Autumn Splendor

 autumn splendor

 Dutch Oven charcoal cooking! Peach Cobbler!

Merit #2, Willie #7

 Friday night under the lights is pretty cool.
Merit is crazy about this game.
He loves being part of a team! Team sports are right up this guy's alley. And it has been that way since he was four.

 Merit and Elliot. Elliot's mom is DEAR to me. How fun having these guys together! Elliot is a varsity player, Merit is on JV. But on Friday night the Chiefs had bolted with a quite a lead and Merit got a little varsity playing time! He glanced up at the huge crowd in the stands and said it was quite a moment.

 Willem is LOVING football! One game under their belt and it was a sweet win! Their team is strong!

A Friday evening post

 This rooster, he is SO loud and SO handsome!

 I love September evenings.
Today was so productive. I needed a day like this. I had relief from my back that has been sore for a week. Oren was FULL of it today! He made some big messes, told some funny stories and make some hilarious comments while we be-bopped cleaning and organizing all day long.
Merit hopped in the car after school with a big smile on his face, excited about the day. They made biscuits and gravy in Culinary and he said they turned out SO good. And he was, of course, excited about tonight's football game.
Hazel got in the car smiling, so happy to tell us about what they did in Science today.
Willem and Vance traveled to Lynden for Vance's grandmother's funeral. Such a special lady! Her celebration of life was today. She loved her family and time with them. She loved Jesus. She was a great example.

Moses Lake's home Varsity football games are such an expression of community, of the love of the game and of a fun evening out, kids and adults alike. GO CHIEFS!

Go Warriors!

GO WARRIORS! 

Willem's first seventh grade football game is today! 

 My geraniums and nasturtiums love these cooler temps. I really want this weather (before freezing) to last. Lately, many evenings, Vance cooks dinner on charcoal. A dutch oven with charcoal underneath and charcoal on top... beef stroganoff, chicken and stuffing, pork chops and rice... this kind of cooking is pretty delicious. Willem and Merit both have football after school but everyone is home by 6:15 with the exception of away games. And the kids, Oren especially, enjoy being part of the outdoor cooking process.

Grandma Jule

Grandma Jule

What a sweet grandma! A Jesus loving woman! She will be so missed. She passed away on Friday. She lived a long life and touched many people's lives.

Favorite Moments

I love these little beauties

Natasha and family came over last weekend

It's football season! 

Hazel loves finding friends at the games! 

This time of year is so beautiful~ 

This happy hen lays the most beautiful green eggs.
We have a younger hen, same variety that also started laying green eggs, but they are a darker shade.

9-11

My sister Natasha and her fam visited Saturday and Sunday. They are
still living in a travel trailer on our dad’s property. The building process being very long for them. Three or so weeks ago they began clearing trees, finally. And I think they feel things are underway.
We talked about the hardships of life, the good stuff too. We LOVED watching our kids interact. We get artsy Estelle in the house and we are expressing ourselves in new, fun ways. She and Hazel have a thousand games to play and fun to be had. Ingrid and Oren and have developed such a sweet friendship. He cried when she left. And Lane is a cool cat for sure. These big boys love to bike ride to Big Bend and explore all sorts of things along the way. Our weather is perfect for walks, bike rides and of course football. Our 100 degree August days have past and the comfortable September temps are here.
Natasha  and I talked about her heart. She has an October cardiology appointment and I am praying that her heart looks good, with no additional declines in function.

There is this internal war within me, a battle I know so many fight, reaching for the joy and  forgiveness and good in each day. It is there, but there is also the criticism, negativity, loss and sadness.
The fact that these four kids remain positive and silly and are doing well in school is a huge blessing! Their love for Jesus, an anchor.
And then I think of 9-11. How much was lost, how many were shaken, how FEAR was terribly present. Those who suffered loss on that day still suffer the loss. Today our kids will be led by teachers to discuss that day. This is a hard day for teachers too. They could use our prayers.
9-11, we will never forget.

Prayerful, thankful, fresh starts, new beginnings

I was going to clean up my eating yesterday. You know, the day after Labor Day... kids are back in the swing of things, September goals... And now I plan to clean up my eating on Monday. After Monday, I need to see progress. Progress is such an incentive. Without it, I wallow.

Oren got dressed yesterday in a button up shirt, back pack packed, he wore his best shorts (Miles' hand me downs) and we headed to pre -school. But guess what? It was the wrong day. ---- The pre-school had mailed us a post card clearly stating which class started which day. It got tossed 😞 I was a bit embarrassed. But you know what I was shown by teachers and parents there? A beautiful thing called GRACE.

I diverted and distracted him by heading to the church library where he said "I am not nervous mom. I CAN go." And I tried to carefully explain to him that it was the day the younger kids go and that he would start the next day. Teri (a long time acquaintance and new friend) invited us to lunch. It was great. And Oren was able to get to know her son Teag who is in his class. It all worked out! It was a good trial run.

Today -- Oren's official first day -- he felt sad for a little girl who sat on the teacher's lap because she was missing her mama #compassion - I encouraged Oren to befriend her tomorrow.
He enjoyed his first day. I am praying his confidence grows!

I have had a handful of days wishing my mom could see these kids moments, compassion, successes and silliness. Some days I am a bit lost.

"For I am the Lord who heals you." Exodus 15:26

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble... Psalm 46:1-3

I love hearing about these kids days at school! Hazel has Linda Rosenow. Both big boys had her for a 3rd grade teacher. She is amazing. ---I have several sub days lined up for October and November, all third grade!

Merit is enjoying sophomore year! Culinary and Speech and Debate are the classes he is talking most about. Willem is enjoying 7th grade. Willem has two 8th grade math classes. His course load is not easy, he is working hard.

September 5th finds me prayerful and thankful and so excited for what this school year will hold.

September is here

I planted nasturtiums the beginning of August. Eastern Washington nasturtiums rarely look like Western Washington nasturtiums. But usually I have to try to plant them because they remind me so much of my mom. They looked a little sick until our cooler weather hit and now they are beautiful, with orange, coral and yellow flowers.
Watching Oren in the past month makes me wish I could share him with my mom. He reminds me of my brothers at that age. She would get a kick out of him! So many have shared with me what a delight being a Grandma is.
School seems to be off to a good start. It was wonderful to have a long weekend that included football 🏈 Merit's first game of the season. Other highlights included swimming and boating, jet skiing for Willem with Uncle Jeff and Matt and B came over too.
And today is Oren's first day back to preSchool! I am excited for him.
I miss the kids, but I do love September!