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. 

A Month of Pictures: 27

 

Every day, on my way to and from school, I pass this house. It reminds me of an old plantation house, with its tall, white pillars and shuttered windows. I wonder when it was built? I wonder who lived there? 

Rumor has it that the owners live in the basement, and the upper floors are kept like a museum. 

I wonder what stories the walls could tell, of bygone days and things long forgotten?