Project 365, Week 10

March 7

The first light of the day was exceptional on our walk.

March 8

A "just because" date with my girl. She's good company.

March 9

Pretty, but not welcomed.

Amanda learned a new math concept, so she got inspired to do a bunch of homework.

March 10

Sarah and I have longed talked about getting a subscription to the theater and this year it happened! This was our first of four shows and they did such a great job!

March 11

Many of the TBQ kids earned a special event...bowling, laser tag, arcades and pizza. Dakota is the honorary member.

March 12

Amanda is trying her hand at horseback riding. The day was cold and drizzly but she got out there.

I taught Dakota how to play Memory and he caught on very quickly. Then later that evening, he taught Avery how to play disc golf with the cardboard memory cards and the box.

March 13

We spread out in different areas of the building to serve at church, then stayed for the usual shenanigans in the community center.

This kid is something else! He's so smart and funny and resilient and has a huge personality. We couldn't love him more.

 

Project 365, Week 9

It was a full week of work and getting kids to where they needed to be...ordinary, wonderful, regular life.

February 28

It just never get old. That the sun rises each day, that I have another day to witness something so beautiful and miraculous.

March 1

We completed the pile of paperwork and the social worker came out this day to do the home inspection. Our license to do foster care is renewed for another two years. Now we're hoping to transfer that license to another agency so we can do younger kids. Our plan is no more teens until our own are cleared out of the house.

March 2

First day of Lent. Amanda and I chose this day to begin our challenge, a mix of fitness, nutrition and personal growth. On day #1, she packed a beautifully prepared salad.

March 3

At the beginning of TBQ each week the kids break into pairs and recite the verses they've memorized. I think these two had done a combined 60-something verses from Matthew.

 

Then we went to flag football practice, where the kids had space and time to play their own version of football.

March 4

Date night with my best guy while the kids were at youth group.

March 5

It didn't translate in this photo but the early morning was lovely and I pulled over on the side of the road to pause and breathe in deeply.

March 6

Aiden had a 9 pm soccer game the night before and then he was back for a 7 am flag football game!

 

I went to one of our campuses to take photos before, during and after the service. I hadn't felt like going but I'm so glad I did...it was a beautiful service and I felt like it was just for me. God is so kind like that.

Though we are open and fully operational, the construction/maintenance punch list at the office is extensive. Shaun and Amanda worked hard for much of the day and checked off a few projects.

We ended the day with our monthly fondue night and talk of wars, history and human nature.

 

Project 365, Week 8

This is always a dig-deep week at the tax office. Long hours are a given and we're doing what we can to get it all done. More than one night I was home at 7 and asleep by 8, but thankfully I'm sleeping well. Its a very brief period of time, just a little harder not running on full strength. We got some hints that spring is not very far at all and that is so hopeful!!

February 21

The weather was splendid and the kids were off of school. I left work a little early and Amanda and I went on a little walk. I was with my dog and my daughter...one of them was happy to be with me, out in nature. ;)

February 22

Late night at the office but with things that make me happy...spring flowers, a candle burning, water and tea.

February 23

The three of us had dinner together before going to mid-week youth time. I love hanging out with my kids...we're all growing and being refined and learning how to love...thankful for my people.

February 24

Morning light!!

February 25

School called the snow day early, so Rocco was able to sleep over. The boys helped shovel and also they kept stopping to chat. They are like two old men!

February 26

Amanda made delicious cookies. She cares about and pays attention to detail, making sure things are just so.

February 27

Sparkly, untouched snow.

Aiden had his first flag football game and he gets to play with two friends, making the experience even more fun.

 

We went to check out a house that's on the market, taking advantage of their Open House. We are always dreaming and scheming.

 

Doing Battle, Week 74 & 75

I'll start with an update from present day and work my way back. I'm feeling great!! This past week I felt like I turned a corner. My energy was better, my head felt clearer, whatever pain I had was not pain but just discomfort. It's been very encouraging!

When we met with the radiologist, he ok'd me to taper off the meds I'd been on since the Urgent Care visit. They were necessary and certainly helped with what they were supposed to, but the side effects were a huge downside. Turns out tapering has its own issues which, at least for me, meant for several nights in a row I woke up around 1 AM, and was up for the day. Needless to say, that made for a whole new set of issues, but we got it figured out.

The other thing I began after the call with the doctor is exercise. I started out very slow because of physical limitations and not wanting to set myself back and then slowly starting adding more things. At least for me, exercise plays a vital role in my overall strength and wellness, both physically and mentally. As a side benefit, the movement will also help me deal with the nearly fifteen pounds I gained in the three weeks I was on steroids.

(Maybe to a fault) I'm not a worrier, in part because of my personality and in part because of the work I've done. As the Bible says, So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.Today’s trouble is enough for today. Shaun and I are able to "box up" thoughts of cancer and put it high up on a shelf until we need to pull it back out. The only thing we've kept readily available is a heart of gratitude for this day that we have. 

Fifth and final treatment. The nurses tried to get me to ring the bell but I refused...it felt disrespectful to myself and others who have done many multiple weeks doing what I did in just five days. But still, it felt like a very happy thing to be walking out, being done and leaving New York.

Project 365, Week 7

This week was hard and amazing...so, a normal week. :)

February 14

Valentine's Day! I'm one of those who fully buys into the commercialism of Valentine's Day. Yes, we should show love every day, but also, what could be the harm in making a big deal of a day in February? 

After treatment #4, Amy and I walked across the street from the hotel to Cheesecake Factory. I felt bad pulling Amy away from her family on a special day, but I sure was happy to have her. She's an in-the-trenches-with-you kind of girl.

Every love story is different but ours is my favorite. 

He's not as romantic as I wish he was, but he sure is strong and steady and can shoulder a heavy burden. Though we didn't spend Valentine's together and I didn't get any flowers or poems, I am sure of his love and his commitment to our vows (especially the 'in sickness and in health' part ;)

February 15

We enjoyed a slow morning and breakfast at a cute diner before checking out of the hotel and getting to treatment #5, my last. YAY!! It was so good to head home and say goodbye to being in New York.

February 16

I put on work clothes and makeup and embraced the fake-it-til-you-make-it school of thought. I also way over did it, not quite ready for the 10-hour workday I did, but life goes on.

February 17

These two at their morning post, watching for the school bus. 

Its been so nice to be able to meet with my radiologist via video conference. What would've been a 10-12 hour day is just a quick 15 minute call. Phew!

Now that Avery is 16, she is required to be fingerprinted for DCF purposes. This was take #1 of what ended up being a saga. I kept looking for the hidden camera, certain we'd been setup as a prank. Just...wow. 

Shaun encouraged me at the very beginning of our foster care journey to make peace with the fact that a high level of nonsense comes with DCF. I did, but still it amazes me.

 

February 18

I love my office and the sunlight that streams through.

February 19

My niece had a basketball tournament close-ish, so she spent the night and then Amy and I took the kids to the game. It worked out that we had just the '06 Club, who all have closed-mouth smiles because of their braces. They had so much fun together and Lainie was dominate on the court, scoring the game-winning shot with just seconds on the clock.

Hecklers.

February 20

My dearest friend from our high school days was in town briefly so we snagged a breakfast date. We've never been ones to communicate much when we're apart, but a couple times a year we pick back up where we left off and that time is gold.

These two play games that take days and weeks to complete. I don't understand, so I'm glad they have each other. Makes me smile seeing them together.