Project 365, Week 18

Our first week with Amanda back home and also the calendar flipped to May, which is wedding month! These are really sweet days and we're all trying to soak it in.

April 28

Amanda worked on getting moved back in to her room at home. She and Avery both made lots of donation bags.

Regularly, Shaun doesn't know where his phone is so he'll ask one of us to check if its at home or the office. When I pulled up Life360 it made me smile to see us all at home, at least for a little while longer.

April 29

Wedding talk on the porch. Jack and Avery are doing such a good job making all the pieces come together.

Amanda applied when she was home back in February and this day she had an interview and got the job. She'll start waitressing soon! Avery was very kind to give management a little push in a process that often takes a very long time.

April 30

I was switching a load of laundry for the girls and I noted the difference in the "whites" in the old apron and new one.

But then I started wondering how many more times I'd have the opportunity to surprise Avery by folding her laundry. And then the last 20 years started flashing past and I thought about how amazing it has been to raise her while also wondering if I did anything right. And how did it go so fast. Who knew doing laundry could be such an emotional task.

Inspired by so many students at school, Amanda came home determined to learn guitar over the summer. Her Pop gave her a loner and she has started lessons. Its a beautiful sound to hear her practicing.

May 1

Amanda and I have been going down to the gym in the morning and doing what we can. She grabs the 15s, I grab the 3s. She stands, I sit. She does lower body, I watch. 

Taking care of my body in whatever capacity I'm able is one of the reasons I've been able to withstand all the stuff they throw at me. As my capabilities diminish and there are so many things I can't do, it becomes all the more important to focus on the things I can do.

We went to finalize some flower details. Ahhh....flowers!

Jack and Avery went to get their marriage license. While they were there, they had to "phone a friend'. Avery to us: where was Dad was born?  Jack to his mom: Where was I born? It was a cute reminder that they're still young.

While I waited for Aiden to be done with practice, I drove around for a bit down some country roads because spring!! Isn't this dreamy?

May 2

We had the ace landscaping crew at the office.

The five of us working together has been a familiar rhythm. It comes with varying degrees of cooperation, heart attitudes, arguing, laughing but family projects have been a drumbeat over the years. 

As I sat and watched them work, I realized it would likely to be one of or the last project. As Shaun and I often say to each other, we've had a good run. 

Zola sent me a couple pictures of the girls serving together at youth group. :)

May 3

The girls and I hit the road bright and early, bound for Lancaster, PA where Sarah was graduating. We arrived with enough time to change and get freshened up.

 

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The commencement speaker took just 20 minutes and it was such an encouraging, inspiring message (starts at 1:00 if you have a spare 1/3 hour).

Incredibly, Sarah holds her Bachelor's degree. It wasn't even something she originally aspired to do, but she just kept doing the next right thing over the years and here she is!

Her parents treated us to lunch and we had such a nice time. We told stories and laughed and the four of them reminisced about their trip to Italy, exactly a year ago.

Then we headed back for home and, just like the ride home from PA the week before, we had rain and a rainbow to accompany us.

May 4

I peaked out the kitchen window at 6 AM and Amanda was up and out with the dogs. She was dog sitting for the week and realized pretty quickly what a responsibility is was going to be.

The girls attended a bridal shower of one of their peers, and I was excited to hear about it.

Somehow we squeezed in family fondue. It was good to sit around the table together.