyday, but in so many ways its also a gift and this is one...to be able to share with others in their suffering on a deeply human level.

And also, there are kids playing soccer and amazing dads out supporting them, cheering for them.

Shoutout to Avery and Sarah who were home watching kids whose parents went away for their anniversary. Such sweet, generous teens to give up their Saturday.

March 21

Yay for Sundays and the morning light that comes through the front windows this time of year.

We did a little exploring and dreaming at the new office.

I wiped down and swept the porch and put the cushions out. Ahh...that's better!

Grilling and pretty light and family time. My heart is full.