Week 28

Feels like summer is in full swing!  My favorite time of year!  Back when all summer plans/camps got cancelled and it was apparent that most people would be sticking close to home for the summer, I never felt so grateful for our yard and pool.  We anticipated a summer of enjoying what we have right here and sharing it as much as we could.  Our house has always had a revolving door during the summer months with sleepovers, afternoons by the pool, and fires at night.  Even a "normal" summer yields a daily "kid average" of more than my six.  It's not unusual to have days of 8-13 kids running around.  But this year, more than ever, I'm trying to be intentional about taking kids and inviting families.  I have mom friends who work outside the home whose kids are stuck inside all day, every day.  I have work-from-home moms whose kids end up on endless video games all day, every day.  So the revolving door is familiar, but more intentional this year.

Our kids (society-speaking) have been amazing these last few months.  Their worlds have been flipped completely upside down.  They've had to acclimate to online school, isolation, fear of all the unknowns, missing their friends, and all of the other stressors a pandemic brings.  They've rolled with it.  Months now of being bored and no activities.  Many are lonely, confused, depressed, and just missing their comfy familiar.

Monday, July 6th
I was at the store when I received the text that our friend, Michael, had breathed his last and he won his 3-year battle with brain cancer.  So my day pivoted and we did what we could to be present and helpful to Dawn.

Later that evening...

Hamilton debuted in our home this week, thanks to Disney Plus (who paid 75 million! for it).  The soundtrack plays repeatedly throughout the day and we all agree the show is a masterpiece.  I personally enjoyed the first act way more than the second. 

Tuesday, July 7th
Finally!  This dude was so patient!  His road test was delayed by 3 months, had been cancelled and rescheduled 5 times, BUT finally...

 ...and then he drove himself to work!

Wednesday, July 8th

Found an 11 minute "Podcast" on my phone.

 Cornhole for the boys.

Thursday, July 9th

My view most days.

Friday, July 10th

We laid our friend, Michael, to rest.  It was a hard day, but a holy day.  The service was beautiful and Dawn and the kids were strong throughout it.  He was a good man, rightfully honored by so many words and thoughts throughout the day.  

I had green room duty pre-service.  It was sweet to see these boys support their buddy and somehow- somewhat instinctually and knowing, yet somewhat innocently and unknowingly- gave him exactly what he needed.  Kids are just amazing!

I held it together pretty well until Pastor Eleizer began to individually call out each (way too young to lose their Dad!) kid and said, "_____, your Dad would want you to know......." and very specifically spoke a blessing over each one.  And then I composed myself until the pall bearers were called upon and I watched Josh (Nathanael's 16 year old buddy) carry his Dad's casket out.

God showed His favor with the weather.  A not-too-hot, breezy, overcast day.

Here no more, forever in our hearts, and we have hope to one day meet again.  Thankful that this season of suffering is over, but grieve for the hard ahead.

We farmed out the two little guys and went on a date, our first time eating inside of a restaurant since March.

Saturday, July 11th

Uncle Shaun took the boys fishing, Rocco's new favorite thing!

First garden harvest of the year.

Colombo and I served at church doing the welcome table, which meant we got to sit through service. Not only does Nathanael run camera....

...but he's been promoted to put the pulpit in place!  Ha!

Sunday, July 12th

Seven years ago we were at Maddy's first Nationals in New Orleans.

I tried to get up and out early enough with the dogs that we'd beat the heat and their paws wouldn't get scorched on the hot pavement.  Phoebe quit 1/2 mile from the house.  "Immagonna need a minute!"

Caught up on her Z's later by the pool.

Trevor's 14th

Happy 14 to my lawn-mowin', pool-divin’, French toast-eatin’, Mr. Beast-laughin’, Marvel-crushin’, high school-enterin’, mind-changin’, cousins-entertainin’, little kid-helpin’, flag football-playin’, bandana/hat-wearin’, Monopoly-winnin’, quick-to-serve, kind, considerate, handsome, fun Trevor John. He has always added a special kind of pizazz to our family and keeps us all highly entertained. Happy birthday, my precious #4.

Renna very happily took it upon herself to make Trevor a french toast breakfast knowing it's one of his favorites.

My plan was to take Trevor to lunch, just he and I, but somehow, quite randomly (especially for a Monday) it worked out that all 9 of us were able to go.  His choice: Popeye's.  We drove through and then settled at a park a mile up the road for a picnic and a little, (almost) friendly game of football.

Now that he's 14, he's allowed *some* TV-14 shows.  He'd been anxiously awaiting joining the "Office" fan club.  He and Nathanael got right to crushing season 1.

Two sets of cousins stopped by to wish him a happy birthday.

His pick for dinner was to stay in and his menu was tortellini alfredo, buffalo chicken bread, mashed potatoes, zucchini, and caesar salad.  We surprised him by all showing up for dinner wearing bandanas in his honor.

His choice for "cake" was Blizzards.

So sweet, these two.  Rocco was very generous with his gifts.

X-Men....yes, plenty of screens on his special day.

A couple weeks later, he planned an outdoor afternoon with three friends.  Swimming, lawn games, an epic Airsoft battle, pizza, bonfire, and even some leftover fireworks!  Few things are more awkward than a group of 14 year old boys, but I'm so thankful that 1) they have each other, 2) Trevor has made wise choices in friends, and 3) they feel freedom to just be who they are.

Trevor had seen this on Dude Perfect.  You shoot the balloons out and last one with a balloon wins.  Sounds great, right?  Why not shoot at peoples' faces and heads?  Luckily, the pellets wouldn't pierce the balloons, so they moved on to other battles.

Trevor is a gift!  He has always added just the right amount of zest to our family.  He's comfy in his uniqueness.  He gets ideas stuck in his head and can sometimes be moody or disappointed if things don't go his way- kind of like his mom!  He loves to be around people and to make them laugh.  I love how his mind works, even if he's inclined to change it many times before deciding on something.    He loves to know what's happening "next".  He's fun to talk to and he knows what he likes.  He's gifted and smart and handsome.  He's a treasure in every way!  And now an excerpt from his birthday book:

What was your favorite gift you received this year?

The gift of watching PG-13 movies.

What's the last thing you were sad about?  Camp being canceled.

What makes you happy?  Being around friends.

Are you scared of anything?  No.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I kinda want to be an actor or an artist.

Who's the last person you kissed?  Probably Renna.

What does Dad do at work all day?  Makes money.

What is something you dislike about yourself?  My teeth, my smile.

What is something you do well?  Swim, sing, play video games.

What is something that really bugs you?  Renna.

What is your favorite holiday?

Probably Christmas because we get to see everybody we don't get to 

see much- the Boyd's and such.

What makes you feel sad?  When I hear bad news.

What is the best advice you've ever received?  

Embrace the present instead of worrying about the future.

What is your favorite day of the week?  Friday.

What makes a happy family?  Love.

What makes a good friend?  Trust.

If you could be someone in history who would you be?  

King Solomon.

What makes you laugh?  C4.

What do you think the world needs now?  Patience, hope.

Which room is your favorite? 

Probably the basement.

What are your nicknames?  TJ, Trev, Trev Dog Home Slice

What do you like to do?  Trampoline, Wii, pool, watch movies.

What's your favorite...

ice cream? chocolate peanut butter

character?  Iron Man/Tony Stark

thing to eat?  stack   ~   thing to drink?  chocolate milk or Cherry Coke

candy?  Sour Patch Kids   ~  color?  green

movie? Rogue One or Spiderman Homecoming

show? Magic For Humans   ~   snack? Blizzard

song?  My Blood   ~   artist?  tobyMac

What's your favorite memory from the past year?  Youth Convention.

What are your hopes and plans for this upcoming year?  

Probably watch a lot of The Office so I can understand all the jokes.  There's a lot of shows I can watch now.  

Who are your best friends?  Lucas, Amanda, Jack, Mikey.

Give me 3 words to describe yourself: fun, friendly, energetic

If I were 5, I would...   ...watch a lot of kids' stuff.

If I were 40, I would...  ...be working a lot.

I wish I never...   ...had to get braces.

I'm happiest when...   ...I'm with friends and family.

Tell me what you think when I say these words:

home: happiness     love: laughter

bedtime: no thanks     school: no thanks