FAREWELL LUNCH

Shannon is one who quietly goes about her life making people feel seen and loved. I've seen her bless other people, but I've also had the honor of being on the receiving end of her kindness multiple times. From silly GIFs because she knows I love them to a listening ear when some aspect of life is hard (which is a big deal because I use waaaaaaay more words than she does) to gestures of support in various situations, she's made me feel valued over and over. She's a treasure. 

She's moving, which I don't approve of, but she was able to meet for lunch before she left, which I definitely approve of. Food and friends are always a win! So I picked up Alicia and the three of us spent a little part of our day talking and eating before saying goodbye. I really appreciate both of these gals and it was a gift to have some time with the two of them today. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful I can walk into my yard and get mint leaves for making a cup of tea. What's something you're thankful for?

LOTS OF FAMILY (& A LITTLE BIT OF FRIEND) TIME

We were in Medford over the weekend and had a great time. Here's a recap.

FRIDAY

Naomi, Tyler, and I hit the road first thing Friday morning. But not before laughing because we'd set the timer for way too long on the camera and were hitting the awkward smile phase. (And I mean even more awkward than my brackets and rubber bands smile already is these days.)

Last year Devon challenged Tyler and a friend to keep their fingers touching the roof for as long as possible on a road trip. They lasted about forty-five minutes. Winner got a pack of gum. Naomi did a modified version for Tyler this time, asking if he could do it for the last twenty minutes of the trip. He did. She gave him candy.

It's been almost a year since Dad and Debra lost everything they owned in the Almeda Fire. Having a rental to live in for the past nine months or so is a privilege that many who lost their homes haven't had, so I'm incredibly thankful a home was available and that their insurance paid for it. However, being able to settle in a permanent place is a huge blessing and I was super excited to visit their new home with two of my kids. It's a fantastic place, filled with lots of natural light. I'm so happy for them as they move into this next season of life.

Our weekend was dedicated to family stuff, but Carol, who I'd invited to stop by the gallery, asked if we could meet for a meal. We couldn't, but we did happen to have a little block of time to squeeze her into. We met up for ice cream at Sweet Cream and had time to visit, both with and without the kids. I've only known her for ten months, but she's one of those people I loved right from the start. She's kind, gentle, a wonderful encourager, and truly cares about everyone who crosses her path. I appreciated being able to share some of my life with her and hear her words of wisdom.

Sidenote: I found out at Dad's that he and Debra know Carol. And they met her eight years ago! I guess I'd never mentioned her name to them and she never made the connection because she didn't know my maiden name. I love small world moments.

My sister, Belinda, is such a talented artist! To spend the evening with her at Art du Jour Gallery during the Third Friday Art Walk was a huge treat. There was a steady stream of relatives both local and from out of town (I hadn't seen some of my brother-in-law's relatives in several years, but we're all from the same town), friends from different parts of her life (it was fun for me to meet them), and people she'd never met before who came and supported her as this month's featured artist at the gallery. I think I'd previously seen all twenty paintings either in her home or on her professional social media pages, but it was pretty impressive to see them all on display at once. I'm so glad I was able to be there for her big night!

She took the next three pictures and passed them along to me because they have me or my kids in them. First, sisters. 

Second, my sister with her son, her niece, and one of her nephews.

Finally, the three Perkins girls.

Some of my friends came to the gallery (two who'd never met my sister, two who met her at Silas and Natie's wedding, and one she's spent some one-on-one time with) and it was good to see them. It was special to see Don and Katy. We'd had a few minutes to visit at my church when they were in town a few weeks ago and thought that was the last time we'd probably ever be in the same place. To see them again for another few minutes was great. I also appreciated Carol hanging out downtown for a while in order to come and Nicole and Brittney rearranging their evening to allow for a gallery visit.

Sidenote: I found out Katy and Ashley recently met, but neither of them knew about the other's connection to me. Now they know! Have I mentioned I love small world moments?

SATURDAY

Ashley, one of my step-sisters, lost the home she shared with roommates in the Almeda Fire last September. It was a horrible experience that turned out to be the catalyst for buying her own home. She's lived there for several months now, but this was my first time visiting.I also got to bring two kids who were seeing it for the first time and another who saw it in the bare bones days right after she got keys. It's perfect for her! It was really cool to see such a huge blessing come from such a huge tragedy.

Tim wasn't expecting to be able to join us for the weekend, but plans changed and he arrived mid-day, and Silas had come down separately. The temperature was perfect and the smoke cleared, so my family, my sister's family, Dad, Debra, and Ashley enjoyed hanging out in the back yard for lunch, floats, games, swimming, a contagious case of the giggles, conversation, and even a haircut. It was a perfect way to spend an afternoon! I'm so very thankful we live close enough to make these family gatherings possible from time to time and that Beep took this group shot of the whole crew.

Later in the evening we had the kids find something to do while Beep, Josh, Tim, and I played Drawful 2 and Fibbage via a TV screen and our phones. Both games were new to me and Tim, but they were easy to learn and made me laugh. I love laughing, but don't do it enough, so ending a fun day by playing funny games was pretty awesome.

SUNDAY 

We joined my sister's family at their church. I cried a bit. I'm thankful for people who are vulnerable about their struggles. I also got to meet more people my sister knows and ran into Loren and Melindsa, a couple I've been acquainted with for probably twenty-five years because we knew a lot of the same people, but haven't seen in at least sixteen.

Sidenote: Melinda recently met my sister, but didn't know we were related because we have different last names. Another small world moment this weekend!

We'd planned on stopping by to see Shon, Devry, and Michael on our way out of town, which turned into meeting them for lunch. The plan was to head home once we were done, but our family traveling in two cars meant the W guys were able to make a spontaneous decision to stay longer. Naomi and I headed out after lunch, but the guys spent the rest of the afternoon together.

I was able to say a quick hello and give a hug to Cindy and Betty after we gassed up for the drive home. Less than five minutes together, but it was still good to see them. 

Three days of important milestones, special people, and positive experiences filled up my emotional tank!

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THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for a decent night's sleep. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

8/16/21 - WORTH REPEATING

*****

I’m really proud that I’m still interested. Not ‘interesting’—that’s a different thing. I mean interested. I’m still interested in the world. ‘Interested’ feeds me, and if that makes me interesting-- then great.

~ 5/29/21 interview on Humans of New York

*****

Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important, wonderful. If you want to be recognized, wonderful. If you want to be great, wonderful. But recognize that he who is the greatest among you shall be your servant. That's your new definition of greatness. And ... the thing that I like about it, by giving that definition of greatness, means that everybody can be great. 

~ Martin Luther King Jr. in The Drum Major Instinct, as quoted in The House That Love Built: Why I Opened My Door to Immigrants and How We Found Hope Beyond a Broken System, written by Sarah Jackson with Scott Sawyer

*****

I've been a fool, went down
Thought I could walk the line
Be just in time to turn it back around
But I fall through that old forbidden door
And though I knew the stakes
Still made my way
Just like every time before

I'm over my head and lost
And no, there's no way I'm able to pay back the cost
But this I call, this I call to mind
That I'm not alone
And I can come back home anytime

So I'll go, to the storehouse I'll go
To the storehouse of mercy, I'll go

~ The Gray Havens in Storehouse on She Waits 

*****

Expectations are premeditated resentments. 

~ probably from Alcoholics Anonymous, but I can't find confirmation

*****

If you watch HGTV too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with your home. If you stay on social media too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with your life. If you watch the news too long, you’ll become dissatisfied with the world.

Unplug.
Pray.
Read any book.
Spend time with loved ones.
Take a walk.

Our minds are easily influenced, but we control what the influences are. Choose wisely.

~ Ash Alles

*****

** This post contains affiliate links and I'm grateful when people use them. **

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful to live in a place that rarely has extreme temperatures in either direction. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for the work Tim's done around our home lately. What's one thing you're thankful for?

DON & KATY

Oh, these two! Don and Katy were such an integral part of my early adulthood. She's responsible for saving one of my oldest friendships. He officiated my and Tim's wedding. I forked their lawn. Twice. (I'll let you speculate as to which of us is less mature than the other two.)

What a treat to have a chance to hug this awesome couple one last time yesterday (and to get a dose of Katy's kindness) before they move across the country!

DADS & SONS CAMPOUT - 2021

For probably a decade Tim joined some other men in taking their sons, all around Silas and Devon's ages, on a camping trip each summer. It was a highlight of our big boys' childhoods and Tyler enjoyed it once he was old enough to join (he's way younger than all the other boys). That tradition came to an end when the oldest boy in the group graduated from high school a couple years ago and last summer everything was wonky because of covid, but Tim brought the tradition back this year when he asked a friend to join him on a dads and sons camping trip with their younger sons. 

Tim, Tyler, Shon, Devry, and Michael all spent the weekend hanging out at Milo McIver. They fished, explored, made friends with other campers, and played games. Tyler's favorite part was naming the salamander that Devry caught (Sally, because alliteration rocks - Sally the Salamander). Tim said it was cool to see the boys having fun as they explored. 

I'd asked the dads to get a decent group picture to document the outing and they took two. One in the day, one at night. Plus one of the three boys fishing together. Score!

I'm really thankful Tim's giving Tyler an opportunity for more dads and sons campouts, even though the original group moved on to new seasons of parenting. And I'm glad this crew of guys all had fun over the weekend. Making memories!