June 30

After the extravaganza of busyness that was yesterday, today was very calm by comparison.

In fact, it was more or less a run of the mill day that featured Brady playing computer games and Abby going to class. And it also included our usual date night, this time at Cattlemen's.

It was, as always, good to sit there with my hunny, just going over the day's happenings as we lingered over dinner.

So for the blessing of time together, I am grateful.

June 29

It was a busy Monday at the Wight house.

Bright and early (even before coffee), Brady has his braces removed after a comparatively brief 16-month term. (Abby and Isaac were not so fortunate.) We "celebrated" at Starbucks (even though it was really just me wanting the previously referenced coffee). 

Abby took her new car --her graduation present, which arrived over the weekend while she was in Illinois wedding'ing it up-- for a maiden cruise up the freeway to her class. She reported that it went well.

And Isaac packed up his suitcase and headed to Young Life camp. This year they're going to British Columbia, so rather than dropping him off to catch a bus, his friend Tyler's mom drove them both to SFO to catch a flight to Seattle.

And me? After a brain toot caused me to miss my Bible study, I went home and continued working on the border of a small blanket. 

It was a busy day that featured several firsts for our family: Brady's first moments post-braces and his first piece of gum in more than a year. Abby's first time driving a car that's titled in her name. And Isaac's first trip out of the US. So for the blessing of fun firsts, I am thankful.

(And I'm also thankful for the timely arrival of Abby's car and for Isaac's camp schedule, because my car decided to have a fit over the weekend and is in the shop for the time being. With Isaac out of town and Abby having wheels of her own, I'm free to use the kid-car. Phew. Thank you, God, for Your provision!)

June 28

This image is largely representative of today.

To put it plainly, Isaac was in really, really good mood. And that exuberance made him a wee bit crazy at times.

Like in this image, Brady was trying to throw pitches into his target, but Isaac kept trying to grab his legs. Although I'm sure it annoyed him a bit, it made Brady laugh.

So for the laughter and the lighthearted moments, I am grateful.

June 27

It was a mostly quiet day here at the Wight House, but it was not a quiet day for Abby, who served as a bridesmaid in her friend Ashley's wedding back in Illinois. She sent us a handful of updates throughout the day, including this one this evening.

The short story is that she caught the bouquet.

The longer story is that in catching the bouquet, she trucked one of her besties. She sent a video that the bride's brother recorded and I laughed so hard that I very nearly cried. (Her pal was fine and jumped back up like a Pop Tart.)

Although the contact was limited (as it should've been!), it was pretty clear that she was having a good time. And I'm grateful for that.

I'm also grateful that she had a little more time with her college girlfriends before they all move forward with their post-grad lives. They're a very sweet group of gals, and I hope they'll make an effort to stay in touch as time passes because friendships like theirs are amazing and unique blessings from God.

June 26

Well yes, that is Isaac sitting on a toilet in our front yard.

We've had issues with two of our potties ever since we bought our house way back in 2020, and today we finally got around the having them replaced. 

Toilets are apparently pretty heavy, so the installer-dude wrestled the old ones down the steps and temporarily plunked them down on the lawn. And there they rested while he worked on getting the new thrones set up in the first floor and master bathrooms.

It tickled my funny bone to think of someone actually giving one of the old ones one last sit, so I texted the group chat and announced that I'd get everyone a treat if Isaac did it. (I chose Isaac because a) he was accessible, and b) I knew that given his natural inclination toward being a do-er and a try-er, he was the one most likely to comply. Abby wasn't home, Adam was working, and Brady wouldn't have dignified the request with something as tiny and effortless as an emoji.)

After a brief and half-hearted protestation, he slipped outside and down to the lawn. I watched from my perch in the bedroom above --while simultaneously ensuring the installer was still hard at work in the master bathroom-- as he looked up at me, circled the throne, carefully lifted the seat, and finally sat. 

I laughed and laughed. I sent the photos to the group chat, and Isaac joked that he'd use this one as his new Instagram profile pic. (And I kept my end of the deal by getting the boys sundaes from Costco.)

It's a blessing that he's willing to do silly (and harmless) things just for kicks because choosing to live without fear makes this life infinitely more interesting. And it makes him far more likely to venture into uncomfortable situations where God may use him to make a difference. And that is a big deal.

June 25

Abby's friend Ashley is getting married this weekend in Illinois, so she left for the airport a few minutes ago.

Although she's served as a flower girl a few times, this will be her first time as a bridesmaid; her first time marching down the aisle on the arm of groomsman while clutching flowers. And more importantly, her first time bearing witness as one of her besties repeats those sacred vows to her chosen partner.

Abby has a final project due for one of her classes next week and I know she's thinking about-slash-stressing over it, but I pray that she'll just let go of the worry and enjoy the wedding experience and the time with her friends. And that she'll soak in the blessing of being able to be present on Ashley's big day.

June 24

We had a mini family game night after dinner.

There was no plan to do so, but as we sat around the table after we finished eating, someone suggested we play the game I got for "Mother's Day" again. And no one had any objections, so that's what we did.

It was fun sitting there with my people trying to figure out which disastrous scenario was worse. On a beach with a tsunami approaching or locked in a walk-in freezer? Our differences in perspective were giggle-inducing at times. 

So for the blessing of time with family on a run of the mill weekend evening, I am grateful.