Project 365, Week 35

Shaun and I kept saying, This is a lot. Its telling when he is ready to admit its too much. I stayed committed to doing the things that keep me sane and pleasant and ready to give out to people. My family will be able to tell you if it worked or not. 😉 We got through the week and had some good times along the way. 

August 23

I had some helpers walking the dog early in the morning.

August 24

This morning, I did not. When I walk by myself, I pray out loud, which helps me focus. If these trees could talk...

Pop and Kiki put together a day at Cape Cod for Aiden, Rocco and Renna. They biked, they fished, they ate and had so much fun! Grandparents have the potential to have such a lasting and profound impact on their grandkids...I'm grateful for those hearts and voices in their lives.

August 25

The boys club...part work, part sailing boats in the stream.

Just for this night, we kept the middle and high school groups together to personalize their binders.

It was picture-worthy because of how rare this occurrence is...the girls peacefully and lovingly working on school work together in a summer packet cram session.

August 26

A bunch of 12 year old-ish boys gathered at Amy's house for sports of all kinds and pool time. I stayed and got some time with Amy, who assured me (as only a good friend can do) that I didn't seem as wild-eyed as I felt. ;) It was lovely to sit poolside together and chat.

The girls were doing double sessions of soccer practice. Dakota gets so excited to go with me to pick them up. When they're done, I let him run out to the field to all the girls who think he's so cute.

August 27

We had one extra, extra helping out a friend. I can't even recreate how the day played out...it would have been funny if I hadn't felt so stretched.

It gave me great joy to watch Dakota do his "job" and get the girls from soccer practice. SO cute!

August 28

For many years Mom and Russ have taken the kids to their annual company picnic. We've enjoyed the day of babysitting but this year I planned to go, knowing I'd have K and Dakota. Between double soccer sessions we squeezed in a beautiful day with cousins and lots of activities.

New Pokemon cards arrived in the mail and the boys were thrilled.

August 29

Amanda served in Kids Church, I counted offering. When we got out of the car we realized Dakota had no shoes. Amanda and I joked about all the ways we were winning at life. But in the end Dakota learned the story about Daniel in the lions' den...he has repeated their verse God is Powerful many times since.

Kim and Ronnie came with the baby for the afternoon. She is super sweet and smiley!

The boys couldn't have been more delighted to learn that Ronnie used to collect Pokemon cards. They "talked shop" for quite a while.

Afterwards it felt like I'd dreamed it, but I have photographic evidence that Sarah stopped by for a visit. She and Avery talked babies and dresses. 💛

K is not a fan of big groups so I bought him a large Minecraft Lego set to stay busy at the building while the other kids went with their friends. He was very pleased, but not so much about Dakota helping.

Their friends Trevor and Jack put tons of time and heart and effort into making Youth Camp 2.0, a continuation of youth camp a few weeks back. The kids had SUCH a great time and they all decided it should be an annual event. What a blessing it is to have such a good group.
 

Project 365, Week 34

This week was a mini-vacation and a just-missed hurricane, while managing young, hurting hearts and major remodeling projects. Just another week in the life of.

August 16

What a treat to wake up in Maine! We had hoped to get up to the cabin, but it was closed for the season early, so we found another option just a few hours from home. We knew a day's hike was out with Dakota, so we aimed at a spot for fishing and getting onto a lake. Our time away was short but sweet. The big kids are so much fun to hang out with and Dakota adds joy wherever he goes.

He was my little morning breakfast buddy while the teens slept. We ate and then went exploring outside. Once the kids were up, we went across the street to an adventure park. Some of it was still shut down, but we had fun with the activities that were available.

Shaun and I called into an hour+ meeting with DCF and bio parents and then the boys went fishing and the girls stayed. Dakota napped and then we hit the pool.

August 17

We rented a boat for the day on a large, beautiful lake with perfect weather day. It was lovely!

August 18

The boys got up very early to get in more fishing and then we packed up and headed home, thankful for the short time away.

We got home and hit the ground running...Shaun went to the building, the kids and I went to Bible Quiz, picked up a respite kid in the parking lot and headed to the girls' last summer soccer game, where Dakota's mom met us for a visit.

August 19

Sarah and the girls had been trying to plan a sleepover for a while and finally the girls had a break in their babysitting schedule. Auntie Sarah took Avery and Amanda, I took Armand to join Aiden, Dakota and K. You'd think she got the better deal since I had four little boys and she had two teenage girls, but you'd be wrong. They shopped and shopped and shopped at many different locations. Few things sound worse to me than that, so I'm thankful their auntie can do that with them.

August 20

We met at the building and our friend/marketing person came with paint samples. Sarah and Tony helped us talk through the options, which was hugely helpful!

We dropped the kids off at youth group and Shaun, Dakota and I went on a date to HD to get paint, etc.

August 21

It was all hands-on-deck to get ready for the hurricane that was predicted to make landfall right over us. 

I broke away for a few hours and attended a baby shower, right on the water.

And then, back with the gang...

August 22

We waited out the hurricane at the building that ended up only being a couple inches of rain, no harm done. Phew!