8/31

It was a beautiful day spent at the lake with friends. Coming home, we drove through rain that could have spoiled our fun. It stayed away and let us have our gorgeous day. Summer is on its way out, the cool fall air is sneaking in.

When we got home, we could see those clouds from our yard. The ones that brought rain on our drive home, but avoided us as we enjoyed our day outdoors with friends. It is a beautiful life that we live. I'm so grateful for all of it.

8/30

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Opening day for college football means we watch the Huskers play! It also means cheese dip, a cold beverage and lots of folks wearing red. This is one tradition that I look forward to each year. It signals the end of summer and makes for a festive fall...until we lose.

8/29

What I love about my Buddy is that he doesn't just have great ideas. He is relentless in the carrying out of his ideas. He demands ACTION.

What you see is this afternoon's action: a bug habitat fit for a king. And yes, that is a gummy bear duct tape ramp for the buggies to crawl on. 

He's so good for me. He walks the talk, just like I want to. 

8/28

8/27

Because church on Wednesday night just makes sense. We're so lucky to have a happy church home. 

8/26

Tonight, Bee had play practice. She's going to be a flower in the musical Wonderland. It's a children's production in our small city and she is so happy to have a role! Seeing her with a script, running lines...it's all very exciting.

8/25

There was a DOUBLE promise in the sky this morning and it was glorious!

8/24

There has been a new washing machine, fridge repair, water heater repair, garage door repair, and now a new dishwasher since March. Sometimes being a homeowner gets a little $$$. Grateful for a warm, safe place to live. Hoping our appliances are done breaking down for a while now!

8/23

Saturdays are different now that school is back in session.
It's a catch up day of tidying and laundry and being happy at home.

8/22

A foggy, gloomy morning. 

Home with a sick Buddy. 

There was peace here today. Thankfully. 

8/21

The days are so hot and humid right now. I open the door each morning, hoping to get a blast of cooler air. It hasn't happened yet, but I know fall is on its way. I'm ready.

8/20

Living a life of luxury over here with my pb&j (hold the j). 

8/19

I will admit, I am offended when I read pleas to let God back into our schools.

God goes with me to school every day. I also ask Him to join my kids and my husband.

We four attend four different schools every day and He is there with us all. He is there in our choices, our actions and our words. He is there in our love.

I love because He loves me, regardless of whether or not religion is taught. I pray silently, my thanks and also my requests.

God is big enough to be in all of the schools.

God is there. Please don't let fear make you believe anything else. If you want Him there more, then please cover your school in prayer and ask others to do the same. Go there and take Him with you.

But please don't say He's not there. He is there.

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8/18

Bee moved to a new bedroom this summer and the empty space in her old room was filled soon after with someone new. Not quite what I had in mind for "guests" in our new guestroom. 

8/17

Church, lunch, hoops, movie.

A perfect Sunday. 

8/16

My happy place...

8/15

It spanned almost the entire length of our little city this morning. 

God's promises calm my heart. 

8/14

Starting the school year with zero summer regrets. Around here, we know how to do summer!

8/13

She's in 6th grade. SIXTH GRADE. 

8/12

These two.

What can I say?

Love is Infinite. 

8/11

My view these days. My 2nd home for the next nine months. It feels good already...and it will only get better. 

8/10

A bath for the doggy. They love helping take care of the old girl. 

8/9

 

Last day of break for me, but summer's not over yet! I need to remember that. 

8/8

A friend of mine posted this to facebook a few weeks ago. I absolutely love #2. It has popped into my head more than once, I'm guilty of worrying about such things. Now when I do, I think to myself, "It's none of your business."

8/7

I'm determined to keep my face pointed toward the light this year, no matter what. Last year was rough, I will admit. I'm determined to stay light. To be lighter. 

Blessed to be a blessing. 

8/6

I'm up tomorrow, bright and early, to practice driving a bus. A small bus, but still, A BUS. No more comfort zone for me. The comfort zone is gone. 

8/5

August isn't my favorite month, but it is near the top!

Today feels like my last day of summer, even though that is technically still six weeks away! Today is the last day I babysit the kids who stay with us three days a week during the summer. Today is the last day I am on "summer time". Today is the last day I wear my full-time-mom hat.

Tomorrow I put on my teacher hat. I will plan and organize and clean (at school instead of home).

Each role means a lot to me and they blend together so much that they often feel like one thing. I like that I get to do something different each day, week, month...I like the cyclical nature of being a teacher.

Today is all about gratitude. I'm so thankful for so much. Each time I see a joke on facebook about dreading the start of school, I hide it. I'm excited and happy, not sad and filled with angst. At our house, August feels like the new year, more so than January. I love it!

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8/4

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Every day.

8/3

 

August causes periods of extreme reminiscence for me, which is at times coupled with nostalgia.

How is it that these two are now in 6th and 3rd grades? He's going to learn multiplication and CURSIVE (gulp). She's got a ten period day and will be studying world cultures.

There is no sadness to this feeling of time passing. Only excitement, joy and gratitude. That being said, how lucky am I that I got to spend a blink with those two little cuties? They are now big kids, which is also fun.

I plan to give this day my full attention, working hard to stay in the moment. Even if my heart sneaks back to think about past days too. I can't help myself.

• ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

rem·i·nis·cence

reməˈnisəns/

noun

1. a story told about a past event remembered by the narrator.

   "his reminiscences of his early days in Washington"

   synonyms:

   memories, recollections, reflections, remembrances More

   • the enjoyable recollection of past events.

     "his story made me smile in reminiscence"
   • a collection in literary form of incidents and experiences that someone remembers.
   • ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. nos·tal·gia

   näˈstaljə,nə-/

   noun

   1. a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

      "I was overcome with acute nostalgia for my days in college"

      synonyms:

      reminiscence, remembrance, recollection; More

      • something done or presented in order to evoke feelings of nostalgia.

        "an evening of TV nostalgia"
      • • ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      • 
        

8/2

 

Dinner on my sister's new patio, drinks with one of my favorite people. It was a beautiful end-of-summer-break night. Ahhhhhhh...

8/1

Bee had her first pedicure today. What fun it is that we still get to have milestones, that there are still these "new" moments to share together!