Kindness

 It seems like every day brings an exciting new experience in Aliza's life right now. I try very hard not to tell stories about my children that are not mine to tell; however, recently, Aliza has been the recipient of two acts of kindness that I have asked her permission to share. Kindess in these ways is unexpected and uncommon so I want to remember these stories. I also want to remember how, when it seemed like several doors were closing, an even better opportunity came along. 

Aliza interviewed and was hired for a job that required CPR certification and Certified Medicine Tech (CMT) class. It turned out to be a complex process (that required a lot of adulting!) to register for these classes because multiple agencies and people and schedules were involved, not to mention that the employer was really anxious for her new help to start work. 

CPR--After her contact did not respond to her text, email and online inquiry through the website, Aliza finally spoke to him on the phone. He told her that a CPR class was being held on Thursday that week. She was given the address and time and she said the day/time back to him on the phone and he confirmed. Aliza showed up for class that Thursday only to find that she was the only one in the parking lot and the building was dark. She called the instructor. He told her that the class had actually been held on Wednesday--the night before. He apologized for his mistake and Aliza headed home. She decided that a Chick Fil A milkshake was in order and while she was still in the area, the instructor called her back. His meeting had ended early and he felt so bad about giving Aliza the wrong day that he asked to meet her at Starbucks to do the CPR training that evening one-on-one. He sent her some training videos to start watching while she waited for him to make the drive and she got CPR certified in Starbucks. She was glad the Starbucks was empty late in the evening when it came time to do compressions on the dummy for the assessment. 

CMT--Aliza was given dates for this class that were in mid September, during the day. There was no way she could take the class then because it was during college classes. Even with this being a really good job opportunity, we knew she couldn't miss that many classes to take the CMT class and we were really thinking that the job just might not work out. Aliza's friend, Alena, has also been hired for this job and so she was the one who called to see if there were any other times or locations to take the CMT class. The instructor was not initially kind or helpful to Alena on the phone until Alena told her why they needed the training and then the instructor decided she would see what she could do. Aliza made her own phone call to the instructor and there were several texts and, rather quickly, the instructor offered to do the CMT class for Aliza and Alena at her home. the following week, after her regular work hours. Who does that??! 

I smiled big when I got this picture! With the way that all the pieces came together, I have no doubt that Aliza is right where she is supposed to be!
 

Road Trip

 I took a road trip with my Mom! We had 4 days of driving, sitting, visiting with family and listening. It was lovely and it was a completely different pace than I am used to!

Our first stop was visiting my sister, Linda and her husband the little guy they are taking care of for an afternoon. It was really nice to see where they live and fun to play with a baby. When we went to the park, I may have introduced him to Pokemon. He listened but wasn't very interested. lol

After supper, Mom and I drove the hour and a half to my aunt and uncle's house in Sturgis, Michigan. It was still light when we arrived and I enjoyed walking around the yard looking at all of her flowers. That is her painting on the barn, and I loved it.

On Sunday all 7 of my Mom's siblings were together for the afternoon and evening.

These two brothers have farmed together for 50 years.

There was homemade ice cream and peach cobbler made in a dutch over over a fire. The ice cream was made with the engine their grandfather made homemade ice cream with. I approve of driving to Michigan for ice cream and peach cobbler!

Being the only one of my generation around the table with all of my aunts and uncles is a memory that I will hold dear to my heart. 

On Monday we drove the whole way home--12 hours for me, 12.5 for mom. Even with children who are so grown, I still feel the pull to be home for them.


 

Summer Worship Nights

Our favorite concert came within driving distance again this year so we had to make the trip happen. This year we put the youth pastor up to making it a youth group event with the caveat being that Jeremy and I be the chaperones and drivers. He made it happen and we took 9 teenagers and Isaiah with us. 

Summer Worship Nights is the combined effort of Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake. We were at the Capital One area in Washington DC. There were 12,000 in attendance and we were at the top of the arena. Sometimes I think how fun it would be to have the children experience a concert with much closer seats, but I'm afraid they would be forever ruined and never be willing to sit at the top of the arena!

We all ate packed lunch at the church and then drove to DC. I was a little afraid we would get stuck in beach traffic (beach goers returning to the western shore), but there was no traffic backups. We arrived in DC in plenty of time to make a stop at the merch truck that was parked a few miles from the arena, eat supper and get to the arena in plenty of time. 

 

Let's talk about the merch truck stop though. The merch truck was called "Poppy" (I have no idea why) and was parked on a seemingly random street corner. I did not see the church that that was referenced with the address. I thought that it was pretty clear that, since Jeremy and I were there along with our kids, we were going to have to buy. The only thing was there were no prices on the merch. So I said Yes and knew that it was going to be big, but it was also memorable. The cashiers didn't even say the total, just took my card, but I saw the total on the ipad and it was bigger than I thought big was going to be. lol. 

In the parking garage, we parked 3 levels below ground and it felt like we were sitting 5 stories above group. That made my brain spin for the minute.

This may be the one nanosecond that Aliza and Anna were not moving! They had so much fun. We were at the opposite end of the group from them and we could still hear them at times.

Isaiah knew a lot of the songs too. It was fun to watch him participate and sing. He asked me every 20-30 minutes what time it was, but he stayed engaged almost to the end. Isaiah also really enjoyed getting to ride with the boys in Taylor's car. I drove the girls in our van.

When we walked in to the arena, there were buckets of wristbands with a QR code on them. At first I thought it was a marketing gimmick, but when the concert started the wristbands lit up in coordination with the stage lights. Sometimes all the wristbanks would light up at the same time and other times they were randomized so that it looked like twinkling lights. The blue lights in the picture below are wristbands. Being at the top of the area, we could see the full effect of those lights. It was really fun.

I knew I had to drive home and so maybe I saved a little energy for that. We got home at 1:45am. I'd do it again!!
 

Celebrating Mom & Dad's 50th Anniversary

 It was a special privilege to celebrate Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary. Their commitment to their wedding vows is something I am grateful for and don't take for granted.

We {Still} Do

After Janell and I thought maybe they wouldn't leave their house so we could get ready, we thought maybe they weren't coming back! They did arrive and the grandchildren greeted them with cheers. Quite possibly that was the sweetest moment of the whole evening and it was a completely spontaneous idea.

The original 5 children

Now there are 22 of us!

Making a watermelon "cake" was my idea and Janell executed it. (This happens with at least one thing for every party I plan!) Janell is awesome and it turned out really well.

We passed food for the meal for the first time with the whole family. It was a bit crazy and the grandchildren end of the table was even more crazy.

Janell's big idea was to give Mom and Dad a digital photo book with a layout for each of the 50 years of their marriage. She and I worked really hard on that project! It was worth it though! I think it turned out well and Mom and Dad were pleased.

 

Joy Dare::July

 11,383. Hearing that everyone is having fun at camp
11,384. A date night with Jeremy
11,385. Doing some work with Isaiah
11,386. Isaiah comes home with some *statement* Crocs
11,387. Reading in the hammock
11,388. Crossing off to-do tasks
11,389. A bleach clean shower
11,390. Talking to my mom
11,391. My brother
11,392. Church community
11,393. A 4th of July feast with friends
11,394. Fireworks
11,395. Welcoming home our campers--and hugging them
11,396. Hours of camp stories and pictures
11,397. All of the adults that speak into my teenagers' lives
11,398. A quiet camp recovery day
11,399. Birthday texts
11,400. A book that was good for my soul
11,401. Sunset waves and wild ponies
11,402. "I'm still happy from camp." -Josiah
11,403. Dolphins jumping

11,404. An afternoon with my sisters and mom
11,405. Sisters (Aliza and Anna) that stay up too late talking
11,406. Long supper conversations
11,407. Laughing
11,408. New-to-us clothes
11,409. 2 year old chatter
11,410. Anna.
11,411. The rain held off
11,412. Raylyn's grin while Aliza made her into a sand mermaid
11,413. Isaiah still comes to our bed during storms
11,414. Aliza talks to me
11,415. So many pictures
11,416. The Chosen with Aliza's head on my shoulder
11,417. Quiet
11,418. Working on a project
11,419. Taking a family evening
11,420. Big kids having fun with little ones
11,421. Anna playing guitar in church
11,422. 23 years married
11,423. Showing up
11,424. Celebrating Alena's graduation
11,425. Jeremy's dad recovered quickly
11,426. Early morning grass mowing to beat the heat
11,427. Confession
11,428. Porch time with a friend
11,429. A slow day
11,430. Having the hard conversation to start making a big change
11,431. Anna being silly
11,432. A day at home
11,433. Having Allie with us for the day
11,434. Bright yellow goldfinches
11,435. Taking my work out on the porch
11,436. Traveling at night
11,437. Stories from silent disco night
11,438. The car fix went really smoothly
11,439. Watching Ronan play with bubbles
11,440. Spending time with Grandma and Grandpa
11,441. Safe trip home
11,442. A big project completed
11,443. Crepe myrtles blooming
11,444. Encouraging and meeting homeschool moms
11,445. Taking care of my family
11,446. Busy birdfeeders
11,447. Walking with a friend
11,448. Summer afternoon tea
11,449. Everyone feeling better
11,450. Loving the best I know how
11,451. Handling disappointment in stride
11,452. An evening with cool temperatures
11,453. Chick Fil A for supper and Olympic opening ceremony
11,454. Daughters convincing their Dad to take them to a concert
11,455. Thinking things through
11,456. A day to just be
11,457. Family evening on the beach
11,458. Olympic watching

11,459. Moms ahead of me to talk to
11,460. Prayer
11,461. Josiah feeling energetic again
11,462.Getting a treat for Anna
11,463. A beautiful summer morning
11,464. Celebrating Mom
11,465. Aliza waking up with energy
11,466. Spontaneous lunchtime company
11,467. Picking Anna up from youth group
11,468. Staying up late watching Olympics