45 minutes on the dot

Today, I'm watching my niece and nephew. All five kids get along (mostly) well, but a whole day of togetherness dictates that we mix it up a bit. Too much of the same and you invite trouble.

Swim practice was this morning, so we were at the Y for part of the morning- boys in the pool, girls in the "nursery", me poolside with a book. Ahhhhhh.

We ran home for dry clothes and then off to go grocery shopping. I'm no dolt, I knew that I'd be a frustrated, less-than-thrilled mommy after parading all five boisterous children through the aisles. Instead, I took advantage of the Story Bus for the very first time. Our school district has a converted bus that parks twice a week during the summer in various shopping plazas and does story time with the kids. It is staffed by educators from the public schools (trustworthy adults) and you get 45 minutes to run into the store while the kids enjoy the read aloud time. It's AMAZING how much shopping you can get done in 45 minutes without children. I was fast! I knocked out my whole list and made it back exactly 45 minutes later. The kids seemed happy, and they were allowed to pick one free book, each, to take with them.

We came home and had a yummy lunch with fresh cherries (on sale at Kroger for $0.99/ lb. right now!) and might hit the park. I'm doing my best to soak up the summer, because whether I like it or not, it is disappearing far too quickly. The fireflies are nearly gone. August's heat is encroaching. And school will begin soon.

How soon? I don't know. We are homeschooling again, and I've just received all my books in the mail. The catch I find myself in is that Dorothy isn't here yet! She was "supposed" to arrive by now (You know, if I were running things, and if God had listened to my specific request. Yes, start laughing!). I feel like if we begin at the "normal" start of school (around here that is August 17th-ish), then I've used up time we might need for adjusting when we do travel. Essentially, I'm contemplating starting at the beginning of August so we have a greater buffer.

I have a little bit more time to decide, and I'm just going to allow today to be simple, glorious, and steeped in summer sunshine. After all, a person should have no worries when they've been able to grocery shop without kids in 45 minutes flat! Yippeee!

A hint of what our summer is looking like

There's been a lot of this:

Some of this:

A heap of this:

And a good bit of this:

Our boys are on the swim team this summer and we've been at the pool every day. Tonight, they participated in their second meet. I AM SO PROUD! Dean and Grant have both improved so much in the past few weeks, and Dean shows real promise in this sport- he's a natural! Both of them pound the water like their life depends on it, and have gathered some lovely ribbons.

So, I said that this was their second meet tonight, right? Well, it was only the first meet that I was able to actually attend. Why wasn't I at the last one? Oh, that's because I was doing this:

... in the Vanderbilt Children's ER. Yes, we were just there last month.

Lael suffered from a power hug. No joke. She and Dean were squeezing the love out of one another when he lost his footing and she caught their fall- with her head. She cried and didn't feel good, but she hadn't lost consciousness. We did ice (though she didn't really feel like keeping it on), and prayed hard and fast. This was all before we had to leave for the first swim meet. In the end, we still went because it just didn't seem like there was much that could be done. She felt uncomfortable and was whiny, but apart from that, I had no reason to believe it was serious.

Until she threw up.

About an hour after the accident, she "spilled the graham crackers" all over me in the parking lot of the pool where the meet was to be held. It was at a neighborhood pool, and I have two friends that live near the pool and were present. One hooked me up with a bath, while the other, along with our family, took care of the boys. Eric was on his way from work to attend the meet and showed up not too long into the bath. He was there. God provides for me in this area and it never ceases to amaze me. The Lord knows what I can and can not handle on my own. For each and every major accident with the kids, Eric has been with me. I would be a basket case, otherwise. Blood and guts don't bother me, but my own children are a different story- panic doesn't even begin to describe it! So, we spoke with the nurse on the phone and just as she was telling us to monitor her, Lael threw up again to which the nurse responded, "Go now to Vanderbilt ER- do not come here- I will call ahead and let them know you're coming!". Into the car, then.

It was a long night. A CT was ordered (and the result was normal). Vomiting continued for some time (even after anti-nausea drugs), but then she turned a corner and was FINE. Completely fine. Praise God!

Things I know now:

- you can hit your head and vomit once, but if you hit your head and vomit twice, doctors take it VERY seriously and you'll need to go to the ER

- kids should ALWAYS wear helmets because- heck!- even *hugs* are apparently dangerous!

Pie? Shortcake? Ice Cream? Crisp? Slump?

What should we make with all the glorious strawberries we collected today?

With the warmer weather, comes the ability to go produce picking with the kids. In years past, we've done blueberries and blackberries in the summer, and apples in the fall. This is the first time I've been strawberry picking with the kids- I think the last time I picked strawberries was at the Carlsbad flower fields years ago when I was still living in San Diego!

If you go to this website, you can find all the local great produce offered in Tennessee. If you make calls, you'll get to speak with some of the farmers or farmer's wives directly and find out when they're expecting their bounty and if they have U-Pick times (or if they allow it at all). Some of the time, you offer condolences over a lost crop due to frost, or too much rain, or some other unfortunate occurrence. Yesterday, I learned that much of Middle TN will be without cherries- they've been splitting and getting brown rot this season because of our downpours.

But, we were able to find Uncle Al, of Uncle Al's Berry Farm, in Columbia. He was still offering U-Pick strawberries, so Angie and I went with the kids this morning. It was, indeed, quite a haul from where we live, but the experience was pleasantly worth it. My herniated disk was less than thrilled with the bending so, like an old lady, I quit and rested, and played photographer. But, those bright pops of red called my name and I'd stoop again. If you've ever been berry picking, you'll know that it becomes an addiction- that spotting a "perfect one" in amongst the leaves or ripening berries is a treasure. And when you've got one, it's hard to stop those wandering eyes from seeking the next one. And the next one. After a few more scoldings from Angie to watch my back (L5, S1, specifically), I truly, finally, quit it with the bending. Sometimes I'm stubborn. Wouldn't raised beds be wise for strawberries?!

All said and done, we came away with four pounds each, and made our trek home with the aroma of fresh strawberries filling the van.

Blackberry Pickin'

Last week Angie (my sister-in-law who now lives in town!!!!), the kids, and I went to Boyd Mill Farm to pick blackberries.  Lovely, organically grown, ripe, amazing blackberries.  We should have been weighed as we were leaving because our buckets didn't really show all that we picked; I popped so many in my mouth!  The weather was perfect, the experience was lovely, and the kids had a blast.  $15/gallon- can't beat that.  I made a blackberry crumble that afternoon and it was gone by the end of the following day.  Angie made a cobbler and since her kids didn't care for it, we got to enjoy most of that, too.  I've been so spoiled this last week.  But all of our fresh ones are long gone, and I have about a half of a gallon frozen.  Here's a tip: any berries you want to freeze won't form clumps if you lay them on a cookie sheet first and then transfer to a bag or container after they are firmly frozen.  I had a standard half-sheet cookie sheet full.  They won't be as good as fresh, but they'll work fine in smoothies or oatmeal or baked treats.  Yum!

getting out of the car and realizing this is going to be better than we thought!

tasting

giving the farm dog a little loving

sweet Dean and a sweet berry

pickin'

I love this shot.  The rain was starting to come, but there was this patch of light right over the boys.  So cute with their shirts off, how could you not want to give them big sweaty hugs?!

Perfectly plump and sweet- I've never had blackberries so good and now I know why.  The really sweet ones fall apart in your hand almost.  For shipping purposes, the store-bought ones must be picked firmer and less ripe so they're less sweet and more tart.

me and Olivia

Angie soaking in the perfectness and declaring it to have that wonderful serene feeling

And, yes,  having family in town is just as wonderful as we'd hoped.  We've babysat for eachother.  We eat a lot of meals together.  The kids are spending the night together and having a BLAST.  Angie and I went clothes shopping together and it was FUN (everyone knows I'm not a shopper, right?  So if I had fun buying clothes it must have been truly *fun*).  And yesterday we met at the gym for workouts.  Love it!  Highly recommend it!  :-)

Big all around

I don't suppose anyone has noticed that I haven't been posting many blogs lately... but I haven't.  There's a lot going on, and a lot to say- but it seems that I can't do it justice so I don't try.  God is so gracious, and loving, and lavishing.  I'm just enjoying what He's sending our way- new friends, new revelations, answers to prayer, new journeys, new challenges, new ways of thinking, and a fresh new expectancy for what is to come.

After hoping and praying for such a thing for YEARS, we have family en route right now to live in our town (2 days of driving from Texas with a moving truck and a UHaul-pulling SUV- pray for them!)!  Eric's older sister and her family will be here tomorrow settling into their new life and we are so thrilled to be part of each other's lives.

I feel full with a sense of community.

Our pastor has been speaking about stewarding life's resources lately.  One of the resources is relationships.  And- wow!- our small group (we call them Life Groups)  that we are part of is just the kind of community that we desired to be part of.  I'm thankful for these real, honest people and the way that we are being knit together.  Saying "good stuff" doesn't touch it.

Then, there is our adoption.  I don't know anything new regarding our family's case- we probably still have months of wait ahead still.  BUT, I do know that I began to get discouraged the other week.  Impatient.  Even a tad jealous.  Lots of babies lately-  those of neighbors, and friends- and even the pregnant women at church started to make me a bit envious (even though I know that being pregnant three times was enough for me!).  I felt really bad about it because, through this whole long wait I have always rejoiced with those who had things to celebrate.  I've been happy for others and not jealous.  So, I prayed for forgiveness for my bad attitude and for a renewed outlook... for less pout ( "why not me?") and more joy.  The very next day, I got the awesome news in an e-mail that my waiting buddies Kevin and Sarah finally got their referral and were able to see a picture of Miss Hannah Claire.  And the joy flooded back!  I AM SO HAPPY FOR THEM!  Good news goes a long way.  Our day will come, and I'm willing to wait for it.  And, along the way, my heart is swelling over adoption and the nations... again, too much to really put into words right now... but bigger things are yet to come and it is good!  It is good!

Sprinkle in some summer activities like POOL TIME, and parks, and popsicles, and late dinners, and very dirty bath water, and painting and maybe... just maybe... that's why I haven't said much.  Slowly I will get my voice again... there is a lot to share... a lot "brewing" (I find myself using this word to describe things often right now).

But, to end on a light note... I'll distract, yet again, with a picture:

There's been a lot of this lately