This time of year, Nellie is responsible for keeping Nana’s lawn clear of fallen apples. We’ve peeled, cored, sliced, cooked, and juiced many of them. I think you can see our house across the street in the left background of the first picture…
So, I’m the one who posts, and it’s my school-year’s resolution to be much better about it. But I guess I never do picutures of just me, because… well- that would be silly. But this is the first time since expecting Carter in 1996 that I have been home by my lonesome. It is wonderful!!!!! So I’m posting a picture of me to say that even if it “isn’t about me…” it sure feels like it as I kick around an empty house and wander outside to enjoy the fleeting fall sunshine! : ) Especially knowing that come 3:10 on the button, I’ll be up to my eyeballs in fabulous, if a touch consuming, children again.
Dave always cooks the kids a back-to-school breakfast over a backyard fire pit. They really look forward to it, though Moriah has reached the point where she doesn’t want to go to school smelling like smoke- she joins in from a cautious angle. Here is John Henry (9) and Nellie (6) enjoying french toast- Dave in the background.
We barely eeked out this picture as Moriah (11) was over-primping while the bus pulled up. (!) Lest anyone think she gets that from me, I didn’t know that grooming was an option until I was well into high school. Both Carter (12) and Moriah gave their first day of Middle School a rave review. (wow! can we get that in writing???) Since then, Carter has been enjoying flirting with the brink of disaster emitting bodily noises of various kinds in class. I suppose- given the options at this point- we’d rather have him flirt with disaster than, well, anything else.
All the kids got on the bus except Moriah who opted to walk the two blocks with her friend Zoe. They were glad to have someone to share the “butterflies” on the way to a new school. They reported having prayed at the flagpole together, and it is my prayer that God will bless them both openly for that as I was reading in Matthew that morning of how He rewards the good deeds done in secret. I know this year will be a challenge especially for Carter and Moriah as they grow in their understanding of what it costs to follow Jesus. But I am thankful for the blessings along the way- like a like-minded friend.
After the kids got off the bus the 2nd day of school, we whisked everyone off to camp for our summer finale staff party which always starts with a softball game between seasonal staff and missionary staff and ends with a fantabulous potluck. Here is John Henry finishing up some homework that I assigned after he got off the school bus harassing a little girl. We don’t waste any time, do we??
