I feel I should apologize for writing so many blog posts about Rachel, but really, when she and Joshua are off at college, we write almost exclusively about David, Sarah, and Daniel. Therefore, some would say I have to double up on Rachel to give her fair representation.

“I leave for a few months, and you forget me. Sigh.”

Poor Joshua, he comes home tomorrow for a week. I guess every Project 365 will be centered on his TOO SHORT visit.

So excited to have him home!!!!

Things are coming to a close for the year. We celebrated the final AWANA ceremony this week. Our homeschool co-op ended several weeks ago. David and Sarah’s TPS (online) classes finished up this week. Their only remaining assignment is a final math test. Sarah completed her spelling today, and both kids did their last lessons of health. Wow! Love it when the end of a fabulous, but long, year is in sight. Ahhhh.

I slipped out of the house early this morning for coffee and a quick visit with two friends. The kids did school, then Rachel and I went to the salon for a summer haircut. A friend from church gave me a referral to her hair salon which came with an incredible discount on a cut.

Forgot to take a “before” picture. This is “in the middle.”

The stylist was so helpful – she pulled up a little footstool so I could sit with Rachel while she got her hair cut and styled, gave helpful advice about style and length, and did a GREAT job on Rachel’s cut.

Love the clip!

Always enjoy outings with my oldest girl!

Rachel celebrated her gorgeous new look with two handsome young men. Okay, they were 3 and 6, but still, I’m sure they really appreciated Rachel getting a makeover before babysitting.

David is jealous of Rachel’s new look. He wants a haircut himself and has been asking me for several days now (in his very respectful, typical David manner). Somehow the days keep zipping to an end with NO hair cut. Sorry, buddy. Tomorrow?

Does the hair add to his height?

Twins?

Rachel isn’t ready for her younger siblings to get taller than her.

Um, I don’t think that works, Rach.

Tomorrow we will get the house cleaned up for Joshua’s arrival. Always a good excuse to make everyone clean. Ooops, did I say that out loud?

Project 365 – Day 142
Kathy

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Thank you for writing today’s blog, Rachel!!

Hello. I haven’t been a guest blogger since I was 11, so please don’t expect greatness. (I think my last blog was about cats, so it was probably better than this will be.)

Last August I traveled to the rarely spoken of, far off land in the south called Tennessee. What an adventure it was. Since I had ventured overseas more than once, I did not expect large differences in culture. I was quite unprepared for the south, with its sweet tea, hot temperatures, flat terrain, and popular Christian influence. Not to mention all of its environmental differences.

In the first few weeks of my college journey, I was so desperate to see water that I often found myself drawn to the fountain in the middle of campus. I would perch on the side, close my eyes, and pretend to hear the waves crashing against the gravely shores of Washington. I was also inconveniently battered by the wind and often thought: where are the mountains to protect me from these gusts?

Horror of all horrors, because of the intense rains of the Tennessean summer, I had to beg the use of an umbrella. I know, I know, it was mortifying. I lived in fear that someone from Seattle would see me with this forbidden contraption. Although I soon realized that it was socially acceptable to use an umbrella, how convenient!

Socially, my manners were also somehow off. My friends giggled at my “strange” behavior (straws in my drinks, eagerness to discuss feelings, coffee anytime all the time, loudness, blunt honesty, etc,) and patted my shoulder sweetly as they explained to others, “She’s a northerner.” I laughed with them, but I must admit I stubbornly refused to change.

Love this view!

Flying home this past weekend, (first class, I’m not kidding, – thanks dad) the plane dipped beneath the clouds, and suddenly I was confronted with water. Wonderfully, beautifully clear, blue water. Next my eyes rested on the deep green of the tall trees and the snow dusted mountains. I nearly cried with the beauty of it. (I also may or may not have been running on a semester of very little sleep, but no matter.)

Today is my fourth day back. This evening, driving past Sunnyside park, I was struck breathless by the beauty of the ocean. As the car journeyed along the quiet road, the pinks of the sky danced with the silhouetted evergreen trees on the hills, and I truly felt home. The hills rolled like the waves of my beloved ocean as the sun set in brilliant colors. Although I will miss Tennessee, (well mostly Union and my friends, sorry south) I am beyond thrilled to be back in my darling Washington.

Glad to be home in Washington!

P.S. I don’t think I can ever live in a place where I cannot see the ocean.

Project 365 – Day 139
Rachel

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It’s wonderful to have Rachel home! We are eagerly anticipating Joshua’s return on Saturday! It’s also our 23rd anniversary. Busy times. Full hearts.

The sun was shining, and Rachel and I took advantage of the beautiful day to be together. David and Sarah had their online classes, so Rachel and I snuck away for coffee with a friend and then hours of shopping.

So many memories of hours of girl time with my mom growing up. As the only girl with three brothers, I was very close to my mom. She was (and still is) a wonderful companion, godly influence, and heart-friend. Rachel is blessed to have a younger sister, but the two of us LOVE to spend time shopping, laughing, relaxing, and just being together. It is an honor and joy to have daughters who want to spend time with me and whose company I genuinely enjoy.

We bought some cute work clothes for Rachel, loaded the car up with lot and lots of fresh produce (trying to eat HEALTHY here as a family), and made it home just in time to have Daniel help with all the groceries. Smart!

Rachel was wiped out in the afternoon and enjoyed a power -I’m done with school – nap. We finished our homeschooling. Daniel went to work at Chick-Fil-A, and then I took the younger kids to the park for a game of frisbee. Somehow in all our sweet time together, the only picture I took was this (not close) shot of the kids playing Ultimate.

Frisbee Time

We live in such a beautiful state! The beauty of God’s creation around me is a constant source of joy. Our small group held its meeting outside, on the dock at the lake.

I never get tired of looking at the water.

In the middle of our time together, two large eagles soared above the water and perched in a tree right next to us. Later, one of them flew dramatically low and near to our group. Incredible! I wish I had captured it on video.

I zoomed in – look closely to see both eagles.

I hate posting the blog late, but I didn’t have the energy to write last night. This is Monday’s Blog, and the pictures were all taken Monday. Keeping up with the Project 365!!

Project 365- Day 138
Kathy

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