Courageous Joy: Random June Glimpses

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Random June Glimpses

Wow. It's hard to believe this is the last day of June already! It's been a glorious, sunny, warm month. It's been a month of learning how to step into joyful new memories while deeply mourning the absence of Josiah who would typically be celebrating summer with us. It's been a month of HARD GOOD. We've picked out cemetery plots, ordered a headstone, gone on first lake trips, first Colony Days, first fishing trips, first trip to Red Shirt - without Josiah.

Here I am at the end of the month looking at photos saved and trying to decide if they are new blog posts - or a random recap. Join me at glimpses of the month to precious to forget but which never fit into other blog posts.

Cory and the boys on a hike📷by Arielle

June 2nd Jared, Lassie, Noah and Larissa went to the opening of a new dog park in Eagle River.

📷by Larissa

Hold my tea! Charles visits me on a rainy day!

Charles

Josi 📷by Carrie

Have you ever felt like life was a bit out of control? So have I.

One step at a time and life can usually be tamed.

Stacia...ah, Stacia.

Colony Day Parade in the past - several of us just couldn't do it this year. Josh, my counselor, has said when asked to do things I don't feel like doing I should ask myself, "Is this worth the cost to do it even though I want to avoid it?" If it is - do it. If there is no benefit, in this season, it's o.k. to say no. Maybe it's o.k. in any season. I'm new to boundaries. LOL In any event, to me, the parade wasn't worth the cost.

There's Cy, Carrie and Liv in the back📷by Arielle

This little one is full of smiles - though she's keeping Mama up every 20 - 30 minutes at night. Sleep training is in her very near future. What a joy it is to see her daddy's smile peek through her smile...his personality begin to show up in her personality...melded beautifully with Carrie's.

Josi Faith - 📷by Carrie

Cousins!

Bre and Carrie's kids 📷by Carrie

Our road is a mess! We've watched quick tar patches over cracks and potholes for 7 years...but I guess this is the year that the planned road improvement is happening in our area. Our road leads to a major trail head. They are widening the road and putting in a "pedestrian pathway." This looks like a bit mess and lots of trees down at this point. I'm glad the view in the mirror is always beautiful.

This was GG's toughest puzzle yet...and truthfully Michael and Stacia did much of it, but GG spent many hours sitting with the puzzle.

Eggs!

Noah, is the best little campaign side kick in history! Jared and Noah have been in miles and hours meeting up with people in their district and talking about how lead.

June 19 - cousin play date at CoRielle's - Ellie and Josi

📷by Arielle

Danny & Josi 📷by Cory

Larissa and Noah have flown to TX to visit their TX family for a few weeks. Larissa is an amazing traveling mama. How is Daddy going to campaign without his best door-knocking buddy?

Window Clings for the win! 📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

Check this out! Some sort of sleeping contraption...I usually look like a pretzel trying to sleep. Of course, I'm a bit taller than Noah.

📷by Larissa

Noah is having the time of his life in TX. He's playing in the ocean for the first time, enjoying play dates with 2nd cousins and spending quality time with his Texas family. He's having the time of his life - and we miss him and his mama dearly. LOL

June 21st - they say things must get worse before they get better. That is sure true of our road. I was complaining in the spring that they keep putting a layer of tar over cracks and potholes...but we are down to the dirt now. LOL

June 24th - Ellie is three months old.

Krista was home for a weekend before she, Luke and the kids flew off to the lower 48. They landed in Oregon and are taking the road trip of a lifetime down to CA and back up - stopping to enjoy many things along the route. Here are just a few pictures that are meaningful to us. LOL

Kids and Luke 📷by Krista

On the beach below Michael's childhood home. How we loved this place!

📷by Krista

The lighthouse and Redwoods from home.

📷by Krista

June 29/30th - I've previously written about what Red Shirt Lake has meant to our family. Truthfully, most of us girls opted NOT to hike in 3 miles, sleep on plywood, have no outhouse, and eat beanie wheenies from a can, but the guys loved their trips to Red Shirt. Jamin and Jared invited Cory to go along with them on a Red Shirt fishing/camping trip this Saturday/Sunday. Cory took Benny along. How FUN to see the next generation joining in the fun. This trip is another one of those HARD GOOD things in June.