August 31

I tried pretty hard to avoid going to the Giants game in San Francisco this evening.

I guess that sounds strange given that I do like the sport and that I spend copious amounts of time engaged in baseball-related activity practically all year long, but it's the truth. When Tina texted to see if we wanted to join her and John and some others from the Youth Group for Fellowship Night at Oracle Park, I said sure, but then silently hoped one of the boys' friends would be able to take my ticket so I could stay home and rest. But since it's Labor Day weekend, the friends had other plans. So I wound up going. And in hindsight, I'm glad I did.

I didn't exactly love sitting in the nosebleeds, but the view from our seats way, way up in the third deck was beautiful. The Giants didn't win the game, but I got to watch my boys link arms and sway with the Robitaille brothers during the seventh inning rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." And I did walk away with some nice swag, including a blanket and a Logan Webb t-shirt. I didn't know about the Webb shirt giveaway until we walked through the gate, and I was immediately struck by how wonderful it was to have "Logan" with us for the evening in such a tangible and unexpected way.

And best of all, I did get to listen to player testimonies emceed by Dave Dravecky and I did get to enjoy a mini concert by Mac Powell (who --random funny anecdote-- was outside hanging by the curb as we were driving by the stadium on the way toward the freeway. We were at a red light when Isaac spotted him so I rolled down the window and thanked him for the show. It was a completely random, amusing moment for me. But I'm getting off-topic). It was a soul-stirring blessing to be there with other Believers, praising God and glorifying Jesus' name in a public space. It was, in a word, beautiful. And I am thankful that I took the opportunity to experience it instead of staying home.

August 30

After my Coffee and Chat Time this morning, I headed out to do some window shopping (and buy milk, since Isaac pointed out that we were out during his 10PM visit to the refrigerator last night).

Since I was right next door visiting Target, I decided to walk over to Bath and Body Works. I pop in every now and then to buy a room spray or a Wallflower refill, but I'm not a huge shopper. In fact, I usually visit for the nostalgia factor, since I can so clearly remember going to the one that was in Lakeforest Mall with Meg back in high school. Our teenaged selves would sniff and spray and eventually leave with our wrists saturated in several scents. We probably smelled terrible but hey, it was fun. (Just like now, it's fun to go with Abby during the Christmas season so I can see her eyes light up at the displays.)

Anyway, they had a decent sale going on today so after perusing the offerings for a little while, I decided to get a new scent for Fall. And after considering the options, I went with Champagne Apple & Honey. It's light and crisp and feels very Autumnal to me.

So yes, today I'm grateful for sweet memories with an old friend, and that something as basic and mundane as new soap can still make me happy.

August 29

This was me in the pickup line at Brady's school this afternoon.

One of my lifelong nemeses, ragweed, is apparently releasing bagsful of pollen these days so my allergies are verging on out of control.

It was otherwise a pleasant day outside --sunny skies, a light breeze, and a high temp of about 80-- so when I got in line, I opened my glove box and was delighted to find a holdover mask from the COVID days. I put it on and yep, that's me.

So although I'm not pleased about the whole allergy thing, I'm grateful that it's no longer weird for me to wear a mask when they're flaring. And I'm grateful that I still had one I could use today.

August 28

Another Wednesday, another wonderful Starbucks date with my youngest.

I sipped my blonde roast while he noshed on an everything bagel with cream cheese. 

And it was very good. Very good indeed.

These days it seems like Brady gets bigger and older-looking every single day. It's strange to think that my baby is taller than me, but he is. It's strange to think that he'll be 14 at the end of the year, but he will. It's strange to think that he'll be in high school in just a single year, but he will. I mean, wasn't he just that happy baby standing in a wagon, giving me the biggest cheese smile ever? No? I guess it wasn't. But it seems like it was just a few months ago.

And although it all makes me feel quite old, it continues to be a blessing to watch him (and Abby and Isaac) grow. And I'm grateful to God for the privilege.

August 27

With the A's set to leave Oakland for good next season, tonight we checked out the city's newest baseball team, the Ballers (also cleverly known as the B's).

We headed over to the ballpark after Adam finished work, picking up Karine --his good friend from high school-- along the way.

It's definitely more of a bare-bones experience when compared with Major League Baseball, but it was fun and the team played well, notching a 13-1 win.

When we first got married, Adam and I went to lots of A's games. There were bobbleheads collected and dollar dogs eaten and lots of exciting comebacks witnessed. (And Karine, who worked for the A's at the time, was responsible for providing us with tickets that were much nicer than the ones we could've afforded at the time!) In some ways, our early 20s were defined by baseball just like our 40s have been. Pro baseball versus high school and Babe Ruth baseball, but the game is the game.

It would've been nice if the A's weren't leaving, but it is what it is. Things change over time. But this evening was a pleasant nod to what was and what could be in the future. And I'm grateful for both the look back and the peek forward. 

August 26

Brady had the first baseball practice of his 14u season this evening, so we're now fully and officially into Fall.

Since Adam wasn't yet back from Chicago and I didn't want to drive back and forth more than once, I opted to stick around to watch the action. After a quick walk around the park, I set up my chair in a cool, breezy spot, pulled out a crochet project, and spent a very pleasant hour alternately stitching and watching, stitching and watching.

Life is definitely not always predictable, so I appreciate it and am very grateful when things feel familiar and comfortable. And school and baseball certainly fit that bill during this phase of my life.

August 25

I was startled awake at 2:20 this morning by the shrill chirp of a fire alarm in dire need of a fresh set of batteries. Since Adam's out of town, I dealt with it by stuffing a wad of tissue in my ear and putting a pillow on top of my head, and eventually, mercifully, I was able to tune out the noise and get back to sleep.

When I finally got up for the day several hours later, I quickly determined that the offending device was the one located at the highest point of our bedroom ceiling (because of course it was). And I groaned to myself; I'm not short, per se, but even standing on the top rung of the ladder we own, I can't reach that high.

So I asked Isaac if he would help. And after church and lunch, he complied. He retrieved the ladder from the garage, gazed up at the ceiling, and expressed doubt that he could reach it. I assured him he could --mostly because the thought of having to listen to that chirp, chirp, chirp for another few days was fully overwhelming but also because Adam had done it before-- and he mounted the first rung. 

Initially, he descended and told me he was sorry, but he couldn't reach it. I asked him if he'd please try once again, so we moved the dresser over a foot, repositioned the ladder, and up he went. And he did it. I breathed a huge sigh of relief and thanked him profusely for his help.

And I am indeed so, so grateful that's he's tall and that he was willing to help me. I could tell that he was nervous about going up to the next-to-highest rung --because he had to in order to reach the device -- but he steeled himself and did it anyway. For me. And I am grateful for his brave gesture.

August 24

It's painfully clear that our family is well-accustomed to the task of missing someone who can't be with us. It's part of our day to day existence as a unit.

But that truth doesn't mean that we turn a cold heart toward additional times of separation. Nope, they're still difficult. We still miss one another when were apart.

And as of this morning, we're "apart" for a few months because Abby and Adam got up early and headed to the airport for their flight to Chicago. The boys and I got up, too; this was the only image I was quick (and awake) enough to have the forethought to take, and I'm glad I got it because I love it for its raw real-ness.

I still contend that although it would be nice to have her a bit closer, Abby belongs at Wheaton for now. She's grown and matured in so many wonderful ways over the past two years, and I'm certain that she'll continue to do so during the coming year, too.

I'll miss my buddy, but I'm so thankful that she goes to such a wonderful school where she has an amazing group of girlfriends with whom she's already made so many memories.

August 23

Abby heads back to school tomorrow so we spent today doing things she wanted to do.

The Mother Ship was first up on the to-do list. Since Crumbl doesn't open until 9 AM, we actually picked up our assortment of cookies last night so we'd be able to engage in a tasting with Terry this morning. Although all four offerings --which included lemon glaze, waffle, chocolate covered strawberry, and semi-sweet chocolate chunk-- were tasty, my girl tabbed chocolate covered strawberry as her favorite. (Me? I'm not sure. I do like a good semi-sweet chocolate chip cookie, so maybe that one. But I could make a case for any of them so the jury will remain out indefinitely.)

From there, we ran over to Target, where she expressed her love of a stuffed Pooh Bear before we scooted back home so she could go to lunch with Adam. When they got back, she and I finished one of the Lifetime movies we started yesterday. And I gave her the stuffed Eeyore (which happened to match her beloved Pooh) that I had stashed away for the occasion.

Later, we all went to Black Bear Diner for dinner, and the kiddos capped off the evening with several spirited rounds of Mario Kart. As I watched them play, I took in the chatter and drew mental comparisons between the racket they made as small children and their volume as teens. (In the end I decided that they're probably louder now, but my ability to understand what they're saying makes up for the extra decibels.) 

It was, all in all, a good day filled with good moments.

Right now, she's wandering around the house, gradually packing her bags to get ready to go. She's looking forward to seeing her friends, but I know she's going to miss us. And we'll miss her, too. She's an important part of our family and it's always a little weird --a little uncomfortable-- when she's not here. But change is a part of this life, so I celebrate that she's continuing to grow and mature. And I'm grateful and thankful for the wonderful person she already is right now.

August 22

After the boys were dropped off at school and after Starbucks and after Abby's lunch with Tina and John, she and I settled in to watch some Lifetime movies on TV.

The films, which all centered on women desperately attempting to free their beloved daughters from cults (because apparently it was Cult Day), were of their usual quality so we did what we have so often done in the past and critiqued the plotlines and acting skills as we went along.

It was a pleasant little bonding activity for us, and the silliness of the movies themselves aside, I am thankful for more time spent with my favorite girl before she heads back to school.

August 21

Since it's Wednesday, Brady joined me for our customary Starbucks date this morning. Since it's her last week at home before she heads back to Wheaton, Abby joined us, too.

Brady was annoyed with me and Abby opted to save her weekly "free" (to her, anyway) drink for later, so it was a fairly quiet outing. They sat side by side, across from me, mostly poking at their phones while I chatted with Terry.

It was, virtual silence and grumpiness aside, a blessing to be there with them, and I am grateful for the time.

August 20

Since her summer is rapidly winding down, Abby joined us for dinner tonight while the Brositos went to a Youth Group pool party.

We enjoyed a pleasant meal at Strizzi's downtown (where we ran into the Wissmans and the McDonalds -- hello!). And then we walked to the Dairy, where we got frosty cones: Orange and chocolate for Abby, vanilla pineapple for Adam, and plain chocolate for me. We don't go there often, but when we do, it doesn't disappoint.

It was, from start to finish, a great evening with two of my favorite people, and I'm thankful for the time with just the two of them.

August 19

Monday is Chick Fil A day at our house. Usually Adam swings through the drive-thru on his way back from the train station, but today said-train was running behind schedule, so I offered to do it instead.

Since Abby and I were already camped out on my bed half-watching a Hallmark movie, we moved the party out to my car and set out on our errand. It was a cool evening, so I rolled the windows down and let the breeze whip and swirl my hair for good measure. And I felt a sense of gratitude for the time I've had with my girl this summer.

She heads back to Wheaton this Saturday and I'll miss having her around. But I know she's going where she needs to be at this phase of her life. And I'm excited to watch her continue to grow and mature, even if I don't always get to see the play-by-play roll out in person. 

August 18

After church today, we hosted Adam's family for a late-summer birthday celebration honoring Isaac, Emily, and Logan.

Despite the age gap, it's always fun to get the cousins together. Five of the six enjoyed some pool time (Abby abstained, choosing instead to hang out with the grown-ups on the deck) after we munched on burgers and hot dogs for lunch.

And then, after a little time passed, they paired off. Melody, who was the first to get out of the pool, went inside to play Mario Kart with Abby. Then Brady and Theo dried off and joined the girls in the living room, leaving Isaac and Asher in the water, where they stayed for quite some time.

It was, all in all, a pleasant afternoon, and I'm grateful for the family time.

August 17

Today, Adam and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary.

Now by "celebrated," I mean we had a mostly normal Saturday that included a very nice walk around the neighborhood followed by napping (for him) and crocheting (for me) before going to dinner at Haps this evening. (Where we both ate too much delicious food, which rendered us fully prepared to vegetate and watch a movie before bedtime.)

So what can I write about the past 22 years? I guess I can start by saying that they've been pretty amazing. Definitely not entirely what I expected when I walked down the aisle in the white gown my mom so carefully and lovingly constructed for her only daughter. But amazing nonetheless. We've experienced great joys and absolutely devastating heartbreak, and we're definitively different people than we were 22 years ago today. More adaptable, more understanding. Hopefully wiser. Certainly more... old. 

But we've weathered every circumstance together, and I feel so blessed that at the end of each day, we're still Us. I love you, hunny! Happy #22!

August 16

Abby was, for one reason or another, determined to get a hug from Brady before school this morning.

Being your average 13-year old boy, he resisted at first, but eventually relented.

And it was beautiful. And I'm thankful that I was right there to soak up the moment.

August 15

While I chit-chatted with Terry this morning at the Mother Ship, Abby sat across from me talking with Neil, who is one of the coffee time regulars.

I wasn't paying a lot of attention to them since I was engrossed in my own exchange, but I glanced over at one point and smiled because my girl was fully engrossed in telling him about her preschool room experience at VBS.

And there's really nothing quite like an animated Abby who is entirely committed to the story she's sharing. 

Given that she's generally pretty reserved, it's a blessing for me to see her emerge from her shell and live out loud.

August 14

Brady and I had our first Wednesday Starbucks date of the school year this morning.

Given that it's our last year of these hangout sessions --when he starts high school next year, the late-start Wednesdays of middle school will be a thing of the past-- I took a moment to reflect on the sweetness of the experience.

He's grown a lot since he was a sixth grader back in 2022. A whole lot, really. And although it's a little sad to see my baby growing up so quickly, it's a blessing. So I am grateful.

August 13

A steady breeze-verging-on-wind rustled the leaves on the trees as I ventured out to the mailbox after dinner this evening.

It also rustled the flowers out in front of our house, much to my frustration. See, as I passed them, I noticed --for the first time this season, really-- their delicate, multi-shaded petals. And I decided I wanted to take their photo.

But because of that breeze, the little flowers wouldn't stay still. They bobbed and weaved as I struggled to capture the perfect shot. No matter what I did, the wind blew and the little petals moved. And every image was annoyingly out of focus. 

Frustrated by my failed project, I mounted the stairs back to the house, but then I had a thought as I scrolled through those images and noted bits and pieces of sharp, precise loveliness in each frame: even when things seem annoyingly out of focus, they can still be beautiful if you tilt your head in a new direction. 

Our paths my not always be perfectly clear --in fact, they rarely are-- but we can still learn to look for the sweet parts of the journey.

August 12

When I traveled back east for my grandma's memorial service in May, I took along a suitcase filled with crochet creations for my mom to enter in the county fair for me. (Thank you, Mom!) Today, I got the results.

In addition to this sand-and-waves blanket that fared particularly well with the judges, I also earned 10 blue and two red ribbons. All in all, not too shabby for someone who learned the art during COVID.

It's personally rewarding for me to be able to create comfort items for people who need to know that they're being thought of, remembered, and prayed for. I enjoy pouring myself into each piece and feel blessed that after the initial steep learning curve I had to climb, it comes to me relatively easily. That talent is one of God's sweet gifts to me, and I am grateful for it. (And I'm also grateful for my mom's help!)

August 11

We often stop at the Columbia Candy Company as we drive through Murphys on the way home from the cabin, so when Isaac asked if we could today, Adam said sure.

As we crowded into the display area to survey the assortment of chocolates, chewies, and other sweets, Abby suddenly pointed to a box on the shelf. When I craned my neck forward to take a closer look, I saw the words "Logan wrap" in bright orange text.

So naturally, I motioned for the Brositos to join her and snapped a pic. 

It's not every day that I can take a photo that includes Abby, Isaac, Brady, AND Logan, so I took the opportunity. Even if it's just symbolic, it's an awfully sweet sight to me because in my mind's eye, I can see him standing right there with his siblings.

August 10

I got up later than usual this morning and when I meandered into the family room, I found my peeps taking in the women's soccer gold medal game at the Paris Olympics. After we watched the US take the top prize, we headed up Highway 4 to begin today's adventure.

Stop number one was for lunch at the Sky High Pizza and Pub in Bear Valley. It was decidedly un-crowded and it took a while to get service, but I fully enjoyed my caprese sandwich, so I departed feeling ready to do some walking.

And walking we did, as stop number two was the very peopled Lake Alpine. Our plan was to circumnavigate the trail that goes around the lake, but that didn't happen because at some point, we lost track of the path. (Which I'm 99 percent sure is what happened the last time we tried to take this particular loop.) We inadvertently traipsed onto private property (according to the signs, anyway) and then spent 30 minutes meandering through brush and up huge slabs of granite in our quest to re-discover the path. Which, eventually, we did, which meant that Abby's fear that we'd be eaten by bears did not come true. (Phew.) "Scaling granite slabs" wasn't on my bingo card for today, and although it annoys me when a certain husband leads us astray in nature (because it happens with fair frequency), it wound up being an experience to remember.

After an afternoon back at the cabin watching the USA men win basketball gold (and, for some, sleeping), we went down the hill --with Isaac behind the wheel-- for dinner at the Snowshoe Brewery. I thoroughly enjoyed a glass of the only beer I really like --their apricot wheat-- and a burger with beer cheese and jalapenos. 

And then it was back to the cabin again for the evening. It was, all in all, a fun family day. There were some bumps along the way, but the bumps make life more interesting, so I am grateful.

August 9

After the boys got out of school and I finished up with a meeting at church, we hit the road early this evening so we could spend the weekend at The Cabin.

Traffic and our unusually late start-time (and stops at Sonic, Target, and Hobby Lobby) meant that the trip took a bit longer than usual, but honestly, it was just fine. Although Brady (with his long legs) was less than delighted to be crammed into the third row next to some of the luggage, cheerful was the predominant mood nonetheless.

There was lots of good-natured chit-chat, radio sing-a-longs, and even an acapella version of "Let It Go" (because "Frozen" will never go away) performed by Abby and Isaac.

I chuckled more than once from my perch in the front seat as I took it all in: all of the chatter, all of the singing, all of the harmonious sibling'ing by these young people I love so much. The kiddos may be much bigger, but road trips are definitely much easier these days. And I'm very grateful for that.

August 8

It still seems obscenely early to me since the hottest days of summer may still be ahead of us, but the boys started school today: junior year for Isaac and eighth grade for Brady. (And of course Abby will be a junior when she goes back to Wheaton in a few weeks. And like I wrote on Facebook, had things gone very differently, we would be ferrying Logan to his first year of college. It's hard to digest that nugget of reality. But God is still good, even when things don't make sense.)

I was taken aback when I realized just how much Brady grew over the summer. I knew he'd gotten bigger --mostly because when school ended, he was still shorter than me and that's certainly no longer the case-- but when I looked at this image, it was startling. And it reminded me for the umpteenth time that it really, truly doesn't take long for them to grow up.

Anyway, both boys seemed to have decent first days --they shared brief overviews of their teachers and assessments of their classes during dinnertime-- and although they can both think of other things they'd rather do with their time, I think they'll both do fine this school year. 

And for all of that --for being with them as they grow, and watching as they continue to morph into the people God created them to be-- I am grateful.

August 7

Tina --who is the Children's and Youth Ministry Director at church and part of the Bible study I attend-- asked if I wanted to meet for coffee this morning to catch up. 

I said sure, and I'm so glad that I did because the conversation was a big blessing to me. We didn't discuss anything particularly groundbreaking, but it was just so good to sit with someone who shares my faith, talking about the joys and challenges of everyday life.

She's always been wonderful with my kids, and I'm so thankful to be able to call her a friend as well. 

August 6

Heat tends to make me drowsy, so it wasn't terribly surprising when I nodded off to sleep this afternoon while sitting outside on the deck late this afternoon.

What did surprise me was being jolted awake a little later by the sounds of the green waste bin being dragged across the concrete to the water feature across the yard. 

When I wiped my bleary eyes and took a look, I spied Isaac standing there with a stick, carefully removing clumps of moss and algae from the little pond and depositing it into the bin.

No one asked him to; he just did it to help out. And I am thankful for his sweet spirit and his desire to assist in whatever ways he can.

August 5

I know I posted about this a few weeks ago, but I had another thought this afternoon as I sat on the bleachers watching Brady throw to his pitching coach. (He's up to 72 mph now, for the record. Not too bad for 13!)

It may come as a shock to those who don't know me in real life, but I'm not much of an athlete. (The rest of you who've actually seen me try to catch a ball can stop snickering now.) So I'm pretty useless when it comes to instructing my boys on, well, anything baseball-related.

So I'm thankful for people who do have the know-how and expertise to teach them. It's such a blessing that we can learn from one another, and that God gives us people who can help fill in the gaps.

Beyond that, I think we can all be gap-fillers, if we're up to it. So that's my challenge to you, if you're reading this: find a way to be a gap-filler this week. It'll be just as much of a blessing to you as it is to the person you help.

August 4

We spent time this weekend parked in the family room, taking in all ilks of Olympic action from Paris. (And Tahiti. Can't forget about those surfers.)

We've seen volleyball and gymnastics and soccer and handball and air rifle and swimming and track and field events and skateboarding and water polo and basketball and rugby. (The latter is probably Brady's new favorite sport. He found it greatly amusing to watch the players truck each other over and over again.)

I've enjoyed seeing people from all over the world perform and achieve, and I've been touched more than once by the stories some of them have shared. The heart and grit and determination they show is inspirational.

I'm grateful for the athletes' openness and for how they inspire others. (And I'm grateful that I can work on projects as I watch.)

August 3

Given that we have a giant container of Hershey's Kisses from Mary's shower sitting on our counter, Abby decided to put some of them to good use this evening by making peanut blossom cookies.

The whole chocolate-and-peanut butter thing is totally in my wheelhouse so they've always been a favorite cookie of mine. 

And I also like them because they remind me of my Grandma D. I didn't spend much time with my dad's side of the family when I was growing up, but my grandma used to make these cookies during the Christmas season (along with many, many other kinds). I can remember wolfing down more than a few of them over the years, and they were always so good.

So for tasty treats and positive memories, I am grateful.

August 2

The sunset this evening was absolutely stunning.

It was, up until this particular point in time, a weird weather day in the East Bay. It was overcast and unusually humid from sunrise onward, and the skies even let loose with very light rain during the evening hours. It took me a while to realize it, but it was very much reminiscent of the typical cloudy summer days I experienced on the east coast when I was growing up.

Beautiful scene, isn't it?

August 1

This morning, Abby and I got dressed up and headed over to the church to attend Mary's bridal shower.

The ladies who planned the event did an amazing job and clearly put a lot of thought and care into every detail, from the huge jar of Hershey's kisses (that wound up coming home with us) to the pink frosted cupcakes to the amusement-inducing games.

Mary hasn't been with us long, but she's already a beloved member of the community, and I hope that she felt the love today.