Project 365, Week 23

You [God] keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed [to lean, lay, rest] on you because he trusts [put confidence, make to hope] in you. Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace is available, we just have to fight for it. Its work but worth it when you get there.

June 1

While the boys went golfing, the girls went to TJ Maxx, since it was open for the first time in months. It was very exciting! :) On the way home we chased the sunset, stopping at the farm. Wow, wow!

June 2

And, lucky us, the sun came up the next morning. When times are tough, I'm especially grateful for God's steadfastness, the fact that he is unchanging.

Avery's been using an old, clunky phone that she paid $100 for a while ago. For quite a while she's had enough money saved, but was really torn about what she wanted to get next. Finally she decided and ordered and...waited. And then after days and days, the UPS truck arrived! She was so excited and proud of her purchase.

It was so sweet to overhear the girls vlogging together.

June 3

Yup...Aiden again, but Shaun was a very close second. We chose to go in the morning to beat the heat but we still felt the temperature difference between March when we started and now.

We spent most of this week just weeding and prepping the area as we waited for more mulch to arrive. Because of this, the kids were able to work in completely separate areas, which was peaceful. :) Amanda listened to Maddy's first podcast while she worked. (Go listen...its SO good!!)

After many weeks of Zoom calls, this was our first week back together for the Teen Bible Quiz team. The girls and I definitely had mixed feelings about it. While we were happy to see others and be in the same space, we were also feeling hints of losing our little quarantine bubble that we have so enjoyed.

On the ride home, we chased the sunset.

June 4

Twenty of what would be a total of 22 YARDS OF STINKING MULCH.

June 5

Shaun's dad moved back to the area after living in IL for more than a decade. We went to check out the new place, where there is a stream for fishing and chickens for terrorizing. ;)

June 6

Bright and early, and with some helpers.

Our pastor addressed the current events with compassion and truth. Now is a really good time to obey God's command to pray for our leaders. 

Sidenote: I don't want to brag, but we've been on time to church-at-home nearly every week. Sadly, we have not completely eliminated the pre-church family squabble. ;)

The evening was divine so, even though none of us wanted to, we went out and spread a pick-up load of mulch.

June 7

We were stop #2 in what would be a full day for the youth leaders who were parading around the state celebrating the graduating seniors. They brought honking horns and cheers and gifts and congratulations and lawn signs and so much fanfare. So special!

Aiden and I ran to get just one more load of (blasted!) mulch. He's such a good buddy!

We had an "open yard" party for J to celebrate her graduation, as quarantine friendly as we could. The weather was cooperative and most of our local family came out in support.  Lots and lots of emotions but I know love is the right choice.

Project 365, Week 22

With restrictions slowly continuing to lift, we added a couple new things in, but mostly life looked much like it has for the last 10-11 weeks. The amazing weather is just such a gift and so is this time in life.

May 26

Weeding and mulching a couple hours a day continues. SUCH a big project! I really just want to cut down all the trees and put in a basketball court.

Avery's heart has been missing Little D like crazy. After more than two months of not seeing him, we finally decided it would be ok. He's talking very clearly and can climb in and out of his crib like its no thing.

 May 27
The babies seem to get bigger by the hour!

This was our warmest run...Aiden remains the champion.

Wednesdays is our "busy" day, we joke. After the run and after the hour round-trip to ChickfilA, we have Zoom calls for Junior Bible Quiz and then Teen Bible Quiz. Busy, busy! ;)

May 28

Busting at the seams...

Shaun and the kids did some more electrical work in the attic and bedrooms for the overhead lighting. I love that he is so patient to involve them and teach them because its definitely one of those things that would be easier to do by yourself.

I picked some flowers from the yard in case Girls Night ended up on our back porch. We landed somewhere else and had such a nice evening sitting 6 feet apart and catching up. (Those azaleas are 3x as vivid in person...amazing!)

May 29
When Aiden found out that Rocco wanted to go fishing for his birthday, he and Shaun decided together that they wanted to make it as successful as possible, so every morning this week they got up early and went fishing to a few different spots, finding where the fish were most enthusiastic about catching worms. Finally, today was the big day!

The dads met up and all four went out fishing. From all reports, it was very successful!

At 4:30 I snapped this picture while doing yardwork.

An hour later, Shaun and Avery got home from golfing and announced there was only one baby left in the nest. We went out to look and got to witness the last chick leaving the nest.

Aiden got to sleep over at Rocco's house for his birthday. He was in heaven!

May 30

This was our 26th wedding anniversary. The day before we had swapped vehicles and when I got in the one he'd just been driving the AC was blasting and the music was loud. As always, the first thing I did was turn the AC and music off so there was warm silence and I marveled for the 10,000th time at how opposite we are in most ways. I like it warm, he likes it hot. I'm a morning person, he is not. I open the curtains, he closes them. He likes to spend money, I prefer to squirrel it away. Our opposites list in big things and small goes on and on, but with God's help we've discovered that those differences make us a stronger unit.

We have weathered some things in two and a half decades and truly, there is no one I would rather do life with. I love us!

Outdoor dining in newly available in CT and it happened to be a perfect weather night. It was not quite normal, but when you haven't been out since (January??), it totally works!

May 31

Another day of wiring and installing overhead lighting.

It was just such a lovely weekend. I did yard work on Saturday, housework on Sunday but it was all relaxed with time for things like a date and board games and porch sitting. This pace of life is food for my soul.

Project 365, Week 21

This week was exciting as some of the non-essential businesses were given the green light to open! We were the first ones in line!

Watching and experiencing the excitement and joy of seeing people, some for the first time in months, its so evident that God created us for relationship.

May 18

The neighbor ladies got together for hot tub and fire pit...fears, frustration, disappointments were shared. For most, this is a hard season.

May 19
I'll only say about this day that Shaun is a rockstar...patient, steady and intentional in his parenting (and homeschooling!).

This field I pass everyday on my way to the office takes my breath away...I finally pulled over to try to capture some of its beauty.

May 20
Speaking of beauty, the sunrises this morning week were incredible. I love that the sun rises early enough this time of year that sometimes I wake up to the light pouring into our bedroom.

For Connecticut, this day was a partial opening of the state. Since the kids have school off on Wednesdays, Shaun and the kids picked up Amanda's friend and they went out to lunch and did some shopping and did their part to open the economy back up.

They also did the family run, but since I had to cover the office I missed it. They forgot to take a picture but at least they brought me ChickfilA. :)

May 21
Amazing weather!

May 22

We had a truckload of mulch delivered and now we have a large project ahead of us! No need to hire a landscaping crew when you have three tweens/teens. :)

May 23
Last year Amy introduced me to a farmer's market that is a great place for plants and flowers...quality, variety and price are all outstanding. We arrived at 6am along with the rest of the crowd and got our goods. This is a perfect year for extra yard work. :)

May 24
Its a long story, but this day I was in Home Depot three times at two different locations. I also went to two different Walmarts but one had the line snaked around the building longer than I was willing to deal with. Crazy times.

Amanda wanted to do a sleepover outside in a tent. Not only did Pop let us borrow his tent, he also brought it over and set it up with her. She was quite pleased!!

Avery and I drove to visit with her friend who she hasn't seen in person in months. The girls were crying happy tears. We had a lovely lunch with Sarah's family, so grateful to have people time.

Shaun and the kids began working on putting overhead lighting in the bedrooms, which included fun adventures like crawling around in the attic.

The friends were very happy to be together.

Aiden was so sweet to want to do a fire for the girls. He kept checking with Amanda for just the right timing so it would be ready when they were. He has found a purpose with being the fire maker in the family. :)

May 25
The dog slept in the tent with the girls and at some point in the night they had let her out. When I looked out the window in the morning, Ginger was still faithfully guarding them.

When it looked like the weather was going to be nice, we threw a cookout together. We kept it simple and outside. Its so nice to be with people! Even with all the nonsense happening, I'm still so grateful to be an American and in awe of the people through history who felt strongly enough about honor and freedom and liberty to die for the cause.