One of the things I miss the most about my old yard is the wild life.
And see how CLOSE that other house is???????? Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.
But – as I walked into my bedroom this morning I heard the bird. It was so close? Was it IN my room?
I walked carefully toward the chirping.
And there it was – right on my sill.
It’s like a little God hug.
I bet it’s been three years since I was able to make jam.
I couldn’t very well live in the peach capital of the USA and not make peach jam now, could I?
It’s like sunshine in a jar.
Some days I just have to stop the flow of school and drink in the blessings. This sweet girl is a delight. Her perseverance is remarkable. She’s come so far in just a few years.
Was so happy when I found myself at a stop light and able to take this photo. No one would have believed me otherwise!
It was NOT an easy path to this driver’s license.
Turning sixteen when the state was still shut down was no picnic.
My friend Jennifer saw a news story on TV indicating there would be SOME in person DMV hours opening up in July 2020. We had to go to Greece. The mall was dead. We were masked. Had to stand in line outside the DMV bc of all the restrictions. She DID get her permit that day… and then we spent the next hunk of time playing rotating vehicles as even JOHN had to get driven to/from work that whole summer (the boys were working full-time further away).
Then we moved states. New permit was easy enough, and only cost us a whopping $2.50. (We aren’t in NY anymore.) But then it was STILL more car sharing. There was rarely a vehicle available for her to use.
Fast forward to 2022.
She didn’t pass her road test. She was driving a car she rarely drives and the dude testing her told her she had to wear a mask and drive with the windows open. She was flustered and he was a little much.
Sweet, wise girl… she suggested she take a lesson.
I found a place online – a driving school run by two retired South Carolina State Troopers. We went out to meet him and he determined she was definitely ready to pass the test. WE FOUND OUT that in SC, driving schools are authorized to test you! You just take the papers to the DMV! They technically CAN retest you for quality control. But they didn’t. And the long road was over. License in hand – here she comes, Bob Jones!
Early… VERY early… on Sunday the 18th, Nigel left with the team for their week in Honduras.
Late… VERY late… on Sunday the 25th, Nigel returned from his trip.
I don’t get much for photos, but he had an incredible trip. They built a Sunday School classroom next door to the church that the group had helped build a few years ago. They also made desks for a school that meets the needs of special needs students.
God is good. All the time.
It was a busy week.
Marie was patient waiting for her birthday celebration.
She requested, and received, Oreo cheesecake.
Her gifts from mom and dad included three packages. Each one had a small construction paper cut out of an article of clothing. I will take her shopping and she can find a few outfits for college. BJU has a dress code, and it will be fun doing our first ever “Back to School” shopping.
Last summer, shortly after we moved to SC, Nan joined us. She’d sold her house, packed all her things, and struck out to a new adventure.
Meanwhile, the market just turned upside down. It proved exceedingly difficult to find a house for her needs and budget in our area. She found an apartment, but it was never quite home. What is more, while the driving in our little corner of the world isn’t too bad, the traffic can get pretty crazy if you venture in other directions. She made some sweet friends at church, but there were only a smattering of things to keep her busy, and the kids had so much going on, it was hard to hang out some of the time.
And in May, after losing out on yet another purchase offer, Nan made the decision to head back to NY. She went up in June and was able to buy a townhouse in Webster.
And today, we packed up the cubes. John, Marie, Tab, Nan, and I filled the two pods in just a few hours. They will be picked up in a few days and make their trek north. Nan will fly up on Tuesday and hang with Kelly until she closes on her place and her items arrive. John will drive her car up on the weekend.
Johanna continued to work through her Creed AHG Bible Study and the acts of service the girls decided on. One of the planned outings was to visit a Memory Care unit with crafts to complete with the residents. Johanna, Claire, and Beretta have been graciously included Katriel, as well.
It was the first up-close look at dementia for my girls. I saw their soft hearts made softer. I hope that sticks. (We were allowed to take photos.) We plan to go back in the fall to play BINGO.
This poor girl! Last year, on her 17th birthday, we were packing up the house all around her. She also was in the midst of a month where she couldn’t taste anything!
This year – it’s her 18th birthday – and we are up to our ears in VBS and other craziness!
Daddy took her to Silver Bay Seafood for a lovely dinner.
We will celebrate as a family on the weekend.
While some of the girls and I were at VBS, Marie and Nan went out for dinner.
I was a leader for one of the groups, and Tabitha helped in another one. Johanna started to help in crafts, but was then asked to help with preschool.
Katriel was a camper.
Also this week – Nigel and I had an information day for students at USCUpstate.
And Katriel ended up with a bug bite so inflamed that we went to Urgent Care.
True story.
The doctor walked into our room – 9:15PM and says, “You’re a few days early!”
Sure enough, we had had Katriel at the same Urgent Care LAST July the night after we moved here for the exact same issue.
Katriel’s perspective it is the same bug that is after her, and it found her again after looking all year long.
And just like that, Tab’s week with Ava came to a close.
We headed back to West Virginia to meet her parents.
Now – the week before, as we’d driven back to SC, we took the route that takes us through the northeast corner of TN. As we were driving I saw the name of a road that crossed over the expressway, and I was all but certain it was the same road that I mailed Rebecca’s Christmas card. When I got home, I looked it up. Lo and behold, our route goes right by my friends’ road!!!
So today, on our way back from WV, we took a 2 mile detour (that’s it… 2 miles!) and we got to stop in and see my dear friend Rebecca, her husband Dana, and two of their boys! What a thrill!! We text regularly, but I hadn’t seen her in well over a year.
It was so good to see her beautiful house and get a real life hug.
Tab and I pushed on.
And finally made it home.
South Carolina feels more and more like home every single day!
The text came looking for eager helping hands.
We were delighted to respond.
A few hours later, we’d prepped about 100 of these!
These will be handed out to the kids who come to VBS!
We were up and at ‘em and had lunches packed and all the girls headed to the beach for the day.
It was Ava’s first time seeing the ocean.
We were all kind of tired, but the beach was wonderful.
We were home in time for a late dinner.
The day started with some cake making!
And hours later we celebrated our not-so-little boy.
Twenty years ago tonight we were in the hospital waiting for him to go to ICU…
Tonight – it’s cake and presents! God is so faithful!!
it was hot
not everyone was patient
But then the show began
