Project 365, Week 33

I was in several different states this week, I realized and all for good things, which is always a good thing.

August 12

Shaun golfs around 5:30/6 every morning and often he sends me a photo of the sun coming up. 

August 13

The girls and I hit the store early to gather dorm room supplies. We had a list and a mission...it was fun and efficient.

In the afternoon we all split. Auntie Sarah did her annual sleepover/spoil-them-rotten time with the girls. Even as Avery and Amanda's schedules have gotten fuller, I appreciate that Sarah has persevered to make sure this time together happens. 

Shaun and I headed to Cape Cod to be part of a very special surprise (I'll come back and share more soon). 

August 14

Before we left, we did breakfast with Amy and Colombo. We talked about changes, about God's goodness, about doing life together over the long haul. We have been blessed.

August 15

Wanting to get some time with Amanda before she leaves for school, Kiki invited her to share a meal. They went out to breakfast and Avery got to tag along. From the very beginning, Pop and Kiki were very intentionally involved with the kids...tea parties, adventures, camp fires, sleepovers, concerts, museums, nursing home visits. What a blessing to have that grandparent love, influence and presence.

For it being summer, Aiden has played a ton of soccer with his school team. I'm still getting used to the fact that the players look like men out on the field and Aiden looks like he belongs.

August 16

Bible Quiz Camp was so fun and valuable in knowledge and growth last year, we decided to go again. Its about a six-hour drive on a route my dad does often, so I asked him to prepare a cheat sheet with preferred stops for gas, food, etc, which proved to make our trip out efficient. This was our first stop after crossing into PA and the kids were not quite recovered from the 6 AM departure.

The whole group...

My family...son, nephew, nieces.

The camp grounds are beautiful and sleeping quarters are clean and climate-controlled. They provide workshops for the leaders and the quizzers and we leave camp feeling like we met (or caught up with) some great people and are better equipped for the season.

August 17

This year was too cloudy to see the sunrise but I did enjoy the quiet, still morning before all the activities began.

Our six 10th graders. They are excited to go for it this year.

August 18

After breakfast I took in the view one last time before we set out for home. We hit traffic, which was not unexpected. What came out of nowhere was the craziest rain that we drove in for about an hour. 

The next day reports were out....up to 16 inches of rain in the towns we drove through, washed out roads and homes, several people died, insane colors on the radar. They say statistically a flood like that part of CT got has a 0.1% chance of happening in a given year. It was stressful, harrowing, can't believe it unless you were there.

I was so relieved to safely deliver my carload of kids to their get together and be home with Shaun.