Project 365, Week 27

What we know well is you just don't know what a week will hold.

July 1

It was a sparkling morning, the trees were "clapping their hands". A week removed from treatment and the first in five days to not have a fever, I breathed in the regular Monday and thought, what a good day to be alive!

The grounds crew was hard at work at the office. :)

July 2

Shelva is here for a couple weeks while she walks closely with members of her extended family who have suffered a great loss. She is tremendously gifted at being present in the really hard stuff. We spent the afternoon on my porch talking about grief and loss and eternity, about ridiculous things that only we would find humor in, about the responsibility and honor of raising humans.

This picture from many years ago popped up in memories this week, no doubt taken by one of our humans back when they were shorter than us.

Then I had a taco date with these precious girls. They are at such an exciting and wide-open time in life and its a beautiful thing to have access to their hearts.

When we got home, Jack was there with his skateboard and Avery pulled out the new one that Jack bought for her birthday. She's done it a few times and really wants to learn. Turns out Sarah learned how to skate at college so she gave Avery some pointers.

Sarah also spent some time with Amanda, talking detailed logistics of the school Amanda is planning to attend in the fall. Since Sarah just graduated from there, she knows what to bring for the dorm room, what the dress code is, etc. Amanda felt more prepared after their conversation.

July 3

In preparation for having a 5-year old, I stopped at the library and got some books. The kids and I spent sooo much time at the library when they were little and being in the kid section made me miss those days!

When little miss C arrived for her 5-night respite stay with us, Amanda and I were the only ones home. Ginger is the ultimate icebreaker, not that C needed much warm-up time.  Truth be told, it didn't take Amanda and I anytime at all to be taken in with her. She's a truly special girl...smart, with a whole lot of grit.

July 4

It was so fun to have the energy of a young one around the house. The kids were great with her and she was able to climb in and out of bed, the car, etc, so that I only needed to hold her hand or pull her onto my lap.

We sat in the car for a while, waiting for a sweaty teenage boy to get done with soccer conditioning, while listening to Frozen songs, which might stay stuck in my head for the next three months. Let it GO!

We waited out the afternoon rain shower in DiSalvatore's kitchen and then the sun came out and the crowds came, some of our favorite people all gathered to celebrate the 4th. 

We have a really special church community. For instance, our Campus Pastor has had several meaningful conversations with Amanda about her future and life. It was a great evening with delicious food, valued friends and a legit fireworks show.

July 5

Aiden found a quiet activity to do with C while I took my 20-minute nap on the couch.

We read lots of stories, each session included my favorite, Those Are MY Private Parts and her favorite If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Sitting, cuddles and books...just my speed. 

July 5

When the girls came home from work, they were greeted very enthusiastically.

July 6

Outside play, as much as possible!

July 7

Sunday morning we got the call that Shaun's grandfather had passed away overnight. Four hours later, Shaun was on a plane to Florida to be with his grandmother. 

In the evening the girls were both working, but C and I got to watch Aiden play almost two quarters of his summer league game. The consistent work he has put in is really beginning to show.

Amanda did bedtime with C this night. We've never had a foster child who has been in the system for such a short time and it was heartbreaking to hear her crying for her mom because she misses her.

The foster care system is broken and there is so much I don't understand. Even while dealing with grief and sickness, it was a privilege to be able to sing and pray with a little girl going through a hard time and remind her no less than three dozen times a day that she is special.

Pictures is one way I show love, so naturally I spent some of the evening going through photos of Grandpa John. They were married for 24 years so he's been part of the family for a long time. He was just the right companion for Nana and they were able to enjoy many retirement years of traveling and making a network of friends and acquaintances. He was very intelligent and never serious for long...such a great sense of humor and an easy-going nature.

For years and years they made our Christmas gift big enough to travel so we could go to Florida to visit them and thats what we've done every year since we were married (minus 2020). They were also committed to visiting CT twice a year. They gave us the gift of time and experiences and the opportunity to have a relationship. We are so grateful for many very special memories.

The kids all got to see him in April at 94 years young.