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!

 

Project 365, Week 33

A week for the books, which is saying something for us with our relatively high tolerance for crazy. Dakota's mom got in a bad spot and I ended up offering for her to stay with us for a couple nights. I won't share much of it here, but it was a week. So much hurt in this world. And so much to be thankful for.

August 9

Its something I've done dozens of times...at a moment's notice, putting clean sheets on a spare bed (or one that's made spare by a kid, usually Aiden, sleeping on the floor). I always spend the room prep time praying, reminding God that I'm in over my head, that I'll face things too big for me unless He steps in and helps me (to be clear, that's pretty much most of my life).

When someone new comes, I'm acutely aware of what it might seem like from their perspective. Dakota's mom, K, came to our home and I introduced her to the only person there, Avery's friend Sarah, who doesn't normally live with us. We chatted in the kitchen for a while as I was making lunch for the crew. At one point she stopped and said, "where's Dakota?". "Oh, he's at "the building"." Then I have to open the house door to look out in the garage/driveway to check which one of about five cars are available for me to take so I can grab keys. Welcome to your first 15 minutes in our world, K! 😳

August 10

August 11

I paused in the driveway of the building, breathing in the gorgeous morning light.

August 12

Our "third daughter", Sarah, stayed at our house for the week...she worked on a couple college classes during the day and went to youth group camp with the kids every evening. She was the only one home around noon and she texted me saying someone had come to the door, she thought maybe a social worker? In two minutes I was home from the office to find an unannounced social worker I had never met. After four hours of conversations with me, Dakota's mom (who arrived later), a supervisor, etc, it was decided that Dakota needed to stay with us and his mom had to leave.

I've never been on the removal part of the foster care transaction and it was brutal. I was taken completely by surprise and there were many tears.

I have so much to say about it all and have such a different perspective on the whole thing than I did when we started out 13 years ago. Its all just really hard for all involved.

And then there's the sweetest teenage girls rummaging through the kitchen at 10pm after youth camp at church. 

August 13

My dad invited Aiden out for some fishing on the boat. We met him at the water with a toddler and dog. Even the few quiet minutes there were life-giving.

Ready to head off to the last night, after a fun-filled week with cousins and friends (Sarah left early for worship team practice).

When Shaun and I found out about youth camp, we fantasized about how we'd spend five hours for five evenings without any children. The week didn't pan out at all how we thought, to say the least. Can't say how much I love and admire this guy who loves so big and is especially good with little kids and older people. We live a really crazy life but we're good partners.

August 14

Saturdays at the building....math summer packets and naps.

The boys, waiting to leave for church.

August 15

Cleaning, packing, laundry...

And then the girls and I were off to Kelly's bridal shower. Very soon she and C4 will be married!!!

It was such a lovely event and beautiful day!  We got to sit with family and play some silly games and honestly, it felt like such a normal person thing to do....a short reprieve from the nonsense that has been my life. So excited for them and for all the festivities these next 40 days. Our family table was doing some math about all the showers, graduations and weddings to come. We didn't come up with a number but its significant. We decided when we find dresses on clearance, it would be a good idea to snatch them up. ;)

High on the 'Thankful For' list....cousins!

We went straight to the field. The girls changed into their soccer clothes in the car and played in the shade. Dakota wasn't feeling great, so he snuggled on my lap for most of the game.

Then we went home, showered, loaded the car and set off for a couple days in Maine.