June 10

I had such a nice evening with my Isaac.

We started off by taking Brady up to his game in San Ramon. While we waited for said-game to begin, we did the kids' story walk around the (blessedly mostly shady) park. One of us read each of the panels aloud as we learned how the main character learned to better take care of himself and his fellow eggs. Totally a kids' story, of course, but fun nonetheless (particularly since it was 95 degrees out and blazing hot in the sun).

Then we sat down to watch the first three innings of Brady's game, which was a good one for his team. For his part, Brady pitched four innings and allowed two runs, and Isaac thought he looked really good. (As did I.) He also saw a whopping six pitches total across four at-bats, which yielded two hits. (A simpler way of saying that would be "he was 2 for 4 at the plate.") 

We had to leave early because I'd scheduled some Graduation/18th birthday (a little late for the former, a little early for the latter) photos at the Alviso Adobe Park on the other side of town with the amazing Racelle Campanelli. So we headed back to Pleasanton, had the shoot, and then he said he wanted Jack in the Box chicken strips for dinner, so we swung by the drive-thru on the way home after. 

Isaac is a truly special person, and I'm conscious that his phase as a full-time resident of our home is almost over. So I'm grateful to God for the extra time I got to have with him today, just soaking in all of his Isaacy-goodness.

June 9

I think I've probably mentioned it before but we're playing car roulette this summer. Since Abby's future car is on order and won't arrive for (at least) a few more weeks, we have four drivers and three cars to meet our transportation needs: Adam and Isaac both need to get to their respective work places, Abby needs to get to school, and I need to run errands and ferry Brady wherever he needs to go. 

Today Isaac had Adam's car, so I picked said-husband up from the train station this evening. And then we hop-skip-jumped downtown for dinner at Strizzi's.

I could immediately tell when he got in the car that he was mentally chewing on something, so I asked him about it during our meal and had the opportunity to serve as a sounding board. (I was right, for the record. I guess almost 24 years of marriage will do that!) 

We are called by God to be partners with our spouses, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a help to mine this evening. (And the salad was pretty good, too!)

June 8

It's a bit of a rarity to have all 15 members of a summer baseball team show up for a single game. Or at least that's been our experience.

So when --during my pre-game stroll around the park-- I noticed that all 15 boys were actually present this evening, I asked Coach Chris if I could take a picture. So here they are! Brady is the third boy from the left in the back row.

As I routinely note, it feels like time is flying by at warp speed, so I am grateful for opportunities that allow me to create tangible memories that I --and we-- can look back on.

June 7

I love watching hard work transform into success. 

Brady played again this morning, and although the team didn't fare well, he continued with the adjustments he made at the plate during the previous game and went 2 for 3 with a solid double to dead center. (And he had the distinction of being the batter who broke up a no-hitter relatively late in the game.) He was content with his performance during the drive home after, and thanked me for letting him see the videos of his at-bats from last fall when he hit very, very well, because seeing them helped him to figure out how he needed to adjust his approach.

Hard work doesn't always lead to the results we want, and I'd argue that sometimes a good result isn't the end-game God has in mind for us. Sometimes He wants us to learn patience or humility or perseverance, and the best way to learn those things is to struggle; to push against the things that challenge us until we finally break through.

But when the hours spent on researching and tweaking and perfecting and changing it up produce results, well, those are sweet moments. So I am grateful that I've been on-hand to see some of the fruit of my kiddo's work.

June 6

Adam and I went to Costco this morning. I don't usually like going on weekends because everyone and their grandparents are there, but he wanted to go so I tagged along.

My slight aversion to this specific trip aside, there's generally something really soothing about going to Costco. As we strolled the aisles looking for this and that, I could so clearly remember doing the same with all of our kiddos --even Logan-- all of those years ago. And the memory brought me a sense of peace and contentedness. Not with how things are right now --because our family is permanently incomplete on this side of Heaven-- but because of how Jesus's sacrifice promises they will be, eventually.

Anyway, after we checked out, we swung through the food court and picked up hot dogs and pizza slices (and a salad for Abby) for lunch. And then we ate when we got home. And it was good watching these dear children of ours sit together at the kitchen table eating that food that's always --in a strange way, I suppose-- been so dear to us because of its nostalgic value.

So for all of that --for the memories and the promise of what's to come and the joy of watching Abby and Isaac and Brady continue to grow-- I am thankful.

June 5

I enjoyed a pleasant day with this girl (who doesn't have class on Fridays).

In the morning hours, we went to the Mother Ship, Safeway, and Target. 

Then this evening, we enjoyed a stroll around Central Park in San Ramon before we settled in to watch Brady's baseball game. (They lost again, but Brady had a solid pitching outing and busted out of his hitting slump, going two for two with a well-struck double. So I'm definitely thankful to see his effort finally pay off!)

Anyway, I'm increasingly conscious of how short-lived the "zero to 18 parenting" stage truly is, so I'm grateful for time spent with my babes.

June 4

Ah, my heart: my babes were together again today.

It was a night class day for Abby, so when Isaac got home from his guys' trip to Napa, the three amigos were all home again.

And at some point, after Brady decided he wanted to take a dip in the pool, Abby mused (once again, because she's shared the observation many times since she got home from Chicago) that BearBear needed a bath. 

So they took him outside, filled a bucket with a hefty cup of detergent and water, and got the job done just as they did a year or so ago. 

They were all suitably amused by the process of watching everyone's favorite stuffed predator as he was submerged into the water and then squeezed over and over and over again.

I guess it seems like a strange activity, but it was a blessing to see them laughing and doing something (oddly productive) together. I know these days are growing fewer by the moment, so I am grateful for this opportunity for them to spend some time together and bond.