Bayfield

 i'm 51 and i finally got to Bayfield.  and after visiting, i'm not sure why it took so long to get there.  what a charming place!  and so pretty in the fall...i didn't want to leave.  

next time, longer.

gratitude while suffering

 been more intentional again these days to sit in the space of gratitude, as the season of fall has allowed me more quiet time to actually hear my own thoughts (translated the four year old who talks incessantly is now in school).  grateful for loads of blessings, big and small, and being more intentional to count them as well...i've also been doing a bit of a deeper dive into the study of suffering, and the notion by many that a good God would never allow suffering to the extent that He does.  to clarify, i'm not currently in a place of deep suffering, not at all, but i know that suffering is a part of life at one time or another, and if not now, it's coming.  that is as sure as the sun setting this evening.

so many take aways, but i think i'll link my two favourite teachers who address the subject in a far more eloquent way than i ever could.  so powerful.  so countercultural and so true.  trusting in a God who knows better than i.  trusting His timing.  trusting His nature.  checking my unbelief that comes from a vastly limited human framework and not the mind of a sovereign, all-knowing and good God. 

counting gifts...a table decorated with outdoor clippings of beauty, set for loved ones.  grateful.

Jackie Hill Perry is such a gifted teacher, author, poet and theologian, and i will forever appreciate the way she teaches scripture in a way that is bold and convicting and courageous.

Jessie girl at my feet...another gift

Ann Voskamp...well, anyone who knows me knows i long to sit with her one day over lunch, and dig deep into her life experiences and wisdom.  she is so open about her own suffering and life journey, and this transparency in her books and messages has pointed millions to the heart of Christ.

this little rascal, the most unexpected of gifts...photo credits to Hannah

grateful for God's overflowing goodness, in easy times and hard.  His good gifts, still there and always visible when i look carefully, even during the unexpected, the awful, the moments of agony.

"we give thanks to God not because of how we feel but because of who He is"  Ann Voskamp

both messages linked above by these powerful speakers expand on the subject so well.  i will revisit them for sure.  i hope you enjoy as well...

Hawaii

 our girl is there, in Kailua-Kona Hawaii, soaking up lots of sun and surf and beauty.  God has undeniably brought her there for this season, and she is basking in new friendships, new challenges, and deeper levels of faith.  she is courageous and strong, and leaning in to the chance to grow and serve and truly seek Christ for her next steps.  God's grace and love is carrying her, uplifting her spirit and meeting her in a fresh way.

annddd, she's started a blog~ a pretty great one too!  she would love to have you join her journey, so here's the link...

In the Lay of Things

here are a few photos she's sent along of her early days at YWAM Kona:

more to come, and many more pics on her blog...

keep shining Layla!  already the ripples are far reaching...❤

things that have helped...

as i mentioned in the previous post, Cree is adjusting to the school groove and settling in a little bit more each week.  some days he still struggles, but overall the trend is positive.  i've noticed a few things have helped him regulate. 

a friend had a great idea of a calendar to help Cree visualize the days of the week~ school days, the weekends, the holidays and special occasions.  i found this one on Amazon.  he's been all over it.  he can even pick the weather and his feelings~ he ranges between worried and sad to ecstatic, ;) and  flipping the days over has given him a much clearer visual idea of where he's at during the week.

Jessie insists on walking across it at least once each morning while we change it.

another thing that's helped him transition has been this sweet pup of ours.  she walks out to the bus with us and greets him when he gets home. 

on the warmer days, Cree's bike has been a nice distraction, especially when he felt pretty nervous early on in the first couple weeks.  

his bus driver, Mr. Frank, has been so kind as well.  

when Cree gets home he seems to do best when he can unwind with a snack, a snuggle in his bed with Jessie and i, and a chance to chat about the day's events.  

   i wish i had blogged all six of the other kid's earliest school experiences.  i think he'll enjoy looking back on this season of life one day.

school bookends

 hard to believe we're just over a month and a half now into the new school year.  this post comes a bit late, but hey, at least i'm predictable :)

bookend years for these two boys.  AJ starting grade 12 while Cree just begins his school journey in JK...crazy, we know.  i love these two so very much.  and i remember well AJ heading off to school at Cree's age.  a bright eyed, affectionate and social little guy who i remember feeling reluctant to send, as i'd already missed out on so much time with him prior to his adoption, and i hated that school came so quickly...he, of course, was more than ready.  he couldn't wait to be going to the same place his older siblings were off to every day.  he was super excited.  some of that school excitement might have waned a bit since then, which is entirely normal too i'd say...

AJ isn't sure what comes next for him beyond highschool, but for now he's enjoying a busy football season with the senior team.  there have been some close games, an exciting upset, and playoffs are upon us.  

Cree is settling in so well.  we still have the expected after-school fatigue and resulting meltdowns from time to time, but just the last two weeks been much better and there is definite improvement.  it's understandable really, he's been immersed in a full French classroom, which on its own must be tiring.  as it turns out, his French abilities are strong.  he's picking up so much vocabulary already.  his teacher reports that he's doing very well and saving the less than perfect behaviour for us at home.  i'm glad about that, i think...  

he's making friends and constantly singing songs and saying prayers in French.  we are brushing up on our own limited French abilities now too.  very soon he'll surpass us in his ability to be conversational with this second language.  amazing what young brains are capable of.

i know his face so well...the moment above required such courage on his part.  he bravely moved on to the school doors, to be welcomed warmly by support staff and teachers, with such visible trepidation apparent to me, that i struggled to hold it together.  honestly, i felt his discomfort.  we hugged and said goodbye and i assured him i'd be back in the afternoon, and that i'd be excited to hear about his day...he is a such a brave little soul.  i walked to the van and did the ugly-faced cry.  thankfully, we are both adjusting.

i'm so grateful we live in a country where school attendance is accessible for my kids and education is a basic right for all.  i hope and pray it's a great year for them!

Cleveland

 a fun little vacation with dear friends as summer came to a close.  a great time over a long weekend~ exploring, eating, walking, people watching, catching up and laughing.  a change of scenery and welcomed change of pace.  grateful for days like these.

Cleveland 2024

a moment

 just a precious moment in time.  it came up recently when browsing through the actual photo albums.  feels like forever ago.  only four kiddos then.  looks like it might have been around Easter time with the Sunday dresses on the girls.  front step at Howston Ave.

how i love those sweet faces.