These non-chemo weeks are wild and wooly and I play catch up and try to fit two weeks of life into one. I'm thankful and also its hard to keep up sometimes!
September 28
Back on my feet after a treatment week, I went with the boys to do a final cleaning of the vacant apartment so we could begin showing it. I was wearing my Summit sweatshirt, so we checked in with Amanda.
Avery and Jack have a situation with their wallpapaer. SO much of it and it is stubborn! We went over to help with some projects and as we were eating dinner Shaun carefully slide across the suggestion that we try to paint over it. It worked! And really, he saved the day. I'm not sure it would ever have gotten completed if we'd had to strip all the wallpaper.
After Avery's delicious dinner, they played a game and I did the dishes. So fun to be hanging at the house they have quickly made a home.
September 29
There is work to be done all over. I can't even remember all the places we tended to but this 372 piece project was a conference table for Shaun's office. With the move of the tax office, we're re-thinking things.
September 30
BIG DAY for Aiden! After many hours studying on the ground and in the air with an instructor, it was time for his first SOLO flight! In the flying world, the solo flight is the big deal and getting the license is anti-climatic. Shaun and I were able to be out on the tarmac for a take-off and landing and then we went into his instructor's office to watch through the big windows and listen to the tower radio.
IT WAS SURREAL!! Our boy was flying a plane, by himself. We were listening to him talk to another adult in a language we don't speak. In all, he navigated about nine circles, taking off and landing each time around the airport. Simply amazing!!
In the early days of aviation, before technology such as headsets, training planes typically had the student in the front and the flight instructor sitting directly in back using the student's shirt tails to give directions, guidance, warnings. Cutting a pilot's shirt tail after their first solo flight is the aviation rite of passage, symbolizing the transition to independence.
We're so proud of Aiden, going after his dream.
And then, back to work! Aiden and I went to the lake house to get the inside and outside ready for guests. Laryssa stopped by with the kids and thankfully Gavin went to the game room to play instead of work because he discovered a significant amount of standing water on the basement floors.
Immediately, we grabbed some rags and buckets and started mopping it up. Midway through, Daisy called me very distraught, explaining that her car broke down in the middle of the road and it was apparent I needed to go pick her up in a not-close town.
Once the situation with the car was resolved, we went back to the lake where Shaun, having finished his potentially big, huge client meeting at the office was in plumber clothes, trying to figure out the water issue with Aiden. They discovered a pipe with a screw in it and did what needed to be done to fix it.
Despite the distractions, I persevered with the planned celebration for Aiden's special day. We took the family out to one of Aiden's favorite places and then back home gave him the gift of his very own headset.
Found Amanda's back, with her beautiful hair and her beautiful heart for people.
October 1
Shaun was out early on the course...
...I was out early doing a work dropoff (with a small detour, just because I could) and it was beautiful all over the place.
He said he'd give me a copy, but I wanted to order my dad's book off Amazon. Yes! My dad wrote a book!! I'm so amazed at his bravery to do something like this at almost 75 years old. He's always been an inspiration to me in how he spends his time, meaning he has so much to show for it in finished products like books and music and more importantly in people.
Its a historical fiction and I'm a little over halfway through and fully invested in the main character. You can order a copy HERE!
October 2
I feel like I've learned (and am currently learning) the ropes of my local cancer place. Since I'm a veteran and am thankfully stable, there's not a ton to discuss at my appointments. I'm a "healthy" patient so I turn it back to receptionists, nurses and doctors, getting to know their kids' names, their thoughts, challenges. The small size of the office really allows me to get to know everyone. They all seem interested that I came from MSK and my chart is fascinating to read through if you're in the medical field.
Since the house isn't being rented for the winter season until late October, Nathan had the genius idea to list it on Air BnB and there's been a tremendous response. There has also been a lot of work and its starting to be a group effort!
October 3
Our first TBQ Meet of the season! I love the Bible and it never gets old gathering a couple dozen teens to quiz on the verses and chapters they have studied and memorized. The fact that its a family affair makes it extra sweet. What a kindness that they volunteer their Saturdays.
When we got home, I got to work cleaning the "TV room" half of our bonus room in preparation for Aiden's crew coming over for football the next day. Daisy has been living there the last few months but she was away for five days visiting family in TX. As I cleaned the room and the attached bathroom, my mind was equal parts happy/relieved that she was away and also frustrated at the state of her space. After dwelling on those thoughts for a bit I stepped out from cleaning her bathroom and suddenly noticed her whiteboard. She had coped a canvas I had recently put up:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
Instantly, I knew God, with gentle love was convicting me.
And there, in a nutshell, is foster care. For the kid, its two steps forward and one step back...you think they're not getting anything...the same thing you've been over 23 times is still not sinking in...and then, a glimmer of hope that something important is happening!
But the greater work, I've come to realize, is the transformation of my heart. The ugliness of my heart knows no bounds. I don't naturally love kids. I don't naturally want to do work that others should do. Naturally, I prefer comfort and ease and my own schedule.
Over these 15 years of caring for kids who need a place, Jesus has been doing a work in my heart. Clearly, we have a long ways to go, but on this day, I was thankful for his gentle reminder that I am weak and unable to love on my own, but He is strong and will help me and sloooowly He is turning my heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
October 4
It was Tractor Church day in PA and Amanda had a heavy hand in planning it. Sadly it rained, but the event was a success and the girls are oh so cute.
There was a whole lot of "this and that", getting ready for the upcoming treatment week. The boy crew was at the lake doing their football day together and I never even saw them.
One stop was Avery and Jacks. I finished the last bit of wallpaper stripping that was going to happen and washed down the walls good. There were enough dings and scrapes that Shaun was going to have to skim coat the majority of the hallway. I think he ended up doing about five trips.
