March 8

It is so wonderful to have all three of these young people under our roof for a little while.

They sat around the table trading verbal witticisms while eating lunch after church. And then when they were finished, they gathered in the living room to engage in one of their Classically Them activities: a few rounds of Mario Kart on the Switch. 

I adore them and I adore listening to them --and being near them-- as they enjoy one another's company. They're all growing up, and hopefully --prayerfully-- they'll keep growing up together.

March 7

After quite the travel saga (thanks Southwest Airlines!), Abby finally got home for Spring at about 3 this morning. 

And following some probably too-small amount of sleep, she got up, got dressed, and came with Isaac to Brady's intersquad scrimmage.

I'm sure she was still tired, but she wanted to be there to hang out with us and to support her littlest bro on the diamond. She's a good big sister like that.

And she's also a great daughter. Although it took a lot of patience to navigate the disaster that was her travel experience, she didn't lose her composure and got home unscathed. I'm proud of her for that because honestly, I'd have probably given some attitude to someone along the way if it'd been me. I'm thankful that God included patience in her blueprints.

And I'm grateful that she's home and hopeful that we have a good week ahead of us!

March 6

Abby comes home for Spring Break today. (Well, she was supposed to get home today. But four hours of flight delays unexpectedly came into play, so she'll actually be back early tomorrow morning. But I digress.)

The boys usually go upstairs to indulge in their own activities like listening to music or playing games by 8:30 or 9, but not tonight. Tonight they stuck around in the family room much longer. Only when I mused aloud that Abby's flight wouldn't even get to Oakland until 3 AM (have I mentioned that I'm annoyed?) did they go to their rooms for the evening. And I think that's because they were waiting to see her.

They don't always get along, but I know they love their big sister. And it made me smile to realize that they were waiting up to welcome her home. 

March 5

Isaac and Brady had their annual check-ups with the doctor this morning.

With the exception of a very low preliminary blood pressure reading for Isaac (which fortunately returned to normal by the time we left), the experience was uneventful for both boys. Both were given clean bills of health and neither was due for any shots.

And both were in their usual jovial moods both inside and outside of the exam room. They joked with (and about) each other and had the most fun I've ever seen kids have in a doctor's office.

And they were still in good spirits when I dropped them back off at school afterward. So for the good moods and the good reports, I am grateful, because I know that neither of those outcomes are guaranteed.

March 4

I came home from Costco early this afternoon and saw this beauty splayed across the kitchen floor.

I guess there was a glass container placed just-so on the counter that filtered the sunlight to create this bit of transient art.

I do love rainbows. They're promises from God, and I am grateful for the reminder that regardless of our immediate circumstances or difficulties, He is always faithful.

March 3

 I love bright, bold color; the kind that's so saturated that it makes my eyes go boing! Know what I mean?

I hoped for some of that super intense color from the Dianthus seedling I added to my hydroponic garden. Well, it bloomed yesterday, and I wasn't disappointed, because the petals are currently a gorgeous, vibrant shade of red. 

Life can so often feel gray and drab --especially of late-- so it's a blessing to me to be able to look across the family room and see such a lovely bit of God's creation flourishing in its space.

March 2

I very much appreciate the man Isaac is becoming. (And I really do mean "man", because he'll be 18 in just three and a half months.)

His phone spontaneously stopped working yesterday morning. Adam ordered him a replacement but it won't be here until later this week, so he's without one for a few days.

He's generally fine with that reality, but when he got home this afternoon, I'd already left for Brady's game and he realized that he had no way to get inside the house (since his entry is tied to an app). Which meant that he had no way to get to the food in the house, which he wanted to eat. And he also couldn't go to the gym since his QR code is stored in his phone. 

I felt badly for not remembering to give him a key, but he was very forgiving about the whole thing: instead of getting mad, he swung by McDonalds and then headed over to the school to join us in the stands. 

I'm thankful that he's continuing to grow into an adult who's capable of pivoting when situations change, or when things don't go as planned. Writing as someone who's never been particularly good at the art of the pivot, I'm grateful for the blessing that is Isaac's easygoing nature.