Project 365, Week 38

This was our 3rd week of hybrid school and soccer. The hybrid makes it challenging to fall into a routine, but the kids have plenty of school work to do at least. We're counting our blessings!

September 14

Ginger is not a fan of getting a bath but she complies. 

September 15

Avery was our newest 1st place finisher!!

September 16

"Wellness Wednesday" When Shaun and I swapped office/home duty, I found the kids busy in the kitchen with Hamilton blasting.

September 17

This day always causes me to pause and reflect and remember and mourn and be grateful. On this day six years ago I had my first colonoscopy to investigate pain and symptoms I'd been having for a while. Shaun and I can still go back to the moment the GI doctor very gently told me she had found a mass that would need to be biopsied. Had we not been so naive, we would've known right then what she was saying to us, but we were inexperienced and went home, satisfied to wait the two days for results. Years later I would find out that, behind the scenes, the doctor and nurses involved were crying about what they already knew to be true. 

My official day of diagnosis was September 19th, but this day has always stayed with me as the first day of my life being changed forever. Sometimes I peek around the corner at a handful of the hard memories but I can barely stand to look back and think through what happened. Sometimes I'm sad it had to be this way, but mostly I'm here in the present, celebrating the true miracle it is that I'm still alive, and soaking in beautiful, wonderful, regular life.

Shaun and I took advantage of it being one of our two school days and went out to lunch on a gorgeous, almost-fall day.

Amanda asked me to walk with her because she'd found some pretty trees that were changing color.

September 18

Amanda made cookies to take to her bible quiz group.

It was a cool evening to be outside for bible quiz and then youth group, but the sky was so pretty!

September 19

Our first official soccer game for Aiden's town rec team. Shaun is assistant coaching. The team is largely inexperienced and the head coach, too so Shaun has lots of opportunities to grow in his character and people skills. I adore him for the passion and excellence he has, even in rec soccer :) 

Amanda and I were Aiden's fans. There wasn't a person within 10 feet of us and we were outside, but still we were required to wear our masks for the entire game or risk forfeiting. Sigh. On the bright side, it helped keep me a bit warmer. :)

Our neighborhood fall block party didn't amount to much, since it was decided to not involve food. Still a good chance to check in with people.

September 20

Amanda had arranged for me to take her and a couple friends to the mall. To make it less painful, Shaun agreed to go with me, so we just brought the whole family. Aiden and I spent some time in our favorite store. I read a book for about 20 minutes everyday, I have pretty much my whole life. But when I'm in the book store or the library, I wish is was more like 2 hours a day! :)

They are every stereotype of teens at the mall. :)

 

September's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Thursday). {Document a snapshot 

of your life; find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

Putting the time in for my physical and mental health.

We're up to five people on the bus now, including my three.

This is a snapshot of my phone activity during this time of life....notifications about Instagram activity on Avery and Amanda's accounts, Powerschool notifications on all three kids regarding grades and assignments and a message from one of the girls, asking if a friend can come over, letting me know of a change in practice time, or sometimes just an "I love you". Life is good.

Get your screenings done!!

The two days a week the kids are at school end up being my most productive at work. Hmmm.

I met Aiden off the bus and we took a walk with the dog before I went to pick up the girls...

...from soccer practice.

Randomly, Amanda asked if we could watch The Brady Bunch, which she'd never seen before. I was happy to oblige since her love language is TV/movies. ;)

Hot tub! Usually we have great meaningful conversations. Other times we're telling the kids 'don't splash her', 'don't touch him', 'be kind' and its not very fun. This time out was the latter. All is grace.

Opening night of football!! The fantasy participants were especially excited to get the season underway.

 

Project 365, Week 37

September holds many memories and emotions for me and still I think it is one of the loveliest months. We are back in a routine, but its still fresh, the weather is divine and each warm day cherished because it could be the last. Plenty of activities that are not yet a drudgery. And football. :)

“By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.”

― Helen Hunt Jackson

September 8

Shaun, Avery and Aiden are doing fantasy football with some extended family. I'm so proud! :)

September 9

Life is hard on many levels right now. I was honored that my neighbor wanted to chat with me. There is power in "I feel your pain" and also, "We will get through this".

The best thing about seasons is that they change. Even if our circumstances don't change, the season of deep despair always will. So hold on. ~HopeHeals

Fantasy football draft night. This sweet boy in his too small-Star Wars jams asked me to sit with him during it. He was SO excited to be in the club! 

Cheers and incredulous moans were coming from the other room. :)

September 10

Backpacks (soccer, school, lunch) in the morning...

...and the afternoon.

September 11

A day of mourning and reflection. 19 years since 9/11 and it still feels absolutely impossible and raw. The sheer number of lives lost, families affected and lives forever changed is not something a human mind can wrap itself around.

Additionally we celebrated the life of my Uncle Dave, who died the week before from colon cancer. He lived in Idaho so we only got to see him about once every two years. But with family, you can pick up where you left off. My impressions of him were confirmed and echoed during his funeral (which was available via live stream). He was larger-than-life, a man of integrity, a tough manly man with the gentlest of hearts who loved his people fiercely. He loved to sing and play his guitar, he was generous with time and money and jokes. He was deliberate about staying close to Jesus. He was one of the good guys.

From 2000 miles away, I was so proud to listen to my dad do the funeral. His brother-in-law came on the scene when my dad was just nine years old and he thought Dave was just the coolest. As my dad got older, they became good friends and my dad did such a nice job of honoring him this day.

I have been blessed with a beautiful legacy. I'm so thankful for that privilege. 

We picked up some cousins for a sleepover and stopped in the middle of nowhere for some of the best ice cream. These girls are so fun!!

Cousins. :)

September 12

My girls had an early morning soccer practice. I felt bad waking them up.

Ten leaders/students from youth group were water baptized. Because of everything going on, it was a small gathering outside at my sister's pool. Avery, her friend Sarah and C4 were among those participating. It was a really special day!

Pastor Sterling and Kendra are such a gift. They are a consistent, loud, trustworthy voice in our kids' lives and we're so grateful!

After, we had family over for lunch on a perfectly lovely September day.

A fun find on my evening walk. :)

 September 13

Aiden got to go fishing early in the morning with a grandparent. He was so excited!

I was asked to take pictures during a service at our new church campus. It was the first time I'd been to an in-person church service since March. It was soooo good!! So good to see people, so good to be worshipping together, so good to get a God-perspective. 

Also neat to see how adaptable everyone is...the children's workers were greeting the kids with a folder stuffed with coloring pages and crayons for something to do during service. Smart!