blessed beyond measure

For the very first time as a family of four, we struck out on vacation. Just us. An adventure if there ever was one. Actually, it was a plan B type of adventure, as our initial plans for the summer changed quite a bit. We had hoped to finally get back to Brandon's and my very favorite destination, Myrtle Beach. We had visions of reconnecting with all those great spots and showing the boys why it is such a great place to be. Stuff happened though, as it tends to. And so I planned hard, trying to make up for the massive disappointment felt by the three who so badly wanted sand between their toes and the one who wanted to breathe the air in the golf capital of the world. Tried to get something into this backup plan that would be fun for everyone. I picked Williamsburg. Far away enough to be called away, but still pretty close to home and plenty of good stuff to offer for all of us. For the boys, it was Great Wolf Lodge. Warning: if you're a mom and you go in by yoursel...

About a month ago, we were privileged to attend an extremely fancy "banquet" for Aden's baseball team (and every other tee-ball, baseball or softball team from our immediate area). The kiddos were invited to go down on the field during a Lynchburg Hillcats double-header to receive their trophies, then take positions with the grown-up players before the National Anthem. It was an experience beyond cool, made even cooler by sitting with besties and stuffing one's face with stadium food. Proud of our ball player!

We began the summer with a small and quickly waning stash of veggies from back in 2015. And a deep freezer filled with nothing edible. Knowing how grave the need, we meticulously planned garden size and placement. We planted on time and made very stern resolutions to take tender and vigilant and constant care of this garden. Because the alternative of eating waxy tin-can beans from Kroger is enough to ruin one's attitude. Then it rained. Exactly what you want to happen after planting. It rained more and more and more. Then a little more. Furrows and clay and massive puddles appeared. Sprouts did not, at least on the normal schedule. They did eventually come up, though the torrents of rain had redeposited many of the seeds wherever they very well pleased. Still, we rubbed our hands together in excitement and anticipation of the work and reward. The tiller did two rows before it gave out. Trey and I grabbed our hoes and spent weeks upon weeks hours upon hours, blood bli...

Trey up and decided to stick it to his anxiety, and set off to church camp with his brave Giga and a handful of his buddies. Words cannot say how proud we are of how far this boy has come. Camp was something we never even dreamed of. But there it was that he spent his birthday week, swimming and hiking the mountainside and sweating and tweening, as he is now way too cool for hand motions. But aside from a few moments of uncertainty each day, he had a blast. I got to go up and see him on his actual birthday, though he was much gladder to see the cupcakes I was carrying than my face. Then Brandon went up for a night and got to bond with his birthday boy, and scare a few of the other kids. Fun times and great memories. Trey brought home with him three camp-exclusive things. The first was shoes so smelly they should have their own zip code. Good grief, boys and their feet. Nasty, nasty, nasty. The second was playing card fascination. He has taught me games I never knew about,...

Ten. Ten. It was a decade ago, breakfast time on this very day, that this incredible person turned us into a family. He has made every single day of that decade into a grand adventure. Our Trey Isaiah is full tween. I have already here written of struggles and growing pains. Change is never easy, caught between kid and grownup. He'll find his place. He tells long, winding, excruciatingly detailed stories, and it's fabulous. Animated and oh, the faces. A tale-teller who reserves his entertaining for those he loves the most. His anxiety has certainly improved, more in his last year than any other. Though not all resolved, he has slowly learned some coping strategies to help ease some of his fears. Trey has done more to use his gifts, put himself out there, and seize life this past year than we ever would have expected from him. It's like he's realizing he can be free. And he is learning to trust his Savior more and more. So important, because obviously t...