First day of school

Today is Julian's first day of 5th grade and Kathryn's first day of 2nd grade. It's hard to believe they are so big! It is already too quiet around the house, and they have only been at school for an hour.



We are very pleased with the teachers they have been assigned to, and the kids were excited to go this morning. I don't know if they were so excited about school or getting to use all the new stuff they got to start school. Either way, I hope they keep the excitement for at least a little while. They each have a friend or 2 in their class, so we have high hopes for a good year.

Camping this weekend

We went camping from Thursday of last week until yesterday morning. We tent camp, although I'm not sure you could say we "rough" it, since we pack everything that will fit into our vehicles! The campground we visited has a pool, so we spent a lot of our time there. It rained A LOT Wednesday and Thursday, so we were worried about the weather, but it turned out to be a beautiful weekend with temperatures in the low 90's. I didn't take a lot of pictures this time, but here are a few:

The kitten.

While Jason worked on the railing and gate, the kitten played in a plastic bag. I wish it wasn't so darn cute! We're still NOT keeping the cat, but at least it's fun having it around while we try to find a home for it.

When I took Lucy to the vet, I asked if they knew who I could call or where I could take the kitten, and the vet told me to take some pictures and they would try to place the cat for me - keep your fingers crossed!

And I love this picture. They sat and stared at each other for several minutes - until I got up to go inside. They definitely don't trust each other....and why should they?

The missing piece

I have discovered that I really enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. I bought this one just a couple of weeks ago because it seemed to be the least complicated of the choices. It was 350 pieces...350 tiny pieces! It started with Kathryn and I working on it, then Julian did a few pieces, but I completed most of it (and want to get another to do sometime soon!). All of that to say this: when we got the puzzle mostly finished, we realized a fish piece was missing. We looked high and low, under furniture and in cushions. No puzzle piece. Honestly, it was fairly frustrating, because I really don't like leaving things unfinished. So we have to just accept that our puzzle will remain unfinished. Ugh.

This got me thinking about my life without Jesus. I know it's a leap, but I really saw how that missing puzzle piece is like Jesus in my life. Before I found Him, I was unfinished, missing something. Not knowing exactly what was missing, but realizing that hole was there. I tried to fill that hole with the wrong things - boys, partying, friends, but those were not the right pieces; they didn't fit. Eventually, I realized that I wanted to be loved - not loved for how I looked or acted, but loved because I am who I am. I am "fearfully and wonderfully made". The missing piece was Love and Acceptance. Jesus loves me in spite of my flaws. His love is the missing piece. Jesus loves me! And he loves you too. He knows what you've done, and he loves you anyway.

I am in no way perfect. But I know I am loved. The hole in my life has been filled. Hallelujah!

Now, if only I could find that missing fishy puzzle piece!

The finishing touches

We finished the railing and gate this weekend, and I think it turned out perfectly!

Me ... 33

Today is my birthday - 33 years old.
It's a weird year for me, and I am thankful to have another year to get gray and wrinkled.
By the way, Kathryn took the first picture of the candles...I liked the perspective.

7 stitches

Yesterday evening, during Julian's soccer practice, Kathryn was swinging when the boy beside her jumped off his swing. The practices are all at our city park, and I could see the swings from where we were sitting. Well, when the boy jumped, the swing came back and hit Kathryn in the head, cutting her pretty deeply. She ran over to where we were sitting with blood all over her - I actually thought it was mud at first, because it had just stopped raining and I had been looking at Julian when it happened. When I saw the cut, I knew we had to let a doctor look at it. We took her to the ER, and they gave her 7 stitches since the cut was irregularly shaped and deep. It was a pretty harrowing experience, but Kathryn made it through just fine. She will have to have the stitches removed in 10 days, but we will go to her family doctor to do that. They will be much more gentle and patient with her than the doctor in the ER was, I hope. The good thing is the cut is in her hair, so when it heals, it won't be noticeable (unless she wants to show someone!). She now thinks it's pretty cool that she'll be able to tell her classmates about it when she starts school in a couple of weeks, although the stitches will be taken out a few days before she starts.

Of all the things I worry about happening to one of my children, this was not on my radar. I thought swings were fairly safe. Who knew?!

Just visiting...

This adorable kitten is looking for a home...she showed up at our house a couple of days ago, and we've been putting food and water out until we can figure out what to do with her. If any of you out there in cyberspace are looking for a kitten, she is all yours. I want to find her a good home, and Kathryn has grown to love her, so we can't send her away until we know she'll be taken care of...

Our Friday walk

We finished our walk at about 11:30 this morning, and it was starting to get pretty muggy. The water was high from storms that came through last night, and it made for a nice view, and a nice end to our long walk (this trail is 3.4 miles round trip).

Unfortunately, we got back from our walk, ready for the kids to get in our kiddie pool, and it was empty!!! We obviously have a leak in the pool because I am positive it was full before we left. Disappointing since we've got a couple of months of hot weather left. We'll figure it out though... I did refill it halfway so they could get in, and it held water..who knows.

Chillaxin' ...

Not sure what this pose was, but she held it until she knew I had taken the picture, so she knew what she wanted it to be I guess....maybe something she saw on TV???

With her lego spaceship made by master-crafter, Julian.

Julian and I were sitting on the deck trying to get a picture of a hummingbird, but we never did see one. I guess we were being too noisy or moving too much or something...we'll try again, sometime. I was surprised at the patience shown by Julian in sitting and waiting for the bird to come.

My handsome baby boy!

Definitely lovin' the new deck...a new favorite activity is bird watching...hummingbirds at our new feeder and other birds at our seed feeder. It's pretty amazing to see the birds that visit.

Hmmm...85%

Well, I am at more than 85% of my storage limit for this blog. I guess it's time to start thinking of what will happen next. Will I need to create a new blog or just stop this one? Who knows. But it's time to start thinking of it at least....