July 31

Today is Logan's 19th birthday. Maybe it's because our family is on the cusp of significant change with Brady beginning high school next week and both Isaac and Abby graduating and moving on to the next phases of their lives this coming year, but this one was harder for me. It felt much quieter. More reflective. More subdued. But I'm getting ahead of myself, as I so often do.

We (meaning me, Adam, Isaac, and Brady --and Lambie!-- as Abby had to work) began the day by watching old videos of Logan's early days. We didn't have a video camera when he was born so the recordings didn't start until he was nine or ten months old, but the ones that we have are precious. It was such a blessing to see those big blue eyes and that radiant grin in motion on a big screen. It's been so, so long.

After several hours of video action, we embarked on individual activities. I'm not entirely sure what everyone else did, but I went into the bedroom and fell asleep because I was utterly, to the bone exhausted. It's both emotionally and physically taxing to simultaneously celebrate and mourn. 

I'm not sure how long I was out, but I got up in time to head out for early dinner at Outback when Abby got home, since Isaac had to work at 6. We enjoyed some of the really great brown bread that Logan loved so much and then came home, finished assembling the chocolate-chocolate cake, and watched "Cars 2." And then when Isaac got home at 9:30, we closed out the day's festivities with said-cake.

And that was Logan's 19th birthday in a nutshell. It was, as I already wrote, quiet. Maybe even a touch melancholic for me; it's hard to truly celebrate a birthday without the birthday boy present. I'm used to it, of course, but it's still painful in a way that I still can't really describe. 

Still, there were good things about the day. The videos were wonderful. Dinner with the rest of the family was great because although Abby, Isaac, and Brady are all their own distinct selves, I can see bits and pieces of him in them, too. The cake was delicious. It's always fun to watch "Cars" movies. Our old college friend Gerard messaged me a drawing that a friend of his made of Logan as a "Cars" car, which is pretty amazing. Those are all good gifts that today delivered and I am grateful for them.

I sure wish Logan could've been here with us to celebrate number 19, but I'm thankful that he was here to dance and laugh and help me to learn to love being a boy-mom. And I'm thankful that thanks to Jesus, I know I will see him again some day. 

Happy birthday, Sunshine.

July 30

Isaac had some post-braces x-rays scheduled for this afternoon, so I since I'm the Form Of Payment for those things, I drove him to his appointment. And then we went on an impromptu mini shopping trip.

We started off by looking at the kiddie backpacks at one Target, since seniors often use one that's a throwback to their childhoods for the first day of school. The choices were limited, so we went to Walmart (where we struck out entirely) and then to another Target, which had a much better selection than the first. He made a selection that fit the bill quite well, and then we went to Crumbl to pick up the pack of cookies I ordered on a whim..

And then we came home and that was that. He got on with his day --basketball with friends, back home for dinner, and then to work for the remainder of the evening-- and I got on with mine.

It absolutely stuns me that he's going to be a senior in a week. In my mind, he's still my chunky little toddler who didn't say much but looked up at me with those blue eyes that always communicated so much. He's a great kid, this almost-adult of mine. And I am grateful for who he is.

July 29

Is it me or is time just flying by at warp speed? It sure seems that way.

Take these two people here. Twenty-five years ago, they were recent college graduates living in the Bay Area: him in a Motel 6 in Fremont (because the rental market was so insanely tight) and her in a house in Castro Valley.

These same two people have now been married for almost 23 years and spent this evening enjoying a date night at Strizzi's, talking about kids and work and the future over warm bread with olive oil and salad and plates of pasta.

Yep, time is flying by. And although I wish it would slow down sometimes, I'm thankful for the moments like this one.

July 28

Isaac had his braces removed this morning.

Have a gander at his brand new pearly whites. (I have no idea why he makes this face as often as he does these days, but it actually works well for this purpose so there ya go.)

What was supposed to take 18 months or so wound up persisting for two years and nine months, and I think he was starting to think he'd just have them indefinitely. It's a silly thought, of course, but when I look back at myself at 17, it makes perfect sense. Time passed differently back then, or at least it did for me. And an extra year of wires and metal affixed to my teeth would probably have felt like an eternity.

Anyway, it's another milestone for this amazing kiddo of mine. Next week he'll hit yet another one when his senior year of high school begins. But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, so tonight, I'm grateful that the braces did their job and pleased that Isaac waited patiently for them to come off, even though I know he wanted to rip them off last year. Patience and perseverance are, after all, important building blocks of good character.

July 27

Isaac got home from camp late this afternoon and he told us all about his adventures over dinner.

He's not exactly the most focused speaker much of the time so his recounting meandered from one topic to another and back again. 

But he told his tales with such passion and happiness that it was fascinating to hear and watch him talk. I love how much he loves being at Young Life camp, and I love that he shares his experiences with us. It's a huge blessing in his life, so it's a big blessing in mine as well.

(As for this photo? I probably had better ones of Isaac, but I thought Abby looked so stunning here that I wanted to use it. They --including Brady-- are beautiful, wonderful people and I am thankful for the gift of being their mom.)

July 26

While I was busy enjoying my morning with the amazing prayer shawl ladies, Adam and Abby were out shopping. At one point, Adam texted to ask if I wanted a hot dog or pizza from the Costco food court.

My response was virtually immediate: cheesy pizza please.

Although I don't indulge in this particular treat very often these days, it seemed an appropriate choice today because Logan loved it so, and his birthday is this coming week.

That's right: he'd be turning 19 on the 31st. It's pretty hard to believe since he's frozen at 5 and a half in my mind's eye, but it's true.

So I am grateful that today, I got to remember him and his sweet chirpy voice and his dance moves and his intoxicatingly dazzling smile while munching on one of his very favorite foods. Because flavors --even the simple ones like mozzarella and  tomato sauce and crispy shreds of cheese on crust-- can unlock scores of memories.

July 25

I've been admiring this little branch on one of my tomato plants for a few days now.

I've watched as the hue of each wee fruit gradually morphed its way toward the most harvestable shade: a vibrant red.

And I think there's something so beautiful about how this one branch features so many different colors; each fruit is just ever so slightly lighter or darker than its neighbor, yet they all co-exist so well. And they all successfully grow and mature together as they rely on the same source of nourishment.

Beautiful and also --as odd as it may seem-- a model for how we should strive to live, I think. And for that loveliness and that reminder, I am grateful.

July 24

I came across this partially completed project a few days ago while I was looking for something else. (Which I did not find. Isn't that always how it goes?)

It's the first several rows of what will eventually be a large blanket done in the very squishy waffle stitch. 

Since I just finished another project, I decided I'd pick this one up again since I hadn't touched in more than four years. 

As I've noted before, it's very satisfying to me to feel like I'm making progress on my creations, especially ones that have been neglected. So today, I'm grateful to have had the motivation to pick this one up and keep going.

July 23

After dinner this evening, Adam asked if we wanted to watch a movie.

He perused the options available via our various streaming services and finally settled on "Meet the Parents." It originally came out the year we graduated from college and we went to a fair number of movies back then, so I'm pretty sure he and I first saw it in the theater. So it was a nice little piece of nostalgia.

And it was, of course, also good to hang out with Abby (and Brady initially, though he opted to bounce and play video games about 20 minutes in). As always, I'm thankful for the time spent together. And for the steps I got in via my walking pad while we watched.

July 22

It was a very pleasant Tuesday. I got to enjoy dinner with Adam and Abby at Cattlemen's while Brady was at Youth Group, and then I got to enjoy a walk with my girl under the backdrop of a stunning orangey-pink sunset.

And before all of that, I got to drop Isaac off so he could catch the bus to Young Life camp. He always looks forward to camp and loves his time there, so he was in a chipper, happy mood as we made the drive over to Granada High School. And then when we arrived, he happily greeted his good friend Tyler, and of course, I had to snap a pic of the Amador kids -- Isaac, Tyler, Isaac, and Tyler's sister Kaylin. I pray they all have a great time this week.

And from there, I drove back to Pleasanton to meet Pam for breakfast at Jim's. We had a lovely time chatting and I fully enjoyed our time together.

It was, all in all, a blessed day from sunrise to sunset. And I am so grateful for the positive experiences and smiles, because I know that not every day overflows with blessings like this one did.

July 21

I took Brady to his pitching lesson this morning (where he recorded his fastest pitch to date 75 MPH!), and then we went by the Mother Ship. 

And then when we'd finished our bagel (him) and coffee-times-two (me, of course), we stopped in to Grocery Outlet to re-up our supply of frozen fruit. (The kiddos are all really into making smoothies with the Nutribullet the Easter Bunny brought the boys earlier this year and we'd reached a critically low supply.)

Silly face aside, I loved the time with my baby. He's going to be a high school freshman in just a few weeks and I know how fast the next four years will fly by (because hello, Isaac and Abby will both be seniors!), so any one on one time I get with him is a blessing.

July 20

Today was VBS Celebration Sunday at church. There was a post-service lunch and the brositos sat with some of their friends-slash-fellow volunteers, who they've known practically since birth. Because they're all teenage boys, hyjinx and hilarity broke out, as this image suggests.

But this post isn't entirely devoted to their goofy guy time. (Although it does make me smile to see them having a good time together and with others.) It always moves me deeply to hear the kids singing and talking about Jesus and who He is; it moved me when my own kiddos were campers and it still moves me now that they're youth volunteers.

So as I stood and listened to them singing their VBS songs and displaying their excitement in ways that only kids can, my heart leapt in my chest. It's a blessing to see the Gospel making an impact on the next generation.

July 19

Today we went over to Adam's brother's house to celebrate summer birthdays.

This is a snapshot of the chaos. Eric and Emily have quite the impressive setup in their backyard: in addition to planter boxes brimming with tomatoes and lettuce, play structures, and a zipline, they also have a dirt racetrack for their remote control cars. So in addition to the usual cake, ice cream, and presents, we also sent cars zooming around (and often, off, which is why track monitor Melody was essential) the track.

It was a pleasant day with good people, and I am blessed to have experienced it.

July 18

Oh look, it's more commentary about my plants!

They are, all in all, doing pretty well. I've been pruning the tomato plants to get rid of the yellow leaves (since that'll increase the nutrients that go to the fruit) and was happy to see the first little 'mater begin to turn red earlier this week. The harvest is coming!

As strange as it may sound, there are definite parallels between my experience with my plants and life in general. In order to be fruitful, we sometimes have to get rid of "branches" --habits, desires, and the like-- that don't serve our final goals. Just as it's hard for me to trim off those branches that once showed so much promise, it can be difficult to make those cuts in our lives. But we have to hold onto the truth that trimming those branches that are no longer essential will help us to focus more on what's really important.

And yep, if you've read the Bible, you already know that Jesus said the same thing (John 15). But it's a message worthy of repetition, so there ya go.

July 17

The boys were in jovial moods early this afternoon when they got home from VBS.

Brady spontaneously leapt onto Isaac's back, and bigger bro carried little bro into the family room.

They were so genuinely happy that I snapped a pic before they could slip into "oh no mom has her phone pointed at us" mode. (Well, mostly. I love Isaac's genuine grin. I'm not entirely sure what to make of Brady's expression but it's funny so that counts.) 

I love their care for one another and I love it when they get along and act silly. It's beautiful. And I am grateful for the spice that they add to my life on the daily.

July 16

This guy right here has had a tough couple of months at work.

In addition to general instability and ongoing changes within the company, there are personnel issues. He hates being involved with layoffs because he doesn't like to deliver bad news. But unfortunately, that's sometimes part of his job, as it has been this week.

So it makes sense that he's been tired during his (rare) off-hours. In fact, he conked out on the couch after he read to the boys this evening. And I'm just letting him sleep because he deserves the rest.

He's a good guy, this man of mine. And I am grateful for all that he does for our family.

July 15

I had one of those weird twilight zone moments as I was arriving home this morning. It made me laugh out loud and I'm always thankful for a good chuckle, so I figured I'd share.

As I neared the turn-off to our cul de sac, I spotted a rather large rafter of turkeys. It's not uncommon to see four or five of them down by Brady's middle school, but we live in the hills --just over the crest of a fairly steep one, in fact-- so I was surprised to see them. And I was surprised by how many there were -- as best I could count, they numbered at least 13.

Anyway, I slowed down and watched them as they trekked up and down the front steps of a house, down the driveway, and out onto the sidewalk, only to repeat the pattern at the next house. It looked like they were trick-or-treating.

I drove the rest of the way home, pulled into the garage, and walked back out to the main drag to make sure I hadn't imagined the whole scene because it was just so weird. When I reached the top of our street, I saw them walking down the driveway of yet another home and snapped a pic for posterity's sake (and so I could share in the family group chat). 

I have no idea what those turkeys were up to, but it made me laugh. And for that, I am grateful.

July 14

Our kids have been involved with Vacation Bible School as either campers or volunteers since, well, birth. (Or maybe age 3 or 4, to be more accurate.) The point is, it's been always been a part of their summer experience.

A timing conflict with her job meant that Abby was unable to help out this year, but Isaac and Brady were up and ready to go this morning when I finally roused myself from bed. Isaac is helping out with the oldest campers, while Brady is working with the second and third graders.

I'm so happy that they're still willing to go and serve as (hopefully) positive role models and faith witnesses for the younger kids. And my prayer is that they --and all of the campers and volunteers-- will have an amazing week together learning more about Jesus.

July 13

I didn't sleep particularly well and then woke up feeling congested (yep, still having sinus issues) so I decided to stay home this morning.

But thankfully, our church broadcasts the Sunday services online so although I wasn't there in person, I was still able to hear the message online.

So for the gift of technology that allows us to "be" in places where we physically are not, I am grateful.

July 12

I've passed by the tree that produces this particular blossom each day as I've watered my backyard veggie plants. And each time I do, I pause to remark --to myself and to the resident squirrels and lizards-- that it's such a beautiful color.

Although it's not well-represented in this image, it's a vibrant shade of bluish purple that's so intense that it's almost electric.

And I am grateful for its standout loveliness.

July 11

When I was outside watering my plants on this very warm evening, I was struck by the intricacy of the veins on the leaves of my bean babes. (I would've said "bean plants" there but it felt too repetitive. They're kind of my babies since I raised them from seeds, so the term makes sense to my late-night brain.)

Just look at the detail on that one leaf. I leaned in a little to take a closer look and, of course, the rest of the leaves share a similar look. It was almost overwhelming to see such amazing features in something so tiny.

It made me remember once again that we live in a world created by an inventive God. And I'm thankful for that truth, because a world filled with beauty is much easier to appreciate than one that's not.

July 10

We were mostly off doing our own things today. Adam was working in his home office. Abby was at work in Walnut Creek. Isaac was at work at The Dairy. Brady was holed up in his room playing video games. And I was out running errands and then at home working on a project.

But then this evening, after the boys got home from their VBS prep session, there was a brief stint of time when we were all gathered in the family room. We weren't exactly engaged in a shared activity; Adam was working and Abby was (probably; it's hard to tell since only her legs are visible in the photo) on her phone and Brady was watching the A's game on TV and I was on my walking pad. 

But we were all together. And there's value in that; in simply sharing space. So I'm grateful for those late-day moments in the family room.

July 9

My favorite appliance --the countertop nugget ice maker-- stopped working a few weeks ago. We wiped down the sensors and ran the cleaning mode several times but no dice -- no ice. I enjoy my soft, crunchy ice so I was disappointed.

But then Adam ordered a replacement --which was on deep discount via Amazon's Prime Day sale-- and although it's a totally different machine, it works just fine.

So today I'm grateful to have the resources to replace broken appliances. And I'm thankful that I can once again enjoy my ice.

July 8

The brositos had Youth Leader training for VBS this evening, so we had our first date-night-featuring-Abby in several weeks.

It was, as always, a blessing to sit there with two of my favorite people, munching on tasty Mexican fare while talking about the business (and busyness) that marked the day.

I already --not surprisingly-- know them both pretty well, but it's always good to keep up with what's happening in their lives. So it was a blessing to hear about Abby's latest interactions with the kindergarten campers at Seven Hills and Adam's experiences with co-workers.

The more you communicate, the better you relate.

July 7

I was wheeling my cart toward the corral after a Costco run this morning when I spied a small, thin, vaguely frail woman loading groceries into the back of an SUV. She didn't look incapable of the task, per se, so I was surprised when I heard the voice.

Go help her.

Me? I silently replied as I slowed my stroll back to the car. Why me? But again...

Go help her.

I paused and, having reached my car, I went for the door handle with more than a bit of hesitation.

GO HELP HER.

So I sighed, walked up to this woman I didn't know, and asked if she'd like assistance. There was a language barrier and she looked puzzled by my sudden (and entirely random) appearance so I asked again. She smiled and gestured at a particularly large bag of something --maybe it was rice?-- in her cart. "With this?" she suggested. So I heaved said-bag up --and man alive, it was heavy-- and deposited it into the back of her little SUV. She nodded and smiled and said thank you. And then I returned to my car.

I have no idea why God wanted me to help her with that bag, but He did. Sometimes He makes those requests in obvious fashion. Other times, we need to tease out what it is that He wants us to do. So even though it was awkward for me to walk up to a complete stranger, I'm grateful that He was clear on what He wanted me to do to help that woman.

July 6

Today was as low key as they come, with church in the morning and relaxing at home in the afternoon.

While Adam and the kiddos watched a selection of Superhero movies in the family room, I stole away to the bedroom. And I spent a few hours watching old episodes of "Columbo" (because the bumbling detective never gets old) while working on my latest project.

It's true that I often need a vacation to recover from vacations, so I'm thankful that I had lots of downtime today.

July 5

We began the day in Maryland and are finishing it back home in California.

It was a largely uneventful travel day; we left Bobby and Reaya's at around 10, stopped at Dunkin' for coffee (for me) and donuts (for whomever wanted one), and then went by Grandma's house one last time. I walked around to the backyard and stood there just looking at the house for a few minutes, and I cried as memory after memory from my early years came to mind. It's so strange to think that soon, someone else will call it home. My grandparents built it in the early '80s so no one else has ever owned it. 

But I suppose it's part of the cycle of life. So now, instead of drowning in my own sorrows, I'll be thankful for the people in this photo, because every one of them is a remarkable human who I'm blessed to have in my life. And I'm thankful for the memories of my grandparents and their home --which was, for a few years, my home as well-- that I'll continue to carry with me.

July 4

Happy Independence Day!

Today was our last full day in Maryland, so we spent most of our time hanging out with Bobby, Reaya, and Brendan, save a quick run to the Mother Ship for iced coffee and Safeway for some red, white and blue Haribo bears (an Abby special request. She does like to be hyped for the fourth). 

Otherwise, we laid low. Abby went for a walk with the DeLauders among us, I finished up a pair of projects I brought with me, and we watched episodes of "Ugliest House in America" (which I'd never seen before but found fascinating. The design decisions some people make are eye-popping, to put it lightly).

Late in the day, my mom came over and we all enjoyed late-lunch-slash-early-dinner prepared by our gracious hosts that featured hot dogs, sausages, and cheeseburgers paired with homemade buns, potato salad, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, and cole slaw. It was all delicious and I probably ate too much, but I figured it was a special occasion.

And then a bit after dinner (after I'd helped my brother figure out how to remove the cap from an ibuprofen bottle -- the struggle is real, folks), someone brought up s'mores (it may have been Abby), and Reaya pulled out the ingredients and voila, s'mores on the stovetop were created and consumed.

It was a nice, mostly quiet day. And I'm grateful for the time spent with family we so rarely see.

July 3

We didn't have a firm plan for the bulk of today, but when Adam and I got up and discussed potential options, we decided on visiting Harper's Ferry. 

So after a lunch stop at Red Robin in Frederick --which was one of Abby's wishes for our trip-- we headed off to West Virginia. It was a little cooler than it has been this week and the humidity felt a little less intense, so we enjoyed a relatively easy hike from the visitor's center to the town. Highlights included a small waterfall, ruins of the Shenandoah Pulp Factory, and a cool wooden bridge over moss-coated water.

In town, we explored the John Brown museum, checked out the views of the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, and walked across the train trestle over the water. (Adam was excited about the prospect of going inside the tunnel, but alas, it wasn't an option.) Before we hopped on the bus back to the visitor's center, we stopped by the candy store in town and picked up some unusual sweet treats (like molasses peppermint drops and nougat. The latter totally reminds me of the Easter eggs I used to get in my basket).

Since Jimmie Cone had the very yummy black raspberry flavor on the menu for the weekend, we dropped by for pre-evening meal cones on the way back to Bobby's house. After a brief breather there, we drove to Mount Airy for dinner with my dad at a Mexican place he enjoys. We had a nice time catching up and chatting, and then returned to Bobby's for the night. A degree of hilarity ensued as the famed Pants Gnome --and our very own BearBear-- made an appearance.

It was a good day: the kids got to visit a new state and we got to spend time together. And I got to laugh with my brother for the first time in a long while. And I am grateful for all of that.

July 2

It was a day of performances for us.

Up first was the makeup for last night's canceled Nationals game in DC. We'd never been to the ballpark before, and were impressed by how easy it was to get from the parking garage to the stadium (especially since we ponied up and paid for the closest garage). Given that I didn't bring a cap on the trip and my forehead got a bit crispy yesterday, the first thing I did when we walked through the gates was ask to buy a hat, so off to the team store we went. There were a wide variety to choose from, and my eye quickly landed on a white one featuring embroidered flowers. (It's pretty, and sometimes I just appreciate pretty!) The kiddos also got hats, so our domes were well-protected from the sun.

The seats we had along the third base line were good, but although it was cooler than yesterday (by a lot) the sun was still hot, so we migrated to the shade shortly after the game started and after we'd finished our $5 Tuesday concession treats. (I do love a giant soft pretzel.) That was about the time that a random post I made on Facebook led me to discover that Iris and her family were also at the game and sitting in section 110 -- just a few away from our seats in 113. It was good to have the chance to connect with her since she was unable to attend our EGG get-together on Monday. (And she would like everyone to know that the picture here was staged to show the field in her sunglasses. She is not, in fact, a weirdo who just makes that expression on an everyday basis.)

Anyway, the game itself was a bit of a clunker for the Nats, as the starting pitcher gave up 6 runs in the top of the first inning and they wound up losing to Detroit 11-2, but I'm thankful to have had the chance to go to the game and to share a new ballpark experience with my people.

Conscious that traffic is unpredictable, we left after the eighth inning to drive to Toby's Dinner Theater, where we met my mom for dinner and a production of "The Little Mermaid." The show was entertaining and cute, and I was gratified that all three kids seemed engrossed in the action. (And the boys were in full little brother mode as they relentlessly teased Abby about Waiter Joey, who portrayed Jetsam.) We don't see live plays or musicals often at all, so it was a blessing to see them engaged with the production. 

Finally, during a stop at grandma's house to pick up some clothes we left behind, Isaac started to feel sentimental so he sat in the office for a while, just looking at his great-grandpa's awards and records and photos. While he walked down memory lane, the rest of us stood out on the driveway and look up at the sky. We could make out more than 13 stars. (I wrote that last sentence when I was extremely tired. My brother and children insisted that I leave that very honest and very true sentence as-is.)

So that's the update for today. I'm thankful for my family and for nostalgic feelings that take me back in time. 

July 1

Today was our day in DC, but it didn't turn out exactly as planned.

We did brave morning traffic to reach the Capitol by 11 AM in order to take the tour arranged by one of Adam's co-workers, who was the former Chief of Staff of Texas Representative Roger Williams. Said-tour was given by a fleet-footed intern whose name none of us could recall by day's end, but he did an solid job of showing off the building (and wow, is it full of amazing design elements; somehow, I'd forgotten) and sharing relevant historical tidbits.

After we admired the rotunda (which is truly spectacular) and gazed at statues aplenty (including the plaster model of the Statue of Freedom that sits in the Visitor's Center, which much of my family joked was topped with a chicken head), we headed to the on-site restaurant for lunch. Without looking at the price tag, I'll admit that the food I had --a special-of-the-day reuben sandwich with fries-- was actually quite good. And everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well. And, fun factoid, we were sitting right there eating when the Senate voted to approve Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. Regardless of how you lean politically, it's kind of neat to have an "I was there when" kind of moment.

From there, we went outside, where it was hot. Hot and sticky and bright. And we started walking toward the Washington Monument. Partway there I pulled out my phone to check the weather app, and discovered that although it was only 91 degrees, the feels-like number was 102. And the sun --although it occasionally disappeared behind the clouds above-- was brutally intense. But we soldiered on. Isaac embraced the experience by executing a handstand in the foreground of the big obelisk, and we made it to said-landmark, and then continued on to the Lincoln Memorial, which wasn't as easy as usual since much of the mall is blocked off in preparation for the fourth of July fireworks show. 

After taking a breather at the top of the steps, we set off walking again, this time bound for a museum (so we could escape the heat). By this time, a thunderstorm was descending upon DC, and thunder boomed in the not-so-distant distance as we walked along. The sky behind us gradually darkened, and just moments after we ducked inside the National Museum of the American Indian, it let loose with driving rain, more thunder, flashes of lightning, and whipping wind. All five of us were parched from our time in the heat, so we secured water and found a seat in the cafe where we could watch the storm. And then while Abby and Brady continued to rest, Adam, Isaac, and I checked out some of the exhibits.

By then, it was nearly time to head to the Nationals stadium for tonight's baseball game, but Abby checked and discovered that the event had been postponed until tomorrow afternoon. So we pivoted, retrieved the car from the parking garage (where the valet had impressively maneuvered it into a teeny tiny corner) and began the long, trafficky trip back to Damascus. Since Isaac mused just yesterday that he wasn't sure if we'd be able to get Ledo pizza this trip, I suggested that we head there for dinner, so we did just that. And we were all reminded that crispy bacon on pizza --which was one of my grandma's favorites-- is indeed pretty awesome.

We finished the day back at Bobby and Reaya's house, where we watched a little TV with them before one at a time, heading off to bed. It's been a good day overall, and I'm thankful that we had the opportunity to get a taste of daily life on Capitol Hill. And I'm also thankful that the rain ushered in cooler temperatures!