Fall Break--Friday

 Fall Break was one of the semester milestones that Aliza and I were looking forward to...the halfway point. And now Fall Break was two weeks ago! It fell over the weekend of Isaiah's birthday which was something Aliza was very happy about. Aliza came home Thursday night and had been able to pick up 6 hours of work Saturday morning which she was also very happy about. 

Aliza mentioned to Jeremy that her car was really shaking Thursday night, but it didn't seem like an imminent problem and so Aliza went to work. Her assignment was to take the lady that she takes care of on an outing to the beach. Isaiah, Anna and I were doing school at home when I got a text from Jeremy at 11:30 that Aliza was at Assateague with a flat tire. Jeremy wasn't able to drop what he was doing and go and Josiah was writing a paper. I dropped everything and left immediately (without a plan, water or food) because I didn't want Aliza to be "stranded" at the beach with a disabled adult and I also knew she was on a schedule where it would be time for her to leave the beach by the time I drove there. 

I called my brother, but he didn't answer. It was a beautiful day so I thought maybe some of the Sheats boys were at the beach. I called my nephew, Caleb. He answered! He wasn't at the beach, but he was close enough that he could take a long lunch break and come over and put the spare tire on. 

I arrived and the tire was definitely flat!! It was time for Aliza to head back to Salisbury when I arrived. She took my car and I hung out with Caleb.  

I'm so thankful that Caleb was in the mood to be a hero and give an act of kindness. It made my Aunt Carla heart very proud! Caleb and I chatted while he worked and I asked him if there was any place to pick up a sandwich between here and home. He suggested the cafe at Assateague Surf Shop. 

Mission accomplished and I drove off slowly to find some lunch. Assateague Surf Shop was cute and the prices were high just as Caleb had said. I ordered a sandwich and a bottle of water, scarfed it down and made my way to pick up Aliza from work and take the car to the mechanic for new tires. 

By the time I got to the mechanic I thought my stomach felt weird. By the time I got home my stomach did not feel good. By suppertime food sounded terrible. The kids and I had plans with Laura for supper...the kids went to supper with Laura and Sean. I was on the couch, stomach cramping. I didn't get sick until almost midnight. I was still very queasy in the morning, but I could keep food down. 

Isaiah's birthday party was that afternoon and I had things to do to get ready! Like decorate a cake! All the things I would have done the evening before the party did not get done! Aliza made sure I kept eating and drinking. She was doing the things around the house that needed to get done. 

By noon I was crying because I just didn't feel right and fall break was passing quickly and there was a birthday party coming in a couple hours. And then I remembered that there was some Zophran in the house. I took a dose and it worked. I was able to decorate the cake (with Aliza's assistance) and host my family for a birthday party. 

Lessons learned: I'm not going to get a chicken salad sandwich at Assateague Surf Shop again. It was special to be cared for by my adult child. Jeremy sleeps very deeply and does not worry about me at all! 
 

Celebrating Isaiah

 The only request Isaiah had for his birthday was that I recreate the Minecraft cake and snacks I made for his 5th birthday. 

Grandma and Grandad, aunts and cousins that were available came over for a little while. It was a rainy afternoon and so there was more talking and a Nerf battle in the house. Usually the cousins spend all their time together outside. 

On Sunday, Isaiah's actual birthday, he took donuts to Sunday School and Jeremy made steaks for supper. We got Cookout shakes for dessert and then watched Kung Fu Panda 2. And just to make the birthday feeling last longer, Isaiah decided to take his birthday day off of school on Monday. 

 

Joy Dare::September

 13,707. Good first day of school
13,708. Good driving time with Anna
13,709. Last mango sweet cream iced chai for the season
13,710. Being available for friends
13,711. The yummiest coffee cake--that was shared with us
13,712. Beautiful colors in the sky this evening
13,713. Coffee and wedding pictures with Kaelyn
13,714. Aliza home for a long weekend
13,715. Jeremy so proud that his children laughed through Napoleon Dynamite
13,716. Isaiah worked through his angst
13,717. Aliza getting her brother ready for college
13,718. Linda is in the safest place
13,719. Afternoon on the beach with friends
13,720. Just being together
13,721. Finished a just-for-fun book
13,722. Lively, enjoyable Sunday School discussion
13,723. Everyone around the table for supper
13,724. Josiah had a social day
13,725. First hint-of-fall morning
13,726. Laughing at myself
13,727. Aliza got back to school safely
13,728. Josiah gave me a lot of grace this morning
13,729. Aliza really, really excited about a (free) new toothbrush
13,730. Bible reading with Anna and Isaiah
13,731. Josiah's first class went well

13,732. Baby smiles and snuggles
13,733. Late night talking with Anna
13,734. Homeschool PE connections
13,735. Hearing that my adult children choose to talk to each other on the phone
13,736. Cheering Aliza on
13,737. 9/11 phone catch up with Billy
13,738. Overheard "I'm already getting more comfortable with writing." -Josiah
13,739. Isaiah catching fish and kayaking

13,740. Spending the evening with our Sunday School class
13,741. Seeing some of my strengths in Aliza
13,742. Football season feels like fall
13,743. Josiah had the best time at his last youth event
13,744. Friend time
13,745. Computer work on the porch this afternoon
13,746. Encouraging Josiah 
13,747. Better sleep
13,748. Receiving Godly counsel
13,749. A beautiful evening to spend outside
13,750. Intentionally listening to the silly, seemingly meaningless noise of teenagers
13,751. Holding a sleeping baby
13,752. Isaiah excited about Kids Kamp
13,753. Asking for forgiveness
13,754. Reorganizing
13,755. Fresh air and sunshine
13,756. Planning for my new ESL class
13,757. Finding a real letter in the mail for me
13,758. An hour at the pool
13,759. New recipe that was accepted
13,760. Melted heart

13,761. Jeremy offered to pick up supper
13,762. Grandma and Grandpa live close enough for Aliza to visit them
13,763. Crisp grapes
13,764. Anna doing hard things
13,765. Jeremy's homemade pizza is the best
13,766. Getting a lot of little things accomplished
13,767. Vitamin C
13,768. Listening to Josiah
13,769. Candle flame on a rainy day
13,770. Holding space for Aliza
13,771. The tech conversations that Jeremy and Josiah have
13,772. Open windows
13,773. Wednesday supper at church
13,774. Kindle books
13,775. Mom and Moriah's visit
13,776. Cheering my kids on while they do hard things
13,777. Sticky buns
13,778. Just 3 children in the car can still keep the noise level high
13,779. Hugging Aliza
13,780. Family sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house
13,781. A spontaneous idea worked and I got to see Christie
13,782. Learning humility is serving a subpar meal at my in-laws house
13,783. My college kids discussing life
13,784. Long conversation around the table with Joel and Amanda
13,785. Finding pictures on my phone

13,786. Unexpected phone conversation
13,787. When the Geometry lesson turns out to be easy
13,788. Mid morning hot tea
13,789. First colored leaves
13,790. Life long friend
13,791. A few fall decorations
13,792. Sun after rainy days
13,793. Kiddos knowing how to effectively delay school 

13,794. Hearing the story of Aliza's day
13,795. Grilled chicken salad

 

Happy 12th Birthday Isaiah!