June 30

I happened to see a Facebook post this evening that claimed there would be fireworks at the fairgrounds at 9:30. Since I came upon said-post at 9:35, I hustled up to the deck for a look. I gazed out at the valley, eager to spot the first spray of colored light as it illuminated the distant skyline. But nothing happened. So instead, I closed my eyes and listened to the medley of nature as it played in the night air. And I uttered a few prayers. And then, as the time ticked closer to 10, I cautiously picked my way back down the stairs. I wasn't sure how I'd missed the show, but figured that's what must have happened.

But then as I settled into my chair in the family room, I heard that familiar boom-boom-boom, so I raced outside and up those concrete stairs once again.

And this time, when I reached the deck, I was greeted by glittering bursts of red and green and white light. I watched the whole show and then lingered a few moments after the final embers floated to the ground far below. 

I know a lot of people don't like fireworks (and I don't like being close to them myself), but I think they're pretty. And in this case, they provided me with a reminder about an important truth: just because we're sure we're on time for something doesn't mean that we're on time in God's time. Sometimes I'm early, but God is never early or late. So if you're waiting on something and you're sure the timing is right, just keep right on waiting.

June 29

Today was just the second 90+ degree day of 2023.

Although it was rather uncomfortable out during the afternoon, by the time the evening hours rolled around, it was downright pleasant out in the backyard, so that's where Adam and the boys opted to hold their daily story time.

I ventured outside to check on the apple tree (which is fully loaded with not-yet-ripe, itty bitty fruit) and then stood by the pool for a few moments just watching them on the deck. 

And in that moment, I felt an intense sense of satisfaction. This is my life, and though it's not perfect, it's very, very good. And I am thankful for every bit of that goodness.

June 28

Abby didn't have work today, so she came with me for my morning coffee outing.

There was a baseball tryout on the calendar (Brady this go-round) so we didn't do our customary shopping afterward, but it was nonetheless a blessing to be out with her. (I took this photo before she skittered off to the bathroom to put on mascara so hopefully she won't lodge a complaint with the management for using it.)

I'm grateful for those moments.

June 27

Abby's had her driver's license for almost two years now, but somehow, she'd never pumped gas. Until today.

She texted me this morning to tell me that Charles (also known as the Explorer) needed fuel and asked if I could help her fill him up after she got home from work. 

So that's what I did. I gave her my credit card, told her to follow the instructions on the screen, and then stood back and watched as she... pumped the gas.

It's a small thing yes, but it's another step toward self-sufficiency for my girl. And seeing my children continue to grow and develop into functional bigger people is a blessing.

June 26

The evening hours can be colorful at our house.

Isaac had a game and a team party today, so just Abby, Brady and I gathered around the kitchen table for dinner. As I finished up my food, the conversations between BearBear, Chub, Abby, Brady, and other stuffies continued rising in ridiculousness and intensity (and volume), so I stole away to the bedroom (to hide. Seriously, when they get going, sometimes it's best to just hide).

When the laughter and squawking reached fever pitch, I steeled myself and returned to the kitchen to see what was going on, and found these two yukking it up over their own creative chaos.

And the sight made me smile. I love it when they interact (read: play well together) and amuse each other. It's a beautiful thing.

June 25

Brady and the All-Star 12s played their first game of the District Tournament this morning.

It didn't go very well for them, but I really appreciated how they did player introductions before the game: the PA announcer introduced one player from each team and had them meet at home plate to shake hands, fist bump, or whatever greeting they chose before they headed toward the mound to greet the rest of the players and the umpires.

It was a moment of peace between rivals. 

Given that I think this world could benefit from a lot more of that kind of behavior, I'm thankful to have had a glimpse of it today from young people. They are, after all, the future.

June 24

Twelve hours post-trip, it was back to baseball for me.

During his Royals game, this number 77 of ours had two hits in a single inning. He also got plunked in the (left... ugh) shoulder and lined out in his other two at-bats. But the two hits were good ones, and he definitely needed them.

He works so, so hard to play better, and 2023 hasn't been an easy year for him. His summer birthday has always meant that he skirts the line between one group of guys and another (for example, he's 14u while the great majority of his fellow freshman teammates are 15u), and I think that sometimes that makes it hard for him to feel like he fits in. 

But I'm so proud of him for continuing to try. And I'm grateful that the prayer I silently uttered as he stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat was answered as it was.

June 23

It's been a long day of driving and then flying and then driving some more, but Abby and I are finally home.

My mom came by to give good-bye hugs, and then not much later, we said farewell to Bobby, Reaya, Brendan, and Bri and hit the road. As planned, we swung through Dunkin' for some delicious donuts (and coffee for me) before pointing the car toward BWI.

We were plenty early so I was able to scout out (and wait for) Arby's roast beef. And then I picked up a little souvenir for my girl: a stuffed Maryland blue crab. (The toy-kind, not the food-kind.) She instantly fell in love and named him Clawbert. 

Anyway, there were some travel delays involved that necessitated a literal run from one terminal to another in Las Vegas, but the important thing is that we made our flight, were able to use our A boarding passes, and got home sans major hiccups.

As I sit here in my usual evening spot, I feel a sense of deep satisfaction and gratefulness. Was it a perfect trip? No. There were a few moments of tension and frustration because we're human. But was it good nonetheless? Absolutely. Abby and I traveled a grand total of 508.6 miles in the Silver Bullet (the 467.8 in the image plus the 40.8 miles that we drove to Bobby's from the airport before I figured out how to reset the tripometer). That's more than 500 miles of just-us time that featured lots of random chit-chat, lots of light-hearted banter, and even a few more serious moments, too. 

In a nutshell, it was priceless time with my one and only daughter who has grown into a beautiful young adult so much faster than I ever could have imagined possible. So for that gift, I am grateful.

June 22

Tomorrow Abby and I head back to California, so we savored today, starting with the morning fuel-up at the Mother Ship. As I sipped my blonde americano, I saw that Jimmie Cone's weekend flavors had been posted and that black raspberry was on the list, so despite the misty rain that fell from the sky, we hopped into the Silver Bullet (as I've been calling our rental VW Golf Sporttrack) and enjoyed some colorful cones. (We'll call that "early lunch.")

After finally making contact with my mom, we arranged to meet her at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, so we made that drive and enjoyed not only our food, but some good window shopping as well. 

We then braved rush hour traffic (which quite honestly was nothing compared to the Bay Area crazy we've endured over the years, but maybe it was an off-day) to get back to Bobby's. He put the stamp of approval on my plan to get Ledo Pizza for dinner, so Abby and I picked up the pies. 

In addition to a cheese and a pepperoni for us, I also ordered a small one with cooked bacon for my grandma, so before we returned to eat, we took it to her. It was surreal being there in her house one more time, knowing that... well, knowing that she's 100.5 years old and so very tired but still in a good mood, still thanking us for coming to see her, still remembering that Abby goes to school in Illinois and that the boys play baseball just like their great-grandpa. And hearing her say again that it's too bad that he didn't get to see them play and that he would've been so proud of them. One of us was in tears by the time we left, and that's okay because it's hard to see people we love sunsetting in this life. But what a life it's been. That's what I try to remember when I feel the sadness well.

Anyway, Reaya and Bri were still out when we got back to my brother's, so Bobby and Brendan joined Abby and I for slightly cool pizza and laughs around the dinner table. And then a few episodes of Scooby Doo. (Or Mystery Incorporated or whatever it's called!)

It was another sweet day. As this trip comes to a close, I'm so grateful to Adam for keeping the ship upright at home. And I'm thankful to God for all of the new memories my girl and I will share moving forward, like mirror selfies and wild poodles and the silver bullet. And bovine horses, too.

June 21

It was a very full Wednesday.

We started off at the Mother Ship for morning coffee and then drove up to Rocky Ridge to visit my dad, who is the postmaster there. It was rainy out and definitely chilly so it was slow going as we wound along those country roads, but we made it. We hung out and talked for a few hours at the post office, and I marveled over how different a small town post office and ours at home really are.

By the time we bade farewell to my dad and hit the road, it was 2 PM, so we opted to navigate to Frederick in hopes that's we'd find something decent to eat. But as we drove along, I noticed a sign that claimed we were in close proximity to a covered bridge. Since I literally read an article about Maryland's covered bridges just a month ago, I decided I wanted to see it, so we took a brief detour to check out Utica Covered Bridge.

And then we did indeed find food in Frederick; it wasn't exactly Jerry's, but we have a sneaking suspicion that it was formerly a Jerry's. And the cheesesteaks were just fine, so the so-named Jack's Subs and Pizza did just fine.

And then after a quick pit stop at Bobby's, we again headed out, this time to Lib's in Fulton for a meet-up with my middle school friends. It was a blessing to see those who were able to come and to be able to introduce my girl to them. We may not have all been best friends back then, but I'm so grateful for all of them now and for our occasional get-togethers.

All in all, it was a driving-day. But it was also a good day, and for all of the sweet moments enclosed within the hours, I am so grateful.

June 20

Once again I find myself writing late at night, so I'm torn between trying to hurry up and finish so I can go to sleep and noting every morsel I can remember, just so Abby and I can go back and chuckle over all of them later on. Oh, the quandary.

We began our day as usual with a Mother Ship run, and then made our way over to Butler's Orchard. We only visited the store, but still came away with some yummies, including a jar of cherry preserves (most definitely for me) and some flavored honey sticks (to take back home). Butler's has changed a lot over the years, but navigating the twisty road to get there filled me with nostalgia so I'm glad we went. (And I'm sure I'll be glad all over again when I crack open that jar of jam, too.)

From there we went for a drive, and eventually wound up in Black Hill Regional Park. Abby likes seascapes so we parked near Little Seneca Lake and walked down to a pair of docks for a good look at the water. Nearby fisher-kids aside, the serenity of the scene --of the glass-like surface of the water and the trees and the partly cloudy skies above-- was so calming that it filled me with a sense of peace.

By this time we were both pretty hungry, so Abby navigated us to Five Guys, where she was given the largest "regular size" serving of fries that I've ever seen. (Seriously, it's like they were reproducing in the bag.)

Finally, following a brief rest-stop at Bobby's, we went to my grandma's house to meet my mom so she could drive us to our evening entertainment: a production of Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville at Toby's Dinner Theater. It was a good performance all-around, but I have to say that the memories most likely to stick with me involved Abby's giant plate of cheese cubes, wild poodles, and the beautiful human Ken doll.

It was another good day, and I am grateful for the experiences.

June 19

It's rather late so please bear with me!

Today was another good day for Abby and me. We arose late-ish (which is becoming something of a trend) and went to the Mother Ship for libations. 

After mulling our options (and noticing the non-existent line), we decided to hit Jimmie Cone for the second time this trip. Abby opted for orange with rainbow jimmies, while I noshed on the traditional (but extremely drippy) chocolate-chocolate pairing, and then we were off to Walmart so Abby could acquire a shirt and gaze at the Maryland-inspired architecture in Mt. Airy. (Translation: Water tower. She calls them "Maryland Inspired Architecture.")

Next up, we stopped by the Damascus McD's for a drink for me. I hadn't been inside that location for years and I was blown away by how much it's changed since my younger days. It was rather surreal: very much the same outside, very different inside. I'm sure there's something deeply philosophical I could say about that but honestly, I'm too tired.

Anyway, another drive down a backroad followed, and we found ourselves pulling off the road and going for a short trek along a trail in Little Bennett Regional Park. Strangely enough, the trail featured a selfie stand, so we took healthy advantage of the photo opp.

Then following a brief stop at Bobby's house, we drove over to my mom's. I finally presented her with her very late Mother's Day gift and with the pink, white, and gray blanket I've been working on for months. (And I also included a few additional items for her to enter in the county fair for me later on this summer. I figured I may as well!) 

With the exception of our foray to Jimmie Cone at ten-something in the morning, we'd missed lunch, so when we left mom's, we scooted over to Arby's so Abby could enjoy more roast beef. Another short stroll at a different park followed, and then we made our way back to Bobby's for a homemade pizza dinner with the fam (save Bri, who was at dance rehearsals all day). 

And now? Now I'm tired. But I'm grateful, too.

June 18

Day two was calmer than day one, but it was still a full one for Abby and me.

We both got up rather late. After Abby completed her beautification process, a back-to-back comparison 

verified that Brendan is indeed taller than her for the first time since they were babies. It was a stunning but happy revelation for all involved. 

Our niece-slash-cousin Brianna joined us for our out-of-house adventures, which included stops at the Mother Ship, the Dollar Tree, and then Target (because the idea of a pool-outing was floated --I'm really on a roll with the wordplay-- and Abby didn't bring a suit). 

With bathing suits acquired, I craved a fountain soda so I headed for the McD's drive-thru. At first the girls tried to get me to just go back to the house, but then they remembered they hadn't eaten lunch and recalled the existence of the Grimace Birthday Meal so we pulled away with a purple shake (that Bri claimed tasted like Grimace looks), some burgers, some nuggets, and fries.

Back at the house, Reaya's parents and my mom arrived for dinner, and then afterward my brother opened the Father's Day cards that Bri and Abby so carefully chose for him at the Dollar store. (And while doing so, he confirmed that he is indeed the prettiest princess.) Then I proposed a walk, so four of us trolled the trail that runs behind their house. Since I'm rarely in Maryland during the summer months, I had no idea the trail was there, but it was very pretty and green so I'm grateful for the time us ladies had together. (Even if Abby and Bri have never seen Saved By the Bell and even if they think Boy Meets World is awesome and that Green Lantern is an old movie.)

Finally, we closed out the active part of our day by video chatting with Adam, Isaac, and Brady so we could watch the opening of the Father's Day presents. I felt like an idiot when I first realized that we'd scheduled our trip over this weekend, but Adam was --as he so often is-- completely gracious about it. I am very grateful that our kids have a terrific dad in him, and we're all very blessed that that's true every day of the year. 

So tonight, I'm thankful for our adventures and for family, both of origin and the one Adam and I created. Family isn't perfect, but it always has the potential to be a blessing.

June 17

Abby and I had a full first day in Maryland.

After we arose from our jetlag-fueled (haha, jet fuel. Unintentional funny there) slumber, we headed over to the nearby Mother Ship for some java (me) and a pink drink (her). Then we hit our first of several Targets and Walmarts of the day so we could secure shampoo and conditioner for the week (and so I could look for new Cars with Faces and Corvettes). Then with that out of the way, we hopped over to Roy Rogers for roast beef sandwiches. While we were there a woman stopped by our table and gushed over how beautiful we were and how much I look like "that woman from that superhero TV show" (I think she meant Lynda Carter). Even though I'm not sure she was fully sober, she never asked me for anything and her over, over the top praise was so kind that it made smile. This world needs more sunshine-spreaders. (And it made Abby raise her eyebrows at me, as I'd been knocking my appearance earlier in the day. But that's neither here nor there.)

Still basking in compliment-afterglow, I tried to visit my dear friend Gretchen at her house since I hadn't been able to reach her, but her husband told me she hadn't slept well and was trying to make up for it this afternoon; hopefully we still get to see her sometime before this trip's end. 

Then it was on to Jimmie Cone, partly because Abby has been asking to go for years now (literally, since we only ever come during the winter and it's not open then) and partly because well, you just can't top good ice cream and jimmies. And as Abby rightly noted, a LOT of jimmies. From there we went to my grandma's house, where we saw grandma (of course) as well as my mom. At 100 1/2 years old, my grandma still looks good; in fact, as I looked at her, I silently hoped that my skin will still look as good as hers in the years to come.

Then we hit the road again. We had plans to meet Abby's college friend Anna and her mom and sister for dinner at Mission BBQ in Frederick and had a little extra time, so we coursed along back country roads and enjoyed the scenery (and hay bales) while I ruminated over how some things had changed a lot over time (hello 355 between Frederick and Clarksburg) while others still look virtually the same (like the old sign at my first elementary school). Dinner itself was great; Abby and Anna had an animated conversation at one end of the table while I got the chance to talk with her mom, who proved to be a lovely, genuine person.

And that, in a nutshell, was our day. Lots of good things. Probably too many calories. But all blessings, and I am thankful for the hours and the experiences and the opportunity to show my girl places that I knew when I was very young.

June 16

Abby and I got up early this morning, hugged all of the boys, and set out for our weeklong adventure in Maryland.

With the exception of a woman in the row behind us on the flight from Oakland to Vegas who talked about a selection of TMI-topics like she had a megaphone affixed to her face, it was a blessedly uneventful pair of more or less on-time flights and a blessedly uneventful drive to my brother's house.

So for all of that and for our time together (and with family and friends we see so rarely) to come, I am grateful.

June 15

Isaac turned 15 years old today. 

Surprisingly, he had no baseball on his schedule, so he spent most of the day just hanging out around the house in his PJs. Brady (on his behalf) requested McDonalds' sausage egg McMuffins and hash browns for breakfast so we had those around the kitchen table, and then they retired to the living room for some serious video game action.

Later, he chose CPK for dinner and then we returned home for presents, cake, and ice cream. 

It was, all in all, a quiet day. A pleasant day. And for me, it was a day of gratitude for the birth of this young man who adds so much richness to my life --to all of our lives-- with his kindness, his sense of humor, his thoughtfulness, and his love.

Happy 15th birthday, Isaac! I love you.

June 14

Isaac very briefly came out to warm up the pitcher during his morning game.

He hasn't played catcher in years, but when I saw him squatting behind the plate wearing the mask, I was instantly transported back to his time in AA-ball. He caught the last inning of the first game of that season, and I have a photo of him celebrating a win following the final out. His smile was so huge and genuine that the sight is imprinted in my memory.

It's a blessing how a sight as simple as this one can trigger a sweet memory.

June 13

We went to the A's game this evening.

It was Reverse Boycott night (which, for those not in the know, was to protest the team's proposed move to Las Vegas and to pressure the owner to sell) so it was loud and crowded (by recent Oakland-standards) and surprisingly well-organized. 

Ordinarily those first two descriptors --loud and crowded-- are big-time turn-offs for me, but not tonight. Tonight they were reminders of sweet times gone by; back 20-plus years ago when Adam and I went to A's games on a regular basis. Back when we cheered for the Big Three and booed Jason Giambi's return as a Yankee and experienced the 20-game win-streak first-hand. Tonight, some of that long-absent electric energy was back in Oakland, and it was sweet to be able to share it with our kids, even if it winds up being just this one time.

So for the experience and the memories it stirred up in my mind, I am grateful.

June 12

At the end of May, I used some stars to buy a new Spring-y cup at the Mother Ship. (Stars are what they call their rewards points, for the record.) And then I promptly misplaced it. I ransacked my car and the house, and finally came to the sad conclusion last week that I'd probably left it on the bleachers at one of Brady's games. 

So I was genuinely surprised when I opened the cabinet this morning and found it sitting there on the shelf in all of its pastel glory. I still can't figure out where it'd been hiding or how it made its way into the dishwasher and then onto the shelf, but I guess the details don't matter much.

What matters is that it was lost but then it was found. It serves as a great reminder to me that even when I think a situation is beyond repair, it can still be redeemed. And knowledge of that truth is an amazing blessing.

June 11

Adam and the kiddos went to see the new Spiderman movie this afternoon. (I stayed home so I could introvert, but in reality I watched a documentary on Netflix while I finished several crochet projects. Not as restful as intended. But at least I got some things done.) 

Abby likes to dress up as characters from the movies when she goes to see them, so she did just that today. (I think she said she was Gwen. I'm sure she will confirm or deny.) I took this pic for her because she wanted to see her headband. It was just a quick click, so I was surprised to discover that I really like it. It's very... her. In fact, it's one of my favorites from this year to date.

It's funny how that can happen -- how ordinary moments can produce results that far exceed our expectations. God works that way all the time, I think, so make sure you keep your eyes open for those unexpected blessings this week. They'll be there for you to see as long as you're looking for them.

June 10

I was tired when I got up this morning. And by tired I mean tired. I was tired enough from the week's practice-game-practice-game rigamarole that I seriously considered skipping out on an extended family party this evening because although I'm mostly extraverted these days, the introvert in me was absolutely begging for some alone-time. "Go lie on the bed!" she chirped. "Go fall asleep while watching crime TV!" But in hindsight, I'm so glad I didn't listen to her.

I took my tripod along and snapped this image of everyone who attended, from Jenni and James' two-month old little girl Kennedi Jo all the way up to Gigi, the family matriarch who's still kickin' in her mid-90s.

In addition to meeting Kennedi and offering up plentiful congratulations to her beaming parents, we also celebrated Adam's parents' 50th wedding anniversary (which was actually yesterday) and spent lots of time eating and catching up and living in the moment (and drinking margaritas and even playing a little bit of basketball with my boys, as stunning as that sounds). 

It was just a good time. And I am thankful that my weariness did not win out.

June 9

Isaac lives and breathes baseball these days. For real.

This morning I drove him 35 minutes north so he could play his first Nines game. It's a team made up entirely of players from his school --mostly JV and Varsity with a few Freshmen mixed in-- so he knew a handful of the boys. And he did fine; he played half of the game in left field and flew out to left-center. All in all a respectable outing.

I continue to be inspired by his dedication and drive and by how playing fills him with such obvious joy. I have no idea how far he'll go in the sport, but I'm grateful for right now and for cheerful post-game car rides home.

June 8

There were so many good things about today.

This morning Abby and I went to the Mother Ship and to the mall for some window shopping. This afternoon I spent some time outside soaking up the warmth of the sun's rays while Abby and Isaac and Brady peacefully joined forces to play a video game. 

And then this evening, I went to Dani's dance recital. It was a little weird being there in the theater without a kiddo of my own --or me-- on stage since I spent so many years either watching or performing alongside my girl, but it was fun, too.

So many good things from a single day. So much to inspire thankfulness in my heart.

June 7

I took one photo today, and this is it.

It shows Brady batting against one of his former teammates during an evening scrimmage between the 12 and 11-year old All-Star teams.

It was a lovely (albeit oddly chilly) June evening, so it was a blessing to be able to sit in a familiar spot on the bleachers and watch my baby play a game he enjoys. 

June 6

This is how I found Brady when I got up this morning.

He was hunkered down on the living room floor playing a video game (apparently while simultaneously watching a video on his computer), surrounded by a menagerie of stuffed animals.

I love that he still does this. He's going into seventh grade and will be 13 by year's end, but he still lugs his favorite stuffies around the house. 

Kids face so much pressure to be older and more "mature" (whatever that's supposed to mean) that it makes me happy to see that my kid knows that he's still a kid and that engaging in kid activities is just fine. 

So for that wonderful innocence, I am thankful.

June 5

It's the first official day of summer vacation for the boys. And at our house, that means one thing: more time for baseball.

So that's how we kicked off the time away from school: Isaac had batting practice this morning followed by a Royals game this evening (no hits this go-round but he did get on base, courtesy of a plunk to the backside), and Brady had all-star practice.

And me? I had Bible study this morning, drove the mom-bus, and then accidentally took a nap in the middle of the day before said-game.

Tiring stuff for sure, but good. And I am thankful for the moments.

June 4

I'm quite tired this evening but I'm happy, and that's always a good thing.

This afternoon we hosted Brady's team party, so we welcomed most of his teammates --everyone except one who is out of the country and another who is getting ready to go on vacation-- and their families over for a pool party and general celebration of their awesome season. (Because I know I'll be scratching my head trying to remember in 10 years, the photo includes, from left to right, Coach Mike, Max, Jeffery, Nick, Brady, Mateo, Krish, Spencer, Coach Mark, Luke (Nick's brother), Darshan, and Jackson.)

And an awesome season it was, and not just because they won the Majors championships (which was, of course, very cool). It's actually more because they had patient, helpful, knowledgeable coaches in Mike and Mark, and because they were all genuinely nice kids who encouraged one another, worked together well, and enjoyed being out on the diamond as a team. They enjoyed each other's company so much, in fact, that one of them whose birthday was today decided that there wasn't anything he wanted to do more than hang out with his teammates. So the team celebration kinda-sorta doubled as a birthday celebration, too.

Anyway, there was much splashing in the pool on this very warm day and lots of laughter and lots of eating. And even a little wiffle ball out in the cul-de-sac before the guests departed and we packed away the extra chairs and food.

So I'm tired, yes, but I'm also grateful. I'm grateful for every one of these boys and for their parents. I'm grateful for the coaches and their dedication to teaching the boys about this sport they all love so much. I'm grateful for the opportunity to welcome others into this space God provided for us three years ago and for a warm, upper 80-degree day that made using the pool palatable (because goodness, it's been a cool year so far!). I'm grateful for conversation and connection. I'm grateful for the way Isaac watched over and played with the boys. And I'm grateful for the amazing Phillies cookies Abby made from scratch for us to enjoy, even though parties aren't really her jam.

I guess I'm just grateful. And that's always a good way to feel.

June 3

The Phillies played their final two games this morning as Pleasanton's representatives in a single-elimination tournament of champions. They did just fine all in all: our guys won the first game in dramatic style over Bollinger Canyon, but dropped the second to Danville. And that was that.

Tomorrow we'll put a bow on their truly excellent season with the team party, so I'll save my real reflections on the experience for then.

But for now, I'll just say that I continue to be grateful for the many lessons my boys have learned courtesy of baseball -- lessons about patience, perseverance, kindness, generosity, flexibility, acceptance, and determination. They're better people because of it, and that truth fills me with gratitude.

June 2

One year ago, we were on the edge of a season of significant change as Abby graduated from high school, Isaac finished middle school, and Brady completed elementary school. At the time I wasn't sure what would come next; I didn't know how Abby would adjust to Wheaton and how we'd adjust to her being 2,000 miles away for much of the year. And I didn't know how the boys would adapt to their new school environments or to daily life without their big sis around. There were plenty of unknowns that inspired fears that were mostly unspoken, but still present in my mind.

But today, which doubles as the one calendar year marker from Abby's graduation and the final day of 6th grade for Brady and 9th for Isaac, I feel a sense of great gratitude and peace because the past year has been smoother than I ever could've imagined.

Brady conquered his first foray into changing classes and managing multiple teachers' expectations. Isaac navigated his freshman year and kept his spirits up amid a disappointing spring season of baseball. And Abby made amazing friends at Wheaton while acing her own academics (which means she didn't sleep much but that's beside the point). And they all continued to grow into kind, well-mannered, good-hearted human beings who try to do the right things. 

So today, I'm grateful for all of those blessings. I'm grateful for good teachers and coaches who really care about students. And I'm grateful for the coming summer months and for the time we'll have together as a family.

June 1

Abby accompanied me to the Mother Ship this morning for my customary libations.

In addition to enjoying our coffee (me) and frappuccino (her), we took a selection of random selfies. (Well, Abby took them. I just tried to look presentable whenever I noticed her pointing and shooting, since enormously unflattering stealth images are her jam.)

Anyway, I like this one. I told her that it could be our album cover some day. 

Although fully random, moments like these are sweet, and I'm grateful for them.