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!