Anniversary Number Twenty-Two

Ten years ago our family spent several nights at a cute, little cabin in Hocking Hills, OH. That vacation was part of several Prizes that Chris had set up as rewards for reading the Bible through in a month. Charles was only three months old, but I think all the rest of our children have good memories from that cabin. 

Today is our twenty-second anniversary, and Chris and I just got back from spending two nights at that same cabin. 

It was absolutely lovely. 

Chris had booked the cabin nearly a year ago and had no idea that the weeks leading up to it would be full of activity, and that the dates would be a couple of the last days Jasmine would be home before leaving again for the summer, and that his wife would think that maybe they should cancel. Had he known, he would have probably quietly booked it anyway, knowing that it would be just the thing that we needed. He's smart like that. 

We hiked gorgeous trails

And climbed around in 

the intriguing "Rock House"

We had yummy breakfasts

And ate ice cream right out of the carton

The cabin had an adjoining game room with a small basketball hoop, dart board, bean bag toss and hot tub. I wasn't much competition at any of the games, but we got a lot of good laughs out of my poor skills. One of our memories from ten years ago was the fun little dollar bill game; we were delighted to find it was still going strong! 

There are at least 9 one dollar bills hidden inside the cabin. There is a journal where guests leave clues for where to find them. So, the last entry in the journal has clues for 9 dollar bills. We found six of them, and could either replace them once we found them, or hide them in new places and write new clues. We were too lazy to write new clues this time, but ten years ago we had fun re-hiding them as a family. 

Found one!

The clue for the dollar pictured was "Ephesians 5:22", and I found it in the Bible on the coffee table. My favorite clue was "John 4:5-30". When I looked it up, and discovered those verses are the story of Jesus and the woman at the well, I knew immediately where to look! There was a picture on the wall of Jesus with the woman at the well, and sure enough -- a dollar bill was tucked under the frame. Such a fun little game!

Neither of us were really ready to leave for home, but we both were so grateful for the time away. So many, many memories from twenty-two years of living together! One of my very favorite things about our marriage is the way Chris has always made time for the two of us a priority. There's nobody I'd rather spend time with!

I'm glad I don't know what the next twenty some years will look like. Right now, I am just cherishing today. 

One Year Later

 Exactly one year ago today, I published a graduation blog post titled "Class of 2022". A lot can happen in one year....

This past weekend, Chris and I traveled to Boston for another graduation -- same child, different experience. 

Jasmine spent the past nine months studying at Sattler College and completed their One Year Certificate in Biblical Studies. It was so good to be there and see the places and meet the people that have impacted her life so deeply. It was a short trip - driving there Friday and returning Sunday - but very much worth it. 

I didn't take many pictures, I was too busy taking in the sights and trying to match up faces with all the names I've heard so many times. 

Just gazing at the graduation venue and listening to the beautiful organ music was an experience in itself! A favorite memory was having a long time blog reader spot me and introduce herself -- so special!

Pictures and celebration on the Boston Common

Chris and I, with Jasmine and Uriah

A view from Sattler's windows

Saturday afternoon we got a good taste of Boston life -- lots of walking! Sandals weren't the best choice of footwear, but it could have been worse. We got to walk Jasmine's daily path from college to dorms and a common path from dorms to train station. 

We got to experience riding the T, and having a conversation with a very chatty individual and observing many stripes of other people. 

But my most favorite thing of all was the chance to meet the beautiful people who have nurtured and fed and loved my daughter the past nine months. Just thinking about it now brings a lump to my throat. I'm so grateful for the ways God is able to do above and beyond what we ask or think!

Not only has a lot happened in a year, I feel like I have grown and stretched and learned in many ways as a mother myself. Having children will do that to a person, no matter the stage of life! Here's to many more years of learning.....

A Month of No Pictures

I didn't declare April a month of no pictures, but that seems to be what it was! I kinda feel like I blinked and the month disappeared, to be honest. I'm not even quite sure why? It wasn't that the month was so over the top busy, just a steady stream of days that rolled by and left me turning around, looking to see where the weeks went? 

The blooming of my Forsythia came and went...

The birthday of my ten year old came and went...

The first bike trail ride of the season came and went...

My middle child's trip to DC with her high-school classmates came and went...

I told you I would share the books I read in March. Here they are, plus one that I read in April --

The only one I will comment on is the one I am sure the most people have questions about: Spare. It was really good; much better than I expected it to be, honestly. I'm still not a huge fan of Harry and Megan, but he came across more fair and kind than I thought he might (if a bit delusional in places).

I need to run along and study for my lady's Sunday school class tomorrow. What new thoughts would you have about the story of Jesus walking on the water? It's one of those stories we've heard so many times that it kind of loses its intrigue. 

Happy End-Of-April to you! If May is bringing you a landslide of end of school activities like it is me, I wish you grace and joy as the days flash by and summer commences. 

A Month of Pictures: 31

 

Today has been a cozy, rainy day at home. I feel like I've spent a lot of this week running here and there, so today was especially nice. I've just puttered around - straightening up the house, washing up a pile of dishes, folding accumulated clean laundry and feeding endless dirty clothing through the washer...

I thrive on slow days and menial rhythms but I can also quickly feel like my life lacks purpose and meaning. I'm constantly walking a fine line between looking for motivation and purpose, and needing calm and quiet. 

Today is the last day of my month of pictures! It's been a fun little exercise for me; hopefully you've enjoyed it as well. Someone suggested that next I should post a recipe a day for a month - somehow I don't think that would go very well! Pretty sure I would run out of recipes long before the month was up. 

I did read some books in March, maybe I'll share those another day. 

Cheers to April and budding trees and all things spring!

A Month of Pictures: 30

 

School Dress Up Day

With the school teacher as The Honorable Judge Eicher, the 8th grader as Mary Poppins, the 4th grader as Sheriff Charles Eicher, and the birthday girl as St Lucia. 

(And The Mom, as Chief Seamstress, Shopper, Stresser, Brainstormer, etc and so forth...)

We had a lot of fun, until The Over Investor (aka The Mom) was tired and grouchy and over it, as one is. But we sent them off to school this morning, and everyone was happy! 

A Month of Pictures: 29

 

I feel like my brain and my house all look about like this picture.... stacks of things everywhere. 

So, I sat down to post my picture, and then I'm taking a deep breath and tackling the stacks. 

Sorry you don't get an 'after' picture. 

A Month of Pictures: 28

Every morning the cats patiently wait outside the window for Charles to wake up and come feed them. If he takes too long, they start scratching at the door. 

This morning, I went down in the basement to get something, and saw them there, and decided that would make a great picture for the day! And then I promptly went on with my day and never remembered to post it. Now it is late, and my email subscriptions are set to go out at 7 pm, so those readers won't even get my 28th picture on the 28th but I'm a little too tired to care a whole lot. 

The end.