Project 365, Week 51

This was a full and festive week! 

December 15

When Sarah threw out the idea of getting Nana to the city for the Christmas spectacular, I thought she was out of her mind. But then I wondered, what if we could actually pull it off? We invited the girls in the family and booked tickets for what ended up being a very chilly Monday in New York City.

Some took the train in, and I drove my car so I could drop Nana and her wheelchair right at the door. We had a lovely brunch, walked across the street to see The Tree and then headed down the street to Radio City Music to see the Christmas Spectacular. As a bonus, it was the Rockettes' 100th anniversary. 

The trip went as smoothly as it could have and we made sweet memories.

December 16

After getting home from New York City at 8PM the night before, I turned around and left for Westchester at 5AM for a different kind of day. With four months since my last one, it was time for another nerve block injection. There is so much work to cancer, even in the "off" time.

Amy (This girl!! She just keeps. showing. up!) and I got some good time together and I'm grateful for an option that manages my pain. 

We were between rush hours, so we treated ourselves to some time at Wegmans. :)

We had a little family celebration which included pizza and cheesecake. Aiden passed a CLEP test....three college credit in a 1.5 hour test. What a deal! Proud of this kid for making his own path.

December 17

Every morning I send a little girl off to a 45-minute ride to school in a van with a male stranger. She comes home in the afternoon the same way. Such a minor blip in the long string of hard stuff. 

December 18

The girls and I went clothes shopping for C and Dakota. Afterwards, I got to see Avery and Jack's condo all cozy and decorated for Christmas. Sarah met us there and I got to do dinner with these beautiful girls. What a wonder to watch these ladies grow and discover who God made them to be. 

December 19

I picked up Dakota and these two ended up playing really well together. Dakota had the creative ideas and C was the voice of reason. 

Time for the youth group Christmas party! 

Back at home, I got to do bedtime stories and prayers with two sweet little kids. What an honor!

December 20

A surprise overnight storm turned our driveway into a sheet of ice, providing hours of sledding fun! 

I started to make cookies for the next day, but Aiden offered to take it over. He had plenty of interest from the peanut gallery.

December 21

Morning snuggles before the flurry to get to church and then Christmas!!

Sarah and Tony hosted and we think this was the 20th year of our tradition of Christmas the weekend before Christmas. Tony and Sarah live out the importance of family in their daily lives and Tony expressed his gratitude for what we have and challenged the next generation to take up the heavy lifting of family traditions and relationships. 

Sarah put so much thought and care into food and decorations for us to enjoy, everyone brought food and Funcle Nathan planned the games. People were so generous to include our "extras" in the gifts. Our family has always been so generous about pulling our foster kids in...it helps to feel supported and its a great example to the kids of what community can look like. 

Project 365, Week 50

Saying yes meant I suddenly jumped into the elementary age world with bedtime stories, packing lunch, brushing hair, playing games inside and out. How quickly we grow out of seasons along with our kids. Its all distantly familiar but there is definitely some dusting off to do.

December 8

The last of the kitchen appliances got swapped. What a luxury to have everything working as it should!

December 9

Our "just for the weekend" kid stayed around. Of course I could have sent her away Monday morning, but it would have caused her to bounce around while they looked for a more permanent foster home, so I agreed to keep her until after Christmas. Off to the library we go!

December 10

Early morning pickup to take C to her school, 45 minutes away. Sometimes its a social worker, sometimes its a "carrying school children" van, sometimes its a taxi service. (It has been a very long time since I packed a lunch box!)

December 11

After teaching her the rules, the very first round we played, we both got a Yahtzee! Life is hard, so you look for the little wins.

December 12

Inherently in foster care there is loss, dysfunction, inconvenience, hardship, loss of dignity...dropping her off at the DCF office for a visit was tough. It was tough to witness another visit happening, it was tough to know whether or not I should introduce myself to C's mom or help her avoid me. My heart was hurting as I drove away. 

December 13

Amanda arrived the night before and brought her roommate (who is from Australia and is not going home for Christmas) to stay for a few days of the break.

They spent some time at Pop and Kiki's, putting to use the guitar that they'd picked up and delivered to the girls at their school. Kiki sent me a video of them doing O Holy Night together. Its amazing to see Amanda doing that with my dad. Super special to witness a legacy being passed down.

I picked up Dakota for the weekend and which meant three extra people, which meant I forgot about an important meeting at church

Our church is growing, so we are adding a Saturday night service that will be treated as its own campus as far as staff and volunteers and regular attenders. Avery has been asked to play a key role in the children's ministry and Jack is going to be the Assistant Campus Pastor. 

The pastors they will be working with are trustworthy mentors and will be generous with sharing and training. What a wonder to watch my kids step into the next right thing.

December 14

The morning brought an enchanting scene...our first snow of the season.

Pastor Sean was able to work his newest grandson into the sermon. It was a fun surprise to see C5...he's just so cute!!

With Avery heading the charge, my kids have always loved to play in the snow and these couple inches was just enough. Shayla (the roommate) got to go sledding and throw a snowball for the first time.

Jack brought the supplies for cookies and the kids had fun decorating. There's work to be done if we're going to produce anything contest-worthy but no one cared.

Project 365, Week 49

Hello December, with all of your December-ness.

December 1

I love the beginning of Advent. 

Come, though you have nothing. Come, He is the offering. Come, see what your God has done

 

December 2

Happy days on Summit's IG page.

December 3

I sat in a cold car and addressed Christmas cards while Aiden had soccer practice outdoors.

December 4

A benefit of the time change is I'm often at the office for the sunset view.

December 5

We got the call, are you able to take an 8-year old for the weekend? Yes.

Later, when I was asking about bedtime, she asked about a TV and melatonin gummies. I try to imagine my one of my kids being taken from the home they've know and showing up to a strange house and being expected to eat different tasting food and go to bed in a different room with different smells and creaks. Its impossible to comprehend.

I couldn't help with the TV but we did make a run to the pharmacy.

December 6

Nana's don't ask too many questions, they just hug you and offer you candy.

Renna was available, so I grabbed her to be a companion for the afternoon.

December 7

Avery and Jack hung for much of the afternoon and evening. Its so nice to have them kicking around and they both jumped in to help, too.

Every year our town's volunteer fire department does a light parade around the neighborhoods with sirens and horns and music and santa. I was glad to have a kid with us to more fully appreciate it.