Sunday, June 21, 2020

Some Little Things

It is as hard for me to believe how my calendar filled up almost overnight in June the way it emptied almost overnight in March. We have been spending time, mostly outside, with friends, going to church and Bible study, club and youth group. I have already turned down one weekly activity for the summer just because I want to quiet the schedule. A trip is in the works and a vacation is being dreamed up.

I did get Josiah's blanket pieced together.
I think the quarantine period solidified some friendships for the children and me.
We went to the cove last night with this family. When a storm rolled in, we moved the party to our porch for supper. The kids played through a couple downpours and had a great time.

Isaiah has been surprising me with his mental math skills. He asked me if 15 + 15 equals 30. I said yes and he told me that he knew that because 5 + 5 is 10 and 10 + 10 is 20. A couple nights later he asked me if 360 + 360 equals 720. I thought a minute and then told him yes. I asked Isaiah how he knew that one. He said he guessed. I told him there was no way he guessed that and then he gave me a complicated explanation that actually made sense for the most part. The funniest part is that he makes me prove that he is right on the calculator.

This is the best book I have read on relationships:
Single, dating, engaged, married--it is for everyone. This is the book I will give my young adults. It is grace filled, hopeful, honest, and Bible based.

There are also some pretty great things happening on the business front and on the home renovation front. It's nice to see some long time hopes falling into place--slowly, but steadily!

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Joy Dare::May

7129. Windows open
7130. The girls had so much fun doing dance costume pictures
7131. The continual practice of contentment
7132. Planning to the end of school for Aliza
7133. After church walk on a beautiful evening
7134. Popcorn on the porch
7135. Masks for the children
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1e5VjLGr85wNj2Z7Zn6ExvWUyLwhpVWWU
7136. New BJU customers
7137. Outside time with cousins
7138. Painting helpers
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1GCUXwGxHa57BNwei9njmB7QRMSx_U_3c
7139. Completely unexpected additional discount
7140. Children played outside for a long time leaving me in a silent house
7141. Visiting Janell
7142. Baking brownies for Renee
7143. Shoes for Anna to enjoy wearing
7144. Hearing Aliza laugh during Zoom call with youth group
7145. Aliza so diligent with school
7146. Josiah conquered a fear
7147. This week’s dessert—Apple pie
7148. Freshly painted stair spindles 
7149. Getting out and walking 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=14jz13G423-fYiFH5Ejbm1vfCya_ifIAo
7150. Seeing my Grandad
7151. Breakfast made for me and notes
7152. Jeremy did the dishes for the day
7153. All the boy cousin noise
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11jRZ15CK4-GDREsDpRCUCb6ZCpApfHVs
7154. That last-week-of-school feeling
7155. Giving Isaiah his kindergarten diploma
7156. Starting yet another project
7157. Making my mother in law happy
7158. Chick-fil-a lunch
7159. An afternoon with Janell
7160. Teaching the girls to use a sewing machine
7161. Isaiah excited to have a loose tooth
7162. Enough patience
7163. I have a high schooler!
7164. On the road to WV
7165. Children who know how to be grateful
7166. Patio visiting
7167. Tea with Christie
7168. Aliza’s pure excitement over having Japanese food for supper
7169. Josiah telling the Bible story in full detail
7170. Refreshed after being away
7171. Grace from my children
7172. Sisters to keep me grounded
7173. Anna and Isaiah got to see friends
7174. Walking in silence 
7175. A homemade loaf of bread
7176. Visiting with Linda
7177. Anna walking with me
7178. An hour completely alone
7179. Janell had an extra taco seasoning packet
7180. Stories of great faith
7181. Being spontaneous
7182. Long evenings
7183. Weeded flowerbeds
7184. Ice cream run
7185. Anna helping Jeremy wash the cars
7186. Sleeping in
7187. Meeting together for church
7188. Truth for my girl
7189. Watermelon
7190. Giving the gift of work
7191. Sean’s smile at the lunch table
7192. Afternoon with Janell
7193. Aliza made me tea
7194. Standing up/Speaking up
7195. Sewing with Anna
7196. Finishing a commitment
7197. Warm days
7198. Strawberries
7199. A day away from our house
7200. Cheering Jeremy on
7201. Late afternoon beach time
7202. Strawberry shortcake
7203. Watching space shuttle launch
7204. After church s’mores 
7205. Watching the stars appear
7206. Field of yellow flowers
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=15O_usPaz1HbVS5VEqeKARnYhJjTDXrX_

Monday, June 8, 2020

Road Trip

Janell and I decided to go to our cousin's bridal shower before we actually looked at how far away it was. Typical... I assumed that it was going to be closer to where she lives and it was actually closer to where her parents live. So Janell and I made it an overnight trip and visited our aunt and uncle.

We stayed up late talking around the fire and then Janell and I had a quiet Sunday morning before we needed to leave for the shower. The silence was just about the most luxurious thing I could imagine right now. Then we went to the stream and up the mountain.
And then we surprised our cousin. She was genuinely surprised.

It was a fun little trip!