September 30

It was a very good day, and whenever I finally hit they hay, I'll drift off to sleep with my Social Needs cup overflowing with goodness.

It began with a double-shot of coffee meet-ups at the Mother Ship. The first was with Terry, who I've taken to catching up with a few times a week and whose company I've come to thoroughly enjoy. The second was with Nancy, whose honesty and sincerity always inspire me to take a deeper look at how I respond to challenges. (Actually, that same thing can be said for both of these ladies, now that I think on it more. What a blessing it is to be around so many wise women.)

And then this evening, the church elders gathered together for dinner with our (hopefully -- the vote is on Sunday) new pastor and her mom (and her wee little dog). The weather was ideal and we had a lovely time just being together. I am confident that God will do great things through Mary's ministry. 

So yeah, it was a very good day. And I am thankful for all of the very good moments and all of the very good people who were part of them.

September 29

The Mother Ship gave me an extraordinarily hot cup of coffee this morning. I left the lid off for a while with the hope that exposure outside air would cool it down, but I didn't wait long enough and the first sip still burned my tongue.

Less than amused by the unpleasant sensation, I put the cup back on the table and decided to wait a bit longer for attempt number two. 

And while I did, I watched the steam rise from the surface of that hot liquid. I really, really wanted to take another sip, but I knew that I had to be patient or I'd get burned all over again.

Fortunately, the steam eventually dissipated, signaling that it was probably safe to try again so I did. And the coffee was its usual tasty self. 

How many times do we dive into something that's not ready for us (or that we're not ready for) only to wind up hurt? If we're honest about it, the answer is probably "lots". So this was a good reminder that patience is indeed a valuable virtue that can often save us from unnecessary pain.

September 28

During our video call with Abby this evening, she offhandedly mentioned that she hadn't been featured in the blog for a while. So here she is during said-call. (That's BearBear's twin brother Theodore, for the record. BearBear doesn't like Theodore much... it's complicated.)

Anyhow, it was good to see her face and hear her voice. It always is.

But beyond that, it was good to see how well she's continuing to fare at school. She was really nervous before she left back in August so we weren't sure how it was going to turn out, but she's exceeded our expectations with her great attitude and openness to this new adventure. 

I love seeing God moving in her life in such a profound way. And I love-love that she got out of her own way and allowed Him to move in the first place.

September 27

This is what life at our house looks like on the average afternoon:

Isaac and Brady tangled up in some sort of bizarre pose. In this case, they were on the kitchen floor after dinner. (Well, I guess it was during dinner for them; they had Youth Group this evening, so Adam and I ate while they were out. I have no idea why they wound up on the floor, but they did. So that's that.)

But yeah, this is a dose of my daily reality. Although I still don't understand how they can muster as much energy (or make as much noise) as they do so late in the day, I'm grateful for how they keep life more colorful than it would otherwise be. Because this life is best lived in vibrant color.

September 26

It was another quiet Monday that began with my morning Bible study.

We talked about the book of Nehemiah while I worked on this project. (Yep, another new one.)

It was, to put it simply, a good get-together. It's always good to get together with fellow Believers and it's always good to delve deeper into the scriptures, but today's session and Word just felt particularly encouraging to me.

So for that blessing to begin a new week, I am grateful.

September 25

Both boys had 1:30 games today, so after a quick post-church lunch at home, Adam and I did the divide-and-conquer thing with him shuttling Isaac to Danville while I took Brady to Livermore.

It was lovely outside and although I don't really know the parents on this team, I plunked down on the bleachers with several of them to take in the action while simultaneously keeping tabs on Isaac's game via GameChanger.

Both boys performed well; each collected two hits, Isaac scored a few runs, and Brady notched three strikeouts during his inning on the mound. And both teams came away with wins.

Yep, as far as baseball at the Wight House goes, it doesn't get much better than today. So I am grateful that my kiddos' hard work and practice produced fruit on the field.

September 24

I was at a meeting with the Prayer Shawl Ministry ladies this morning when an older gentleman who lives in the community wandered inside. He apologized for interrupting and shared that he was looking for a cool place to sit with his wife during the hotter part of the day since their air conditioner wasn't working. He lingered by the table where we were all sitting and casually mentioned that his wife is undergoing radiation for cancer. And then he started talking about his time as a medic during the Vietnam War. 

The four of us just stitched our respective projects and listened as he rehashed what were clearly difficult memories. When he got to what was a particularly painful part of his tale --when he remembered how people called him and the other soldiers names and spat on them when they returned from the war-- I looked him in the eye and said I was so sorry that he'd had that experience. And that that kind of treatment was wrong. He nodded, and all of these years later, I could tell that he still carried hurt in his heart. And I hoped that my words provided just the smallest bit of salve for those wounds. I asked his name and his wife's name and if it would be okay if we prayed for her, and he adjusted his cap and gave a half-smile and said he thought that would be nice. And then he left.

I looked over at our leader, Karen, and noticed she had tears in her eyes. She patted the devotional entry she'd chosen for the day, and it was about being present for other people wherever you are -- and wherever they are. So today I am grateful that God brought Bruce to us in order to let us live out that lesson in truly tangible form. We are called to make one another feel seen and heard, and I am thankful to have had the blessing of being able to do that for him.

September 23

It was a beautiful evening.

And we spent it by watching Brady's team play in a scrimmage against the other Majors Fall ball team in town. (Well, and the menfolk in the house are continuing the evening sports consumption by watching the varsity football cross-town rivalry game on TV. But that's neither here nor there.)

It's lovely to be outside when the weather is so perfect and when my allergies are at bay. So for the time in the stands feeling the breeze and watching my muffin play, I am grateful.

September 22

For one reason or another, I've been tired all day long. And even though it's only a little after 9 PM as I write, I've already nodded off in my chair a few times so I'll just keep it simple.

Tonight, I am grateful for warm blankets when there's a chill in the air and for computers that allow me to keep in touch with all of you. Both are big blessings as I continue to navigate this life.

September 21

It's Wednesday, which means that Brady and I had another one of our dates at the Mother Ship before school this morning.

A chocolate cake pop and water for him, coffee and water for me. And some good mom-kid chat-time for the both of us. I don't remember the precise topics of discussion, but I know that we concluded our time together by going out to my car to tackle a tough seventh grade math problem. (He's in sixth grade, but is in an accelerated course.) 

Me and math haven't historically gotten along particularly well, but it was actually kinda sorta fun to sit there with my muffin trying to find the value of x.

As I say most Wednesdays these days, I am grateful for the moments. And today, I'm even grateful for math and how it can bring one and one together. (Abby, that was for you.)

September 20

When Logan was about two years old, he had this uncanny ability to identify cars. As we walked Abby to school each morning, he would scamper ahead and call out car makes as he saw them. I can still hear his little voice in my head...

That's a Wexus. That's a Muh-say-deez. That's a Cadduh-wack. I think I wanna have a Wexus. Or a BMW. Yeah, I think a BMW.

He could identify just about any car by looking at the back corner of the bumper. Literally the back corner, nothing else. He was like a car savant. It was truly the darndest thing. 

So it was bittersweet for me when, as I passed by the dad and son in the photo en route to the Mother Ship this morning, I heard the dad pointing out the makes of each car. 

Oh look, that's Tesla. And that's a BMW!

It was the first time I'd heard someone else playing the car name game, and it hit me right in the heart. 

Yes, bittersweet is definitely the right word for that feeling: the sweetness of my grinning little boy and of the memory, and the bitter sting of not getting to see him grow up and drive off in one of those cars he so loved. It isn't fair. It'll never be fair.

But I will always be more grateful that he lived than I am bitter over his death. So tonight, I am thankful for this dad and son who unknowingly triggered a sweet memory.

September 19

It was a weird weather day: clear skies and sunshine in the morning followed by afternoon showers ushered in by dark, ominous-looking clouds. 'Twas definitely the definition of "scattered showers," as I mused to Adam while we finished our Costco run this evening,

I don't love those big banks of dark, dark clouds that seem to suck up so much light, but I do love rainbows. And the interplay between light and darkness that created such a spectacle in the sky throughout the day resulted in more than one of those color-rich celestial gifts. So today I'm thankful for rainbows and for the promises they represent.

September 18

Brady had a baseball game this morning, so after church, I hustled over to the field in Dublin with Isaac so we could join Adam to watch the action.

Abby texted me a pair of ridiculous photos of herself --as she sometimes does for kicks-- so I responded with one of my own. And this is it. (I also, for the record, snapped a pic of Brady playing first base and sent it along as well so she could have the full scene in-hand.)

That little exchange almost made it feel like we were all sharing an experience together, and that thought made me smile. So today, I am grateful for that gift.

September 17

Adam and I went for a walk around the neighborhood early this afternoon.

As we passed by the little arroyo that weaves its way along the land behind a row of houses, we looked over and spied a lot of wildlife. Pictured are the mother deer and her two fawns; not pictured are the three turkeys that were just out of the frame to the left.

Deer and turkeys, turkeys and deer, peacefully coexisting in the same space. If these very different animals can manage it, so can we, right? If nothing else, it was a reminder that God can orchestrate anything and that even seemingly strange bedfellows can live peacefully.

September 16

It's just another quiet evening and I've been terrible about taking pics lately, so here's what I'm working on at the moment. ("It" is actually two different things, hence the very different colors seemed scary.)

It was nice to spend time talking with my friend Terry at the Mother Ship this morning. It was nice to have lunch downtown with Adam this afternoon (because he had the day off). It was nice when he offered to drop off and pick up the boys from school so I didn't have to do it. It's nice to sit here and work on these projects in the relative quiet of my family room. And it's nice that there's actually a Fall-like chill in the air outside.

It's more than nice, really, because all of those things were blessings that made my day better. So I am grateful for all of them.

September 15

Isaac has always been a big hugger.

So I wasn't surprised when, after story time out on the deck with Adam and Brady, he came inside and wrapped me up in a huge and decidedly extended embrace. It was so long, in fact, that I don't think he even noticed when I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my phone to snap this memento.

I love that this baseball-playing, dog-loving 14-year old of mine loves to hug. Open displays of affection  are sweet blessings.

September 14

I was milling around the clearance aisle at Michaels this morning when I came across a curious item. 

I looked at that tiny skein of purple yarn for a moment before I picked it up. As I fingered the black and gold label, I wondered what such a tiny amount of wool could possibly make. And it came to me like a lightning strike to the mind.

It's the kind of yarn that I used with plastic needlepoint canvas when I was young. I spent many hours making tissue boxes and Christmas ornaments way back then, and I remember how satisfying it was to finish each project. But somehow, the passage of time muted the memory until I saw that lonely little skein on the shelf.

So today, I'm grateful for sweet recollections that pop up in unexpected places, because it's always a blessing to look back on the good parts of the past.

September 13

The brositos had Youth Group after dinner so following drop-off at church, Adam came back home and we took a stroll around the neighborhood.

It was about 40 degrees cooler today than it was a week ago, so it was pleasant out --if not a little chilly-- and a cluster of late-day clouds gathered near the horizon made for a colorful sunset. 

So yep, some exercise and some time with my hunny made for a blessed outing. And I am grateful for the minutes.

September 12

It's just a quiet evening at the Wight house, and I'm sitting here thinking back on the day.

There were morning school drop-offs and Bible study about the work of (God through) Nehemiah, and then some time home alone since Adam actually went to his office today. And then there were pick-ups and baseball practice for Brady and a long stroll around the park for me. 

And now there's TV and crochet. And a wee bit of ice cream.

They're all simple things, and they're all good, so I am grateful.

September 11

It was an eventful day, as far as Sundays go.

The first "event" was my ordination and installation as an elder at our church. I never once saw myself accepting this kind of position (nor did I ever imagine anyone would actually ask me in the first place), but I decided to get out of the boat, as we Christians say sometimes. It's a three-year term and we'll be working with a brand new pastor, which brings me to the next event: the introduction of said-new pastor to the rest of the congregation.

I've been serving as part of the search team charged with discerning the identity of said-new pastor for the better part of the last 10 months. (The team is comprised mostly of other elders, which is how I wound up being asked to step up. But I digress.) After many meetings and interviews and much prayer, we were unanimously convinced that we'd identified the right candidate, and she accepted our offer. It's all pending a congregational vote next month, but if (when) she's approved, she'll be the first female head pastor our church has had. And she's pretty amazing.

Then this afternoon, we headed off to the Sports Park for Brady's first fall ball game. It was humid out but much cooler than recent days, and it was fun to sit and watch him play with an all-new team. He pitched the third inning and looked really good out on the mound, but even better, he looked happy to be throwing. And then we all trooped over for dinner at Black Bear with Adam's parents, who came down to watch the game.

So yes, it was a busy Sunday, as far as Sundays go. But it was also a day filled with indicators that good things are in store: a new pastor with amazing vision, a new season of ball, a new tenure for me on Session. And for those blessings --even that last one, the one that makes me feel like I'm not sure what I'm in for-- I am grateful.

September 10

It was much cooler today and quite windy. And overcast.

And those clouds made lovely shapes in the sky during the latter afternoon hours as the sun made its daily descent to the distant horizon.

So for the breeze and respite from the stifling heatwave that's plagued us for the past week and those pretty, variegated colors in the sky that fill me with awe of God's amazing creativity, I am grateful.

September 9

Isaac's at the A's game tonight with his pal Tyler, and Adam, Brady, and I are watching the action from the comfort of our family room. It's just a chill Friday night.

When we first moved to the Bay Area in 2000, Adam and I went to lots of A's games. It was a cheap, entertaining evening or weekend activity and we learned to love Tim Hudson, Eric Chavez, Barry Zito, and the rest of that scrappy green and gold squad.

The team isn't quite as great as it was back then (and actually more often than not it's kind of painful to watch), but it's still a blessing to share an activity that we enjoyed back then with our kiddos. 

September 8

This is the only photo I took today, and it'll do.

Both boys had dental appointments after school, so when we arrived, I checked them in while they sat down (on the same chair, naturally). 

Both had their respective cleanings, and then both had a pair of especially stubborn baby teeth (which were essentially trapped behind their partially descended counterparts) removed. Neither was thrilled by the turn of events and there was some degree of moaning from on particular teenager who shall remain anonymous, but all in all, I was impressed with their mature reactions to a less than desirable situation.

I can definitely learn from that example, so I'm grateful for the reminder that sometimes, things happen in this life that require us to suck it up and deal (and pray, of course). Unpleasant surprises may arise, but it's up to us to choose to deal with them gracefully.

September 7

Isaac's back to school night was this evening, but oddly enough, this entry centers on Abby.

As Adam and I made our way to his first period class, Abby's sophomore and senior English teacher --the teacher who she chose to hand her her diploma (holder) at graduation and who wrote her college rec letters and who was always, always trying to convince her to believe that she was as capable as she truly is-- was headed in the opposite direction. So I stopped to say hello. And naturally, he asked about Abby.

And I was so, so glad to be able to tell him that she's doing well at Wheaton. That she's found a nice little group of friends and that she's managing to balance them with her need for alone time and that she seems to be enjoying her classes. And that she seems happy. And that she seems to have found a home-away-from-home there where she can truly grow and excel. 

After having her in class for two years he's pretty cognizant of the nuances of her personality, and he seemed happy to hear all of the above. So for teachers who truly care about their students and ask about them and want to see them succeed and then smile really, really big when they do, I am grateful.

September 6

With another 114-degree day in play, I had zero desire to even think about turning on the oven tonight. So after we dropped the brositos off at Youth Group, Adam and I headed over to Chili's for date night.

I ate far too many chips but it was fun to be out for a meal with my main squeeze. When I think back on how infrequently we were able to get out alone when the kiddos were younger, I feel extra blessed to have a the added flexibility now. It's truly a gift.

September 5

The temperature soared to 114 degrees today --which was, incidentally, the hottest temp I've felt since I was nine months pregnant with Logan back in 2006-- so the bros spent most of the afternoon in the pool.

And by "most of the afternoon" I mean a whopping five hours. And then they ate dinner outside on the deck, too. I took them ice cream cones at one point, so here they are enjoying their treat.

I know that it's hard to find ways to stay comfortable when it's this kind of hot out, so I'm grateful to have a pool. And I'm grateful for these goofballs who made such good use of it today.

September 4

My grandpa was a huge sports fan. (Well, he was a huge baseball and college basketball fan. That's probably more accurate.) I remember him standing in the space between the kitchen and the family room, arms crossed over his chest, simultaneously watching a game on the TV in the kitchen and a game on the TV in the family room while listening to yet another game on the radio. I still smile when I think back on that and remember his laser-focus.

So it always amuses me when I find any of my kids Roscoe'ing. And I found Brady pulling a Roscoe this afternoon in the living room: when I passed by the living room, I found him playing a video game while watching an episode of "Boss Baby" on his laptop.

The sight made me laugh a little to myself. So for that amusement, I am grateful.

September 3

I was hanging out in our room this afternoon when Brady sauntered in wearing a sly grin.

The boys have been eating their way through a bag of Belly Flops from the Jelly Belly Factory since our trip there in July, and he'd come across an especially oddly-shaped one. And before he ate it, he wanted a picture, so being the photo-lover I am, I complied. And here's the final product: a boy and his giant, misshapen jelly bean. (Root beer flavored, in case you wondered.)

I love that little things like a strange jelly bean make my kiddo so happy. So for that simple blessing and his simple joy, I am grateful.

September 2

The past few days have been icky-hot, and the next several days are forecasted to follow suit, so I predict that I'll make lots of progress on various indoor projects over the weekend.

Like this one that I shared last week. It's gained a number of new rows since then and it's what's keeping me busy this quiet Friday evening, too. 

So for the ongoing gift of progress (on projects and in many different areas of this life) and for air conditioners that work well on too-hot days, I am thankful.

September 1

After I dropped the boys off at school this morning, I headed over to Jim's Restaurant to meet Nikki and her mom Pam for breakfast.

They always tease each other, but I could tell from the get-go that they were in rare form. So I had a great time eating (duh) and chit chatting and --at times-- just observing their relationship in action.

Good friends (and their amazing mamas!) are big blessings, and I am grateful for every minute spent with them.