April 29

Last Fall, as her senior year began, I offered to pay for a photographer to capture images of Abby and her besties at school. I found Shelly Lambert (who is a fellow Wheaton mom), paid for a session, and left it up to my girl to decide the details: the when, the who, and the where. The session ultimately took place a few weeks ago, and today, we received a link to the gallery.

The "who" were the Sophomore year suite girls, who have been her go-to pals all throughout her time at Wheaton. The "where" was --very appropriately, I think-- all around campus. And the "what they wore" were their white grad dresses. 

The photos came out really nicely. There are beautiful photos of each of these beautiful girls. And there are numerous pictures of them together laughing and having a good time, just as they've done for the past four years. They're a gift to my Abby, of course, so she can look back at them and remember her time in Illinois. 

And they're also a gift to these very special girls who have become dear to my heart. I will always be grateful to God for Michaela, Anna, Meredith, and Ashley for being a big part of why Abby has had a  wonderful college experience. Their love and support throughout this phase of my girl's life has meant so much to her -- and to me as well. 

Good friends are great blessings. And I am deeply grateful for the ones God gave my daughter.

April 28

I laid low today. Very low. I just hung around the house by myself and rested. But I was admittedly a little lonely.

So my favorite part of the day came this evening when the boys got home from Youth Group and we were all gathered in the family room.

I asked each of them to tell us about their respective experiences at school, and they did. Isaac went first and took a while; he's always been one to ramble a bit, but we always appreciate the details he includes. Brady followed with his patented quick rundown of his activities. And then they were off to bed.

And in the quiet that re-settled around me following their departure, I had what felt like a profound thought that isn't really profound at all: I'm grateful that they share their lives with us, since I know the communication lines with teenagers are often intermittently open at best. Hearing their thoughts and ideas is a blessing.

April 27

I am super proud of this kid. (The one on the right with the rake in the foreground.)

And it's not because he's a solid player (although he is one). 

It's because he throws himself into all of his tasks --even the menial ones that a lot of kids try to get out of doing. And he doesn't just do them halfway; he buckles down and completes them to the best of his ability.

He is truly a team player, and I am grateful to God that He's instilled this child of mine with a good work ethic.

One can be a great player without being a good person, so I'm thankful that Brady so consistently checks both of those boxes.

April 26

It was quite chilly today, especially for late-April.

So I was pleased to be able to revert to one of my Winter customs after church: I pulled out my trusty electric blanket and wrapped it around my legs and feet.

And there I sat quite comfortably watching a pair of baseball games on the tube for much of the afternoon.

The extra warmth was a little thing, but it certainly made my day better, so I'm thankful to have had it.

April 25

Well, I blinked again, and now this kid is in San Francisco, enjoying his Senior Ball with his pals at the Metreon.

It's utterly bizarre to realize that I made a very similar post to this almost four years ago, when Abby too went to her Senior Ball at the Metreon. (And it's weird because Ball isn't always there. We'll have to see where Brady's class winds up going!) But here we are in 2026, and she's getting ready to graduate from college and it's Isaac's turn to celebrate the waning days of a high school career. It's truly surreal to think that's it's been four years. But I'm digressing all over the place so I'll get back to today.

I left the second game of Brady's doubleheader against Granada a bit early this afternoon so I could catch Isaac at home before he headed off to his friend Ben's house, also known as the official Ball meeting spot for his squad. He kindly humored me with a few pics outside in the yard before I followed him to Ben's to take more photos.

I was the only parent there except for Ben's mom and dad, so I made sure to take pics with Isaac and some of his longtime pals to share. And then poof, they were out the door en masse, bound for the buses that were reserved to ferry them to the big event. I stood outside and watched them drive away caravan-style, one car after another after another. I smiled at the ones I knew best, and as Isaac passed by, he slowed and enthusiastically waved the I Love You hand in my direction. And then continued down the hill and past the gate and disappeared from sight.

He went to elementary school with some of these boys, so he's known them for most of his life. In fact, Tyler (upper left)'s family moved to town when they were in (I think) second grade, and he's been one of Isaac's closest friends for years. And he's known Trevor since before they started kindergarten (and then t-ball) together.

So suffice it to say that when I look at some of these guys and think back on the history they share, it makes me smile. And it fills me with a sense of gratitude for the depth and quality of some of Isaac's friendships. God has blessed him with some truly exceptional pals, and I'm so thankful for them and for how they've leaned on one another throughout the years. And although I have mixed mom-feelings about them all being 17 and 18 years old and looking so grown up when my heart thinks they should still be little boys playing with sticks in the mud, I'm grateful that they're growing into terrific young men. 

And of course, I'm extra thankful that God is continuing to shape Isaac into the man He wants him to be. And I pray that they're all having a great time together, truly savoring the moments and taking mental snapshots to hold close to their hearts during the time of transition that's on the horizon.

April 24

My girl Nikki met me at my usual Mother Ship this morning for coffee and then we came back to my house (which she'd never been inside before; super crazy since we've been here for more than six years but, well, COVID, and then life got busy) so she could help me in my Quest for Grad Dresses.

The plan was for me to model my recent Amazon acquisitions, and then head over to the Outlet Mall to see what we could scrounge up there. So that's what we did. 

She approved and ranked my three pre-purchased choices, and then I tried on a number of options at the Bloomingdale's outlet (which was her idea, since I've always been afraid of Bloomie's). And I found a winner there, too: a pretty, long blue sundress with gorgeous lacy detailing on the bodice and worked through the skirt.

So with her help, I think I've decided what I'll be wearing to BOTH kids' graduation ceremonies (but I'm not telling since there will be photos). Having her with me to give her opinions was a huge blessing and made the process way more fun. So as always, I am grateful to God for her friendship and for the ways we support one another.

April 23

I'm not sure which of them started it because I wasn't in the room at the time, but the weirdsmobiles were at it again this evening.

I came upstairs from the garage just in time to see them lower their heads and lock their arms together like a pair of bulls preparing to do battle. They slid back and forth a few times in their socks before Brady noticed I had my phone poised to snap a pic and abruptly pulled back from the attack pose.

These guys are a near-constant source of amusement these days. So for that pipeline of humor --particularly when life at-large doesn't feel all that funny-- I am grateful.