Week 38

Tuesday, Sept. 17th
We made our annual trip to the Big E.  Since the kids had recently done Six Flags 2 or 3 times, we opted to skip the rides, and instead ATE our way through the day!  Still getting used to doing these ingrained traditions and taking these pictures with only a partial crew :(  What a gorgeous day!

The circus was fun- these quick-changers stole the show.  I have NO IDEA how they do it.

It's a zebu!

One happy childhood memory I have is going as a family to the Big E.  Tim and Bethany's September birthdays are a week apart, so I remember us all skipping school to go the Big E.  I remember doing the giant slide and got so nostalgic watching my kids come down it.

Wednesday, Sept. 18th

Renna is in Advanced Acro this year, so the other kids are slightly older than her.

Renna and I took a walk / ride with the dogs to map out a 5K route.

A couple of my gym friends with one or no kids often ask what our house is like.  I shot this video before bedtime (because that's ALWAYS the best time for wrestling!) to send to them, but these really are the sweetest moments and I hope I always remember them.

Launchers!

Friday, Sept. 20th

Lisa dealt with some significant health scares/issues for most of the month.  Bloodwork came back with "elevated tumor markers".  God immediately gave me this verse and I worked so hard to just push back the fear and trust in His goodness.  We are NOT consumed!

Trevor sang on the youth group worship team for the first time.

Friday night with the littles.

We stopped by Jon and Annie's for a few minutes.

Saturday, Sept. 21st

4x4 clinic.

I spotted Renna's leftovers from the night before in the fridge.  I gasped, realizing (obviously, of course, and not for the first time!) that she watches me and mimics me, as I had written "Mom" and drawn a little heart on my box at the restaurant, but hadn't seen hers.  For some reason, this day was a stark reminder of the overwhelming responsibility I have and the weight of my actions and words.

Sunday, Sept. 22nd
I got to take Nathanael to his first fall league game.

Renna and Sienna spent the entire 3rd period chatting it up with this group.  They must've been delighted.

Football at the O'Bonks and then Presidents.

Week 37

Monday, Sept. 9th

All day, every day.

Lots of time playing "groomer."

We took Kelly to Outback to celebrate her birthday!

Tuesday, Sept. 10th

Wednesday, Sept. 11th

Of course I always remember, reflect, grieve this day.  I always wake up on 9/11 with a pit in my stomach, and I always talk to the kids about how the whole world changed that day.  But this year was particularly thick with sadness because for a week or so, Nathanael's U.S. History class studied it.  He wasn't even born when it happened and this was by far his deepest lessons of it, including a certain documentary (I'm sure you know the one) that just bothered him so much.  I'm glad.  It should bother us.  It's important to remember.  It's important to never forget.

I painted 2 Joshua rocks to give to give as gifts.

BJ's cashier-- freaked me out.

We backed WAY off from dance this year.  Trevor isn't dancing at all and Renna is not doing the Comp Team and only taking two classes, both on Wednesday night- intro to lyrical (with Sienna) and advanced acro.

This was a beautiful evening.  Maddy was our first to choose to follow Jesus in water baptism.  Twenty-two people were baptized as part of Night of Worship.  The service was moving and the testimonies were incredibly faith-building.  There's nothing like celebrating Christ's life-changing work in people; of hearing how they were lost in sin until they found Jesus. Her testimony was beautiful.

A horrible picture, but it's etched on my heart.  Our little family (minus Nathanael who was on a video camera) huddled around Maddy at the altar as Pastor Eliezer prayed the kind of fiery prayer over her that buckles your knees and sends you to the ugly cry.  

As usual, our people showed up.  Countless friends and family who deeply care for our girl and wanted to celebrate with her.  Not everyone came out after, but some of us went out for Pizookie's.

Thursday, Sept. 12th

Colombo and Maddy flew out to get her settled for her 2nd year at Launch.  Saying goodbye this year was sooo much easier than last year.  You can read about that here.  This year, so many of the unknowns are known.  We know we'll survive, we know she'll thrive, and we know we'll see her before long.  We know she'll love her host family, we know she'll make good choices, and we know she'll still love Jesus.  We know she'll be cared for, we know she'll have opportunity, and we know that it's exactly where she's supposed to be!

Also, I read this and it really helped me shift my perspective.  I would never want to hold Maddy back (purposely or inadvertently) because she was worried about how her poor mom would handle it.  Never.  

First order of business was picking up her new wheels, a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan.  She saved all summer, did all her research, and had purchased it sight unseen a week prior.  (That's a long story, but with our support, she collabed with the rockstar mechanic that we used last year on her car.  He's so good and so honest and dropped everything when she called.  He took his computer to the dealer and tested it out and told her that it was a good car and a good deal.  She knew it was underpriced, so we jumped on it!)  We registered it in CT before she left, so she flew with the plates, and picked it up.  It's everything she'd hoped for!  

And a pretty lunch / my favorite salad [or food of any kind!] always helps, too!

Friday, Sept. 13th

One of my gym friends had her baby, so we went to meet Baby Oliver.  It had been a long time since I'd held one that new.

Leah, Abby, Jillian, Ollie, and me.

Later that night, we celebrated Abby.  Her boyfriend successfully surprised her, assembling a handful of her best girls.

Saturday, Sept. 14th

First official, real travel soccer game of the season.

She chose number six since her birthday is March 6th, but I extra love it as she is my number six.

Ninny braved the rain and supported.

I cannot tell you how much fun it is to see these two besties play together.  They're so good, so fierce, so fiery, so determined.  They communicate on the field and have the best time together.

CCC youth day at Six Flags.  The boys went up with the group.  Nathanael lost his phone on a ride and after many phone calls, emails, and nearly losing my mind, we're not getting it back.  I took Rocco and Renna up for an hour of rides later in the day to grab Trevor to scoot him to a birthday party.

Sunday, Sept. 15th
A much nicer day for soccer and Papa and Ninny came.