Summer Vacation, Days 73 ~ 77

Days 73 ~ 77

Saturday, August 1

We packed up & headed to Wisconsin. Jim worked in the morning, so we got a late start, and stopped for lunch before getting on the interstate. Once there, we made a Walmart run. And then I spent an hour washing and prepping the fresh fruit & veggies, boiling eggs, making iced tea, etc.  Jim got pizza for supper. 

Sunday, August 2

Sunday morning found me sitting by the lake with a cup of hot tea & a breakfast sandwich. Aaah! 

Church was oh, so good!  During the sermon, the pastor quoted Oswald Chambers: "The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else." 

Lunch at an old-fashioned diner.  Afternoon of beach & fishing. 

Monday, August 3

We arrived at the waterpark just after lunch and left just before supper. I did the lazy river three times and rode one waterslide (perhaps the last one I will ever ride in my life!). Jim found a seat in the shade and read "Age of Opportunity." LM made friends, two girls & their homeschooling mom. One of the girls asked if we could share info so they could have a play date. Alas, we live hours away. Made it back to the WI house in time for LM to go to VBS!!

Tuesday, August 4

After a nice breakfast out & time for LM & me to walk the streets of the resort town, beach & fishing were the themes of the day. Of course, LM was at VBS from 6-8.30 ... and sad she would miss the last three days. "I made a friend, Mom!" Yes, of course she did! 

Wednesday, August 5

We left around 8.30 and were home by noon. A pleasant ride home. We all were tired! 

But we kept going ... Jim to PT, then BK to the farm, then LM to tutoring, and then BK to a youth group swim party. 

I didn't keep notes of our time there but sprinkled into our days there, in addition to the beach & fishing, were:

• lots of requests for mac & cheese (including for late night snacks),
• naps,
• Boxcar Children, 
• bicycle & scooter rides, 
• trips to the ice cream shop,
• lots of reading for Jim & me, 
• and in general - REST - big picture windows, mature shade trees, quiet street, open windows, box fans, & simple meals.  

Staying for four nights is exponentially more restful than two trips of two nights each.  

Summer Vacation, Day 67

Sunday, July 26

Jim was in worship for the first time in a month! Our pastor is preaching through Deuteronomy. Every word of the sermon & hymns & songs ministered deeply to Jim and me. That's what happens when you feel your need of Him desperately!

Culver's for lunch. Nap for me (I slept VERY soundly). Jim & BK visited Jim's dad in the evening. 

Summer Vacation, Days 61 ~ 66

Days 61 ~ 66

Monday, July 20

24 more days of summer vacation.  

I had my infusion. My nurse needed to do another infusion in another city first, so she came at 10, instead of 8.  I was tired afterward, and rested. 

LM went to Emerald Crossing VBS at 6 PM!

Tuesday, July 21

The children slept til almost 10-10.30 AM. I rested again. I think the summer just caught up with me!

LM skipped VBS, so we three could go to the end-of-season swim potluck, awards night, and pool party. We were gone 4.45 - 9.45!

Wednesday, July 22

I was gone from 9.30 - 1 for a doctor's appointment (regular checkup). LM stayed at the grandparents'. BK was at the farm. 

LM had tutoring from 4-5, and VBS from 6-8. BK had youth group from 6.30-8. I continue to drive more miles than I can imagine. 

Thursday, July 23

Thanks to a new medication, I got the best sleep in years, it seemed! At 7, BK popped out of bed happy because he got to go with the hired man to take a load to the dump! 

We've had a rough few days with three major incidents, so I was extra thankful that this morning was my weekly phone call & prayer time with a peer ~ a fellow adoptive mom who also understands a lot of my prior life. What a Godsend!

LM & I played games and read. Just before noon, I unloaded the dishwasher and loaded 2-3 days' of dishes, put my laundry in the washer, and made sloppy joes. After lunch I hung my laundry to dry (a task I usually procrastinate), and LM cleaned her room, one category at a time, while listening to Your Story Hour. 

After BK did his chores, too, we headed to the pool to which I purchased a membership this summer. I think we have only been once or twice. Oh, well! We are supporting a small town pool, I guess. ;) 

Friday, July 24

At 4 PM, I realized it was Friday. That tells you how our week has gone. ;) BK's friends were in & out all day.  Jim had PT.  Not sure where the rest of the day went. 

Saturday, July 25

BK slept in until almost 10 AM! and LM until almost noon! Hamburgers & corn on the cob for lunch! 

LM & I visited the grandparents, and then Grandma went with us to IGA.  Jim & BK returned to the farm. 

I canceled an online subscription we no longer use and was prepared to cancel a second, but they gave me a better deal. My to-do list is so long, but at this point, if it can wait until August 13th, it will. ;) 

Almost 3 weeks of unstructured days stretch out in front of us ... Lord, have mercy!

1000 Gifts, Vol. 7, #92

891. safely through another week

1 Safely through another week
God has brought us on our way;
let us now a blessing seek,
waiting in His courts today;
day of all the week the best,
emblem of eternal rest.

2 While we pray for pard'ning grace,
through the dear Redeemer's name,
show Thy reconciling face;
take away our sin and shame;
from our worldly cares set free,
may we rest this day in Thee.

3 Here we come Thy name to praise,
let us feel Thy presence near;
may Thy glory meet our eyes,
while we in Thy house appear:
here afford us, Lord, a taste
of our everlasting feast.

4 May Thy gospel's joyful sound
conquer sinners, comfort saints;
may the fruits of grace abound,
bring relief for all complaints:
thus may all our Sabbaths prove,
till we join the church above.

892. calming music

893. such a fun summer swim team

894. safely through the first week of unstructured summer vacation (!)

895. older women to speak truth to me

896. peers to share each other's burdens

897. fun book series in which I could escape

898. we ate this week, even though I was out of practice with cooking, after a week with relatives in town

899. spending a half hour of respite with Jim's 96 year old dad & his wife

900. watching the Lord arrange plans for the coming week

Summer Vacation, Days 54 ~ 60

Days 54 ~ 60

A Week with Relatives in Town 

Monday, July 13

8:15 AM swim practice, Facebook Marketplace pick up, drive-through second breakfast, Walmart, ALDI, drive-through lunch, home. 

Jim had PT from 2 to 3. Then I made the rounds here in our town of the post office, the library, and the gas station.

Cleaned the kitchen and cooked supper while Jim’s brother and nephew brought in the Facebook marketplace purchase…

Tuesday, July 14

While LM was at 8:15 AM swim practice, I went to an 8:30 AM lab appointment and then ran an errand before picking her up at 8:45. We came home and she slept until noon! 

We dropped her off at the grandparents at 12:30 and went to Jim’s two week post-op appointment, and came home via some of his distant fields to scout them on our way home.

While I went to the pharmacy, he visited with his dad and brother and sister-in-law. 

Home in time to pack some snack bags and go to a relay meet. LM and I arrived at 4:45 and were home by 8:30 or 8:45 PM. It was HOT!! Two more mornings of swim practice. Jim ate supper at his brothers’s with 9 family members. 

Wednesday, July 15

Morning swim practice and a stop by the thrift store (Vera Bradley purse for me). Jim’s brother took him to PT and stayed to visit a while. 

After lunch LM and I went to the orthodontist’s office south of us for a 10-minute appointment and then picked up a Walmart order  

For dinner we gathered at Jim’s dad’s with 12 family members. Portillo’s was on the menu. Yum! 

Thursday, July 16

Morning swim practice- the last one of the summer!  Jim had PT early afternoon. At 5:30 we took a taco bar and homemade tres leches cake to Jim’s dad’s to feed 12 for supper. Playing Trafalgar rounded out the evening.

Friday, July 17

A designated sleep-in day, but our AC stopped working so I was up early;) Thank the Lord that the air conditioner repair man could come within a few hours! 

LM and I (& 4 other relatives) had a fun girls’ lunch out at the tea room. 

As soon as she was packed for the swim meet, I left her at home with Jim, and I drove almost an hour to pick BK up from camp. An aunt picked her up and took her to the swim meet - sheer chaos as it was an eight team end-of-summer championship! 

I dropped BK off at home, and he and Jim ate supper at Jim’s dad’s with several relatives, while I went to the swim meet and worked medals.  Home around 9 PM.

Saturday, July 18

Up early for the 8.15 AM end-of-summer championship meet for the older swimmers. BK's relay team earned two 1st place medals, and he dropped time and set a PR for his individual event.  And that concludes our fourth summer of summer swim! Our team was undefeated this year, and won the championship!  

LM & I took naps most of the afternoon!! BK had a couple friends come over to play pool & ping pong.

At 5.45, I picked up our order at a nearby fire station's pork chop dinner and took it to Jim's dad's, where 13 of us ate supper.  

Sunday, July 19

After church, we met at a pizza restaurant with 11 relatives. Yum!  Afternoon naps & rest time at home before meeting back at Grandpa's for sandwiches, veggies, chips, and cookies... and, of course, another game of Trafalgar!

It was a good week!

1000 Gifts, Vol. 7, #91

881.  family in town for a week

882.  leaning hard into my village when our schedule requires me to be in two places at the same time

883.  safety in all the driving (one week recently I drove 1200+ miles - all within 30 miles of home!)

884.  getting to know so many swim moms better this summer

885.  we survived another summer of summer swim team! 

886.  LM especially made so much progress in her form, stamina, independence, etc.

887.  Jim's turning the corner in knee surgery recovery

888.  Looking back to 2 years ago and the daily crises we faced on multiple fronts, and seeing the Lord's patient provision in so many areas

889.  Knowing He will be faithful in these last 3 1/2 weeks of summer vacation ...

890.  ... and in the transition to the start of school (!)

Childhood Summers

As I parent my children through summer vacation, my mind wanders back a few decades to my own childhood summers. What were they like? Do I remember them correctly? Ha! 

In my memory, my childhood summers were a combination of:

• getting up early and hoeing in the garden with my mom & three sisters, as the sun rose higher & higher. Mom always took the turquoise metal kitchen timer and (in my memory) set it for an hour, reminding us that the earlier we started, the cooler the temperature would be.

• 

• related to that, NEVER sleeping in! (My first day home for summer vacation after freshman year of college, I slept in until 8.30, and my dad was aghast, and let me know that NO ONE had ever slept that late in that house for 90 years!)

• summer program at the library (I only remember the park ranger, whom I also saw when I took my nieces to the library in 2010! Remarkably, our family also ran into him when hiking in spring 2021! As we hiked through the spring forest and marshlands, the highlight was running into the forest ranger who I remember coming to speak to my elementary class. He still is full of enthusiasm and a delightful teacher of children, and LG & LM are, to this day, excited that they got to learn from him out in the wild!

• spending hours in the steaming hot kitchen, either canning beans or filling bags of corn for the freezer. I remember having box fans running to try to cool down that small yet HOT room!

• being transported to a different world, as I read the Cherry Ames series in a rocking chair on the front porch,

• spending a week or two at Bible camp,

• making the 600 mile drive to Grandma's house and spending a week traipsing around to various relatives', friends', and places of remembrance for my Mom in New York State, 

• one week of evening Vacation Bible School, which was THRILLING!

• spending all waking hours that week memorizing extra Bible verses to earn points for my team, 

• going across the highway & up on the ridge to swim in a friend's pool (complete with slide, diving board, and underwater lights for night swims)!

Obviously there was a lot more to my childhood summers than that, but these are my memories, true or not. ;) 

Summer Vacation, Days 52 ~ 53

Days 52 ~ 53

Saturday, July 11

We all slept in! LM & I went to a baby shower at church from 1-3. She went to tutoring from 3.30-5. BK had friends over, and I ordered gas station pizza for supper.

Sunday, July 12

A hard night for Jim, so I was up a bit.  The children & I went to church, got take-out, and were home by 1 PM. I dropped BK off at Wilderness Camp at 3.30. LM spent time with her aunt & uncle while I went out for a fun evening. 

We are waiting on the Lord to answer our prayers for Jim's knee replacement recovery ... 

Summer Vacation, Days 48 ~ 51

Days 48 ~ 51

Tuesday, July 7th

Left at 7.50, dropped BK off at the pool, dropped LM off at day camp, picked BK up, and home by 9.40. 

Tidied the kitchen (counters, table, dishes, laundry), since I was gone ALL DAY yesterday. Sat down to rest. :)

For lunch (& supper & lunch & supper tomorrow) ;) a friend brought the most delicious beef stew, salad, berries, and bread. 

At 1.40 we left for PT & while Jim was there, I took BK to a friend's and went to the pharmacy.  Home at 3.15.

Left at 4.30 to pick up LM. Took her to the grandparents' with her supplies to spend the night. Then went to the swim meet, where I did ribbons.  Home at 9.30 PM. Whew! 

Wednesday, July 8th

Gone from 7.40-9.45 AM to take LM to day camp and run two errands.  Then I had Office Day! I paid paper bills. I paid five medical office bills that had come by text (not my favorite, because I want a paper trail), for both us and my mom.  I scheduled or re-scheduled 8 medical appointments.  

BK worked at the farm during the afternoon. (Translated: I drove to the farm twice. This summer is my driving era for sure!)

LM begged to stay at camp later than I had been picking her up, and this is the only day that worked. I was gone 6.45 - 8.15 picking her up.  Zzzz. :) Prayerfully, next year she can stay at camp!

Thursday, July 9th

Left at 7.45 to take BK to swim practice, LM to day camp, and then pick BK up. Telehealth appointment, took BK to the farm, spent an hour on the phone trying to get my daily meds from my Chicago doctor delivered correctly, picked BK up, & then went to his hair appointment. Home for less than an hour. Dropped BK off early for the swim meet. Picked LM up from day camp & took her to the grandparents to spend the night, while I went to the swim meet, and worked ribbons, arriving home at 9  PM. 

Friday, July 10th 

A friend rode with me on my morning drive so we could visit while taking LM to day camp. She got to go early today (in time for breakfast!) so I could be home in time to get Jim to PT.  Quickly cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry, made iced tea, and cooked some chicken I had thawed. 

Afternoon errands - bank, gas, medical supply lending library, dry cleaners, Dollar Tree for greeting cards, CVS, a scone for me :), Walmart (for flexible ice packs), and picked LM up at 4 PM. She can't wait to go to camp next year!! :) 

Simple beauty

I received the pottery berry bowl colander for my birthday. For years I have toyed with putting a handmade pottery mug on my Christmas list. 

Whenever I go in a thrift store, I always check the mugs, but this is the first time I saw a handmade pottery mug! ($2) This one is by a local artist. 

LM spent time with Grandma one day. It must have been a Wednesday, because that is Farmers' Market day.  They browsed the Farmers' Market, and Grandma let her pick out something. I'm the only in our family who eats jam, so I guess it's for me. :) And I love raspberry jam! Thank you, LM, and thank you, Grandma!

Summer Vacation, Days 45 ~ 46

Days 45 ~ 

Saturday, July 4 ~ Happy 250th, America!

The children went to the parade with relatives, ate lunch in the park, and rode some rides. I showed up for a late lunch in the park, and sat with Jim's aunt for a good catch-up. The children & I came home mid-afternoon and returned after 5, for chicken dinner served at the park.  While we rested at Grandpa's until time for fireworks, BK went back for some rides with their second cousin once removed, D. Then we watched fireworks at relatives' who live just outside town.  Watching fireworks is an exaggeration. LM ran around catching frogs with D, and BK "babysat" his little sister, while I chatted with one of Jim's cousins. They were making memories!

Jim stayed home, iced his knee, walked laps in the downstairs of our house, and elevated his knee.

Sunday, July 5

The children & I were gone from 8.30 - 1.15 for SS, church, lunch, and filling the van up with gas [this is called foreshadowing]. Jim was home doing what he did yesterday... Sigh... We had a leisurely afternoon and I was glad when it was bedtime. :)

Summer Vacation, Days 42 ~ 44

Days 42 ~ 44

Wednesday, July 1st

With a real feel temperature of 88*F, we pulled out of the driveway about 4.45 AM, and arrived at the hospital before 5.30. Home at noon, with a new knee for Jim! Hooray!

Grandma (& Grandpa!) took both children to swim practice, and then BK spent most of the day working on the farm. His aunt took him to youth group.  Grandma brought LM home around supper time.

Thursday, July 2nd

A friend's mom took both children to swim practice.  Leisurely afternoon (including a friend coming over to hang out with BK for an hour or so), and then at 4.40, I dropped the children off at a swim meet. A teammate's mom (who is a kind but firm lady; she is a school bus driver) was responsible for them. So thankful for our village!! I picked them up around 8.30 PM.  They both dropped times in their individual events, and BK's relay team won two blue ribbons!

Friday, July 3rd

A leisurely morning off of swim practice was nice. :)  But that means lunch came before I felt like it was time. ;) Jim had his first PT appointment, and felt worse afterward.  :(

1000 Gifts, Vol. 7, #90

The Surgery Edition

871. The Lord enabled Jim to get through planting (at one point it looked doubtful)

872. a new recliner for recovery

873. air conditioning during a heat wave! (& the new windows as of last year which we so desperately needed to keep out the air)

874. all the decluttering I had done in weeks prior so our house was more walkable & enjoyable!

875. Grandpa & Grandma's hospitality overnight & waking up early & transporting children to swim practice at 7.45 AM

876. aunt, uncle, and cousins' hospitality overnight & transporting BK to Youth Group

877. swim team mom to drive them to practice & another swim team mom to be responsible for them at the meet

878. small town pharmacy that delivers our regular meds when I needed to stay home with Jim

879. surgeon's report that everything went very well

880. praying friends!

Summer Vacation, Days 40~41

Days 40~41

Monday, June 29

Since BK got home after 11 PM last night, we let him sleep in.  I took LM to swim practice (where she was happy to have 3 ribbons waiting for her from last Thursday's meet!) and then to the orthodontist for her top expander, Take 2! 

After lunch, BK went back to the farm with Jim. LM & I worked around the house. She dusted. I did laundry, dishes, etc. 

At 3.45, we left for the pharmacy & then she stayed with Grandma while I went to my hair appointment. 

Tuesday, June 30

I was up early sweeping, mopping, vaccuming, and cleaning the downstairs bathroom.  In the past few weeks, I have taken three trunk loads to the thrift store, so the STUFF is much more manageable, but the dirt still comes. ;) 

Jim took the children to swim team practice at 7.45. My nurse arrived at 8, and was here until 12.50.  Once the children returned home around 10, she ran a day camp as well as running my infusion! She French-braided LM's hair, wiped up a spill on the floor, crushed LM's pills & dispensed them, suggested we watch a movie & have popcorn. She's amazing!

BK went to a friend's to swim from 1-6 PM.

At 4.15, I dropped LM off at the grandparents' with her swim bag & overnight bag. 

At 7, I dropped BK off at the farm with his swim bag & overnight bag. 

Jim worked late, feeling the pressure to get caught up on as much farmwork as possible.

Summer Vacation, Days 38~39

Days 38~39

Saturday, June 27

LM slept in. She had tutoring in the afternoon. We had family reunion at 5 PM.  Two of Jim's uncles went to heaven in the past year, and three of the cousins who usually attend were not there, plus several others who sometimes come. But there was still a sweet spirit. 

Fun fact: my parents attended this annual reunion before I ever did!  They drove out here with me one weekend about a month before our wedding.  The ladies of Jim's church had a shower for me on Friday evening, and we were to attend family reunion on Saturday evening, and drive home Monday.  Instead, Jim was in the ER Saturday evening, and ended up having surgery Monday morning. Whew! My parents had such a good time at the reunion, though! :) 

Sunday, June 28

After church, we met 15 others for a post-reunion pizza lunch! Home for a bit. And then a special prayer time for our nation at church, to celebrate America's 250th.  We drove separately, and I stayed in town to bring BK home after a youth group service project (8-10.30 PM unloading a U-Haul truck into a U-Haul storage unit). Talk about a late night! 

1000 Gifts, Vol. 7, #89

861. The orange orb coming over the horizon at 4-something AM when I rolled over in bed

862. The quintessential blue summer sky with tall white clouds out my side mirror, with tall greenish-golden grass framing the bottom of the mirror

863.  A sanctuary filled with small groups of people huddled in circles praying for our nation

864.  The lovely pasture I drive by 8-12 times a week with good-looking cattle grazing & resting

865.  Watching LM confidently walk into swim practice, swim cap on her head, swim bag over her shoulder. 

866.  Ease of doing laundry & ease of keeping our home clean, as I have decluttered more and more!

867.  Amazing way the Lord provided someone driving 700+ miles between a friend's hometown & here, so they could hand carry an item to said friend. 

868.  Finding "The Blessing Series," when I was searching for historical fiction about Norwegian immigrants to the Upper Plains

869.  A shared love of books & learning - one of Jim's cousins brought a book to me at family reunion, and the other recommended a book!

870.  The coffee shop around the corner from swim practice. ;) [They serve great tea!]

Summer Vacation, Days 36 ~ 37

Days 36 ~ 37

Thursday, June 25

8.15 AM swim practice. I spent it on the phone with another mom in a similar situation.

Errands kept us busy until almost 11. Then tutoring from 1-2.30.

We left before 4 for a swim meet 45 minutes away.  LM swam in 3 individual events & one relay. She dropped her 25 fly time from 45.62 seconds to 32.19 seconds. Yay for fall/winter swim season!!

Home around 8 PM. Much more reasonable than Tuesday's meet. Many families are also going to an all-day meet on Saturday. (We declined.)

Friday, June 26

Today was a makeup swim practice, but I told LM she could sleep in.  How late do you think she slept? She was up at 10.45 AM, ate some chicken nuggets, and went back to sleep for another hour!

Jim & I lost sleep last night, because there was a planned power outage which went longer than expected, and with all the rain we've had lately, and the sump pump not working, we were fearful of a basement flood.  Jim had the portable generator ready to plug in, when, at that moment, the power was restored! Thank you, Lord!

The housecleaner was scheduled to come (for the first time in forever - I truly am doing so much better physically, and she started when I couldn't wipe a flat surface), but had a family emergency. It felt good to get the house ready (i.e., things put away!).

LM stayed with Grandpa & Grandma for a few hours, while I picked BK up from his 5th year of CEF camp. Sounds like he had a great week! We were all glad to be back together again.

Our 28-month-old van turned over 80,000 miles. 

More books for Mom!

Mom turns 92 next month and is soooo busy!  

Funny story: some of the residents at the assisted living are bored because there are no activities on Saturday, so they got permission to run their own Bingo game on Saturday afternoon.  Mom doesn't understand, because she enjoys her weekends and the extra time to read or paint. :) 

I remember Mom speaking often of this pottery place in northeast Tennessee.

This is a wild card, but I think she'll like it.

Edited to add that Mom does not recommend the following book: 

She liked another one of WWII, and this looks similar enough.

This was her request. She's not sure if she wants to continue with watercolors or move on to acrylics.  She is eager to learn!

Former TN governor, we think (?) he shook Dad's hand, as he walked across the state as part of his campaign. I definitely remember the campaign signs: "Lamar walked here."

This was advertised as being similar to Mitford. Mom says it explains the gospel, if you read it all the way through. 

Mom loves Spurgeon & she loves word searches. This looked like the perfect combo!

Mom requested this. Funny thing is that Jim's dad (96) just read it also.

She likes her devotional books!

I saw this on a booklist and thought Mom would enjoy it. 

Mom is thoroughly enjoying this one, as well as Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith.  Always learning!

Do you have any recommendations? Or want to place bets on how long it will take her to finish these? ;)  If you're local, these books will (probably) all be free to a good home when she finishes them. :)   

Summer Vacation, Days 30 ~ 32

Days 30 ~ 32

Friday, June 19

Today felt like a Saturday, because BK had arrived home the night before, and there was no swim practice.  I set my alarm for 8 AM! 

LM had her last day of Reading & Math camp while I sat in the shade & read a book. 

We all were home for lunch together, and it felt good!

The other three went to the farm for the afternoon while I rested. 

Saturday, June 20

I enjoyed a quiet house before everyone else woke up. 

Tutoring from 10-11.30. Packing for camp. 

Early Father's Day celebration at Jim's dad's at 6 PM with extended family.  Yummy food & a late night. 

Sunday, June 21

It was hard for everyone to wake up! We were oh, so happy! to be back in our own church after two Sundays in Wisconsin. 

Father's Day celebration at Jim's dad's at 5 PM with extended family. More yummy food, but thankfully not as late of a night. :)

Summer Vacation, Days 24 ~ 26

Saturday, June 13

EARLY morning wakeup call so we could leave at 6 AM ... BK packed in his youth-group-issued black tote with a yellow lid (so they stack in the trailer & are critter-proof in their tents) and the rest of us packed for WI.

We waited in the church parking lot for the prayer circle (40 trip participants; almost a 1:1 ratio!) and then we got on the road.  After stopping at Walmart, we still reached the house before noon.  We three had a leisurely afternoon of reading, beach time, and eating at the same lakeside restaurant where Jim and I ate on our second date. :)

Sunday, June 14

Church was really special, as always. I sobbed my way through, "Hymn of Heaven," by Phil Wickham. (Video here. Lyrics here.)  

And on that day, we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith
With one voice, a thousand generations
Sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain"

Lunch. Naps or reading. Safari!! (That was a new experience.) Walking around a touristy town, and trying out a new playground. Jim got takeout for supper.

Monday, June 15

We slept in. I paid bills (work which I had taken with me). LM & I walked almost 3 miles on the shore path. I love our tradition! I don't think we did it in 2025, but we did it together in 22, 23, 24, and this year! Jim met us at the restaurant at the end of our walk (near the Red Park, where LM played after lunch). 

Another leisurely afternoon of read alouds, napping, and, at 5.30, packing.  Home shortly after 9 PM (with another Boxcar Children read aloud completed in the van!) and very well-rested!