Sunday's Opportunities

Look who enjoyed an early morning cuppa with me! Josiah, Jamin and Jared are off to Red Shirt Lake to fish for pike. This trip involves a 6-mile hike and a lot of canoe paddling. Carrie is at work. We were thrilled to have Olivia spend the day with us.  We began with hot chocolate and tea while we watched Encanto. 

I neither encouraged nor discouraged this...it simply is. 

Mostly we talked about characters and themes in Encanto rather than watched it. About 20 minutes in, Grandpa rang his bell. This was eye-opening for Liv. Dad had a bad morning and decided he didn't want to leave the house. His sugars were high Saturday and Sunday; his blood pressure was riding a roller coaster. We see the doc this week to discuss the results from his echocardiogram. 

Alex is usually o.k. with spending time upstairs with GG. The rest of us headed to church. We met Jesus there - and also Luke and Krista. Luke's parents have attended our church for decades. After church, we went out with Mark, Mona, Luke and Krista.  We raced home with just enough time to get Allie ready and off to work. 

When I got home, everyone but Liv and Stacia were napping. The girls made hot chocolate (we DID feed her nutritious food between drinks). Liv asked to watch "The Sound of Music." What??? Stacia and I had been talking about finding time to watch it...when the guys wouldn't have to endure it. This was the opportunity. 

Around 6:30, the guys showed up with stories of pike, canoes, and kayaks. It was a fun day with Olivia.  I got GG some dinner; he said he wanted to go to bed. Michael went to start a fire in the fire ring outside. We love sitting around the fire. It hasn't happened much this year due to rain and Dad.  GG doesn't want to go outside, and it hasn't felt right for everyone to sit outside while one person and he are inside. Alex works the 0500 shift at work, and we don't want to ask him to stay up at night...though most nights he is up, anyways. 

Another opportunity...it wasn't raining, GG was safe and secure, Michael built the fire, I sliced pieces of cheesecake. Cheesecake at the fire - along with visiting, flowers, garden watching; we never did open the campfire book we planned to read. 

I am just learning all things gardening. I've tried sunflowers for 5 years with no success at all. All the traditional mammoth yellow seedlings died before I figured out where to plant them.  These smaller ones are doing well and I'm enjoying them. 

Nolan got home from work. I'd sent he and Allie the picture of cheesecake by the fire in response to a text Allie sent; he came out and found us.  We enjoyed a couple of hours of connecting. 9:15 p.m. and it's still light. It was dark by 11:45 p.m. when we went in. Fall/winter is on its way. Nolan mentioned he LIKES the dark season more than the summer. Allie prefers the winter, too. I've heard other Alaskans say the same...last year I made an intentional choice to embrace EACH season in Alaska...breakup was a breeze this year, and I'm NOT dreading winter this year. I'm sort of looking forward to it at this point.  Summer has gone way to fast - but winter will have its own pleasures. 

Millie is skitterish around the fire. I think a spark must have landed on her as a pup. I KNOW there have been loud crackling noises from time to time.  We never envisioned her as a lap dog - but here you have it. 

It turned into a Sunday of opportunities: from early morning tea with Olivia, lunch out with family and friends, Sound of Music, a campfire with Stacia and Nolan, and late evening conversation with Nolan.  A good day. 

August's Family Dinner - Hello Little Buddy

 A couple of months ago we decided to designate the same Saturday each month for our family dinner/celebration. We opted for an early meal, so Nolan and Allie could both be there. Nolan kept getting scheduled over the time....and Allie's schedule has changed. We decided to change for dinner instead of lunch as that is best for the young kids (after nap) and Nolan "is always working."  

Nolan surprised us. He arranged to come home early and be here. The general manager even made SURE he got out of there in time to join us! It was a great surprise. 

This month we had much to celebrate: Stacia's 17th birthday, CyRi's 1st anniversary and Little Buddy is home with CoRielle as their journey continues

Toddlers were quick to come with dessert

Josiah, Carrie, Livie

Benny, Annie, Gideon and Stacia (17th bday)

"Luke! Let's go see Uncle Luke." 

There appears to be an early warning system with Uncle Luke and Aunt Coco arrive. They always bring the coolest things. Today it was the expected salad, but also some yummy eats, kinder eggs for the kids, these water balloon things and a chocolate orange. LOL 

Jared explains this whole ranked choice voting. I guess we have to wait a couple weeks to find out who wins. 

Alex, Jared, Michael

Cy and Stacia

Several brought gifts for CoRielle as they welcome Little Buddy into their home. Diapers, Goldfish, Z Bars, twin outfits, a shirt for Benny, a "sprinkler toy" ...

Cory, Little Buddy, Arielle, Danny, Benny 

Gifts for Baby Noah Michael - due in January

Cory and his 3 boys

Stacia

The kids surround Aunt Stacia while she opens her gifts.

📷by Carrie

The kids were determined to play on the trampoline...and honestly when the house is full it's nice to let the activity spill into the yard.... what's a tad bit of overcast? I am guessing Little Buddy had never been on a trampoline, but he caught on very quickly. 

Little Buddy & Arielle

Luke and Krista had brought one of these toys for each family. Benny and Livie tried to get Uncle Luke wet. 

 

These two gave up and simply began to lob balloons at Luke. They missed each time. LOL 

A sure sign it's a family celebration.

Dip-netting seems to have cemented Liv and Benny's relationship. It's fun to watch. 

Arielle, Little Buddy, Liv and Benny 📷by Carrie

Meanwhile Danny checks out the chicks📷by Carrie

📷by Carrie

Liv did a GREAT job with the little ones📷by Carrie

📷by Carrie

Dessert - ice cream cake, cheesecake and yumminess Krista made....shortbread cookie, with an apple topping, all covered in a dome of hard chocolate...

📷by Carrie

It is fun to have Jared and Larissa in the area! Jared was especially helpful cutting the ice cream cake tonight. LOL 

📷by Allie 

CoRielle, CyRi, JaRissa and Jamin left. Bre and kids had arrived a bit later and still had some party left in them. We settled into a rousing game of Apples to Apples...

Jojo and Bre were quite a team! 

Allie and Krista caught up while we played. 

A picture of that cookie, apple, chocolate
yumminess Krista made

Little Buddy wears these cool glasses - sometimes. He's one and so he doesn't wear them all the time... 

He began to pull them off, put them back on and then we realized he was playing peek a boo with himself.  The photo is darling - but shows his face and if I blur it and you don't see his expression the photo makes little sense. LOL 

As we said goodbye to CoRielle, I leaned into the van and talked to each of the boys. I told Little Buddy we'd see him again soon. Benny replied, "No, Little Buddy may not see you next time." 

I reminded him, "Benny, Little Buddy lives with you now. I'll get to see him when I come play with you." 

Benny had the sweetest, hugest smile I've ever seen when he replied, "That's right!" 

Jumping in to make sure this is clear.
Photos - I have clarified this morning (8-22). According to our case worker in the state of Alaska we are allowed to post photos of foster children as long as we don't identify them. As an added measure of security, WE have chosen NOT to post full facial photos, but will post profiles from time to time...never with his name or such for the first six months. Do remember we have two other toddlers born within weeks of Little Buddy which you WILL see full facial photos...but you are NOT seeing a full facial photo of Little Buddy. 

Adoption is a process with many steps. In our state the foster/adopt process involves placement for 6 months as a foster child before there can be permanency and adoption hearings. It's all a journey. Fostering is the first step, and we are trying to get all the rules right. We've come to love him from afar this past year as we've prayed for, he, his family and the situation. This was the first opportunity for our family to love him face to face.

Pizza and Games

We used to have people over fairly regularly (weekly) for pizza and games...we retired, covid hit, our family got a bit chaotic and out of the norm....we seemed to make people uncomfortable...and we pulled back to focus on some things on the home-front. Which I think was good. BUT, it's time. We've been having people over again. 

Pastor and his family came over tonight for pizza and games. What I LOVED about this evening is we all sat around and played TOGETHER...adults, youth and kids...

First, however, they had to run the Millie gauntlet. We have tried and tried to train Millie to calmly welcome guests. She doesn't seem to get it. She gets WILD, but usually settles down fairly quickly. She was fine tonight once she sniffed everyone. 

CyRi dropped Livie off so they could attend a concert her father was in at the Fairgrounds. She and Shannon and Lindsey's girls enjoy spending time together, so it worked well.  We played HeadBandz.

Liv, Sidney and Pen in the corner

Allie, Stacia, Harper, Liv, Sidney, Penelope

We took a quick break from playing games to watch Michael wrestle with the ice cream cake. LOL 

Michael, Pen, Sid, Lindsey, Harper, Allie, Liv

We all got involved playing Apples to Apples. It turned out to work well for our varied ages. Dad didn't play, but he sat and enjoyed the activity.  It's amazing how much better he is doing now than he was in July. 

It was a great evening, and we are already discussing whom to invite over next Friday.  It was good to re-establish an old favorite and we loved spending time playing with Shannon, Lindsey and their girls. 

Some flowers I GREW. 

Breakfast, Gifts, Games & Dinner

Allie has been working evenings and it's a sacrifice for her to get up for breakfast, but it's a priority and she's wanted to continue even when presented with other options.  For the past six weeks we've been meeting with both girls together once a week. We've been working through questions at If: Table and enjoying the twists and turns of the conversation. Stacia and I appreciate Allie's efforts to continue meeting.  This morning we rushed from breakfast to the hair salon. Personally, I thought both girls' hair looked darling, but it's been 8 weeks and they were ready for a trim. 

Before we came home, we ran to the library, picked up a Click List grocery order, and stopped by Omnivore Alaska, Stacia's choice for her birthday dinner, to verify their hours. 

This afternoon we made 2 ice cream cakes, a chocolate mint cheesecake, and five 10-inch pizza dough rounds and 4 individual ones.  We are set up well for the next couple of days of hospitality. 

We have been looking for a bit of time to have a household birthday celebration for Stacia. We opened gifts this afternoon.  

Allie got Stacia a mug captioned, "Don't annoy the author. They'll write you into a book and then kill you." She also gave her a Creative Block - a bunch of activity/discussion cards in a box. 

We gave Stacia a Chosen sweatshirt, a lighted curtain panel, and an ear cuff/chain comb. Alex got her a sweatshirt from an anime show they watch. Nolan got her a bag full of treats: a psychedelic boov, giant bag of gummy bears and APPLES TO APPLES!

The kids played Apples to Apples while I finished up with the pizza crust...we got rid of Apples to Apples after several unfortunate incidents.  The more we've been playing games, we realized most of us miss it.  I heard the friendly banter as they each politicked for their choices. I mentioned I had been told that was cheating. They brought out the rules and imagine my surprise when the RULES  tell you to try to convince others to pick your card. The game got even better. 

 

The pizza rounds were all pre-baked as the game was ending. We headed to Ominvores for an early dinner before Nolan had to go to work. We really liked the Tuscan Chicken. It's well worth watching their schedule and going in if you are local. The girls and I loved the place. Grandpa and Nolan really liked it. Michael said it was, "ok" and Alex didn't like it. That's still a win around here. 

Nolan went to work. Alex went to play games. The rest of us began settling into a night at home...when, much to our horror Allie got a call from work!!!!! She graciously went in to help.  BUT she's off for a few days now and we're going to BE STRONG and tell that assistant store manager, "NO!!!" next time he calls. ::snort::  Most of you know that manager is Nolan, right? LOL We asked Allie to work as many hours this summer as she could. She was happy to do this and was able to pay for her first college semester AND have cash towards the next semester. She has cut her hours down until she experiences her college load.  We are all excited to have her home more again.  We're also incredibly proud of her. 

Michael, Stacia and I are playing Farkle. It makes me sad that Dad doesn't play any longer....

I KNOW it's Hard

Arielle gives a clear illustration of what it means to love courageously and how it looks when God calls us to a hard good.

Danny (seated), Benny, Arielle, Cory, Little Buddy (in pack)

Believe me, I know. It’s hard. It’s messy. It’s heartbreaking. I’ve often cried this past year mourning that things are not how they should be. That there’s pain and trauma and a loss. I’ve often prayed I could just hold him and wipe all the hurt away with the strength of my love. But I know that’s not exactly how it works.

I’ve cried and been angry and frustrated. There’s a piece of my heart walking around that doesn’t even realize who I am or how much I love him or how I will always be on his side and fight for him. My heart has broken watching him cry, watching him look for safe arms and wanting to be that person for him as he seeks comfort but knowing I can’t replace what was supposed to be. Can only pray God will use me now. Can only patiently love and wait from afar as he doesn’t know I’m any different from the other adults in the room who will come and go.

I’ve sat feeling raw and scared. I’m equal parts the “good guy” who loves him deeply and wants to be all I can be for him but I’m also the “bad guy” who will take him away from the only familiar love and safety he’s known.

I’m terrified I’ll mess up. I’m no saint, why was I chosen? I’m a mess myself. What if I CAN'T? What if I FAIL? My heart immediately cries out “failure is not an option” but my mind second guesses...how am I supposed to walk into the pain and trauma and help him through it? How on earth is God gonna use a messed-up human like me?

I know...it’s hard. It’s messy. Heartbreaking. Nothing like Hollywood. There are no rose-colored glasses. I know. But yaknow what else I know? My God.

My God is healer. Savior. Redeemer. Strength. Comfort. Peace. Refuge and fortress. My God is present and future. My God KNOWS and CARES and is walking beside us and ahead of us. guiding and carrying us thru the hard. Thru the mess. Thru the pain and heart break and trauma to the other side. My God is a miracle worker. And he loves more than I ever could and has a GOOD plan. A plan of redemption and grace and healing. And I’m HERE FOR IT.

One thing God whispered to me when I was praying about all this way back when...you’ll never regret loving well. Even if it’s hard. Even in the darkest night. I’ll never regret loving well- ESPECIALLY when it’s hard

The above expresses the heart of so many so well. Thanks, Arielle, for letting me share it on the blog. I want to document this journey in our family journal.

Beautiful End of the Day

We drove up to youth group just as this rainbow manifested over the mountains which are by our home. It was a beautiful sight to see. 

During youth group, Krista, another mom, and I grabbed some take out drinks and visited in the parking lot.  It's always fun to get to know each other a bit more.