School talk means the winding down of the summer, which is kind of sad, though I feel like we pulled so much goodness out of these last months so I plant my heart on gratitude.
August 17
Last summer there was considerable discussion before we settled on pulling Aiden from public school and instead have him home doing online college classes for credit. This summer there was no discussion at all because there is no looking back for him...he is highly uninterested in any of the trappings that tradition school offers. Every kid, every family is different and for him and for us, it works well.
As a high school student he can take two free classes a semester through our state's community colleges. In an attempt to get expertise regarding the program he's working towards, I took him this day in-person. Largely it was as I thought...we're on our own to figure it out. Which is ok. I love getting time with my boy any way that it happens.
Senior year of high school/second year of college...let's go!!
Ginger appreciated the company that appeared after having the twins over on the weekend. :)
August 18
Creating money-making opportunities for others means hands-on for me, but I love being outside getting something accomplished. Its the earliest I've planted mums, but I wasn't sure when I'd feel up to it again.
Stolen moments with my first born. I'm not doing it perfectly, but I love our friendship that's blooming now that she's an adult.
August 19
Despite all my motivational quotes displayed, this would be the one and only time with this workout partner.
August 20
Amanda grabbed Renna and we went to help Avery paint her living room.
August 21
I spent some time making the lake house 'prospective tenant showing ready'. Its such a gift to be there, looking out at the water, feeling the breeze, scrubbing toilets, being sanctified. ;)
August 22
Amanda and Shaun loaded up a dorm rooms' worth of belongings into two cars. Then we picked up Jason and Trevor and drove Amanda back to school in PA.
Within seconds of driving through the gate, the kids who were playing in the staff housing area dropped what they were doing and ran to greet Amanda. It was super sweet to see how clearly she is loved and how happy she was to be back.
This is Amanda's dorm for the year, but her room would not be ready for another week, so we carried what she would need immediately and then stuffed her car with the rest.
This made me smile. Bear and Doggy have been her bosom friends since the beginning and they know her heart the very best.
We stalled for a bit and then within an hour we gave hugs and were back on the road headed home.
Amanda will serve as an intern, working with the campus pastor and also his wife who is the vice-president of the school. The VP is such a kind and generous women and she is a boss lady who gets things done, and with excellence. I'm grateful Amanda has the opportunity to learn under her.
As it happened, on the car ride these photos came up from 17 years ago, a very average afternoon at the local splash pad with three kids 4 and under. What I knew in part then and have learned even more fully these years later is that the mundane, average day is not ordinary at all.
As we press forward, each new day is a chance to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary.
August 23
After church we spent some time at Avery and Jack's.
Amanda checked in from the Amish farm she was hanging at a friend's grandparents house.
