August In Pictures

Contrary to the sound of my last post, I have not been spending all my days with tears in my eyes and a tissue box close at hand. As usual with me, the dreading of change is often worse than change itself. The last couple of weeks have had their share of adjustments and change, but they have also been good ones. Re-telling August strictly through pictures, it appears that the month wasn't all that bad either...

We got two kittens from our former foster girl and her family. They have provided so much entertainment this month! I love cats. 

We spent a lovely day at the lake. It's been ages since I took all five! Have to say, it was quite a bit easier than it used to be, but just as good for the soul. 

I tried a couple of new recipes...

Had a sleepover one night...

Discovered at supper time one evening that our water wasn't working.

 Between kind neighbors (who brought us water and watermelon and parts for the pump) and a kind church friend (who came over and worked in the dark) the problem was fixed before bed time!

Just Jasmine, painting a picture for a friend instead of working on packing, as one does...

We went on a family bike ride one evening. The short story is that it was a gorgeous evening and the trail and family time were idyllic. The longer version is that by the time we arrived at the bike trail and got everyone situated and on bikes, I was wondering why I ever thought it would be a fun thing to do? In spite of the hiccups, it was an absolutely lovely and fun evening. 

The 'moral of the lesson'? Don't let the hiccups stop you from doing things. 

I grew up in a family of school teachers, and helping Isaac with bulletin boards, etc has been nostalgic and fun. 

(I title this picture: "When you could literally spend two minutes writing the jobs out, but instead you spend an hour drawing pictures to illustrate them." What can I say? Some of us can't help ourselves.)

Jasmine left for Sattler College

Not pictured - me, in the back seat of the car in the Walmart parking lot, while my girls film for their YouTube video. You can watch it here. Their little hobby has turned out to be a very effective tool for forcing them to get along. The process hasn't always been fun, but I love watching their creativity and seeing the ways they have learned to navigate their differences.

School started!

Fall is coming... Pulling out this one, ginormous, cucumber plant!

The mom and fawn that visit our

 yard most mornings...

And last, but not least -- 

my four books in August:

1. Top left - the second book in

The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

great books to read just for fun

2. Top right - A book that I waded through, and felt like I was in over my head 

most of the time

3. Bottom left - Listened on Libby & enjoyed

4. Bottom right - The brand new book about the Haiti kidnapping! Fantastic writing, as usual, by Katrina Hoover Lee

And now... Hello September!