Our shore trip has been a little unusual this time around.  There’s nothing quite like meeting up with your supper in the middle of the night, on the bathroom floor.  After a rough night, yesterday found me lying on the futon in the living room for the entire day.  After Elsie had a similar experience as mine, last night, it was necessary to make a trip to the laundromat.  Here I sit, enjoying a free hot spot for wifi, and listening to the sound of an over-sized dryer about to take off.

It was fun to hear what was going on yesterday, even if I wasn’t fully engaged in what was happening around me.  The boys rode their bikes to 711 all by themselves and bought a donut for themselves and a pack of gum for me.  Their faces were so proud when they came back, fully realizing the big responsibility they had been given.  Elsie would occasionally hop on the bed next to me and rub my back or play with my hair.  Nadine checked to see how I was feeling, and always looked for the slightest bright spot in my face.  Sweet Betty toddled around, her steps being much more confident now, and she grinned as she passed my way.  It was a strange day, but I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family all around me.

Now my laundry is done and I’m excited to go back to the shore house.  Yahtzee, Phase 10, laughter, and ice-tea awaits.  Happy Fourth of July!

Last night my whole family was together.  All twenty-seven of us!  There is more to write, but for now, a picture says a thousand words.

I’m not sure what the golgi tendon organ is exactly, but it’s scratched in Matthew’s familiar handwriting on a flashcard beside me.  Tonight the kids went with Matthew to church while I stayed home with Betty who’s sporting a fever.  I write this in our new “office” which is also just the corner of our bedroom.  There are flashcards full of anatomy and physiology terminology lying around, and tonight I’ve surprised Matthew by carrying up the comfy chair from the living room into our room so he can be cozy to read and study.  This week has been our adjusting week, keeping our communication open about expectations, and all of us learning to stay out of closed doors when Daddy is studying.  It was fun to see Matthew play in his first soccer game, and he was the only white boy in a field of Spanish and Caribbean boys.

The kids switched between watching him and playing on the playground.

The kids had their end of the year homeschool evaluations yesterday and finished well!  I’ve been busy getting next year’s affidavit and list of objectives all written out so I can file it with the school district.  During the summer we will work on Math drills and read, read, read.  It is such a satisfying feeling to accomplish something, and this school year was a positive accomplishment for us.  We all learned so much!

Thanks for all of your encouraging notes to us and words of affirmation about what God is doing in our lives.  We cherish your prayers for continued guidance, provision, and blessing as we walk this new path.  New for us, but already planned out and scoped ahead of time by our Heavenly Father.

I’ve always said that my day often turns out a lot like my cup of tea in the morning.  This isn’t a rule, just an uncanny observance.  When my mug gets popped into the microwave multiple times in a morning, it is just not as desirable.  I’m rushed, flitting here and there, not focusing my attention where it needs to be.  This morning, I sipped the entire mug of hot delight before it cooled, and while it remained fresh.  As the last drop went down I peered into my cup a little bit surprised.  This hasn’t happened in awhile.  There is something beautiful about sitting in a quiet spot at the kitchen table with my tea and Bible.  The day stretches out before me with no mistakes in it.  I love getting to the end of my tea, realizing that I haven’t gotten up once to do this or that.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Today is going to be a good day.

No one is ever fully prepared for the reality that life on this earth does end.  Today when I received the tearful phone call from my mom, I was on my way to get ice-cream cones for the kids.  Something so sweet, contrasted against the harsh bitterness of death.  After fighting cancer, Aunt Lyn went to be with Jesus.  Heaven just go better.  In Africa, Aunt Lyn was my mom’s best friend.  I remember very clearly seeing them together outside under the frangipani tree, praying.   I would run past them in my bare feet, carefree and happy.   I didn’t understand the tears accompanying those prayers, but I’m sure now, they sometimes had to do with me and Aunt Lyn’s daughter, Nadine.  Just like I cry too now as I pray for my Nadine and Elijah, Jack, Elsie, & Betty.  I’m so proud to have my middle name from her.  Lyn with one n.  I remember Aunt Lyn always looked pretty, with beautiful nail-polish (often blue!) and stylish earrings.  Her British accent was the finishing touch of her outward elegance.  Her inward beauty went far deeper.  I don’t even know the depths of what she did with her full life, but I know she touched countless lives in war-torn Congo.  She and her husband co-founded an amazing organization called HEAL Africa.  I also know that she raised a beautiful daughter, whom I am blessed to have known my entire life.  It’s on days like this that I wish Africa weren’t so far away.

Congratulations to our two winners this morning:  Pat & Emily!  It was fun to read your comments and thanks so much to everyone for entering.  I wish I could have picked you all!

We are suffering from drippy noses and cabin fever this morning.  I also got myself into a big painting project that I’m not sure how I’ll finish… I really dislike painting high walls, and the hallway is the highest.  I also really dislike the color I made by mixing all of our leftover paint together.  Free isn’t always lovely.  So, I’m taking a small break and hoping the paint fairies have more success than the tooth fairy did last night… let’s just say she failed.  Nadine pulled out a tooth yesterday, and woke up to the same tooth still under her pillow.  Oops.

I’m looking forward to something that is hardly ever an epic fail: another hot cup of tea!