Project 365, Week 46

We're still enjoying fall beauty and fall weather here in New England. It will change without warning, so we take what we can get now.

November 7

The abandoned baseball field down the road from H's therapy works great for running kids and dogs.

November 8
Fall beauty next to the school.

Amanda had her friend over and the kids got a little wild playing P.I.T.

November 9
H&R Block and Sterling Principle Financial Services hosted a Chamber of Commerce event and I was the caterer. So much work before and after, but the evening went smoothly and hopefully someday the networking will pay off.

November 10
The ever popular Doggie in the Middle with a soccer ball game.

November 11
My sister Amy is turning 40 next week. We wanted to have her birthday party early to increase our chances of surprising her. She was surprised!!!

It was a small gathering with family and close friends and it was so special. Throughout the night people spoke eloquently about Amy and the life she's lived. There was a common theme spoken of how she is a person who loves well. She shows up, she puts love into action, she has a servant's heart, she is a notice-er of people and makes them feel special and seen. She is a treasure and it was such an honor to celebrate her life this night.

November 12
While we were partying, the kids were back at the house hanging with cousins who slept over. We had a quiet morning hanging together in pjs. So fun!

We met up at the park to send them home and I got there a little early so we'd have time to explore. Though I tell them often, my kids have no idea how amazing it is to have so many cousins their age who they get to see regularly. Such a blessing!

November 13
Different day, different cousins, different woods. We did respite foster care overnight for a 12 year-old boy. He was a bit of a handful so I did my best to keep him outside and active. We spent the morning at the river and then while my kids were at rehearsal, I took a group to hike a local "mountain". The weather was so perfect and no one got hurt or lost.

God Bless America

This is my brother Tim and his wife Elizabeth. They have faithfully served our country for many years through the military. As I went to the polls on Wednesday, I was trying to put into words for my two boys who were with me what it means to live in America, where we have the right to vote and it is done peacefully.

I'm so very grateful for all those who have fought for our freedom and sacrificed so much.

Thank you, Veterans!!

Another Day

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; 

he turns it wherever he will.

Proverbs 21:1

I have a prediction. I know exactly what November 9 will bring. Another day of God's sovereignty. He will still be in charge. His throne will still be occupied. he will still manage the affairs of the world. Never before has His providence depended on a king, president, or ruler. And it won't on November 9, 2016.

Understanding God's soverreignty over the nations opens the door to peace. When we realize that God influences the hearts of all rulers, we can choose to pray for them rather than fret about them. Rather than wring our hands we bend our knees, we select prayer over despair.

~Max Lucado

Project 365, Week 45

Happy November! One of my favorite months because it has Thanksgiving in it and people stop to consider all they have to be thankful for. The world is a better place when our hearts are in a grateful place.

October 31

I had promised the kids we could do trunk or treat at our church since H was serving with the youth. When the day came I really, really didn't want to brave the crowds and the cold so Shaun offered to take them if I closed up the office. Deal!! 

We had wonder woman, Michael Jordan, a soccer player, a lumber jack and a teen. :)

November 1
Sweet boy.

November 2
Still getting used to seeing my niece on her feet. So cute, but also a prime target for the dog if they are left unattended.

We hosted an end-of-year party for the soccer team and their families. It was a nice group of girls and Shaun did an fantastic job coaching them. The girls had good skill development over the season and so many parents mentioned that their girls really had fun and enjoyed it. As icing on the cake, Shaun lead them to another undefeated season. He does not run out of amazingness. :)

November 3
Our family got together to celebrate my SIL's 30th birthday. The boys had a blast playing outside while we put the party in place that Sarah brought.

 

Rend Collective dance party with cousins!

Blessed with babies!

November 4
I enjoy the time I get with this girl and we got to have a nice quiet walk to school because...

...Amanda was home sick. :(

November 5
I had the privilege of visiting someone who just got diagnosed with colon cancer. In some ways it was hard to be there, in the hospital, remembering all the hard we did for many, many days...emotional. But mostly it was such a blessing to be there, talking with them, listening, being a friend who gets it like no one else can. God is using my experience and I couldn't be more grateful.

While I was in Boston, Shaun was watching Avery's soccer team win the Connecticut Cup. They are state champs!!

November 6

One last soccer game for the fall. Proud of the kids and their efforts this season.

From there we picked up "Baby Jesus" for his photo shoot. He did great!

State of the House - October

The other day I was looking through this blog, briefly reviewing the year as I started to compose our family Christmas letter. I started the year doing a "State of the House" post, a month's recap of the goings-on and state of things around here. 

It lasted two months and now it annoys me because I know why I stopped. The spring, post surgery #2 was a dark time for me. When my pride allows, I would even call it a depression. I didn't even have words then to sort my feelings and pen my thoughts, so I didn't. I would have eventually picked it back up but I've been slowly coming off of chemo brain (which among other things, means a severe lack of short-term memory and focus).

All that to say, I'm back in October (which isn't even October anymore...where do the days go??) to do a State of the House.

This month was all about fall things and sports. Health and able bodies is not something we take for granted around here and having a grateful attitude that we get to do these things helps stave off the grumbling of yet another mom taxi ride or early, chilly Saturday morning on the soccer field. This month I trained for and ran a half-marathon, the kids were on a combined four soccer teams (one of which Shaun coached), H ran cross country and Shaun started basketball back up. Some days have been hectic but mostly we've seen growth in character and ability as they learn how to navigate teammates and coaches and experience the rewards (and sacrifices) of dedication and commitment.

Shaun has spent many hours on the roofing project at our old house. We're trying to phase him out of these manual labor jobs but it still seems like just a good idea and not something that's super practical yet. It takes a toll. Thankfully, and just as the weather is starting to turn, its wrapping up. It would be really great to get a tenant in there soon, before winter.

I have been adjusting to working outside the home....generally my schedule is M-F, 9-2. That allows me to drop off the kids at school, start a load of laundry and clean up the kitchen before heading off and then be back to pick them up after school. Its an ideal schedule, but its definitely taken some adjusting (that I'm still doing, even two months in). 

I can't shake the feeling that I'm a "fish out of water" being out of the cancer world (totally backwards, I know!) and I often feel strange that I've arrived back on the scene of life that kept going while I ducked out for a couple years. Hard to explain, but ultimately it means I am practicing what I preach to my kids and am "doing it afraid". "It" being normal people stuff...everything from waking up every morning and making the decision to get out of bed and shower to going to a new job when you don't know the answers to questions you'll be asked. We drill into our kids that feeling fear is natural, but we can't make decisions out of fear and let it be the boss and that's what I try to do each day, while also fighting off the desire to hermit-up in my home.

So we press on and find the gifts in the days that make up the month and are thankful for another one that we get to do together.