Let's Do 52...Fences

 On the other side of fear lies freedom. ~unknown

Project 365, Week 11

This week provided sunshine and warmth and it was so life-giving! We got outside as much as possible to take in the goodness of 60 degrees, which is so sweet after the long winter.

March 8

Waiting outside the orthodontist's office, I took a picture of this door as an idea for the new office.

March 9

Shaun cleared his schedule and kept Aiden out of school for a couple hours of the morning so they could go fishing. Earliest fishing season ever! I wish I'd gotten a video of Aiden's reaction the night before when Shaun told him they were going. :)

Speaking of spring...

Shaun and I met with some people to plan our sign for the new office. Even though I know there is so much work to be done, the excitement is building.

March 10

A big part of Teen Bible Quiz is the social part. We were happy for the warm temps so we could get outside for the before and after football. :)

March 11

After school. :)

March 12

Amy and I were back on the now clear path...even though it was sunny and 50 at 8am we were the only ones out so the dogs got to run free for most of the time. We were all very happy about life.  

My girl, in action. This is her second tax season and, though I'm completely biased, I think she's amazing. She leaves the house at 7am for school, takes the bus directly to the office in the afternoon and doesn't get home until after 7pm when she starts in on her homework. She is hard-working, enthusiastic, invested, friendly...its so fun having her as part of the team. 

Amy sent me this photo of three happy kids. :)

Shaun and I almost had a nice quiet Friday night at home while the kids were at youth group; almost, but not quite. ;)

March 13

Early morning snuggles. These two love each other so much.

I ended up having to work the entire Saturday but Shaun was able to be home for a portion of the day. He and Aiden did the brake pads on the car and when I got home this note was taped to my bathroom mirror:

Notice: the average cost to change out on tire's worth of brake pads is $75.

March 14

Nathan is turning 40. We wanted to recognize the milestone but keep it low key enough for the half of us that are buried in tax season. In a group effort, we got family together with a super heros theme. We are thankful for Uncle Nathan who puts the "fun" in uncle. :)

 

Let's Do 52...Footpath

Footpath

 "I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does."

~L.M. Montgomery

Project 365, Week 10

I was surprised to see that I'd gotten a picture everyday...the days blur together and seem to run right into each other. I was on the lookout for gifts and blessings because they are always there, it just depends on where my focus is.

March 1

I was home to meet the kids off the bus and we had some quiet moments.

March 2

Homework, music, puzzles.

March 3

My only picture from the day, I guess. When I accepted this drop off envelope from a customer it tickled me to see "yes" where a tax professional's name traditionally goes.

March 4

Another day, another send off into the world of work and school. Ever grateful for the way our superintendent has handled Covid. What an advantage the kids have had being able to be in-person five days a week since September, both academically and emotionally.

March 5

Pokemon cards are all the rage right now with Aiden and his cousin. I try really hard to listen and pay attention and care when he's talking about them because its a gift that he shares with me.

Also a gift....the evening before, Shaun ducked out of the office for a few hours to take the kids on an outing, as evidenced by the leftover cup. He's working so much right now but is still so intentional about keeping his priorities in line. 

March 6

Incredibly, another niece/nephew is graduating high school and my sister and her husband are just about to launch another human into the world. We got to see the senior festivities streamed.

A Saturday afternoon at home meant lots of chores. Amanda was down the hall cleaning the kids bathroom with Wicked showtunes blasting. It was nice to be working "side by side" with her.

March 7

We woke our teens up to watch the 9am service.

Our pastor talked about how God made us for community and gave just a small sampling of what scripture says about it:

We are to love one another

Have concern for one another

Carry each others burdens

Serve one another in love

Instruct one another

Be devoted to one another

Be kind and compassionate toward one another

Encourage one another

Build each other up

Spur one another on towards love and good deeds

Pray for one another

The 2020 statistics, say that the leading cause of death for people 40 and under was not Covid or cancer, but suicide. We were made for relationship with each other.

We've opted to go back to church in person after tax season, but I did go to work in the finance office and take pictures this day. Seeing people who I used to see multiple times a week but haven't seen in a year is so great!

The kids classes will be meeting again and they held a fun kick-off that Amanda got to sing in. Love seeing her in action, using her gifts.

 

Let's Do 52...Fill the Frame

 

The girls pack their lunch the night before, Aiden throws his together in the morning. I love that we're in the time of life when there are lunchboxes on the counter.

“Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing 

something right over and over and over and over.”

― Joyce Meyer

project 365, Week 9

Another week of school, work and increasing activities. Daily we're hearing from more and more people who have been vaccinated and with it there seems to be a weight lifting. At almost the one year mark, its encouraging that things are beginning to turn around in mass.

February 22

I came home to lit candles, Amanda doing what she can to support the cause and be part of the team.

February 23

International Foods homework. 

The short straw was mine for Amanda's 9-10pm soccer practice. It actually wasn't bad....I got to spend the car time with her and I walked the track with a podcast when she was on the sidelines. It was so encouraging to see the place buzzing with soccer and volleyball and basketball. People being active, people with community.

February 24

YAY for hints of spring!

February 25

Shaun and I had a late client meeting so when we got home the kids were ready with their homework questions.

February 26

Pretty morning light.

February 27

My niece has played several games near-ish to us and Amanda and I watched this early Saturday morning game. She is a force on the court and even got named All-Star for the weekend's tournament.

As I watched her play, my brain kept inadvertently kept flashing clips of 25+ years ago, watching her dad, my brother, play high school basketball. Amazing!

My brother's two oldest girls are very similar in ages to my two girls and the four of them love to get time together. They made cookies and played games.

After church, a van of more cousins came and we had a party! :)

The kids all got in the hot tub and took turns doing "snow challenges", taking turns standing and rolling in the snow, and ending with an all-in last-man-standing challenge. Crazy kids!!

 

February's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Wednesday). 

{Document a snapshot of your life; find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

I open God's Word each morning because life is too much for me to do on my own. I need to remind myself of truth and when I spend time with God He is faithful to realign my heart...my messy, sinful heart. 

Lace up the shoes, do the thing. The habit of it means you don't have to have a conversation about it everyday. When you ask yourself, do I feel like it? do I want to? the answer, inevitably will be no. So don't ask.

Sometimes its sweet, sometimes its scary these early-morning moments while the kids get out the door to the bus stop.

Shaun left to check on some apartment issues, so I cleaned, put dinner in the crock pot and got out the door to work.

I bought this canvas a couple years ago because it reminded me of Psalm 23. When I notice it, or when I remember that I need to stop for five seconds and notice it, I breathe deeply and think of verse two and three:

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths...

I'm so thankful Shaun and I get to work in the same office space (most of the time its a really great thing).  We both drink green tea by the gallon and currently the drink station is in my office so there are built in times to see him several times a day.

Wednesdays is Teen Bible Quiz, then wipe down, tear down. Then we join Junior Bible Quiz. But before, after and in between, the kids play football or wall tennis ball.

There were enough helpers for the younger kids, so I went grocery shopping while the kids stayed at church.

Good to be home! Everyone gathering in the kitchen to talk about the day, eating dinner, putting groceries away, pulling out homework. 

When Aiden doesn't like dinner, he makes himself a fried egg sandwich. Its not ideal, but it is protein and learning kitchen skills. So there's that.