June 30

Today was a mixed bag; some pieces good, some full-on not good. But that's how life goes sometimes, especially when you're on vacation.

The plan, when we got up this morning, was for Adam to stay at the house to meet the a/c repairman, since he had a few calls for work on the calendar and needed access to his laptop anyway. So the kiddos and I took the Ginormo Infiniti into Damascus and to the Dunkin', where Brady and I indulged in donuts, Isaac enjoyed a bagel stuffed with cream cheese (like Holy Cream Cheese, Batman-stuffed), and Abby tried out a Strawberry Coolata. She'd been interested in them for a few weeks now and since we don't have a Dunkin' near home, figured she'd try it out here. The verdict? Lukewarm. (As an aside, I included the parking lot picture as proof that I managed to park the Mega Mobile inside the lines on the first try.)

I had Stars to use up by tomorrow, so we made our way a little further down Main Street and landed at the Mother Ship, where Brady sipped a dragon fruit refresher and Isaac consumed breakfast item number two, a sausage egg wrap. 

With nothing else on the schedule for the afternoon and Adam still back at the house waiting for the repair verdict, I took the kids on a trip through the rolling hills and farmland of my early childhood. Brady was sitting shotgun and in a question-asking kind of mood, so I regaled him with tales of families I knew way back when and repeated the magical "none of those houses were there when I was young; it was just a big field" line more times than I can count. Isaac in particular was struck by both the color and the volume of vegetation, so I pulled off at one of the trailheads in Little Bennet Park and we took a short stroll to check it out up close. But it was indeed a very short stroll because it was over 90 degrees and humid out; according to the weather app I consulted, the "feels like" temp was 102. Yuck.

From there we moseyed over to Roy Rogers to pick up a very late lunch and then returned to the house, where Adam shared the news that the a/c unit was kaput. It was a frustrating and disappointing revelation to say the least, and hard for me to digest. I knew that I couldn't stay there with no a/c because of my ongoing sinus issues and allergies, so after talking with Adam, I called Reaya, and they graciously offered to have us over for the night. But some of the kids were unhappy with the upheaval, and, in my own weakness, I snapped at them and said things that I didn't really mean and now regret. Sometimes my humanness makes me sad.

But lest you should think the day ended on that note, I am very glad to say that it did not, because I got to have dinner with some of my EGG gals in Olney, at Full on Craft. We were a smaller bunch than usual, but it was so, so wonderful to connect with Shay, Wendy, and Eileen in person (and to consume my first-ever crabcake grilled cheese. Such a beautiful creation that I didn't even know existed). We've known one another for more than 30 years now and time with them is always a blessing and so good for my heart.

And now... well, now I'm tired. There were definitely sweet parts of today; I don't get the chance to share about my past with my kids very often so I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to be with them on what was once my turf. And I'm thankful for the time with sweet friends. And I'm thankful for my brother's family's hospitality. And I'm thankful for the fresh new day that's coming tomorrow, too.

June 29

This is actually a fairly representative photo collage of our Sunday.

We all got up on our own time (except for Isaac, who was rudely awakened by yours truly a few minutes after the clock struck noon. But I'm getting ahead of myself there).

Before any of the kiddos were up, Adam headed out to a local Avis rental car location with high hopes of securing a less tiny vehicle for our stay. He returned a little later with a mid-sized SUV --some sort of Volkswagen with New York plates-- but told me that something had gone awry on the way back to the house: a rock (or, as we now suspect, a bird) struck the undercarriage of the driver's side fender, causing it to bend. I have no idea how something like that even happens but we rolled our eyes, got into that second rental car, and returned to the local Avis. While I crossed the parking lot (in the blazing heat and sun; man alive, I am no longer accustomed to humidity) for some icy caffeinated sustenance from a nearby Mother Ship, Adam explained our plight, filled out an Incident Report (super excited for the outcome of that), and successfully snagged the only available large SUV: a giant Infiniti with Georgia plates that some dude had literally just returned a hot second earlier.

When we got back to the house, we found Brady and Abby awake and dressed, and I roused Isaac so we could leave for late brunch (which I could just call "lunch" but we all picked breakfast entrees so there's that) at the IHoP in Germanton. We took a quick run through Target for a few missing essentials and then stopped at Jimmie Cone for some ice cream. (Although I initially posted that I was the only one who got jimmies --also known as sprinkles-- I would like to formally correct that error and note that Abby actually did have rainbow jimmies with her ice cream.) We then returned to the house, where my mom was waiting with a key for us to borrow. After she left I promptly fell down the stairs to the basement (well, the last six or seven steps. Not the entire staircase. But I did make a nice, extended thunkety-thunk noise on the way down and I do have a nice bruise on my back to show for the effort).

Then I laid down on the couch in the living room (also known as Brady's Bed) and took a nap. Ah, sweet nap.

I'd been in touch with my brother Bobby since relatively early in the day (since I didn't sleep well; it was too warm and I was amped from traveling) and we arranged to meet for dinner at The Hornet's Nest in Damascus, so that's what we did this evening. We lingered over our food there, and then joined Bobby, Reaya, and Brendan back at their house for a few hours (partly to talk, and partly because the air conditioner at grandma's isn't cooling very well). I got to catch up with Reaya (and watch her while she worked with her sourdough starter, which is so interesting to me) while the boys (and Abby) watched "Dodgeball." 

It was late when we got back to grandma's house but I was in the mood to look for lightning bugs since it's not something we can do at home, so Isaac and I stayed out front and gazed into the distance over the wheat field until our eyes adjusted to the darkness. After observing for several minutes and seeing just a few (including one that seemed to be mimicking an airliner), we finally noticed a significant number of those distinctive little flashes high in the nearby trees. Out there in the silence, Isaac mused that he thought he could probably live in a rural place; the revelation didn't surprise me. I think the peace and the stillness appeal to him. 

And that was our day, in a relatively expansive nutshell. It was a good one and I am thankful for the company and the time. Weird in some ways (because how many people have three different rental cars within a 12-hour span?) but it's so good to be in this place that is so familiar and holds so many memories that I don't mind a little weirdness.

June 28

Today was a travel day. We got up reasonably early, secured travel-day-approved Mickey D's, and headed to Oakland airport to catch our flight to Maryland. (Well, kind of. We actually caught our first flight to LAX. And then we caught the flight to Maryland. But you get my point.)

It was, as far as travel days go, a fairly smooth one. Our flight out of Oakland was on time; the connector was not. A guy Brady knows from school was, strangely enough, on both flights and wound up waiting near us in the rental car area. (Although the boys didn't actually speak to each other, save for an enthusiastic hello before we left Oakland. That would've been weird, according to Brady.) Said rental car counter in Baltimore was slower than molasses in any month (as is always the case when we arrive late in the day) and they were out of the minivan-style car we'd "reserved" so we currently have a too-small-for-us SUV. The kiddos looked like sardines crammed into the single backseat row. They didn't think it was funny, but the sight hearkened back sweet memories of Abby, Logan, and Isaac lined up in their car seats in the Highlander when they were young.

We got to the my grandma's house after midnight and my mom was here to greet us with the key. As I looked out into the dark, dark sky, I saw the flash of a lightning bug for the first time in years and enthusiastically told the kiddos to watch because they'd never seen them before. We don't have them in Northern California and I'd forgotten they'd be out this time of year. And as odd as it sounds, it was sweet for me to share those little flickering bugs with them. They're not little anymore, but I could still see their eyes light up in wonder at the sight. 

It is, like it was last May, weird to be here without grandma. The house will be officially sold very soon, so it's definitely the last time we'll stay here. And I'm still deciding how I feel about it and I sense lots of long locked away memories and emotions rising to the surface of my consciousness. But those thoughts are for another time.

For now, I'm thankful for the chance to take a week away visiting my home state. I'm thankful for the chance to see family and friends and to explore places my kiddos haven't seen. I'm grateful for super-neighbor Mary for once again watering my plants and watching our house. And I'm thankful for a peaceful day of travel (even if my right ear still hasn't popped).

June 27

When I got back from a quick Costco run early this afternoon, I found Brady in the kitchen wearing his recent uniform of choice --Christmas sweater and fleece pants (excellent summertime apparel)-- and cleaning up. He'd made a big stack of chocolate protein pancakes and was just about ready to eat.

Sometimes it's weird to realize that my baby is so self-sufficient. Sure, I bought the ingredients and stocked the pantry, but he figured out the recipe, cooked them, cleaned up, and ate all on his own accord.

I know I've said this about a million times, but it's a blessing to watch them grow. And I know that down the line, it'll be a blessing to look back and remember how much he loved slathering a thick layer of butter on his pancakes.

June 26

I'm still dealing with my ongoing sinus issues so I'll keep it quick.

I continue to get so much satisfaction from taking care of my little garden. They're still gradually growing and in the early stages of producing fruit (and bean pods). 

I took this picture as I watered my plants this morning because I love how cute fledgling tomatoes look. It may seem silly, but they make my heart happy. So for these very small blessings, I am thankful.

June 25

This team has a lot of heart. They didn't win the District Championship tonight, but they dug their heels in and played one of the best, most competitive games I've ever seen.

They fell behind early but stayed loud (giving the opposing team a taste of their own medicine), fought hard, and came back to tie it up 9-9. They lost 12-10 in extra innings, but I am so proud of all of them for their dedication and effort.

And naturally, I'm particularly proud of Brady. He went 2 for 2 with 3 walks offensively, and he caught --yes, caught-- all eight innings. He hadn't played catcher in a game for probably five years so I wasn't entirely sure how it would go, but when he popped up like a boss and fired a fastball to second base early in the first inning to try to catch a runner stealing, my worries eased. He didn't nab that runner because the defender unfortunately dropped the ball, but he did go on to throw out three other runners, which prompted the other team to stop trying to steal. (I think that made Brady feel pretty powerful.)

It's been a really fun season, and although it would've been fun to go on to the next tournament, I'm really happy with how they played and conducted themselves over the past few months. The Juniors experience has been a blessing, and I'm thankful for these boys and their parents.

And on to Freshman ball they go!

June 24

As I've mentioned previously, Brady's juniors little league team sailed through the regular season undefeated. Then they won the first two games of their Districts experience, which earned them a berth in the championship game. Said-game happened tonight. And it was little short of an unmitigated disaster.

Brady was the starting pitcher and threw plenty of strikes, but the other team hit well. (Where these players were during the regular season, I don't know.) And the defense behind him wasn't as sharp as they've typically been. And he had to throw to a back-up catcher, because just a few pitches into the game, the catcher who started called time and reported that something was wrong with his thumb and exited. The back-up catcher isn't really a catcher at all, so although he did a good job as a fill-in, he wasn't able to handle Brady's off-speed pitches, which created issues.

On top of that, his team didn't hit particularly well, either. And the icing on the crap cake? A ball took a bad hop on the infield grass and smacked our shortstop in the eye. He fell to the ground in obvious pain, and had to be replaced by the kid with the injured thumb (even though, as he told Brady --who was playing third base at the time-- he couldn't squeeze his glove at all, and hoped that nothing would come his way).

So yeah, they lost. By a lot. The coach was unhappy. Brady was bummed that the defense wasn't better. (And I'm not even going to bring up the umpire because that would be so cliche, but I'll say there were several very questionable calls made that adversely affected our team.) And it turns out that the injured thumb is actually a fractured thumb.

But although it was truly a terrible game for them, it was literally their first bad game of the spring. And although the timing of loss number one wasn't awesome, it's not over yet because the double elimination format means they will play again tomorrow. I have no idea who will catch or if the shortstop will be able to open his eye and I don't know how they'll react to being on the brink of elimination, but I trust that what should happen will happen. And I'm grateful that they'll have a chance to demonstrate resilience tomorrow, because it's a blessing to be able to bounce back from disappointment.

June 23

My sinuses are so, so bad right now, as in "I can't pass air through my nose" bad. So I would like to express my gratitude for all who are involved in the making of tissues and Vaseline, both of which are comfort-makers at the moment. But that's not the true topic of this entry.

In reality, I want to share a little about my friend, who I'll call Sam. Sam hasn't had a particularly easy go of it in life, but she doesn't complain much nor does she expect anything from anyone. She keeps her nose to the grindstone and works hard six days a week. (And sometimes on the seventh, too.)

When Sam had an accident last week that totaled out her car, she was understandably upset. She wasn't injured, but was very worried about how she'd manage moving forward, since she owns her own small business and operates on a very tight margin.

Anyway, I didn't talk to Sam for a few days since we were down in So Cal, but when I saw her this morning, she had an amazing tale to tell. Last week we calculated what she'd need in order to pay off the loan on her old car and that figure was about $5000 more than she assumed she'd get, but the insurance company gave her a valuation that was only $200 less than she owed on the old loan. She was stunned and happy, but still had to figure out how she'd get a down payment for another car. And then, while she was on the phone with another friend who asked about her week, Sam shared what had happened, and her friend immediately sent her $10,000 as a gift to help out. Sam was, again, stunned. And she was still stunned this morning while telling me how she'd purchased a new car yesterday thanks to that gift and the insurance company's generous valuation.

I half-laughed as I mused "you're in better financial shape now than we you were before the accident." And it's actually true. 

Although Sam in on the fence about whether or not she believes that God exists, I'm repeatedly flabbergasted by how I see Him working in her life through blessings that are just too crazy to explain in purely human terms. And I so love seeing those miracles roll out.

June 22

A 9 AM check-out time for the VRBO house in Lake Arrowhead meant we were up and ready to hit the road early this morning. So after a quick stop at the Mother Ship in Blue Jay, we began the journey home.

We'd gone only a short distance before I asked to stop to take a photo at one of the overlooks along Rim of the World Highway. The picture doesn't really do the view justice, as the vista actually features rolling hills and craggy rocks and the vast Inland Empire well-below and far in the distance, but it's a memory captured in tangible form, so I'm happy with it. 

Anyway, we took the high desert route --which we'd never done before-- in order to avoid Los Angeles traffic. And fortunately, the traffic was indeed comparatively light and we made it home safely and in decent time.

So today, I'm grateful for the awe-inspiring beauty of God's creation, and for peaceful road trips with my favorite people.

June 21

Today was the day of the big memorial celebration. 

But before the evening get-together on Lake Gregory, it was a make-your-own-plans kind of day. So Brady joined Eric, Emily, and their kiddos for some water time in the morning (which was something of a feat given how cold and windy it was) while Adam, Isaac, and I walked along the path that circles said-lake.

Then in the afternoon, Adam schooled Isaac and Theo on the finer points of playing Monopoly by soundly (and unapologetically -- the Wights take their gaming very seriously) defeating them both.

And then it was off to the big gathering. It was a chilly, chilly evening out on the lake, but we still enjoyed barbecue for dinner and a group quiz and a cake decorating contest for the seven siblings (aka Adam's dad and his six siblings, who were all in attendance).

And now I'm back at the rental house, still not feeling particularly great and aware that we have a long drive back home ahead of us tomorrow. Although it wasn't the best day ever --far from it, really, between feeling ill and facing a series of miscommunications that left me frustrated-- it was still a blessing to be able to share space with people we don't see often. So for that, I am grateful.

June 20

This morning we all woke up, ate breakfast, and then drove over to Skypark at Santa's Village, which is located just a few miles from our rental house here in Lake Arrowhead. The location holds a great deal of sentimental value for Adam's dad and his six siblings, as they can remember visiting with their parents when they were young. And since we're here to remember and celebrate Bob and Joan, it made sense to go as a group.

Anyway, upon arrival at Skypark, we met up with a smallish portion of the extended family (yep, the group picture in the center isn't the entire bunch) and went inside to check it out.

I knew very little about Skypark prior to today, but it's essentially an amusement park for active people. We took part in a variety of activities, including axe throwing (which I was not good at; I successfully hit the target a whopping one time and promptly quit while ahead), shooting (again, not good at that, but Adam's mom was alarmingly talented), archery (which came back to me immediately, even though I hadn't held a bow and arrow for at least 20 years), Wight family word searching during lunch (and man, are we a dedicated bunch when it comes to word searches), and rock climbing. Given that I have zero upper body strength, I didn't make an attempt at the latter, but the boys all did, and victoriously rang the bells at the top. Brady especially enjoyed flexing his ability to pull himself up with just his arms. We also rode bicycles on a track suspended in the air, saw the terrain from an itty bitty train, and drove pedal cars along a cute little track. 

There were also treats from the sweet shack (and how Isaac and Brady plowed through their giant lollipops like they did is a mystery to me). 

And ziplining.

I don't care much for heights and generally become jelly-legged while standing in high places so ziplines have always been a hard pass for me, but for some reason, I decided today would be the day I would go for it. So I was weighed along with the other participants in our group (and fully gratified to see so many of my fellow ladies in the G-weight class!) and put on a helmet and was strapped into my harness. And although I initially went the wrong way walking to the starting point (thanks to some creative directions from the archery guy) and was briefly lost in the woods on a bike trail (much to Adam's great amusement), and wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to climb the stairs to the starting platform or able to make myself step off the platform and plummet toward the ground once the ride was complete, I took the challenge anyway. And I did it. I screamed in terror the entire way down the line and made my children wonder "is that mom?" long before I came into view, but I made it. And honestly, I'm pretty proud of myself for facing a fear because I know that God doesn't want us to live in fear of anything (except being separated from Him). 

So although I'm congested and not feeling the best physically, I'm grateful for the many blessings that today delivered. I'm grateful for time with my immediate and extended family and for the unexpected jolt of boldness that helped me to face a very real fear. It can feel great to conquer scary things.

June 19

We got up this morning and took a roughly eight-hour car ride south to join Adam's extended family for a long weekend in Lake Arrowhead. (Thank you to Mary for taking care of my plants!)

The trip itself was mostly uneventful; we visited a trio of Mickey D's along the way (the first for pre-departure McMuffins, a road trip staple at our house; the second for the males for lunch; and the last for a desperately needed potty break amid horrid LA traffic), and listened to an extensive Morgan Wallen-heavy playlist compiled by the kiddos. (Incidentally, I was shook to find out that Brady knows every word of "Dirt Road Anthem." Who was that kid bro country rapping next to me in the second row?!)

When we arrived at the house we'll be sharing with Adam's parents, his sister, and his brother's family, we dined on pasta, and then there was chit chat in the common area until bed time. I had a particularly good talk with Adam's brother, with whom --although I've been married into the fam for nearly 23 years-- I'd never really had a lengthy conversation.

And now it's far too late and I'll be quite tired in the morning. But I head off to bed feeling thankful for a safe, mostly uneventful trip and for the blessing of family.

June 18

Quick but meaningful one today.

My nephew recently graduated from college back in Maryland (congrats, B!) and today we received his grad announcement in the mail.

This is what the inner envelope looked like. 

I immediately noticed that he'd included Logan, and my heart leapt in my chest. It means so much to me that he's still considered part of our family in tangible ways even though he's been gone for more than 13 years. 

It's such a blessing to know that he's remembered.

June 17

My phone rang late this morning just after I cleaned up the iced coffee I accidentally dumped on the family room rug. When I looked at the display, I was surprised to see my friend's name rolling across the screen, so though I'm more of a let-it-go-to-voicemail girl, I picked up. And I'm glad I did.

I won't disclose who it was or what happened, but I will say that I had the opportunity to be there for her and to help out in a few different ways as the day progressed. 

And although she kept apologizing, I kept telling her to staaaaahp because it was a gift to me to be able to be helpful to her. And I meant it, partly because --on a purely human level-- it feels good to help, but mostly because lending a hand to someone who needs assistance is precisely what Jesus calls us to do. 

So although I wish her circumstances aren't what they are, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my friend.

June 16

I had a lovely morning running errands with this beautiful girl right here.

And then I had an equally pleasant evening with her watching Brady's game. She just recently located her Pleasanton Little League hat (which I didn't even realize she had) and was pumped to be able to show off her fandom. She watched the game and hardly look at her phone at all! 

Good days with great people are noteworthy blessings.

June 15

Today is Isaac's 17th birthday. And it's also the third year in his lifetime that his birthday and Father's Day have fallen on the same date. The first came in 2008, when he was born in the wee hours of the morning. The second came in 2014 when he turned six. And the next? Well, according to our calculations, the next dovetailing of the dates will take place in 2031, when he turns 23. Phew. That's enough mathing for me.

So yes: today we celebrated both the dawning of Isaac's final year of childhood and the blessing of having Adam in our lives.

We kicked off the festivities with an early game for Brady, who smacked a triple --his first of the TVBR big season-- into deep right field just seconds after Isaac told him to hit a dinger. It wasn't quite a dinger, but it was still an awesome hit.

There was much napping in the afternoon during and after the A's game played out to a victory on TV, and then we were off to CPK for dinner. And then it was back home for presents: first for Adam, and then for the birthday boy. Isaac asked for --and received-- a guitar, so hopefully our house will be filled with sweet strumming sounds in the nearish future. And he also received a personalized pillow from Abby that will no doubt become iconic at our house in the years to come. 

Abby then played a slideshow she'd prepared for Isaac, and we all enjoyed his cake pick (spice with cream cheese frosting) and Adam's ice cream pick (pistachio). And that was our day.

It's kind of hard to write focused entries when I'm trying to celebrate two different people so bear with me. First off, I'm grateful for Adam and for the amazing job he's done and continues to do as the dad to our kids. He's patient and kind and understanding, and they know --beyond the shadow of a doubt-- that he loves them to the moon and back and to the moon again. I'm blessed to have a partner who is truly a partner, and I will always be grateful for that and for him. Happy Father's Day, hunny.

And now onto the birthday boy. Honestly, 17 kind of snuck up on me. I've been conscious of him getting older and growing and becoming more of a man, but the reality that he's actually going to be a man in a legal sense in just a single year is startling. Although he's growing up quickly, he still has many of the same characteristics that made him so wonderful when he was younger: he's thoughtful and kind and patient. He's always the first one to offer up an 'I love you' and he's the master of big hugs. Yes, the sweetness that marked his early childhood is still there, and that's a gift to me. And it's also a gift to me to know how much he loves Young Life and spending time with his friends, because having a firm faith foundation and friends you can count on are important building blocks in life. 

I know there are big things in store for him in the future, and although I don't know what's next after he graduates next spring, I do know that he's held firmly in God's grip and is receptive to the plans He has for him, and I am thankful for that truth.

Happy 17th birthday, Isaac. I love you!

June 14

Brady had a game this morning; the glossy details are that he played third base (which he hasn't done since before COVID) for the whole game and they won. Yay! 

Adam's parents came down to watch, and then afterward we went to Dairy Queen for some pre-Father's Day treats in honor of my Father-in-Law's affinity for cherry-dipped ice cream cones.

So today, I'm grateful for good baseball games, excellent dads, beautiful weather, and ice cream. All sweet blessings (some more literally so than others) and all significant blessings from God.

June 13

I was sitting at Starbucks this morning adding rows to my current work-in-progress when Dana walked in. A few minutes later, Lisa --who was meeting Dana for coffee-- followed suit. And what came next was a very blessed 20ish minutes of easy, impromptu conversation, mostly about life with teenagers.

Although I don't see either of them particularly often, I've known them both for roughly 15 years. Between them they have four beautiful daughters (including Lisa's triplets, God bless her!) who are Logan's age, so although I feel a distinct sense of wistfulness when I talk with them, those conversations also give me a concrete opportunity to put him at the forefront of my mind and mull over who he was and who he'd be today. That may sound like a sad thing, but it's not because it's a blessing to remember.

I firmly believe that God arranges meetings for us with specific people just when we need to interact with them. So today, I'm grateful that these two amazing, strong, intelligent women walked into my Starbucks and delayed their coffee date to say hi.

June 12

Between the dust the electrician and I kicked up trying to find the root of a short yesterday morning (long story there) and the game out in the chilly air last night, my allergies took a trip to flare city overnight. So I didn't feel good at all today, but I had a hair appointment, so off I went for some pampering.

I am not a fan of the duck face in general and this picture is kind of ridiculous, but for some reason, I like it. Maybe it's because despite how yucky I was feeling, I still felt pretty. And that made me feel good.

Or maybe it was the drugs for my congestion. 

Whatever the cause, I am grateful for that jolt of self-confidence, because I think God wants us to feel good about ourselves, and that's not my usual default.

June 11

This guy right here showed a tremendous amount of grit, determination, and resilience this evening. That's the summation. Here's the story.

Brady's game today went into extra innings --thanks to a terrible call by the home plate umpire, but that's neither here nor there-- and he came in to pitch the top of the eighth with the score knotted at 6-6. (Or maybe it was the ninth. It doesn't really matter because the relevant detail is that it wound up being the last one.)

Anyhow, I've been watching baseball for 40-plus years, and I can honestly say that what followed was the absolute worst defensive inning I've ever seen. Brady threw strikes and pitched well, but his team committed a whopping seven errors behind him, so he wound up having to get about 10 outs to retire the side. I've never seen so many dropped balls and missed tags in a single inning in all of my years as a fan of the game. And every time another goof happened, I felt my hackles go up further. It hurt me to see him in that position. 

Eventually, he retired the last batter. And although they plated three runs in the bottom half they still lost, which was a complete bummer.

But I am so incredibly impressed with him. He told me after the game that during a mound visit, the coach offered to let him just leave since the defense wasn't helping. He just gave a half-grin and stuck it out. He threw more strikes. And he never once lost his cool or his composure. I could tell he came close a few times, but every time that happened, I watched as he took a deep breath, reset his shoulders, and continued doing his job. 

He may not have gotten a win --and truthfully, he was the pitcher of record when the other team pulled ahead so he got the loss if one was assigned-- but he carried himself like a champ. And I am so proud of him for staying focused. And I'm grateful to God for instilling in him the strength of character that allowed him to keep going --and keep performing well-- when others would've gotten angry and quit.

June 10

Isaac and Brady were both available to attend Youth Group for the first time in several weeks, so that meant it was time for Date Night featuring Abby for Adam and me.

So following drop-off, we headed over to Strizzi's for our dinner. We had a good time munching on several loaves of delicious bread and salad and chicken parmesan (for us girls) and lasagna (for him). 

It was a good time with my main squeeze and my one and only girl. And I am, as always, grateful for the moments as they come.

(And I'm also a mix of grateful and amused to realize that even if I forget to take a picture, Abby will most likely have me covered. I've trained her very well.)

June 9

I could hear the boys' enthusiastic voices emanating from the living room as I came up the stairs from the garage after running some errands early this afternoon.

As I rounded the corner, there they were, seated in their customary spots on the carpet, engaged in a spirited round of Mario Kart.

The occasional overly loud exclamation aside, it was a peaceful time; a harmonious time of brotherly bonding. And for that, I am grateful.

June 8

Isaac and I have continued work on our teacup puzzle for the past few days. And tonight, I'm pleased to report that we slid the final piece into place.

I know I've reflected on this before, but I feel like I have the least one-on-one time with Isaac, just as the result of his schedule and generally private personality. And unfortunately, I know he often feels unseen. So it's been a blessing to me to have this time working with him to achieve a common goal, even something as simple as a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

And I've already got out next puzzle picked out. Hopefully he's ready for Care-a-lot.

June 7

I just love to watch my plants grow.

So I was particularly pleased when I spotted a teeny tiny lima bean pod on one of them this morning. This image is zoomed in pretty far, but the wee pod is about as long as my pinky is wide. And I absolutely love how I can see the impressions of two itty bitty beans forming, too.

It's such a gift to watch things grow.

June 6

We often celebrate the end of the school year (and academic successes) with a trip to Coldstone. And after some prompting from Abby, that's what we did this evening after dinner.

We all enjoyed our picks --from mango with chocolate chips for Isaac to a birthday cake concoction for Abby to mint with gummy bears for Brady-- in the lovely late-evening air.

And then we parted ways, with Abby and I opting to walk the mile back home while the boys returned the way we went -- via car.

It's always sweet to celebrate our kiddos' accomplishments. (And in a way, tonight was also a nod to Isaac's big news of the day: he was hired to work at the Dairy downtown, where he'll be serving up Pleasanton's favorite ice cream in the months to come. Yay Isaac!)

June 5

It may have been a run of the mill kind of day, but it was a wonderful day nonetheless.

I had the opportunity to catch up with my amazing across-the-street neighbor Mary when she just happened to stroll into the Mother Ship late this morning.

The kiddos got along all day long. They watched old episodes of "Phineas and Ferb" and enjoyed one another's company for hours.

Late this afternoon, we were all on-hand for Brady's game, which featured him starting in left field and going 2 for 3 at the plate. He hasn't had a lot of playing time this season, so it was a huge blessing to see him out on the field.

And finally this evening, we gathered in the family room after dinner to watch the first few episodes of the brand new, just-released season of "Phineas and Ferb." And that, of course, was good for some laughs. (As is today's picture, which is what I got when I said I wanted a post-win sibling pic. Abby flat out refused, and the boys made this face. Gotta love teenagers.)

So yes, it was a wonderful day. And I am grateful for the family time.

June 4

I love good shopping trips with my girl.

We needed a few items from Costco, so after the requisite trip to the Mother Ship this morning, that's where we went.

As mundane an activity as it was, I had fun traversing the aisles and checking out products and chit chatting with my one and only daughter. And as we sat down after checking out with our smoothie (her) and hot dog (me), I felt a sense of deep satisfaction.

I may have been blessed with only one daughter, but she's a great one. And I am thankful for every minute we have together.

June 3

Isaac was feeling congenial this morning, so he asked if I wanted to play a game. I couldn't come up with anything that fit the two-player bill (other than War, which was a no for both of us) so I suggested a puzzle.

He agreed, so I chose an unopened one that I had in the game cabinet that features a collection of colorful teacups. And we got to it.

We spent several hours together working on our puzzle at the dining room table, first isolating the edges, then putting them together. And then moving on with bits and pieces of the interior design.

I don't get to spend much one on one time with Isaac, and it's always a blessing when the opportunity arises so I'm looking forward to continuing our work soon!

June 2

It's a tradition for me to take the kids out for brunch shortly after the end of each school year. So this morning, we loaded into my car and drove over to Jim's.

I'm no stranger to this particular local eatery, but none of the kiddos had been before so it was a new experience for them. And I think they enjoyed their steak (Isaac) and pancakes, eggs, and sausage (Abby and Brady's twin orders). (And, if you were Brady, you also enjoyed my hash browns.)

It's always a blessing to be out and about with them, especially when they're all getting along and in good moods. So tonight, I am so grateful for more time, more conversation, and more chuckles with my very favorite young people.

June 1

It was a busy Sunday morning, with church followed by a baseball game followed by a drive up to Adam's parents' house to return the car we borrowed.

So it was a blessing when the five of us trooped into Jamba Juice following the game (which was a win, woohoo) for lunchtime smoothies.

It's a simple thing, really; one of the simplest things of them all -- time with my people. But it's still an enormous blessing whenever we manage to carve out some time together --even if we're just getting smoothies-- because these kiddos are growing up fast.