Project 365, Week 8

Working our way through February with plenty of hard and so much joy.

February 20

The kids were off for President's Day off...Aiden enjoyed a leisurely day and it was out first time on the porch this season! :)

February 21

And then the next day it snowed, just enough to be beautiful.

Avery still babysits quite a bit, even at 7 am on her day off of school!

And then she and Jack, all their own idea, very sweetly took Aiden to see a movie he was excited about.

February 22

The first time I wore sweatpants to a treatment a month or two ago, I felt like I was giving up a little ground. But Shaun assured me I should rock them without apology. So I do. 

February 23

No picture. Just trying to get through the hours with my chemo pump on.

February 24

Sometimes Shaun puts on the Hallmark channel for me in case I'm feeling up to watching something. During the day, it is reruns of shows that were a big part of my childhood, such as Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. This commercial is just about supporting co-workers/employees who have cancer, sponsored by MSK. 

February 25

Katie sent me a photo of the group at our TBQ meet. Its hard to miss it but it brightened my day to see these faces...they work hard studying and are so brave to buzz in. So proud of them!

February 26

Amanda has spent the last couple months going through a junior membership class and as part of that the thought of baptism came up. Through discussions with some caring, trusted leaders, she decided this was the time for her. I'm amazed at and grateful for the people placed in her life who have loved and her and supported her, from the nursery workers to now her youth leaders and the very crucial people in between. She is genuinely loved and seen and invested in, week after week.

It was very special and I'm so glad I got to be there. (You can see it here, start at 30:30) In the words of a song we sang that morning in service:

All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?

So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
And I know it's not much
But I've nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah

To add to the beauty of the day, Nathanael and Jack got baptized. They all shared heartfelt personal testimonies, and the youth pastor was there with them.

We ended up with an eclectic, fun group for lunch afterwards.

Project 365, Week 7

Sweet, regular life with some hard and special sprinkled in.

February 13

Reminders pop up nearly everyday of photos "from this day" many years ago. What a joy to be mom to these three through all the stages. 

One day you are walking them home from school as they excitedly relay the events of Valentine's Day at elementary school and the next you're sitting at the kitchen counter completing college entrance paperwork. It's wild!

February 14

Three days earlier Jack turned 18 and became legal to have passengers in his vehicle, which meant this was the first time he came and picked Avery up for a date. Jack brought Avery a beautiful bouquet (and so sweetly a bouquet for her mom, too). They were gracious to allow me a photo. :)

Back at home, Aiden and I worked quickly to put dinner together for the four of us. It had been a tough day, so we all made the choice to make the best of our time. 

Love is not a feeling it's an act of your will.

February 15

I took a long lunch and met up with Amy and her little friend on the trail. It was the first time I'd laced up sneakers in a month and it felt amazing to be out there again! I echo the eloquent words Amy wrote about our walks over the last several years:

we've had many conversations about kids, teens, finances, husbands, faith, crazy family, and all the rest.  We sort of bring our highs and lows and work them together as we muddle through this life as best we can, always keeping each other in check.

February 16

Aiden, Shaun and I completed our last "mission" of the game The Crew. Its a game for 2-5 players who work together to complete tasks that get progressively more challenging. 

February 17

The social worker came out to meet with our family and collect a doctor's note stating I would not especially be put in harm's way by having the germs of a little one in our home. We are strictly earmarked for short-term respite care and overnight emergency situations of young children, as we are able. Yes, we are crazy. Yes, we will use discernment.

February 18

The office was quiet for the last hour of this Saturday, so we all hung out in Shaun's office. We thought it was Avery's one hour of the day in between waitressing and babysitting, but at the last minute the babysitting canceled and we had her for the evening!

February 19

When I was done serving, I went to the café to wait for Aiden and found Amanda sitting around a table, talking and laughing with friends and her youth pastors. They care so genuinely and put the time in that it takes to develop real relationships.

It was such a beautiful afternoon, Ginger and I found a new walking route near the house.

February's 10 on 10

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

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

Since I was just two days out from treatment, I asked Amanda if she would take over Ten on Ten for me, because who wants to see 10 different angles from my couch? She remembered some of the time and others sent me photos from the day as well,

The sun always rises.

The kids set out bright and early for two days of Fine Arts and then Youth Convention. 

Just a girl in her natural habitat with the youth pastor's daughters.

Shaun took my pump off so I was able to shower and start the road to recovery (in the sunshine!)

There was a high participation rate in Fine Arts...short sermon, worship team, graphic art, mobile photography, puppetry. I am amazed at the guts these kids have to get up in front of peers and judges and put themselves out there.

Avery and Amanda submitted a mobile photography piece and Aiden was one of four boys to put on a puppet show. 

In the evening they stayed over in the same hotel and had a service Friday evening and most of the day Saturday. I'm so thankful for this special group of kids, for their leaders...that they have a tribe to belong to

 

Project 365, Week 6

Life was quiet for me this week, but there was lots of life happening, which I'm so thankful for.

February 6

All on his own and without fanfare, Aiden made a couple New Year's resolutions, one of which was to get up early five days a week to workout before school....and he's stuck to it. Ginger was very interested in helping him this morning.

As the kids age, it gets more challenging to coordinate schedules. Shaun asked us all to set aside Monday evenings so the five of us can be together. It fills my heart when we have these times.

February 7

While Aiden was waiting for a ride, he sat on the floor in the back corner of my office, playing on my phone. After he was gone, I noticed how close he was sitting to the garbage, but that he didn't use it. Puzzling.

And then I noticed the note he left me. :) Boys are a sweet mystery.

February 8

We arrived early because they usually take us in early, but we waited a little past our actual appointment time, which felt like a very long time. #14

February 9

My only picture is this screenshot Amy took of our call with the radiologist, just doing a quarterly check-in. He was delighted to hear the surgery worked in taking away much of my pain.

February 10

The kids had Fine Arts and Youth Convention. I so wanted to be there, but I was able to get a video. So proud of the kids and happy they have this group.

February 11

In the evening, Avery brought our crew home and we got to hear about their weekend and then Avery was off again to celebrate Jack's 18th birthday with his family.

February 12

Amanda drove to pick up our grocery order and we stopped at the car wash. When she was little, she used to ask all the time if we could do the car wash. I regret that I didn't say yes more often.

She put the house and food together and they had a small group of friends over for the SuperBowl.