Back To Maine

For many, many years we've been going to the cabin in Maine. Most years we've gone up my sister Amy and her family. Everyone has a "buddy", even the puppies this year! There is no TV and sketchy cell service. The cabin is "rustic" and the views are amazing and our time is simple. The weather is often questionable (I question cold weather in the summer! ;) but this year we hit a homerun.

We missed our time last year because of "circumstances", so the kids were anxious to get back up to the cabin in Maine. Part of their excitement was the road trip...unlimited movies!

When we arrived, Amy and the kids were already there, so the kids got down to business right away. 

No surprise that mornings are my favorite.

The kids were put in to pairs/groups for dish duty. This crew asked me where the dishwasher was and had a hard time wrapping their minds around the fact that there wasn't one. I showed them how to fill up one side of the sink to wash and rinse in the other and what a dish drainer was used for. Later, after soggy cereal had been dumped into sink, I broke the news to them that there was no garbage disposal. Hard knock life!

These boys were hot stuff paddling their tethered canoe. They spent hours pretending they were out in the deep blue sea. :)

One afternoon the dads and big kid went paint balling. Everyone came back in one piece.

We celebrated Avery's 11th birthday there. Her request was to watch a movie so Amy and I went to "town" so she could download it onto her laptop.

We took our time getting home, stopping for lunch and meet-other-dogs time in Freeport.

I'm so grateful for family who are friends and for time away to recharge. And I'm always thankful to be home.

When He spoke, the world was created; at His command everything appeared. Psalm 33: 9

Project 365, Week 27

Happy 4th of July! I'm so, so thankful to live in America! We are only free because of the brave...grateful!

June 27

First day of VBS. 

Shaun had a business meeting on the golf course planned, but an emergency came up and his partner had to cancel. So he had me bring Avery over with her new birthday clubs. Sounds like she was quite a hit on the course and she and her dad got some good time together. :)

June 28
Boys and their dogs. :)

June 29

It was fun to watch the kids FaceTime with their cousin Trevor, the birthday boy.

We did something that's been on Avery's bucket list...the drive-in theater! We had a good spot and plenty of snacks. The movie didn't get over until after 11 PM. Shaun and the kids stayed awake, but I never did find out if they found Dory. :)

June 30
The day after the drive-in means a nap for the resident six-year old and a nap means snuggles when he wakes up, one of the things that makes life so very sweet.

We did a brief photo shoot.

And then got to hang out at the ball field.

July 1
On the last day of VBS, the 6th graders were invited to a "graduation" party. That means I dropped Avery off at a party with middle-schoolers and she is no longer eligible for VBS. Too fast, too fast!

While she was there, the kids and I visited a friend on the lake. Such a beautiful spot!

Most anytime when the three kids get time together, they end up playing dolls. I love that they are still little enough.

Heavy rain and standing puddles call to Amanda. She was out there a while lying in a mud puddle, singing and just loving life.

July 2
Happy First Birthday to my niece!

July 3
A little early morning golf in the yard in pjs.

We had a relaxing afternoon with some friends. It was nice to sit on the porch and enjoy the beautiful day.

Its Been A Year

Though it seems irrational now, I can tell you in this photo, I was running through escape plans in my head. As I thought about various places to hide, I wondered over and over how long it would take for "them" to find me. I mean, this was New York City...with 8.5 million people, it would be easy to blend in and not be noticed. Could I stay in hiding long enough for them to say "never mind" with this whole crazy notion of surgery?

I didn't voice any of my lunatic plans to Shaun, but he must have seen the "flight-risk" written on my face because just before we walked through the doors, Shaun held my hand tight and asked, would I do the surgery for him, for the kids? I was so scared and wanting there to be a different way, but I resigned myself.

Today marks one year since that major life-altering, life-saving surgery. I'm filled with all manner of emotion, doing the mental work of bringing gratefulness up to the top of the heap. Because ultimately, I am here today and that is simply a miracle.

But wow. When I try to re-play the days and events that have happened since last July 2nd, it makes my brain short-circuit and I have to quickly shut it down. The hours, days, weeks and months that followed that fateful day have included unspeakable pain and frustration and questioning and just a lot of hard. So much hard.

And so much love. I can't think through this year without seeing faces flash through my mind of those who have made sacrifices and given such faithful love and care. We wouldn't have gotten through without our team...family and friends and strangers who stepped in and did life with us in the trenches. To know love like that is an unspeakable privilege and blessing.

This morning, on a beautiful summer day, Shaun and I walked down to Main Street to have breakfast together. We struggle to put our experiences and emotions from the past year into words...the weight of it is still just too much, all of it so raw. So instead, we just express our thanks. Today? We woke with breath in our lungs and we have been given another day together.

Today is a gift.

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. 

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. 

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 

Lamentations 3:19-23