Category Archives: Daily Life

Buildin’ a Gate with My Girls

Today Rachel and Sarah helped me build a double door gate as a new entrance to our back yard. Rachel and Sarah both used the drill with obvious dexterity. In fact, I think they caught on a little too quickly…

"Are you talking to me? Yes I do build gates."

“Are you talking to me? Yes I do build gates.”

I was afraid to lean in too closely

I was afraid to lean in too closely

Project 365 – Day 151

Tim

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Bring Home My Baby!

Three years ago, Joshua went off to college in Tennessee. We thought we would see him for summers and Christmas holidays, but he’s actually been very busy and seldom home. Last summer, he spent two months on a mission trip to Turkey. The winter before that, he was on a shorter-term trip to Germany. The summer before that, he traveled the Midwest as a counselor with Worldview Academy. This summer, he will pursue a research fellowship for his Physics major, so he’ll be in Waco, TX for ten weeks, studying with a Physics professor at Baylor.

Kayaking on American Lake

Kayaking on American Lake

As much as you expect your children to grow up and enjoy their own lives, you don’t necessarily want them to actually do it. Between weddings, mission trips, summer jobs and school, there just hasn’t been much time to connect with Joshua.

After he finished school this Spring, Joshua served as Best Man in a roommate’s wedding. Then there was a week of idle time before he had to report to Baylor.

“Bring home my baby,” Kathy insisted tearfully.

“It seems a waste, for only a week,” I growled, a little resentfully. Spending money always makes me a little gruff.

Joshua takes a fond farewell from his sisters ...

Joshua takes a fond farewell from his sisters …

But Kathy persisted, and Joshua hinted that he was willing to grace us with his presence, so I dug out my frequent-flier miles, and found him a flight home.

I’m glad I did. He seemed to have had a lovely visit, and we all got some time with him. It felt good to be a family with five kids again, even if a lot of the ‘kids’ are starting to be grown-ups.

A Boy and Two Moms

A Boy and Two Moms

I drove Joshua to the airport tonight, and he’s off for an adventure in Texas. I can’t wait to see him again (briefly) in August and hear all his stories of his life as a Texan physics researcher.

Project 365, Day 149
Tim

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Garage Declutter

Oh my word!! What in the world has happened to my garage? How did it become the dumping ground for every bit of odds and ends in the whole house? And how have I possibly let it go this long?

This can NOT really be my garage!

This can NOT really be my garage!

Heh heh. Well, life is busy and full and so is the garage. I can’t believe I am willing to reveal these bit of hoarding horror on the blog. Not sure it’s really hoarding if it’s just our plain messy lives. Lazy, messy lives as we’ve obviously been ignoring the garage since Christmas. Yep, I don’t think any of the Christmas bins were put away, and two of them were opened and still unpacked. Ha.

Today it was warm and sunny and we didn’t have any evening meetings. It was the perfect time to start tackling the garage mess.

All those beloved stuffed animals!

All those beloved stuffed animals!

David and Sarah helped as best they could. David moved boxes and bins. Sarah took one of the extra twin mattresses out of the garage and up into her room. She also stacked wooden boards for me. We all loaded the van up with giveaway things.

But really, there wasn’t very much they could do. It was a Mama Job. And I made great progress. The kids have their annual testing on Monday and Tuesday. I’m selling a table full of curriculum on one of the days, so I hope to clear out more of the garage then.

This one had to be kept.

This one had to be kept.

One of my favorite things about the summer is having time to purge, declutter and organize the house again. Our schedules are looser, our days freer, and the weather perfect for clearing out cabinet, shelves, drawers and closets. Off you go, mess!

Hope this garage gets in shape quickly.

Project 365 – Day 148
Kathy

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Brothers

We are savoring every relaxed minute of having Joshua home this week. That doesn’t mean we’re busy and active every minute. On the contrary, we’re almost having a “non-vacation” time. The kids are sleeping in when they can, we’ve had some meals out and some in, we celebrated Daniel,we went to church as a family. It’s not about grand adventures, instead it’s been about living and breathing and just BEING together. It’s been a relaxing, sweet time.

Today the sun returned. Happy Days!! I came home from a walk to find the children (everyone but Daniel who had school) sitting outside. They were perched on lawn chairs and sleeping bags. I grabbed my cook book and sat with them. Joshua may or may not have fallen asleep.

Tim worked from home today, but we were careful not to distract him hardly at all. Joshua and I can’t help it if we have fun things to talk about. Or if Rachel needs to snuggle down for a nap. Or if the sun is heating up the house. Mmmmmmm.

Oldest and youngest boy

Oldest and youngest boys

David mowed the neighbors lawn. Joshua worked on some summer communications he needed to do. Sarah finished one of her school books. I had two long phone calls and managed to sneak in a walk each time.

It was a good, relaxing, peaceful day. The only two sad things are – Joshua is leaving on Friday night, and Daniel has to work so much this week that he’s not with us much. :(

This evening, after everyone had gone off to bed, Daniel said to me, rather wistfully, “I’m sad that Joshua is leaving so soon. I’m going to miss him.”

Me too, me too.

Thank you for spending a week at home, Joshua. And thank you to Tim for flying him home (first class no less – ha).

Project 365 – Day 147
Kathy

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All My Ducks in a Row

My babies are all home!!! I know, I know, three of them are actually adults and VERY far from being babies. Still, you know how mothers are.

Church together!!

Church together!!

And going to church is probably the sweetest job and blessing of all!

What a wonderful full day together.

Sunday school – Tim teaching
Lunch – big pot of vegetable soup
Card game – Rachel, Sarah, David
DC Comics board game – Tim, Daniel, Joshua
Ultimate Frisbee – Joshua, Rachel, Daniel, David
Movie at home – Sarah (then Rachel when she hurt her ankle)
Dinner – salad and bread w/some Pancho girls
Reading – everyone
Avengers – everyone plus James and Jenny

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!! (Hopefully no more injuries)

Poor Rachel - twisted her ankle during frisbee!

Poor Rachel – twisted her ankle during frisbee!

Project 365 – Day 144
Kathy

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