Outdoor shower or rabbit house?

While at the beach, Victor told me that he wanted out outdoor shower like the one under the beach house. I told him to ask PopPop to help him build one.

And when Victor spent a few days with my parents, they did, indeed, need a project to work on together. Except that I really don't have a place for an outdoor shower. So we decided a house for the rabbit would be a good idea. A wooden one that she can't chew through as quickly as the cardboard boxes we give her. Especially since her new trick is to sit on the top and chew. One of these days she is going to fall right through.

Got to look out for the family pets, right?

So then the texts started to go back and forth. After determining the measurements of the space available for said house, we needed to discuss details.




It came pretty close to the original design, don't you think?

27 years

First photo of us together, December 1987.


Most recent of us together, September 2017.


Not much has changed.

Ya think?

Happy anniversary!

Food trucks and hiking

Another Friday, another Family Dinner. I love summer and having more of the kids home. I also love that when they are home, they still want to join us for Family Dinner, that they make it a priority, even. And when available, the significant others come, too.  And some of the other kids choose to come, too.

This week we decided to venture out from home and eat Family Dinner with most of the town at Third Fridays, food trucks and all.  What could be better than everyone choosing their favorite foods?

Meeting up with so many friends from church, school, and the community added to our enjoyment of this evening.

Victor's favorite spot was dancing in front of the DJ, especially when he was allowed to choose the next song.

Oh dear.

Then off to the Appalachian Trail for hiking. The AT is one of the best parts of this area of the country.

Victor actually handled all that walking pretty well, with a little help from his friends. But when ya' gotta go, ya' gotta go.

No surprises, problems, or mistakes

There are a few inspirational writers that I follow on social media. Ruth Simmons Chou is one. Christine Caine is another. Jason Johnson. Jen Hatmaker. And Ann Voskamp.

Yesterday, she wrote these simple, yet beautiful-to-me words:

As some of our friends and family know, we are walking through some very tough situations with two of our children. There always seems to be something. And that's okay. I've come so far and learned so much. I've learned to sit with my friend, Jesus, who also calls me friend, and to give it all to Him and I'm learning to give up control. Funny, the lyrics on my lips as I woke up this morning were,

God You don't need me

But somehow You want me

Oh, how You love me

Somehow that frees me

To take my hands off of my life

And the way it should go.

(Tenth Avenue North, Control)

There are so many things I would not have learned about myself, about this journey of life, about others, and about God, if I had not surrendered my life to whatever God asks of me. Control, it's not mine really. Results, they aren't about me. Success, the definition isn't mine.

A good friend, another special needs momma, showed me how personalizing Voskamp's statements can be an excellent reminder on the rough days and in the tough times. Maybe you have a child or situation you need to give to God today. You can't control your child, you can't choose the results, and God's definition of success is a whole lot better than yours. I promise you!

Try it for yourself...

*Child's name* is not a surprise to God!

*Child's name* is not a problem to God!

*Child's name* is not a mistake by God!

Anything is possible for *child's name* with God!

They were never ours from the beginning. They have always been God's and they do not surprise Him, they are not a problem to Him, they are not mistakes by Him, and in His great plan everything is possible for them!

Train up your child in the way he should go. She's not a surprise.  He's not a problem. She's not a mistake. Remember that the results are in God's hand and in Him nothing is impossible.

Proverbs 22:6. Kind of.

Better together

One thing I love about family is how each person's gifts fit together to create a beautiful tapestry of life.

At our house we do birthday parties only every 4 years: 4, 8, 12, and 16. This is one of Hope's years. She wanted an alpaca cake, little cakes to decorate, and creating with polymer clay.

Eden immediately started working on the little cakes. She's been busy for a few weeks now, making a few more each weekend and putting them in the freezer.

I had planned on making the cake for the party but this morning, Eden got right to work on that. Her alpaca probably looks more like an alpaca than mine would have.

And she helped organize the polymer clay making, too.

Mariana offered to take Victor. What a big help that was. Pre-teens can only take so much of a 5 year old's stories and shoving toys in your face. They spent the evening at the park and then she took him to Jake's where he was very excited for a sleep-over. We had matching police stickers (thanks, Jake) and Victor told me I had to keep it all night so I would dream about being police officers and so I would miss him.

He's probably still wide awake. But that's not my problem tonight.

However, I have a house full of girls who are also wide awake.

And that is my problem tonight.

12 years

She's kind, generous, giving, encouraging, likable, and motherly.

She's distractible (Who left their breakfast in the microwave? Oh, yeah, I forgot to eat breakfast. Well, I'll just have it for lunch.)

She loves alpacas, yarn, Michael's, pink, and braiding.

She dislikes bugs, spicy food, and being scared.

She's fast, crafty, artistic, strong, and creative.

...and she's 12!

We are so glad you are part of our family.

Almost all of the family home for your birthday

Victor's not happy that your family likes to sing the birthday song out-of-key.

Having to listen to Happy Birthday before he could eat his donut

Having to listen to Happy Birthday again at lunch

We're happy that you enjoy your family's rendition of Happy Birthday.

Cookies and Cream Fluff for dessert

Have a great day and a great time with your friends tomorrow!