July's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day (Saturday) of the month! 

{Document a snapshot of your life...find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

We’re fragile and frayed, and a good night’s sleep or a week of vacation isn’t enough of a cure. What we need — what I need — is an unadulterated center. A haven of perpetual rest. A core that holds all our fragments together. 

The only refuge strong enough for that kind of security and safety is God himself. No person or position, no dream or destination, no relationship or romance or house or church or paycheck or pastor is a refuge like our God.

Everything else will one day give way. Those things around which you’re building your life will one day slip through your fingers and fade. Nothing lasts — nothing ever lasts.

Except the Everlasting One.

He is your home. He never sleeps so you can sleep in peace (Psalm 121:4). He never changes so you can live in a world that is never the same (Hebrews 13:8). Yes, you may need to start getting more sleep or changing your commitments or seeing a counselor. You might even need a more radical life change to address the exhaustion that is leaving you brittle and dry. It’s okay to admit you’re a human with real limitations that need attention.

But unless you make your Father your rest, all other remedies will need to be replaced. Find your rest in Him, and no matter when or how the world fades away, you’ll have a place to call home. ~ Michele Cushatt

Yes, fragile and frayed, so I seek my Center, my Refuge, my Peace. And my back porch is my favorite place to do that before the rest of the world gets to me.

I've recently started adding several tiny runs into my week, because...endorphins!

After dropping kids off to their various places, I went to the building. There have had to be several changes to the floor plan so we've spent many hours talking through different options, trying to land on the very best scenario.

I picked up Aiden from church...they'd met up to play soccer.

Then we picked up Avery from her morning babysitting job, except the parents were running late so we hung out in the car for a while. He's good company.

Shenanigans.

The recent rain had left us a roaring stream on the building's property. I love that Aiden invited me to explore with him.

More walls coming down. Ugh!

Sweet Avery drove us to the craft store where she picked out supplies for projects she wanted to do with her summer charges. She spent a decent chunk of her own money and was excited to do them with the kids. Also, this girl is driving me around!!

We snuck into the first part of church to watch Amanda and team do one of the songs they'd be working on all week in the upcoming Vacation Bible Camp.

Then Katie and I took the Teen Bible Quiz kids who had earned a special event. Bowling, arcade, laser tag. They are a pretty tight group and we enjoyed watching them have fun.

 

Project 365, Week 30

Summer, how I love you. Even when its full and difficult, it is warm and light and without the confines of school.

July 19

It was just for a moment but it was the sweetest when Amanda grabbed Shaun's arm and skipped down the Lowe's aisle with him.

While there we got a call from my dad, saying Aiden, who was sleeping over, had burned his arm pretty bad. They had iced it and both Pop and Kiki prayed right away, too. We talked about whether an ER visit was the thing to do about the 2nd degree burn but decided against it. We are thanking God for the little miracle He provided...its been several weeks and Aiden never had any pain after they prayed. Not even a little bit. This mama is so thankful for God's mercy!

July 20

These two spent hours and days running CAT-5 wire, after they researched youtube on how to do it.

July 21

Love seeing the girls on the field together.

July 22

Avery sent me this check-in pic. Her craft was a success! :)

I picked up Dakota for the weekend but then also had to cover the office, so while Amanda and Avery were at their babysitting jobs, Aiden (with Shaun's supervision) was in charge. :) SO sweet!

The middle school held a little summer scrimmage. Aiden was nervous about going and his last interaction with the coach was getting cut as an incoming 6th grader. He's worked hard in the off season and this night he was a standout. We were all so proud of and happy for him.

July 23

Amanda and I went to visit an elderly client/friend who recently got admitted to the nursing home, as cancer is overtaking her body. Breath was hard to come by, but she still asked Amanda about school and her life. She was so peaceful and ready.

And then, at Amanda's request (and me regretting having said no for too many years) we went through the car wash and it struck me how life has sickness and death and a teen and her mom, delighting in the small things in the middle of an ordinary day.

 

Looking for shapes in the clouds...how summer should be spent. :)

While the kids were at youth group, we sat at the park and talked business while we watched a three year-old and the setting sun.

Dakota is SO friendly and well-adjusted. He's kind and independent and personable. It stinks that he has to be "the man" of the house but seeing him in contrast to many of his peers, I think maybe its not all bad that he has to grow up fast. 

July 24

Pretty early morning light with a busy toddler.

The three kids played soccer with a group from church and there was a great playscape at the same park. It was such pretty day to be out and active.

July 25

Amanda and I were serving at church and Dakota played with his friends in class.

We were all in desperate need of a break and Shaun called the day early from the building. We enjoyed a quiet-ish Sunday afternoon at home and it was amazing. Amanda is the primary person who puts Dakota down for nap and bed time. He always makes sure he has a bottle of milk and that we sing Jesus Loves Me (x a million).