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.  

Midsummer Ox Day

Have you ever heard of it?

In 2026, the Midsummer Day of the Ox (Doyo no Ushi no Hi) in Japan is July 26. On this day, people traditionally eat unagi (freshwater eel) to gain stamina and survive the intense summer heat.

Many times I went to the "eel restaurant" with some Japanese friends.  They were shocked that I liked eel.  But I imagine it all depends on how it is prepared.  I think these are grilled with a sweet and salty soy sauce-based "tare" glaze.

At this particular eel restaurant, near where we met for English & Bible class, we often saw yakuza (similar to the Japanese mafia), recognizable by their tailored suits, cars, and sunglasses. (We were always safe.) 

One day when we ate there, they were having some sort of campaign and giving away a mug to customers. (This is a very common practice.) The ladies gave the mug to me. 

And to this day I use it every day! It holds my toothbrush & toothpaste. 

I love the texture, and the sheep, which remind me of our Good Shepherd. And it is a reminder to pray for those particular ladies to come to know the Shepherd of their souls. 

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 (!)

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!! :) 

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 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! 

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. 

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!

Summer Vacation, Days 17 ~ 19

Saturday, June 6 ~ Monday, June 8

Saturday

We woke up, packed, and hit the road to Wisconsin. By 2.30 PM, we were at the (rather tiny) beach.

The women's restroom was out of order, so I had to walk over to the boathouse. There I ran into our neighbor, so I joined her on part of her walk, and we caught up and praised the Lord for His work in our families the past year.

Almost immediately, LM had met a family from Central Asia! After playing in the sand with them for a couple hours, she ran over excitedly to tell me that she was going fishing with them!

I met the mom, her oldest son suggested we exchange phone numbers, and then we introduced our husbands, and then I spent a couple hours on the pier visiting while the boys took turns helping LM fish! 

What a gift to run into people from another country, culture, language, and religion, and get to spend time with them! 

Sunday

We love our church in WI! LM had the best time in children's church, and came home with some great handouts to keep her in the Word over the summer. 

Lunch at a small town diner. Back to the beach. Eventually Jim & BK went to golf, while LM continued playing in the sand for quite awhile. 

Monday

We all slept in and had a leisurely morning. Jim treated me to my favorite breakfast restaurant for a really late breakfast.  Then we visited the library. After the kids packed their things up, Jim took them down the street to the ice cream shop, while I cleaned the house. 

Home around 4.45 PM. 

T-13 days to summer vacation

T minus 13 days until summer vacation.  (Last year's post here.) 

How will we fill our time? 

BK now has youth group on Wednesday nights. That is a big change for us, because we have not been in the habit of going to church on Wednesday nights in the summer (because there is no Awana).  But, it's a good change! 

Youth group has a 6-day trip in June which sounds exciting!

LM does not have speech at the university clinic once a week.  I waffled about enrolling her, and when I called the office to see what day & time she has, I learned that the schedule is full and she is not on it, so I must have decided not to. :)  More breathing room. 

She has tutoring twice a week.  And I'm hopeful she can attend a math or reading camp led by a phenomenal tutor nearby.  

We'll try to hit the library program a few times. I'm not sure if we'll do the summer reading program, because it's not set up for an emerging reader... Sigh.

LM is most excited about being registered for one day of a pony day camp! :) 

She would like to attend 1 or 2 weeks of gymnastics camp (one hour a day; 5 days a week) at a local church, if it fits our schedule.

The nice summer daycare she attended at the nearby Christian school is not happening this year. 

And she always looks forward to VBS at two local churches.

Summer swim team for both (barring weather, eight weeks of four mornings a week practice plus eleven evening swim meets). And I'm sure we'll have spontaneous swim dates at a local pool in the next farm town.

What will BK do besides summer swim team? 

Sadly there were not enough boys to field a rec league baseball team...

He is registered for one week of spend-the-night camp and waitlisted for another.

Hopefully working on the farm. 

Mowing 2-3 yards.

I think my summer is planned - taxi driving! :) 

Summer slump? Hmmm... Not sure what we'll do about that ... 

What else do we have planned? 

Family reunion one Saturday evening ("Best night of the year," according to BK), an epic small town 4th of July celebration, trips to WI & TN ~ and possibly another massive road trip?  We shall see.

Opening Exercises

I was thinking recently about Sunday School opening exercises. I think it's a thing of the past.

In my childhood church, during the first 10 minutes or so of Sunday school, before the children's classes were dismissed, all the children sat in the pews on the right side of the sanctuary.  The adults sat on the left. 

The single school teacher whom we all adored led the opening exercises. There were multiple components including offering, prayer, birthday recognition, etc., but the one most memorable to me was the singing. 

She held up visual songs. Some were purchased from CEF, and she turned the pages of the oversized booklets. Others were ones which she had handwritten (in her perfect teacher writing) on poster board. Some were laminated at her school.  She tried to add cut out pictures from Sunday School papers on each side, to add interest. It took real talent to flip the poster boards so that the right side was showing (especially if a song took the front & back of two poster boards, and she had to return to the chorus)! 

Some of my favorite childhood memories involved these songs! Do you know any of them? 

Stop and let me tell you

Why worry, when you can pray?

28.30

 

 I sing the mighty power of God

Did you ever talk to God above

 

I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God 

God's power (The illustrated song which she held up had a photo of a wave on the front.)

"My God is bigger than I am

Strongest of all

He is able to make

The summer turn into fall

He controls all that happens

His power is plain to see

And I know I can trust Him

For with His power

He cares for me.

God speaks to me in the Bible

Shows me His love

He tells how the Lord Jesus

came to earth from above

He tells how I can please Him 

and teaches me His ways.

Yes, the Bible will guide me

and give me strength for all my days."

Jesus is caring for you

(Verse 1) Don't be afraid Jesus is watching you. In the dark night He is protecting you. Talk to the Lord; Ask Him to make you brave; Jesus will hear when you pray.

(Chorus) Jesus is caring for you; Jesus is helping you too.
Jesus is always there keeping you, for He loves you. (Repeat chorus.)

(Verse 2) You're not alone, Jesus is there with you. He can't be seen, but He is there, it's true. He is your friend. He'll keep you in His care He goes with you everywhere.

(Chorus) Jesus is caring for you; Jesus is helping you too.
Jesus is always there keeping you, for He loves you. (Repeat chorus.)

O-b-e-d-i-e-n-c-e

Happiness is the Lord

34.30

  

My favorite "national holiday"

Every spring my sister-in-law and I usually go garage-saling in a certain small town about 15-20 minutes away. 68 garage sales in a town of 2300 people! My family has many useful items in our home which I have purchased over the years from those townwide garage sales. One year we ran into her friend who had taken a day off work, claiming it's a "national holiday!"

When you have babies and toddlers, garage sales are the best. And you buy things you didn't even know you "needed." Books, toys, puzzles, snow suits, and more, so much more!  Now, we're more in the purging era, and tweens and pre-tweens don't grow as quickly as newborns.

Now I try to have a list and I pray. In fact, the morning of the townwides, when Jim asked us each what our prayer request was, I said, "That I'll find things we need at the garage sale - shoes & jeans for BK, a bicycle for LM, and work clothes for Jim." When I picked LM up from school her first (& very enthusiastic) words were, "Did you find a bike for me?" Alas, no.

But I did (amazingly) find jeans for BK!!

Last year I only found one pair of jeans for him. American Eagle Outfitters. And they were marked $10. I hesitated, but they have been his only pair of jeans this past year.  He is definitely at the age where it's tough to find any clothes at garage sales.  But! But the Lord provided 3 or 4 pairs of the same style jeans (at $3 to $5/each!!).  

You can see all my finds below ...

• 2 pairs of shoes for BK
• 1 pair of shoes for LM
• jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and two long-sleeve shirts for BK (all good quality)
• 5 pair of work pants for Jim (Haggar $2/each; nice enough he could wear to church if he preferred)
• several nice shirts for BK & Jim
• new with tags Eddie Bauer wind jacket & fleece for LM to grow into
• a puzzle for Grandpa
• a Tervis cup
• a gluten-free cookbook (it may end up in the donate pile, but for $1 it's worth it)
• roll-up crayon pouch for LM's church bag
• a garden flag

• two clipboards for the van bag to replace ones that have broken on road trips
• Usborne telling time flashcards
• a desk organizer
• a fun sweatshirt for LM
• a nice fleece for BK

and some fun purchases for Mom: 

• some Rae Dunn items (mug, Christmas candle for my windowsill, and a "Blessed" pillow cover for fall)
• a Kate Spade purse (for $15) - that had been on my Christmas list last year, and I had suggested Jim look at Clothes Mentor, but when I looked, the prices were too high for me to swallow
• a Vera Bradley backpack-style purse  

Oh, and a half-empty can of Bar Keepers Friend. I have one in my Walmart cart, but they were giving half-empty cleaning products away at an estate sale. The Lord provides!

All in all, I am very pleased with this year's "national holiday!" To be able to outfit my children and husband for such little money, and also to get some extras (that will add beauty to our life) for pennies on the dollar is such a generous gift from our loving Father.

Have you been garage-saling this spring? 

Cousins

How many cousins do you have? I have fourteen. (Interestingly Jim does, too.) 

Jim's family had very specific times each year when they saw their cousins. In addition he went to church with five or six of them. And even rode to church with two of them! 

I saw my cousins more organically, but it was always exciting to see them!

One winter during college, two of my adult cousins came to visit. One was traveling through with his wife and infant son. We ate at Burger King or Arby's and then walked around campus. Another was an alum, and coming back to visit with his fiancee. I had probably only seen him two or three times in my life. But he called and said they would like to take my roommate and me out to dinner at a locally famous place. 

Both visits were the best!! Around that time I read an article in Reader's Digest about cousins, and I realized that those two visits represented the first time I had interacted with those cousins as an adult and without my (or our) parents around. 

Of course, I have lived decades since that winter, and I have enjoyed countless occasions with my cousins (individually & in groups) in various places around the world! 

I thank God for my cousins!

Easters I have known

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

::Repost::

I remember jelly beans, dying eggs, and (real) egg hunts in the front yard.

I remember sunrise service (indoors) and mouthwatering breakfasts in the church basement.

I remember the same Easter baskets that appeared each year, along with visits from "Aunt" M.

I remember my gap year in Japan - the all-day celebration at church, including my first time eating raw fish.

I remember college - one year visiting friends in Maryland, one year being included in my roommate's invitation to a family from her church.

I remember Fiji - my first hot cross buns and the ladies fanning the flies away from the food on outdoor tables.

I remember early morning prayer every day of Holy Week in Japan.

I remember singing, "When I Survey" a capella in Japanese with just a few others on those early mornings.

I remember sitting in a park after early morning prayer, before catching the train, and a cherry blossom fluttered down and landed in my pocket Bible (where it stayed for many years).

I remember teaching English class in the "cry room" while morning Good Friday service was held in the sanctuary, explaining why we call it "good," and fighting back tears as I saw a friend who had just delivered (and buried) her dead baby sit in the back of the sanctuary.

I remember how very special the communion service was at those Good Friday services in my church in Japan.

I remember year upon year and decade upon decade of remembering the cross, my Savior's sacrifice, and His victory over sin and death.

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

The Long Winter

Today is officially the first day of spring, though I prefer using Meteorological Spring, which starts on March 1st. 

Turning the calendar page to March, and seeing flowers, was such a relief! 

Winter seemed especially long this year. 

Snow started early. 

We had long stretches of bitter cold. 

Unspoken stress was high.

It's the first year in several years that we did not go to Florida ... or anywhere to escape the cold.

Florida with family for spring break was a longstanding tradition for Jim before I ever met him.  And our family has taken trips to Florida every year (I think) except the following: 

In 2011 Jim & I went to Japan instead. In 2013 we decided to escape the cold by visiting the Southwest. In 2017 we spent a number of weeks in Arizona for LM's birth. And in 2021, we spent spring break in Tennessee (because we had skipped our Christmas 2020 visit due to the pandemic).  Spring in Tennessee was absolutely glorious!  We hadn't been there in spring since 2010, and it was a magical time with warmer temperatures and green leaves starting to peek out. I saw redbud and dogwood on the hills! We hiked! We loved it!

Needless to say we are ALL ready for spring!! What are you looking forward to? 

Welcome

Welcome to my little online corner! 

There have been some new readers lately. (I don't know who is reading, just that more people are reading.)

Glad you're here! 

This is my hobby. I've been doing it longer than I imagined!

I try to walk a fine line between being real and respecting the privacy of others. No doubt I fail, but that's my goal. 

There's no one focus to this blog, just whatever comes to mind that I think I could write a little about. One big goal is just to practice writing and hopefully become better.  

By definition a blog like this has a tendency to become self-focused. I hope I write in a manner that is real enough to show (without going into unnecessary public detail) my lifelong struggle with sin, and that if a post is about me, that it is ultimately about the Lord.

Feel free to say hi, either in the comments or by emailing naughtbutgood at gmail dot com.  

I'd love to know what types of posts you enjoy or what topics you would like me to write more about. :) 

Happy reading!

1000 Gifts, Vol. 7, #78

761.  family memories on a long weekend in Indiana - sightseeing, swim meet, church

762.  having time in our schedule (mine, Jim's, and the grandparents' - it takes a village) for me to represent our family at a visitation

763.  how convenient it is that BK can ride the bus after school to his grandparents'

764.  wireless car play adapter

765.  small group that prays

766.  four ribbons from a swim meet

767.  another huge pot of hamburger vegetable soup

768.  one pediatric dental appointment & one pediatric physical complete!

769.  The joy of the Lord shall be our strength!

770.  things to look forward to - Olympics, a birthday party, and our family Super Bowl party (all we care about are the snacks!)

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2025 Version

Places where I spent one (or more) nights in 2025:

Chicago 

Murfreesboro, TN

motel along I-75 on our way to FL

Madeira Beach, FL

motel along I-75 on our way back from FL

St. Louis, MO

Hudson, IL

Williams Bay, WI

Kingsport, TN

Lexington, KY

Orange City, IA

Rapid City, SD

Gardiner, MT

Yellowstone National Park, WY

Grand Teton National Park, WY

Jackson, WY

Cheyenne, WY

Omaha, NE

Georgetown, KY

Gray, TN

and home

(italics - stayed there more than one night)  
(* stayed there on more than one occasion) 

   
2025 travel ...

January 1st found us driving to Chicago for a doctor's appointment.  It turns out that hotel rates are low on the 1st of January, so we stayed downtown right across from the hospital in a corner suite on the 27th floor!  It was good to get away!

We drove to FL in February.

The first half of spring break we went to St. Louis, returning at 4 PM Wednesday.  (Post here.)  We were delighted to discover that spring had already sprung there! Redbud, forsythia, and cherry blossoms! Oh, my!

By God's mercy I was able to attend the church women's retreat ... the first one that had been held in 12 years!  It had been many years since I had slept in a camp setting :) but it was amazingly restful and relaxing not to be responsible for anyone! 

We were able to getaway to Wisconsin May 31 - June 3 and July 12-15.

Our late summer trip to Tennessee was moved up to June 25 - July 1, so we could take an epic road trip out west July 24 - August 1.  

A long weekend back to Wisconsin over Labor Day weekend (got to get to the County Fair!).  That seems like the fewest trips we have ever taken there in a summer.

Our year to be with Jim's side on December 25th, so we headed to Tennessee on December 30th for a New Year's visit.

 

Whew!! We certainly ramped our travel up this year!

Here's to even more exploring in 2026!  I better eat my Wheaties!

I added two new states (South Dakota & Montana) and no new foreign countries.

Where did you go in 2025?  Anywhere new? Any place we should put on our list? We're especially interested in national parks. :) 

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2009 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2010 version 
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2011 version 
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2012 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2013 version  
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2014 version 
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2015 version 
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2016 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2017 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2018 version   

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2019 version  

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2020 version

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2021 version

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2022 version

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2023 version 

Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2024 version

Looking Back on 2025

My friend Wendy uses this as a template for end-of-year blogging, and I am attempting to do the same as I look back on 2025.   

1. What makes this year unforgettable?  

• Our 10-day epic road trip to Badlands, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and many museums along the way! 
• BK learned to ski and mow our yard and started middle school. I feel like this is the year that the years started speeding up for us as parents. 
• LM became an emerging reader!
• Doing the closings for my homeplace (going to a notary to sign each deed & then sending it via FedEx overnight delivery to the closing agent) consumed my January and February and marked the legal end to a long era.  

2. What did I enjoy doing this year?  

• Praying weekly during the school year with other moms in our Moms in Prayer group.
• Blogging more
• Reading more
• Preparing a testimony for our church women's retreat.
• Sending Christmas cards for the first time in forever!
• New York Times puzzles :)
• Practicing Japanese on Duolingo
• Connecting with two moms (one lives several states away & we see each other every 2-4 years; the other I refer to as my texting friend)
• Making headway on decluttering

3. What/who is one thing/person I'm grateful for?  [I can't limit it to one!]

• Jim for keeping me sane and being a rock and pointing me to the eternal and the true. 
• People who pray for me/us.
• My rheumatologist. 
• My Moms in Prayer moms.
• Our pastor.

4. What did I read/watch/listen to that made the most impact this year?

• A constant diet of missionary biographies kept my heart for missions ignited and also kept reminding me that God can do things that seem impossible.

5. What did I worry about most and how did it turn out?

•  LM getting the academic help she needs in 3rd grade. The school was VERY responsive - changed her reading curriculum (to a strong phonics program) and changed her Special Ed teacher (from a first-year teacher to a veteran teacher), did due diligence in testing her, and the veteran SpEd teacher started over at the beginning with the short /a/ sound. She's an excellent emerging reader! 
• our 2026 health insurance ~ to be determined!

6. What is my biggest regret?

• Not connecting with people more
• Not making more progress on decluttering and on implementing systems 
• Not setting goals (& working towards them) in memorizing Scripture

7. What's something that has changed about me?

• The biggest physical change is that my disease stopped spreading, and as a result I have much more freedom of mobility.
• I'm doing much better about resting from 1-2.15 PM on weekdays before afternoon pickup from school. 

8. What surprised me most this year?

• Learning that at least 4 of the school staff on BK's IEP team are believers in Jesus!

9. What Bible truths impacted me this year?

• "This world is not my home; I'm just a passin' through." 

10. What meta-themes have I thought about this year? (in no particular order)

• how fleeting the teenage years will be
• how faithful the Lord will be to our children after we are gone
• I want to be content & a life-long learner like my mom & Jim's dad!

Highlights:

My disease has stopped spreading! I can move my joints so much more freely! 

Our vacation out west!

Reading significantly more books in 2025 than I have in any year in the past decade.  

 

Lowlights:

My mom's health. (She spent Christmas 2024 in the hospital, followed by a stay in the rehab hospital.  And then spent about three months in the rehab hospital again in the summer, following a hospital stay & operation, and then had to have another operation when that had complications in healing.)

Concluding thoughts:

We really do not know what direction a particular year will go in terms of the physical realm, but for believers in Christ our anchor is FIRM.  2025 was a good year (in many ways) and truly another step forward out of the fog of parenting littles / pandemic / disease. Life is still very stressful, to be sure, but there's a tad more margin (if not emotionally...).