Cornelious

Corn is part human. 

She swings on the hammock! 

She knocks on the door (with her beak!) when she wants food. 

She follows Hazel around, hoping for a little chick starter. 

We love you Corn. 

 

June Temps!

SUMMER is HERE!

The HEAT is here! 

 In your presence is fullness of joy. 

Psalm 16:13

Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11: 28

LIFE!

 We have found ways to add fun moments of goodness to stressful days or maybe just busy days...

Hmmmm 

Willem needs to schedule drives for Drivers Education. Why does the password for the class not work for Behind the Wheel? We are on a time crunch. 

We missed Merit's dental cleaning today. I am looking into vision therapy for Hazel. The cabinets we ordered came in. Most are great, some I ordered while drunk. lol Not really. I just messed up. 

We are considering our dog's well being and feelings, wondering if we should board her while we are out of town. She is getting old. She is so sweet. Her joints hurt. It is supposed to be 105. 

I went to my sis in laws today and she was battling the life of a home owner with recent water damage that had trickled - or poured - down her walls. 

Vance is looking at this baseball travel and cost of hotel rooms and is like 😮

Oh! 

Life is full. And can be stressful! 

The kids are happy! 

The kids are helpful! 

These kids are awesome. 

And we just cover it in prayer and keep moving forward. 

We are excited about this shop build. 

The kitchen will be so lovely.

ohhhhh! It is coming together.

Rathdrum, Sandpoint, Post Falls

We spent 4 hours in Sandpoint and I could have spent 3 days! I cannot wait to go back some day!!! 

We ate at Beets and Basil -Oren, Hazel, and I did after we dropped Willem off at the ball field. We ate and then made it back during the first inning of his game - - Great baseball and perfect weather.

The beautiful turf baseball field was on the water! Hazel and Oren were so entertained there. 

Vance really misses the days of double headers. All of this travel is expensive and time consuming. 

We tried to map out the next month and we realize how easy the Ellensburg and Ephrata games are. Both of which we wish we had more of. 

 We struggle with different ways life pulls up and we are the middle of this shop construction...

I will say I am SO thankful for the energy, my health, and the gas money it takes to follow these kids dreams. 

Now today; weeding, laundry, and baking! 

I LOVE June!

HAPPY FATHER's DAY!

Recognizing great dads on Father's Day! 

We are thankful for many memories and many moments! 

 HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! 

We are so proud of Hazel Jane!

This girl is going on to middle school! 6th grade! 

Her time at Longview has been amazing!! 

SUCH terrific teachers, great kids, and just a lot of wonderful learning!!

Rosie and Hazel!!

What a cool drive thru parade!

We sure love you Hazel! 
 

Nursery fun... Hansel and Gretel... beauty surrounds us

 Edwards Nursery

Botanist meets horticulturist meets hoarder

It is one of the most messy and most beautiful places in Moses Lake. 

I believe things can be re-used and re-purposed (to a fault). I sometimes need to just throw away or give away. But re-purposing, well,  it is my middle name. I can relate to the goings on at Edwards Nursery! 

Oren got a terrible bee sting while we were celebrating Merit's graduation Sunday. His ear was huge and red.  I kept him home from school yesterday, the swelling and redness had not gone down.  By mid afternoon he was feeling so much better! 

Side note; Oren is one of the most gentle, thankful people one would ever meet. 

I asked him if he wanted to go somewhere messy and beautiful! He said he did. We loaded up the bike and parked in town, after a short walk (for me) bike ride (for Oren) we visited Edwards Nursery. Oren was in awe. 

We could not believe the climbing plants and vines!! The trees, the ferns, the trails of beauty!! 

Someone working there said to a couple "oh my! You are still here?! You did not get lost did you??"

The couple said they had left for lunch and to discuss their purchases, they came back to buy some things. 

The worker laughed and said "oh! I thought you were lost! I hoped you had left a trail of bread crumbs"

Oren asked me what that meant. 

(Parent Fail, he had never heard the story of Hansel and Gretel)

 So last night, Hazel and Oren's bedtime story was Hansel and Gretel. Oren listened in pure awe. 

Today after school Hazel, Oren, and I went back to Edwards Nursery! We had to show Hazel this magical, messy, beautiful place! 

It was so perfect. 

And then tonight, via zoom, Hazel graduated from fifth grade! Onto middle school for our beautiful girl!! 

Class of 2021

Congrats Merit!!!!

What a terrific weekend!!! 

We are so proud of Merit! We are so proud of these kids! This has been a CRAZY year! Merit would have loved to go to school full time his senior year. He went two days a week in person and two days a week online. There were hurdles and obstacles. At the senior social two weeks ago, he saw classmates he had not seen since March, 2020. It was hard to stay in contact and keep in touch. But he, along with many others, did their best to make the most of this very different year. 

CONGRATS CLASS OF 2021~~~

 

Thankful

SENIOR NIGHT!

This kid!

Hard work has paid off. 

This has been a fun season... AND it is still going! 

Merit's head may be spinning! He is saying good bye to teachers. He is busy with end of the year duties and planning for college! He is at a memorial service  now - for the dear man who started the River Dogs. Merit's summer baseball team! He will leave there and head to the HS - he and Willem play in Sunnyside tonight. 

Tomorrow, the graduation parade. 

We are busy! This is a wild time. We are thankful too. 

 

Hank Buchmann

Several months ago a long time author, a former custodian, and a friend to SO MANY developed a severe case of Covid. Pneumonia hit him too. Hank was in a coma, on a ventilator, and for a portion of his hospital stay, he was in Portland, Oregon. He spent months in the hospital. 

There were many ups and downs, but Hank FOUGHT for his LIFE! And we have all witnessed first hand - through his healing -  the POWER OF PRAYER. 

A Hank Buchmann support group was created through facebook - his three sons organized this, I believe - and people from far and wide began to pray for this dear man. The family helped update loved ones and helped us know how to pray. 

Wow, I realized how much he was loved as a story teller, an author, a friend... 

And I began to pray for him. His illness and his journey, it became very close to my heart. 

My friend Marie remembered him fondly, my friends Jason and Shannon spoke so highly of him. Moses Lake School District teachers shared accounts of his speaking in their classrooms. Linda told me what a wonderful man he was and her girls just love him too.  I learned of so many people who had books of his that still had not been signed and they wished for another face to face, a book signing included, another hug, another visit....

I had some moments today and yesterday of God feeling very far. Almost like He may have forgotten about us for a few days. My sis Natasha is again in the hospital. Oh, I have prayed for a miracle for her heart for so long. I have prayed for healing for her heart. 

I also felt I needed our mom to walk us through this one. 

We had a few other things happen - causing emotion and pain - and I wondered what is this... and why? Weary would best describe my state. 

 I walked into my friend Linda's backyard (we did a sale at her home together) and there at her beautiful outdoor table sat Hank Buchmann. I said "Hank!" Tears filling my eyes! I said "you don't know me but I have been praying for you for many months!!"

He stood up and gave me a big hug! 

Somehow in Linda's beautiful backyard on a windy Saturday God showed His face again. And it was through Hank Buchmann. 

And I thought I had given up on miracles until I saw one right before my eyes. 

Elastin and Collagen

 I bought this elastin and collagen lotion yesterday. 

I bought at exfoliator at the Bellevue Square mall five months ago, a high end skin care store caught my eye. The young man lured me and in and asked me which of my wrinkles bother me most. Willem watched the whole process from a tall spa chair. And witnessed a lengthy sales pitch. I fell for very little of it. 😂 My kids are the best. They rarely ever whine. I count my blessings! 

 And today I think of the gift of growing older. 

My mom never really saw it to the elastin, collagen, hair color, days... botox wasn't considered -  yet she could have lived to be 65 and not considered it. 

Natasha's heart is struggling. And not really knowing the timeline makes us feel helpless. 

You know how you have a go to person? At least I hope you do. For some it is their mom, for some their dad, for some their best friend. My go to was my mom until she passed away and then my go to became Natasha (side note, ALL of my siblings are amazing and we all take a big interest in each other's wellness. They are some of my greatest blessings!) I have some very terrific friends and family too. ❤️

But Natasha, she can read my mind before I say the words. Better yet, she can read my heart. 

I have had a week of being asked a few questions I cannot answer and a week of knowing decisions that need to be made that make me feel a little overwhelmed. Decisions for Merit too - decisions he needs to make but I am at his side. I am finding the role of being a parent of an 18 year old because I am really not sure what that looks like. And I am pretty sure I am making some mistakes along the way. I feel like I am not old enough for this. Lame excuse. 😂

Embrace your wrinkles, your cellulite, your grays - even your sore hip or knee - a long life lived well is a blessing. 

Please pray for Natasha. She is in the hospital and my heart breaks. Thank God for the power of prayer. Please pray with me. 

They may adjust meds - get her healthier - send her home in a day or two. We do wonder how close she is to needing a transplant. 

Subbing first grade today where for seven hours I will watch the amazing process of light bulb moments in a class of  absorbing brains and I will witness pure honesty. Therapy at its finest.