Marie was able to get her braces OFF before we went into lockdown misery, but not before Tabby got hers on.
Her braces ended up getting put off a full three months…
but finally it’ was time to get the tooth train started.
My first baby girl turns 16!
A quiet day to celebrate my Marie.
Not only was her cake choice perfection,
but, her choice for dinner was exquisite.
The girls made her thoughtful cards.
Tabby bought her a super plaque for her room.
And her own guitar.
As life just marches on and we reflect on what has been, it makes imagining what might still come next to impossible.
Just trusting this lady’s life to the One who made her and praying for her future. ♥
A very covid party…
Celebrating with William this year also meant getting to go to a party center for the first time since this whole “pandemic” started. We had to wear masks, but otherwise it was celebrating as normal.
After pizza and cake in the building, we got to play arcade games and use the outdoor attractions.
Mr. Hoyt took Katriel on the go karts.
Hanny was surprised to find some of her HCTC friends are also William’s friends. They did some mini-golf.
Even I rode the bumper cars…
It felt so good to celebrate William’s milestone AND to do real life things!!!
Sibling Splash
Stewart and Johanna, living their best pool lives.
July 4, 2020 (A/K/A People Make Me Happy)
First – I want to show the cake Tabby made on 7/3… The silly cake crumbled under her frosting efforts. So we HAD NO CHOICE but to eat the cake and make a new one.
July 4th was warm and wonderful.
We did some errands and took care of some yard work and prepared for GUESTS!
OH yes – 2020 – hear that? GUESTS. HUMANS. FELLOWSHIP. FRIENDS.
And then it was so much fun having people around, I didn’t take many photos.
Jeff and William joined us and we realized it was the first time Stewart and Jeff were able to talk in over a year!!
Oh – and there was FOOD too. Lots of yummy food.
We were joined by Stewart’s girlfriend, Noelle, and her family. It was lovely to get to know the Nortons.
Noelle had a thoughtful gift and a funny card.
Cake number 2.
Land of the free, home of the brave and NO MASKS at my house…
Nigel is 18
Somehow – Nigel has gone from the premature baby being transferred from Park Ridge to Strong, to a strapping 18 year old.
He hadn’t been able to work at the aquatics center since the shut down. He finished his classes in May, and steadfastly worked to find a job. He filled out a ton of applications and did walk-ins carrying a resume. Nothing was happening, and we just kept praying and trusting God had a plan.
Then a friend from church spoke with a golf course manager and next thing you know, Nigel was working at the Penfield Golf Course. Morning after morning, he’s out the door by 5:30AM and works 6AM – 2:30PM. I’m so proud of his good work ethic.
He requested and received Aloha Burgers for dinner.
The top layer of the cake got so solidified I mangled the cake when I went to cut it.
Our gift to Nigel did not arrive as it was supposed to…
Keep on keeping on…
We heard late last night that WDW would be closing Splash Mountain and turning it into a new attraction. This ride is special to Marie, so she drew a commemorative picture.
Then some of my own princesses dragged branches up to the road. Daddy has been trimming trees. More. Yard. Work.
WE WENT OUT!
Praise the LORD, the sky is blue and the big girls and I went out for lunch and shopping. Oh – yeah – well – we do have to wear these infernal masks in order to comply with the mandates, but we got to go out and eat and shop.
It is great to be able to do things again.
On one hand, these outings humble me. They help me recognize how many privileges we enjoy in this country, that people around the world can’t even begin to understand. Fast food? Air conditioned department stores? Frozen treats? The things we have lost are truly the extras in life.
On the other hand, these outings make me so angry. How dare our officials manipulate us like this?! They were elected and now they are using data against us. I strongly believe all the parties that be are using the lockdowns to manipulate the election in November. Will they use this fear mongering to push for mail-in voting and are they already tampering with it?
It was fun to be out.
It was sad to see so much product at Kohl’s deeply discounted to move it, and to make up for months of lost sales.
It was sad to see TJMaxx all but empty as they had little product to see.
It was great to see the cloud lift off my girls for a few hours as we laughed our way through life some more.
Dayspring Disciples 