May's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day (Friday) of the month! 

{Document a snapshot of your life...find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

Aiden and I are early-morning buddies, working out and reading through the Bible, but not together. He doesn't want me showing him up with my 5 lb weights, I think is the reason. Or, maybe its just that he's like me and his dad in that alone time each day is necessary. Then, he eats protein pancakes.

Amanda, on the other hand can wake up and be off to her day in about 10 minutes. Only this time she missed the bus and then needed a ride. Can we be done with the school year??

Two hugely impactful-to-me things to come out of covid times...telemedicine appointments (many less trips to Manhattan!!) and grocery pickup. Lifting things is tough for me, so I'm very happy to pay $4.99 for someone else to do my shopping and load it in my car. You can see from the plant that I got "just the essentials".

By 9 AM, I was ready for a 20-minute nap and this was the spot. 

After being kicked out for some of tax season, I'm back in my front window office, very happily.

I hitched a ride with Amy and Colombo for the 4.5 hour trip to PA for a funeral the next day. Our friend Bob came along as well, since his wife was in Italy at the time. It was a different combo but we had such a great time together.

Avery was so sweet to check in each day from Italy. It was wonderful to see her face and it was helpful to hear about the trip in real time.

Hampton Inn's promise at the front door and they did not disappoint.

We got checked in and then walked across the parking lot to dinner. Thankful for people, specifically my people.

Inadvertently I drank caffeine late in the afternoon. As a result, Amy and I had a lovely slumber party of sorts, talking later into the night than I'm usually awake for. It was special. 

 

Project 365, Week 19

This week was so fun as we Facetimed each day with Avery and got to hear about adventures in Italy. What an experience she was given!

May 6

The newness of each season will never get old.

May 7

I am good to the local theater and they are good to me...months ago they sent me a great deal on tickets and I accepted. Wicked was in town for a couple weeks so I grabbed some of my theater buddies. It was the loveliest warm evening and we enjoyed dinner on the patio. Yes, we were happy in the end. 😉

May 8

The party lights mean 1. people were at our house and 2. it was warm enough to be on the porch. Happy day.

May 9

Amanda has a second job now, working the takeout window at a different restaurant, at least until she's old enough to serve. Her brother has been enjoying taste-testing the newly-available fare.

May 10

A cozy evening in this hotel room [insert cliff hanger. ha!]. More on that in my 10 on 10 post.

May 11

For a couple decades these girls and I have been a special little group. We have celebrated big and little life things, we've confided struggles, cheered, encouraged, challenged, served, prayed, hoped, cried, laughed and prayed some more. 

This day we were mourning the passing of Lil's dad, Meg's grandfather while also celebrating a long life well-lived. It is no small thing to finish strong, to stay "faithful and true". He's with Jesus now, just exactly where he wants to be.

Sarah's mom saw Avery off at the Venice airport and then Avery was on her own. She navigated a layover in London, which included changing airlines and dealt with customs at JFK. I was tracking her progress and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when she landed in New York. As a surprise, Jack was there waiting for her and she was a happy girl.

Our crew had an uneventful ride home and got back by dinner time.

Avery was excited to distribute the treasures she carefully picked out for each one of us, all from different cities. It was really, really good to have everyone back in the kitchen together.

Avery had SUCH a great time and it was no surprise to us that she proved to be a competent traveler.

May 12

Knowing the girls were working opposite shifts, I snagged the kids for a picture at 8 AM before we headed out. They gave me the gift of us all sitting together in church. 

I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 3 John 1:4

Very often I question if I'm mom-ing "right" or if I'm enough. The short answer is no...I regularly get things wrong and I'm not enough. But what they do have is a mom who prays regularly and fervently for them. Parenting is so hard and it is such a joy. It has been the great delight of my life to be their mom.

I told them what I most wanted for Mother's Day was to go to Chick-fil-A. 😉  Instead, they gave me time together and such heartfelt cards.

And....Wicked again. Amanda worked and Aiden had a soccer game so it was a sweet little threesome. Neither Shaun or Avery had seen it and our world traveler was a champ muscling through jetlag.

 

Project 365, Week 18

Our weeks can often feel extreme and eclectic. So much of it is wonderful and some of it is terrible. Both, together. Ever-learning to be thankful in all circumstances.

April 29

Amanda's car has not been running for a bit so I've been transporting her to/from work. I'm thankful for the time together and the beauty of spring everywhere.

April 30

We went to Manhattan for treatment because, along with chemo, I was seeing a new doctor, this one a pain management specialist who my spine doctor referred me to. 

What a view from their building!

May 1

No picture

May 2

Sarah's family had planned a post-graduation trip to Italy. Her brother has a significant leg issue leaving him unable to make the trip. So, a week in advance they extended an invitation for Avery to join them!! We were able to get Avery on the same flight with them, leaving from Boston. Sarah's mom sent me a smattering of pictures and updates through the week, which was appreciated.

The weather is now such that I can take many of my naps out on the porch.

May 3

The head TBQ person of our region reached out and asked if we would be willing to host the two-day event...churches from Virginia to Maine competing for a spot at Nationals, this year held in Dallas. With Katie spear-heading the effort and our pastoral staff fully supportive, it all came together. 

I don't have adequate words for how beautiful and accepting this community is. Because its not the norm, its incredibly inspiring to me to see older people giving of their time, money, wisdom, experience even when they have no obligation, just out of their love of this next generation and a passion for serving Jesus.

For instance, this step-grandfather of one of the quizzers is plugged in enough to know this event was happening and that its something his grandson has been working at diligently and, as a result, is growing in so many ways. It was on his heart to buy t-shirts for the whole team. So sweet!

Pastor Jonny and McKenna never missed a district's meet. They faithfully showed up early on Saturday mornings, coffee and/or newborn in hand.

Once the quizzing was done for the day, we opened up the community center for games so the adults could mingle and the kids could vent some energy. Amy and I served ice cream to an eager line. Jack and Nathanael came in after work and lead Trivia and football.

What an absolute honor to serve alongside Katie these last four years of TBQ. I have so much respect for her, even more so now since we've spent each week together (and since our kids have been dating for two years... they are great parents!). She's one of those people...I always leave feeling encouraged and inspired after spending time with her. We have a shared love of God's word and the life-changing power it has and its been a joy to lead with her.

My first pictures from Rome. :)

May 4

The next day we finished out the quizzing. Once the churches had all left and we'd finished the cleanup, Pastor Jonny was back and treated us to pizza.

We grabbed a group picture, just missing Andrea her parents/coaches.

After a nap, I joined the prom-prep festivities happening in Amanda's room. Juliet came over to do makeup and then Sarah joined for hair. So sweet of them to take the time to help.

During that time, Avery happened to call, so she and Sarah were a part of the girl time, too. :) So fun!

We went up the street to Amanda's friend's house where some acquaintances were gathered. Jason's parents came to see him off as well.

We took a few pictures in the yard but still had some time so before Shaun and I dropped them off at the Bond Ballroom in Hartford, we took a few more pictures in and around a park downtown. Jason's mom is a big picture-taker, so it didn't phase him at all. It was so fun! 

May 5

It was a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon and we got a perfect spot so I could watch the game from the car.