Celebrating Stacia

We celebrated Stacia today - her 18th birthday and her graduation from high school. While there ARE men in this photo - wow, I love the girl tribe in this photo...youth younger than Stacia, women my age, women in their 30's and 40's... there is strength in this photo. 

ANYway, Stacia was a bit surprised when she had to say a few words, though I'm not sure why as we'd discussed it. Since we had waited to celebrate so far into the summer her diploma had arrived from the Galena School District. LOL 

Stacia said she wanted a potluck party where we played group games. We envisioned it being simple, easy and fun. We started looking at people to invite and it came down to youth group families and life group families...it seemed very doable. In reality, the weather turned, and everyone was inside. 45 people in our home is a bit much. As we planned to be outside, I hadn't brought chairs from the church. I didn't have extra tables - you get the picture...but we had LOTS of food, grace, fun and conversation. Stacia was celebrated and blessed. I was particularly happy we celebrated her high school graduation before she began college. We loved the chance to connect with everyone. I see much hospitality in the works for the winter...smaller groups. 

Sweet Kiddos

If it's a party one must have cake. This was good cake. 

Singing Happy Birthday - EAFB Gospel style

In an odd twist today marks 6 years since we moved into this house. It truly has become home. I love the community God has placed us in during this season. I found myself listening to laughter and conversations and being very thankful for this season...with the ups and downs and messiness. LOL 

Other random thoughts of the day - we spent all week rearranging rooms, clearing out the family room etc...and no one even went downstairs. ::snort:: But it's done. 

Notes from the next day: Sanity is returning, and we are happy for this community...even if it felt like a sardine festival at our home. Stacia was loved, seen and celebrated. Our friends were gracious. Covid is truly over and we are going to be engaging in more Sunday afternoon meals. LOL 

Gorgeous Saturday

 This was a gorgeous summer day. It would have been nice to go exploring, but we didn't. We DID spend lots of time outside! 

HOURS outside. It was time to tame our yard. The main part had been done the week of dip netting...but I suspect it had been longer for the orchard. 

Stacia came outside and mowed the main part on the riding mower. She has a terrible time with grass, but the riding mower was a bit better, and she took a very HOT and thorough shower as soon as she was done.  In the midst of the endeavor, I sliced open my finger on the lawnmower. 

Mike worked with the weed whacker...and then took over the riding mower and went up the hills and into the brush - places Stacia is happier not to go. 

While we did all this Allie cleaned inside and kept GG occupied. He really wants to help with the yard, but it simply isn't a great idea. He fell the other night and he's getting to the point where it is very difficult for even Michael to get him up. 

The orchard looks so much better

Remember when the snow and wind knocked down the trees between us and our neighbor? They bounced back up! 

Allie went to work. GG took a nap. Stacia and I ran into town and picked up the cake for tomorrow. It didn't seem right to have her make her own cake. LOL 

We ran over to the church to set up the coffee corner for tomorrow morning.  We stopped at the mailbox, and this was in the mail.  Verdi was right - we got it - just had to wait for the paperwork to process. Stacia's has made it through the system. It will cover her tuition at Alaska Bible College. I can't help remembering it would have given her tuition books and about $600-700 a month to live on at Global. LOL Brick and Mortar schools cost more. LOL  We are ever so thankful for this VA benefit. 

Back at home I assembled a keto "potato" salad, and a broccoli salad. Stacia made deviled eggs. I'll put a ham in the roaster before we leave for church...and others will bring things. 

After dinner Michael headed over to the church to get last week's service uploaded. It's been too busy to find a chunk of time to go sit at the church and wait for the video to load. 

We will sleep good tonight. 

Some Thoughts on the Rest of the Week

 Yes, OF COURSE, there is more to the week than house projects. THIS is my happy place. I didn't get anything planted until July, but I've got some things ready...I hardly feel guilty at all about not getting the big garden planted this year. 

Did you notice my lovely mug? I have loved these mugs since I first saw them at Friday Fling. A few years ago, I had the vendor make teacups for all the girls for our Christmas Adam tea.  I always give the girls a new teacup at the tea. We've actually not been able to have the tea the past two years due to schedules and bad weather. Anyway, we love these teacups...but I have still wanted the mug...it's a bit bigger for my morning cuppa chai. 

A couple of Fridays ago I parted with some of my hoarded spending money and finally bought a mug. It was worth it. 

Chickens are indifferent to my cuppa chai

I'm about to start harvesting lettuce and spinach...but first a cuppa tea. 

I found and booked an Air BnB for upcoming women's conference.  I completed the treat schedule for the upcoming months of Sundays. We've taken oodles of loads to Bishop's attic. 

Today I talked with a man who KNOWS the VA...well he sort of IS the VA expert in our state...and he assures me we will get Chapter 35 funding for college...it's just a matter of waiting... and paperwork. 

I putzed around moving things from the nook down to the study and kitchen food storage area. I'm working to make the nook what it was first envisioned to be. It's already much more relaxing. 

Stacia helped me move Gram's old sewing machine stand into the study to house the printer. This allowed me to bring THAT end table up to the nook. 

Michael loaded up all the black bags of trash which have been collecting all week as we sort through things and clean things...tied everything down and took it all to the dump. 

Allie went to work. I started a ham and Stacia, and I ran errands. 

We ordered a cake for Sunday. 

We ran some things by the boys' house. 

We dropped a box at Bishop's Attic. 

We drove over to Walmart. My hope was to find festive tablecloths (there weren't any), 2 or 3 pastel or lace square clothes (there weren't any), a couple of storage bins, and groceries for Sunday. 

I harvested my first basil...and I transplanted some more starts. I need to read up on tomatoes. I've got a plant that needs HELP. It's too big and heavy. I think I'm supposed to trim the greenery too. I must read up on it. 

I started with one purple basil plant...I have six now and will let them grow. 

I finished reading 1, 2 and 3 John and started Galatians. 

I attended a small group via zoom and determined to Rise Strong. 

I have made many happy memories with family. 

I am reading "Good Boundaries and Goodbyes" and a Teacup Murder Mystery. 

It's shaping up to be a great week! 

Michael mentioned he'd been thinking about how our table is emptying out. It will seat 8 - 10 and has been full in year's past. It's down to 5 now when we are all home and Allie works several nights a week. Last night both girls were gone and there were 3 of us around the table. We have both been thinking we need to be intentional about keeping the table full - at least some nights of the week. Michael mentioned the parable where guests are "compelled" to come in so the table/house of God will be full...and we are starting to understand that more as we observe our giant table with so few around it. I wondered if it was time to downsize to a 4 seater...but I suppose it fits our views on Biblical hospitality to keep the big table and find folks to invite to sit with us at the table. LOL  This table came with a story and a charge....and its time to step out of our WHACKY season and back into a more normal hospitality pace for us. 

Our Project Takes Shape

 I haven't blogged since Tuesday, when I first began to mention this week's house project. We have worked long and hard...and we've made progress. 

We began culling homeschooling materials on Tuesday when Arielle took a box of books home, and we threw away much well-used material.  On Wednesday Bre and Melany, Bryce and Ketziah came over and took a box or two of books home. Bryce helped Michael load a dead stove and dryer onto the back of his truck. By Wednesday night this one shelf, and the big box in the forefront of Sonlight and TOG manuals, is all that's left of the schooling materials. 

The boys' old room is looking more and more like our envisioned study. We filled shelves, moved over computers and printers and put down the carpet...

Michael called it a night and went upstairs about the time the girls came home from church. They asked what was left to do.  I wanted to have the rooms switched so Thursday could be moving the trailer stuff into place. 

We moved another set of shelves from the former study to the New Study. The exercise equipment needed to be moved...two pieces to new homes and one to a new location in our home. One thing led to another, and the girls and I decided to move the treadmill into the "Spare Oom"*  ... it wasn't easy...it WAS quite hilarious and fun. We began by trying to roll it across the family room to the spare oom. I kept remarking Krista did it and I was sure the three of us could do it. Finally, Stacia commented she thought Alex and Nolan helped Krista. Well, that WOULD make a difference. LOL I told them I was getting the hand cart...it worked. 

Before Michael went upstairs for the night, we had discussed putting the treadmill under the window in the study. The more I thought about it, and discussed it with the girls, the more I wanted it in the spare oom so we'd get some use out of that room on a regular basis. We measured where we are guessing the bed will end. It will be TIGHT. In fact, one can probably turn the treadmill on from bed. LOL Putting it in the spare oom allows the study to be reserved for Jesus time, Japanese study, sermon prep, reading...We got it all the way to the turn into the new location when I realized we'd not measured the hallway...and whew...it was tight. I began to wonder if we'd have to move it to the study after all.

See how much taller I look than the girls?
How can I only be 5'3"?

We pulled it back out, got positioned for a straight run and pushed. LOL 

Millie is NOT sure what to make of all the changes. 

It worked...and we made some wonderful memories.  We called it a night at 11:25 p.m.  We decided to go out together Thursday morning for our breakfast study and then to come home, grab Michael and tackle this pile of things from our parents' homes. 

Thursday we finally reached the point where we COULD do something with all the stuff we'd taken out of our trailer before dip-netting. The rooms were set up. We had a big closet in the study where we decided to put as many of the trunks and boxes of photos and letters from both moms as we could. Our plan is to pull one out at a time and sort through it...scanning as we go? Other things marked "Things from Liberia," "slides from Africa," "Philippine things," we stacked into the Spare oom and will sort through them when we set up that room.  Our goal was simply to clear the common area, so it was useable. We'll finish setting up the rooms after the potluck party on Saturday. 

The closet FILLED with the Moms' photos and letters.

Mom always had teacups and plants on this ladder. I dreamed of having one in my home and have looked for a wooden ladder over the years. I now have this one. I set it up with mom's hospice quilt, the quilt Granma Anne made and the quilt from my Liberian childhood. Michael pointed out the ladder wasn't very kid friendly and would probably be a temptation to kids.  It's too rickety to be safe. ::sigh:: I agreed it needed to go. Larissa came to my rescue and is taking it. I'm smiling. 

We need to find a loveseat or couch for under the window. I'm going to list the antique cane furniture on marketplace. The hutch to the left of the door is slated to move upstairs. Note...the big pile to the left of the doors is gone. The exercise equipment is all moved.  Our food storage is organized...still need shelves somewhere for it. We also want to add a carpet and I'll move some of my "woodsy" stuff (as Stacia calls it) down from the dining room...because I have shelves from mom to house teacups that are going on the upstairs walls so we can unpack all the teacups and china which is now in the spare oom.  We will move the roll top desk from the nook to the study - when we have more muscles to get it down the stairs. I'm HOPING before August 19th's family celebration but if it has to wait until then...it will. 

It has been a very productive week. It feels GREAT to be making progress on so many fronts. We still need to move some beds around, set up the bed in the spare oom, move the final pieces to the study, Mike needs to go through some book boxes, move wall hangings around...but it's livable now. LOL We are starting to feel like it's actually our home and we can make every part of it function as we envisioned. 

*Spare Oom  -   In "The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe," Mr. Tumnus inquires, "Daughter of Eve from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, how would it be if you came and had tea with me?"   It's THE name for our spare room. 

We also have Potter's closet under the stairs. 

Noah's First Swim

 No, life has not been all about home projects...look at this little nugget. He is six months old. Summer finally arrived and Larissa took advantage to let Noah go swimming for the first time. I can't even get over the man bun. 

When I told her how much I was loving the man bun she sent me a photo of his hair when the band comes out. 

NAILED IT!

AUGUST 1st! Can you believe it??? 

It is 15 days until Stacia's 18th birthday. 

It is only 5 days until Stacia's 18th birthday and graduation celebration. I bet you THOUGHT we forgot, didn't you? Stacia is an introvert and would only allow me ONE party....we finally pulled it together. 

It is 16 days until Allie and Stacia's college orientation. 

It is 20 days until Stacia and Allie begin classes at Alaska Bible College. 

The fireweed is slow in blooming this year. I suspect this is due to our late spring and RAIN....we are trying to decide if it means it will be a late winter, but some of the tree leaves are starting to change colors.  HOWEVER - and this is STRANGE, ODD, UNHEARD of for this tropic-raised gal - I find myself looking FORWARD to winter this year. I'm EXCITED for the season to change. There really is something to be said for living fully present and embracing each season. 

We NAILED this day! I was up and out of the house early. I headed over to CoRielle's to spend my morning with the boys while Arielle went to her work morning at the church. 

Selfies with Bachan! Pretty sure Danny isn't
sticking cereal up his nose! 

We spent most of our time together outside. We played with bubbles, RAN, and played basketball. Inside we made a giant fort and read 2 books. 

Go, Danny!

LOOK! No emojis over any faces!!!

Something about this scenario is just a bit off! LOL 

Charles helps Benny make the basket! LOL 

I returned home at 1100 and told the girls if we could knock out dinner for our new pastor by 1230, we could deliver it before we went to our appointment at ABC and have the rest of the afternoon to work on the basement project. This way Allie could be part of the fun of dropping the meal off as well. We got it done! I popped some brownies in the oven. Stacia made pie crusts, Allie and I worked on the Chicken pot pie filling....threw it all in a box with salad, some muffins and deviled eggs and we were ready. I DID forget the fruit - but hey - it all worked out. 

We picked up boxes they had unpacked for our basement project.  

At ABC the girls both talked over their plans and the credits they are transferring in.  We were excited both girls only had the "welcome to XYZ university" credit that wasn't accepted. They registered for classes! We talked with the finance department and assured them we WILL pay the first week of school if the VA funding hasn't arrived by then. There was no problem, I just wanted to be sure we weren't missing an expectation. 

We arrived home minutes before Arielle, Benny and Danny. Charles was at therapy, and they were here to look over our homeschooling books and see if she'd like any of them. Arielle was surprised at how much we have. It HAS been 35 years of schooling. Some of it I will need to pitch. Quite a bit of it, however, is still valuable. Bre will check things out and then I'll let other friends from church know they are welcome to check out the stash and then....who knows what I'll do with the stuff....but it needs to be gone. We ARE saving books I want to read to grands and/or the ones that I always meant to read but haven't gotten around to yet. I have a ton of high school Sonlight manuals - I have no idea what to do with them.

Into the midst of the homeschooling mess - we added all the things we were storing in the trailer. We wanted to loan the trailer out...and now that the boys' old room is freshly painted and ready to be turned into the study...it seemed like a good time to get everything from our parents inside and see what to do with it all. The problem is we moved Stacia's party up a week, so I have this week to clear the space...in case it rains, and we need the space for people.

Much of this goes into the new "guest room" - which currently houses all this.... homeschooling material, years as a pastor, an Air Force office that has never been fully unpacked, parts of a home office....

Sometime in here Allie had to leave for work. We managed to CLEAR the big shelves we wanted to move to the new study. I wasn't 100% sure they would fit out the door as Michael built them in the room...but they did. It's one large shelf....Benny and Danny WERE a huge help carrying books and shelves. I wish I'd taken a moment to grab a photo. 

The three of us got it out of the study, across the common room, to the new study. We only had to start and stop a few times to get the angles right. We didn't chip ANY paint. I'm impressed with the wonderfulness of us. ::snort:: 

Stacia and Arielle 

While we worked on this, Michael was dragging large broken appliances and other yard trash to the back of his truck. We are going to take a load to the dump BEFORE the party. I have a couple of large yard bags from the "old study" to contribute to the load and I'm sure there will be more. 

We had a LOVELY day. I believe we broke 80* on our back deck. Summer is finally fully here. LOL Stacia and I enjoyed a quick break on the deck. 

Oh, making pot pies for Scott, Rachel and family reminded us we had a salmon pot pie in the freezer. HEY - don't knock it until you try it. If one must eat salmon, it's not bad - as long as you KNOW it's salmon and prepare your tastebuds.  We pulled it out and heated it up for dinner. We had just a bit of pie crust left, so I pulled one of our apple pie mixtures from the freezer and made a cobbler for dinner too. While Stacia and I pulled together dinner, Michael cut and placed a LOT of shims under the bookshelf. Our floors are NOT level in the basement. 

After dinner clean up Stacia and I ran over to the parsonage to deliver eggs and pick up more empty boxes. 

We will be ready in the morning to load the shelf in the study and unload the other books shelves still in the old study. Stacia has an appointment in the a.m. but I'm set to make some good progress. 

I think I can. I think I can. 

July Randomness

 Noah is full of personality! Just look at that sweet expression!

Noah at 5 1/2 months 📷by Larissa

Rainy summer day vibe

When I say I make GG breakfast every morning...I make him BREAKFAST! This pretty standard...

Enjoying summer 📷by Larissa

Apples - maybe? 

Stacia spent many evenings in July driving around the neighborhood in the Vibe. She taught herself to drive a standard auto AND she is teaching Millie to ride nicely in the car. 

We do have blog readers on the other side of the screen.  Jessica sent this with the message that catching up on Courageous Joy makes for a nice Sunday afternoon read. LOL 

📷 by Jessica or Krista

Papa shows Gideon how to tie a "real tie." 

Noah is CLOSE to crawling! 

Noah was the first volunteer we pulled in to help with coffee on Sunday

Red Door Coffee #MAGlove

Bre and the kids do Shark Week well. 

📷 by BreAnne

Bella jumped off the diving board into the deep end. Gideon did soon after but I don't have a photo. 

📷 by BreAnne

Shark Week fun with Joelle and kids 📷by BreAnne

Ice Cream with JaRissa and Bre and kids  (Photo from Riss?)

Cutest Cowboy in the States
Photo by Rissa