Project 365, Week 24

It was a good week. I know because I see pictures of my kids. In this stage of life, I live for time with them, watching them grow as people and into the life God has called them to.

It was a hard week. I know because of photos I didn't post here (unrelated to my health). Life is hard, this is not new news. Hopefully its obvious, but I think its worth mentioning once in a while that I don't post everything here for the web. Often, some of the harder stuff, just gets shared with people I'm doing life with or sometimes, God alone. 

June 8

The light, the view.

June 9

Nathan and my kids moved the firepit and made a more permanent and safe structure.

And then they built some steps down to our beach, which first required burying a ginormous rock.

Aiden was invited to Mason's graduation ceremony. For days, he proudly carried the ticket in his wallet. Thankful for his good friends!

Shaun visited our apartment building and cut some roses to bring home to me. SO sweet!

June 10

Amanda was happy enough to accompany me to a nerve-block procedure. Before she left the prep room for the waiting room, she heard "epidural" and asked me about it later.

I had three natural childbirths, largely because I didn't want an epidural and all things associated with it. Ironically, I've had close to a dozen for cancer-related procedures and surgeries. 

After, we visited Wegmans for lunch.

June 11

Tacos on not-Tuesday with my beautiful girl, the patio to ourselves.

June 12

Surgery day for this brave boy. Interestingly, he's thankful that we are a "medical family". When he first said this to me prior to his shoulder surgery a couple years ago, I almost spewed my coffee. A "medical family"?? 

But we are and there's no quotes about it. And he takes comfort in that, knowing we speak hospitals, surgeries, etc fluently. He rests in the knowledge that we can go into those places courageously, unflinching because, in part, we are experienced; its familiar. We are, in fact, a medical family.

Before...

...after.

June 13

The next day he was helping to move propane tanks around.

Sweetest little boy at church. :)

June 14

Our friend Grace had her graduation party. A whole pile of people gathered throughout the afternoon and I looked around, amazed by the beauty and importance of community. (And Lemvo snapped our pic :)

Project 365, Week 23

A new month! Feels like we've officially kicked off summer and all the slower pace things it holds.

June 1

Avery and Jack were generous to invite me to their ultrasound appointment. It was the most wonderful, surreal thing to meet my grandbaby like that. It was as much a joy to see the baby on screen as it was to watch the parents watch their child. Oh, the wonder of it all.

Another wonder...32 years of marriage between a man and a woman, who are opposite in almost every way imaginable.  Shaun is one of the good guys, my gift from God.

June 2

My morning walks have been splendid, I'm grateful to be moving my body!

Amanda was delighted to see the first pics of her niece/nephew.

There are several large pine trees in the pool area. They drop needles constantly right into the water and are not helpful for anything. Nathan and Shaun thought they'd save us $10K-ish and do it themselves. It was quite the thing, but the trees came down and no one was hurt.

June 3

The next evening, we were back at it to get the last and trickiest one done. With good planning and a little luck, it fell right where it needed to.

June 4

Morning light. So grateful for another day.

It was the loveliest evening for a show and we got there early to be able to sit out on the patio and watch the theater goers. Amy and I accidentally twinned, which we do with a surprising amount of frequency given that she is fashionable and I am not.

The consensus was split on Water For Elephants. Amy and I were meh about it but the girls really liked it. Either way, it was a fun evening out with our daughters.

June 5

Here I am, happily pictured, doing yardwork alongside Amanda at the office. Little did I know my right arm would soon be covered in poison ivy.

Helped arrived to clear out the mess in the pool area.

Peony time!

June 6

Shaun invited me to kayak with him while he fished. It spoke volumes of love that he would ask me into a space that is usually his alone.

This was a catch earlier in the week from his daily morning 'I'm out golfing/fishing but still thinking about you' picture.

Aiden had a fan section at his last game of the season (which would be cut short a couple games because of his upcoming surgery).

The first Watch Party of many at the lake.Yay for soccer!

Then every one grabbed a partner and a project.

June 7

After church, Jack and Aiden helped me with a Marketplace pickup for the lake. I stopped and bought them lunch to thank them. The two best boys around!

We ended the day with a huge raking team and got a large amount of work done in short order.

I love getting old! One of the ways I can tell is every week now, there are random photos on my phone. Here are a few of my favorites from the week: