Day 195: Summer Rain

It rained a lot in Northern Ireland, but it was never the lovely warm mid-day thunder-filled summer showers we get here.

Around 10:30 this morning I was out kneeling in my garden when I felt the wind change and a warm breeze turn cool.  It was like magic.  Liam and I raced to the clothes line to rescue our drying clothing as thunder filled the sky.  Just as we made it inside the skies opened. 

Magic.

Today I am thankful for warm summer thunderstorms.

Day 194: VBS

This morning the boys had their little program at church in honor of their hard work last week during VBS.

I took approximately ZERO photos of it, so you'll just have to believe me when I say it was adorable.  What I mean is, all of the other kids were adorable that I could see.  Liam somehow managed to disappear into the back of the crowd and Miles hid behind his bandana the entire time.  (It was a western theme.)

Everyone else though - super cute.

Today I am thankful for the people who volunteer their time for Vacation Bible School.

I hope the memories my son's are gaining through these weeks will stay with them the way my Bible School weeks stayed with me. 

Day 193: Family Reunion

Today we spent all day with Dustin's extended family.  There was boating and fishing (LOTS of fishing) and hiking and delicious potlucks...

Today I am thankful for a full family reunion.

And the people who put all of the work into planning it.

Day 192: Quiet

Today I am just thankful for another quiet day in my safe part of the world.

Nothing much is going on today, but usually that means that things are pretty easy.  I have so little to worry about in the grand scheme of things.  My life is sort of uneventful - in a good way. 

Today I am going to appreciate the quiet life I have here when so many are struggling for just a piece of the same.

Day 191: Trip

Right now my parents are gallivanting around Anchorage. 
I know, awful, right?

The lucky dogs are there celebrating 40 years of marriage doing something they've wanted to do for as long as I can remember.

Today I'm thankful that my parents are still adventurous.

It's inspiring in every way.

Day 190: New Job

I got a new job.

I know, it's crazy, isn't it?  The truth is that an opportunity came along and it felt like God was all like, "jump on this lady" with his secretive making everything fall into place even when you aren't sure you want it to.

And I was all like, "Ummmmm, okay?" but was really really scared to actually do it.

And here I am - getting another classroom ready for another year - a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CLASSROOM in a different school - do any of you realize how weird that is?  It feels weird.

But right. 

It definitely feels right.  And it feels good to know that our financial security is going to jump up a notch and that paying off this crazy graduate education I pretended was free isn't going to be outside of the question. 

It also means that for the first time in three years I'm looking for childcare, and figuring out how to live with only one car (because that is important to us) and figuring out how to go back to wearing something besides yoga pants on days when I feel like I don't really want to get dressed.  Guys - it means getting dressed EVERY DAY.  I probably have to shower too. 

I haven't really thought this through.

But I am excited.  And nervous.  And busy getting a classroom in order that hasn't really seen any love for a really long time.  And I have a few really (only sort of) helpful little boys to help me.

Today I am thankful for a new adventure.

Day 189: Baseball

Last year we signed my oldest son up for soccer after a year of him KICKING A BALL CONSTANTLY.  We were fresh off that plane and all a little sad.  We all showed our sadness in different ways, but for some reason his mourning came in the form of refusing to play soccer. 

I'm not kidding or exaggerating when I tell you that all he wanted to do in Northern Ireland for our last 6 months there was to kick a ball with anyone who would join him.  And suddenly he didn't want to kick a ball - ever. 

This eventually led to us dropping out of soccer and calling it done.  We needed time to figure out who we were without Corrymeela and without the volunteers.  He needed the same. 

Fast forward 6 months to t-ball forms and giving organized sports another go. 

I'm so glad we did.  Miles had two amazing coaches with this endless well of patience for the players.  He loved the game and found such joy in the friends he made.

Today I am thankful for t-ball.

He did a great job.  I loved watching him have fun.