Celebrating Anna and Thanksgiving

 This year Anna's birthday was the day before Thanksgiving. She thought that worked out well as she had an extra day off school. Anna picked out all the food for her birthday day--fruit for breakfast, Panera for lunch and ham and mashed potatoes for supper. Otherwise it was a pretty low key day which suited Anna just fine.

Brandon Lake is the soundtrack of year 13 for Anna. She LOVES every song and, lucky for me, the shirt she wanted arrived in time for her birthday! 

Mint chocolate chip ice cream cake for dessert!

We were with my family for Thanksgiving Day. I enjoyed the visual reminder at our places for the why behind Thanksgiving.

Then it was Round 2 for Anna's birthday!

The cousins played and talked and the adults talked and watched football. And then the grandchildren helped Grandma put up her Christmas tree. It took three teenage boys to get the lights situated! That tree was decorated in no time. Grandma sat down and watched!

 

Starting the Christmas Season

 Starting the Christmas season before Thanksgiving was a first for me. With all our evening activities cancelled during Thanksgiving week and not a single free evening or weekend day the next week, I decided we just needed to take the opportunity and put the tree up a little early. No one complained about having our puppy chow and pretzel treats a little "early"!

 

The India Trip--Home Perspective

It was May 2022 after hearing a team share about their mission trip to India that Aliza determined that she would be going to India on the next trip. Being that mom I told her that she would be going only if her Dad and I were also going. Aliza and I went around on that for some months. My gut feeling didn't change. For quite a while it looked like I would be the one going, but ultimately, it was clear that Jeremy needed to be the one to go to India. 2 Dads, 2 oldest daughters, both girls seniors in high school. It turned out to be the most memorable senior trip with their Dads. 

The Moms drove them to Dulles airport and said goodbye at the curb. I didn't cry. I was excited for the adventure that awaited them. 

 

My mom graciously spent the day with Josiah, Anna and Isaiah. It had already been a busy weekend with the Heslop family at our house so the kids were ready for a day to be in their spaces. Isaiah was feeling great. Mom took Anna to dance and I got home just in time to pick her up. 

As I was walking out the door my uncle asked me if I was tracking the flight. I wanted to be tracking the flight, but I hadn't taken the time to find an app to do that. My cousin and her husband were flying the same airline, through the same layover airport, on the same day, to a different Asian destination so he was already tracking her flight. 

Turns out I think tracking flights is a pretty great thing! lol. When I woke up during the night I could just check that little plane icon that was then over Egypt and roll over and go back to sleep. I was particularly excited watching the landings and take offs. My children thought I was ridiculous. 

Jeremy and Aliza arrived safely. Their hosts made sure they adjusted to the time change as quickly as possible by keeping them awake that first day. After that they settled in to a schedule of church trainings during the day and cultural experiences in the evening.

They spent most of their time in Kolkata which allowed for daily contact with them. They could also send lots of pictures. There were so many feelings seeing pictures of both Jeremy and Aliza thriving and serving the Lord.

Meanwhile, Isaiah started feeling better and then Josiah got sick.

I did some scrapbooking and found this card. It seemed so fitting for Aliza and Alena and what they were doing.

At the halfway point, Janell had invited the kids and I to spend a night with her at the resort she was at for a work conference. The kids and I were really looking forward to a change in scenery and a day to relax. It didn't quite end up that way. Josiah had a long coughing spell during the night and Anna woke up sick. Isaiah had fun! He and I spent an hour in the pool. Instead of spending the day, we headed home at lunch time to be sick in our own space.

I was bummed. I had some ideas for things that three kids and I could do. Instead someone was sick the whole 12 days.

From India, the pictures kept flooding in. The disparities in the pictures stood out to me--extreme wealth beside poverty.

I decided that putting out a puzzle might be a fun diversion. We've acquired a few over the years--and if I have them, they may as well be used! This one had so papers with it or writing on the box. The pieces were in a sealed bag and when I dumped it out, I realized it was a 1000 piece puzzle. Not exactly the challenge I had in mind! But Anna was into it and she put the edge together and stayed up late working on it. (We are making slow progress on it.)

By the end of the week, everyone was feeling better and I had stayed healthy. Thank God!

All of us went to the airport to pick up Jeremy and Aliza. In retrospect that was probably a little crazy, but everyone survived. We left early and spent a chilly hour at Great Falls which is just 30 minutes from the airport.

We arrived at the airport as their plane landed, which was also a little crazy. I knew in my head that I should have planned to arrive an hour after their plane landed, but my heart couldn't help being there when I knew they were on the ground. And so we waited while they deboarded, rode the shuttle to the terminal, waited in the long customs line and got their luggage. Two hours later, they finally walked through the doors. 

Obviously we had to have supper at Chick Fil A complete with Peppermint milkshakes. Together.

It was such a long drive home. Aliza fell asleep. Jeremy would talk to me for a few minutes and then I'd look over and his head would be completely hanging down and he was snoring. 20 hours in the air will do that. It was what I expected and I didn't mind at all. 

The side effect of jet lag that has made me giggle is that the two people in our house that are the most unlikely to wake up early and fall asleep early---are waking up early and going to bed early.
 

 

 Happy 13th Birthday Anna!

These teenage years are going to be so fun. I can't wait to see what adventures you will have.

Applesauce and Family

 I was a given a bunch of apples and after giving away a bunch, I still had more than we could eat. On a lovely afternoon I decided to make a small batch of applesauce. Lucky for me, I had some willing helpers that made the process very fast.

Now it's in the freezer because the best homemade applesauce is served icy!

The Texas Heslop family came to our house for the weekend! It was so fun to have them here. Isaiah had the best time with Evelyn. Florence spent hours in Aliza's room playing with her Ever After High dolls.

Anna, Sarah, Karen and I went to listen to Anna's guitar teacher play at a winery that is very close to our house. That was really fun for Anna!

I had a huge #momfail moment that Anna will forever be able to remind me of. After supper we decided that a trip to Island Creamery was just what we needed. I cleaned up the kitchen and then we loaded up in three cars. When we got in Island Creamery, Sarah was taking a picture of us all in line. I looked around and realized that Anna was not there. Immediately I knew that she was in her room and had no idea that we had even left to get ice cream. Of course I instantly headed back to the car to get her. After multiple calls, she answered and I told her that, in fact, she was home alone. As I suspected she had no idea. I picked her up and we went back and got our ice cream.

Isaiah got to go with them on a quick sunset stop at the beach. They were hoping to see some ponies and they were successful. It made me happy that Isaiah could have that extra bit of time with his cousins. 

Their visit went by too quickly, but I'm so glad we got to see them!
 

Joy Dare::October

 10,592. A schedule to keep us going
10,593. Aliza snuggled in with her Aunt Janell
10,594. Me reaching out to someone to talk to
10,595. My Mom
10,596. A perfect day at the cove

10,597. Feeling like myself this evening
10,598. Isaiah had a really happy birthday
10,599. Aliza comforting me
10,600. Anna did a great job babysitting
10,601. Team effort for ESL
10,602. Women who surround me
10,603. Josiah having some time with friends
10,604. Strength for the day
10,605. Aliza falling asleep on me
10,606. Church was so encouraging
10,607. Sunday rest
10,608. Giving myself lots of patience
10,609. Bright yellow mums on the porch

10,610. Walk around the yard
10,611. Jeremy's patience
10,612. Mom
10,613. Gracious children
10,614. Sleep
10,615. Encouragement
10,616. Isaiah's head on my shoulder
10,617. 4 siblings playing Minecraft together
10,618. A quiet, rainy day
10,619. Aliza could have time with her friends
10,620. Church streamed so I could still watch
10,621. Continuing to rest
10,622. Woke up to the sweetest text message from Aliza
10,623. My body was calm when I woke up
10,624. Completing a full day of school
10,625. Car time talk with Anna
10,626. Evening light on the trees
10,627. Talking to Karen
10,628. Feeling much more like myself
10,629. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffin
10,630. Listening to Anna play guitar
10,631. Feeling caught up
10,632. Fall colors
10,633. Youth group stories at the end of the night
10,634. A new spaghetti squash recipe for supper
10,635. Watching the Dove awards
10,636. A little scrapbooking felt good to do
10,637. Sunday School discussions
10,638. Writing
10,639. Catching up with Aliza at the end of the day
10,640. Josiah and I planning an adventure
10,641. Easy dentist appointments
10,642. Anna so excited about her dance recital song
10,643. Family favorite supper
10,644. Shopping with my girls
10,645. Sleeping longer
10,646. Testimonies
10,647. Getting the India itinerary
10,648. Talking to Laurie
10,649. School outside
10,650. A fun ESL game
10,651. Chai and a phone visit with my mom
10,652. An evening with Isaiah
10,653. Looking up at Josiah
10,654. Saying Yes to being a team player
10,655. Lots of birds chirping
10,656. Squirrels chasing each other
10,657. Talking Isaiah to trunk and treat

10.658. Lunch with my girls
10,659. Vacuumed car
10,660. Saying Yes to watching Amazing Race later than we should have
10,661. One more really warm day
10,662. A college campus tour

10,663. Apple crisp
10,664. Leaves falling on a cool day
10,665. A moment to read
10,666. Soup and bonfire with friends