Heartburn, the first was good, wait until you see the sequel!

Days in the Life...

Monday Dad worked. I went to work. Chloe and Christian went to class. Mom and the littles had a movie marathon all afternoon and evening. Don't worry, no one was sick. Gabe did not have gym and the pool was still not done, so they decided watching three movies would be fun. I think the only time I ever maybe remember having a movie marathon as a child was while I was sick.

Mom and the littles did some productive stuff in the morning, then put together snacks and created a bunch of comfy spots to sit in the living room. After the first movie, "Follow Me Boys", they worked together to make pizza to go in the oven later for dinner.

Chloe and Christian arrived home and finished their work quickly to catch the next movie, "The Thrill of it All."

I got home and exercised and did laundry and cleaned and studied until I left to go babysit.

Kate's little sister has arrived and I got to hold her for over an hour while babysitting! Baby Blaire has already stolen my heart. I wondered how I would be able to love her as much as I love Kate, it's not hard.

The sunset was absolutely stunning! 

The others completely missed it because of their movie. 

When I got home there was some yummy pizza left for me and they were finishing up the last movie. I did more class work, then went to bed not too long after the others, although we all ended up having a late night.

Tuesday I was the first one up by a long shot. After the later-than-usual night, the others ended up sleeping in past 8:00! 

I spent pretty much the entire morning working on my class and Chloe and Christian left for their class as usual. 

In the afternoon I exercised and then left to go get coffee with one of the ladies in our church. 

We had a really good visit and then I stayed to write at least something in my neglected journal. Throw a new nanny job, college class, 5-day workout routine, and a load of stuff to process all at me at once and something's going to fall by the wayside, even if that thing ends up being something I love.

Writing, even just for 15 minutes, felt so good.

Back at home we worked on preparing for engagement group. This time it ended up just being us and one other family! We still had an encouraging time together and received reports from others so we could pray for them. 

Mia dressed up and requested a picture go on the blog. 

Wednesday all the usual things took place, except that Gabe was at the gym from 9:00 until 4:00 to make up for no class on Monday. Mia still had her class around lunchtime after she and Mom went to the library and Seven Mile Cafe. Ava stayed home. 

For the rest of us it was a normal day. 

In the evening we watched men's gymnastics and Gabe, who had spent 7 hours at the gym already and had come home exhausted, dropped down to do 52 good form pushups. 

After the competition was over, we spent some time in prayer for a family we know whose son was care-flighted after a terrible car accident. 

Thursday I went to work, Chloe and Christian went to class, Gabe had gym, and the wifi went out. 

The wifi went out in the morning and was still out when Chloe and I came home both needing to turn in projects for our classes. 

So, around 5:00, we gave up and headed to Starbucks to get our assignments submitted, because, of course, the deadlines were for that night. Thankfully we were able to get everything done pretty quickly and by the time we got home the wifi was back on. 

Because the first movie was so good...

*drum roll, please* 

Friday morning Mom and the littles went to the hospital to visit the family we are praying for. Then they met friends at Chick-fil-a for lunch and finished by going to Costco. 

I had coffee with a friend in the afternoon and Chloe met Gramma to work on a project. 

Saturday was very quiet for everyone as far as I know. 

We finally had work done on the pool again! Because it rained so much weeks and weeks ago the patio guys got super backed up. We kept getting pushed further down the list of jobs and so it was over a month between the last time we had anything done and when they arrived to get everything set to be poured. 

It was so hot for the men. When we cut a watermelon and set it on the porch for them they were so grateful. 

Ava and I left to go to church early. The worship and prayer service was wonderful, as was church afterwards. We all stayed pretty late after church to eat and visit, then to help clean up everything. 

Sunday everyone slept in (there was actually a lot of sleeping in that week) and then we worked on brunch and listened to the CD done by our favorite live singer in Maui. 

Pretty quick after the kitchen was cleaned up everyone except Mom and Chloe loaded up to go swim at Gramma's. 

Meanwhile Chloe got a roast in the oven for dinner and and Mom napped. Then they both read to their hearts' content. 

On our way home from swimming we stopped to see the progress on The Dream House. It is gorgeous!! 

Everyone showered and we ate dinner, then watched "Tammy and the Bachelor." 

As the movie finished, the fireworks began. 

The others went onto the porch and I went up to sit in my room in the dark. The fireworks were good; we could see at least 3 or 4 different groups setting them off in different areas, but the lightning was even more impressive to me. 

I sat for over an hour and eventually forgot about the fireworks. The lightning was going off on rapid-fire and was all across the sky. I could see bolt after bolt touching down on the horizon. God's creation is far more impressive than anything made with human hands. 

Dad's toe is lovely- ahem- a lovely shade of blue, black, and ouch. He can walk and drive fine now and the pressure is pretty much gone, but it would not be pleasant if it got bumped or stepped on. (Although if anyone steps on your toe, crushed or not, it still hurts.)


Also, at some point this week, a snake got in and ate our duck's beautiful nest of 14 or more soon-to-hatch eggs. Chloe wondered all week why eggs were slowly disappearing from the nest, but didn't know what was getting them. Well, she finally saw the snake (not until after it had gotten the last of the eggs, of course) and instead of running screaming for Christian to save her kill it, she marched over to the tack room herself to get the killing instrument shovel. But the snake got away. Chloe is now on the watch for revenge.


I've been Pondering...

I'm at 5 weeks of weightlifting and the calluses are beginning to form again. 

Sometimes the hard things that make us stronger also give us rough spots. 

I don't mind rough spots on my hands, but I would mind rough spots in my spirit. 

When God allows me to walk through something hard in order to make me stronger, I want to remain soft. 

It could almost be thought of as the opposite of forming calluses. Instead of those hard things working in my life to form rough spots in my spirit, they are working to soften me and rub away the calluses that want to make my spirit rough. 

Reverse callusing. 

Lord, please continue sending me the hard things so that as I lean on You, walking through them, I can be made stronger in You, and the rough spots can be smoothed over for Your glory.

That moment when...

You receive a Facebook message from a foreign man saying, "You Babe beauty, little rose."

You are trying doing a side plank and your braid falls off your shoulder completely knocking you off balance.

Three children are sitting in your lap at the same time, telling you you are "squishy," and pulling on the end of your braid to tickle their faces.


The Herd: Quoted 

"My hair comes like all the way to here." -Christian pulling his hair over his forehead after the girls were saying how far down their backs their hair falls.

"Oh, I think I remember this!" -Ava about a dish at dinner.

"Well, that would be interesting since I've never made it before." -Mom 
"Oh. Never mind!" -Ava

"We will have a paper to write about what we learned. I can say, 'Well obviously nothing from you!'" -Chloe joking as she told us about her online professor who has not responded to any emails or provided any lectures. 

A Punctured Foot and the Death of Darth Cluck

Days in the Life...

Monday morning I left for work and Mom and Chloe headed to CareNow. 

Sometime last week our rooster, Big Ben, spurred Chloe’s foot. (A spur is like a big claw on the back of a rooster’s leg. They use them to fight other roosters.) Over the course of the next couple of days her entire foot got more and more swollen and red with infection. She soaked it in different things and put oils on it and elevated it, but it keep swelling. Monday morning it was bad enough, with no sign of much improvement, that Mom and Dad decided it needed to be looked at. 

So Mom took her in first thing in the morning and she came home with an antibiotic to take. 

Then Mom took her and Christian to class. While they were at class she took the little girls to get groceries and then picked Chloe and Christian up. 

I got off work an hour early and arrived home to do all my Monday tasks. 

Nana took Gabe to gymnastics while Dad kept working. The others arrived home and I eventually left to go babysit. 

Tuesday we had window screen repairs done around the house. 

Big Ben, who was renamed, Darth Cluck, attacked Christian. That was the last straw. Grandfather was summoned and with one shot, swift and true, Darth Cluck croaked. He was not worthy to be buried in our animal graveyard and was tossed down the hill for whatever other foul fowl wanted to feast on him. 

Uncle Phil made us a movie poster-

I studied some, then exercised and got ready to go meet a friend for coffee. 

Chloe and Christian were able to get back and forth to class just fine. After that day they were officially halfway through the course! 

Sofia and her mommy came to visit for a while in the afternoon. Everyone was very excited to see “our baby” again. 

I studied more in the afternoon, then made dinner. 

After dinner we all watched a “Christy” episode. 

Wednesday morning Dad and Chloe went back to CareNow. Ava went with them. 

I left for work and Mom and Mia took Gabe to his gymnastics class. Mia had her class as well, but while they were waiting they went to the library. 

There ended up being a very long wait at CareNow, but once they saw the doctor, he said it looked a little better to him and to stay on the prescription he’d given her. She left from there to get to class. (I have no idea how Christian got to class…) 

Dad and Ava ran a few errands, including a stop for Ava to purchase some more fish. They didn’t get home until noon. 

After work I went to the college campus to meet with an advisor and then had a massage when I got home. 

Sofia came for several hours in the late afternoon and evening. I think we overwhelmed her a little with all the attention. 

After she left, Gabe chose “The Wizard of Oz” for our entertainment that night. It had probably been eight years since I had seen that last. I understand it way better now. 

Thursday was Gabe's 9th birthday! He was up at 6:30 and requested Cracker Barrel for his breakfast date with Mom and Dad. 

I left for work and had a great day with the kids. Both Wednesday and that day, the baby slept for four straight hours! 

We had fun "hanging out." 

Chloe and Christian had a good day at class and came home to finish their other schoolwork. 

I exercised when I got home and then worked on my class. 

Mom and the girls dropped Gabe off at gymnastics and then went to go see "Finding Dory." They enjoyed it and said it was very cute. 

Once Gabe's class was over, they picked him up and met us, Aunt Cendei, and Nana and Grandfather at Babe's for a late dinner. We all converged again at home for Blue Bell ice cream and Chloe's chocolate chocolate chip cookies. 

Friday morning I really didn't want to get up when my alarm went off at 6:30, but I was so glad I did because the sunrise was beautiful and everyone else slept until almost 8:30 so the house was completely quiet for a good while. 

I studied all morning, then exercised and got ready to leave. 

Nana and I then spent the afternoon out shopping together. 

Is it bad that I have no idea 

where, when, or how I got this scratch? 

I had a little more class work to do after dinner and then Chloe, Mom, and I watched some “Dr. Quinn” while the littles watched “Planes.” 

Dad and Christian had an interesting day…

The plan was to go pick up Aunt Cendei’s trailer in the morning and go down to pick up the pool furniture. But the trailer lights were broken and then they could not get it unhooked from her truck. 

Plan B was to use Grandpa’s trailer. So they drove all the way over there to discover that his trailer lights were also broken. 

By that time the lady who we purchased the furniture from had somewhere to be. 

So Dad and Christian came home and got to start work and school about 4:00. 

After dinner Aunt Cendei was available to drive her truck and trailer down to get the furniture with Dad and Christian driving our truck behind her so she wouldn’t get pulled over. On the way they passed every single police car on patrol. 

The table top is granite and probably weights between 150 and 200 lbs. They had to load that first, but because it is so heavy, Dad and Christian had to roll it instead of carry it. Dad rolled it onto his right big toe. 

Christian saw it was bleeding and told Dad to sit down, but Dad knew if he looked at it and then needed to sit down there was no way the furniture would get loaded. So they finished loading the trailer and then took care of his foot. 

Christian excitedly offered to drive, but Dad was not going for that. 

They pulled in before dark (they did not get pulled over) and all of us, plus Nana and Grandfather, worked together to unload everything. It probably took less than 5 minutes. Aunt Cendei then raced home so it would still be light while she drove without trailer lights. 

Mom took one look at Dad’s toe and became very quiet. She had smashed her finger when she was younger and she remembered that the pressure under the nail was awful. She could tell Dad was going to be uncomfortable pretty soon. She administered pain meds and began a routine of icing his toe for 20 minutes on then 20 minutes off. All while keeping his foot elevated, of course.

Saturday everyone had a peaceful morning and then watched “American Ninja Warrior” during lunch. In the afternoon they had rest time and took showers before church.

I left around 1:00 to get coffee with a friend and then arrived at church early to play piano. 

Dad stayed home. As long as he kept his foot up, it really was not bad. But after just a few minutes of being on it, it would start throbbing again. 

We had a guest speaker this week. After a precious time of worship he got up and said he had words of encouragement for me. I cried. God knows my heart so deeply. He knew what I was feeling and the exact words I needed to hear. 

Actually, starting about 2:00 until 9:00, God used person after person to reenforce the message I needed so much. He amazes me. 

Sunday morning Gabe got up early and, all by himself, set up everything we needed to make brunch so that once Dad and I were up it was very easy for us to start. 

After brunch Ava, Gabe, and Mia finally got to perform the magic show they had been working on since Friday. Nana and Grandfather also came over to enjoy it. They did a lovely job and it was very entertaining. 

Dad still wanted to take the kids swimming, because he was “just fine to drive.” But, seeing as how his right toe starts hurting as soon as he puts it down, I decided to drive. 

The kids had a great time and Dad and I got to visit with Gramma and get a tan. Well, he got a tan. I got a sunburn. What is sunscreen? But the next morning it was a tan.

On the way home we picked up Mediterranean food for the adults and pizza for the kids. Everyone took showers and Nana and Grandfather came over to eat dinner with us and watch pre-Olympic women’s gymnastics competitions. 

It was a lovely ending to a fun day. 

That moment when...

You are driving 60 mph and a bird flies into your car. 

The little boy you watch tells you he likes your "wreally yong hair."

You eat your dinner trying to ignore the two guys at another table who keep starring at you.

The advisor says, "Have fun on your trip." And you reply, "Thanks, you too! Uh- I mean- if you go on a trip, I hope it is fun for you..." 

The Herd: Quoted 

"Can we have actual conversation at the dinner table instead of doing show and tell with our bodies, please." -Dad after Mia, Gabe, and Christian were showing off their abs. 

"Good morning, Gabe. Happy Birthday! Why are you up so early?" -Me coming up the stairs. 
"Thanks! I'm going to breakfast." -Gabe
"But not at 7:00, right?" -Me
"No, at 8:00." -Gabe
"It's only 6:30, you don't need to be up yet." -Me
"You sure?" -Gabe
"Yes... You might want to go back to sleep for a while." -Me
"Well, I'm already dressed and wide awake, so I will just read quietly." -Gabe 

"Should we sing to you now?" -Mom to Gabe.
"I'm listening!" -Gabe grinning expectantly and thoroughly enjoying being the center of attention. 

"Wow, our little boy is 9 years old." -Mom
"Wait, you are 9?" -Me 
"Yeah, how old did you think I was?" -Gabe
"I don't know." -Me 

"When you were born, Lydia was your age and she had 4 younger siblings." -Mom to Gabe
"Wasn't I 10 when he was born?" -Me
"No..." -Chloe
"But he is 9 now and I was...wait, I'm confused." -Me
"You are 18 now and about to turn 19. Nine plus nine is 18." -Chloe 
"Oh!" -Me
"How is it that you have passed your college math?" -Chloe
"I forgot how old I am now." -Me
"How old did you think you were?" -Dad
"I don't even know." -Me 
*disclaimer, it was 9:30 pm and I had already almost fallen asleep on the couch.

"We found the fish that just gave birth! It was hiding under the bridge." -Mia talking about Ava's new fish.
"Yeah, that's exactly where I aways wanted to be after giving birth." -Mom

“Please remove all cell-phones to the coffee-table so that you will not be distracted from the show.” -Ava 

“And please remember, this is a commentary-free show.” -Gabe

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We live with Superman and Shine

Days in the Life...


Monday morning I received both Kate and Sofia early and Ava was downstairs ready to help me at 7:00. She is a huge helper!

We were sort of awake.

Dad had breakfast with someone and Chloe took Ava to art classes. 

While Mom and Dad visited later in the morning I helped the kids with math. (This would have been during the time that Kate and Sofia were both asleep. Yup, I got their naps coordinated again.)

The fact that I told him the wrong numbers 

probably meant I should drink coffee or take a nap. 

(I ended up doing both later in the day, when both babies were asleep again.)

When Ava returned I was grateful for more help. I do enjoy the challenge of caring for both babies by myself some too, though. 

Ava and I both went to babysit for group in the evening. 

 Tuesday was my one day of the week to have a more relaxed schedule. I stayed in my pajamas most of the morning and had a long Bible time sitting next to an open window with coffee.

I got plans nailed down for the rest of the week and did some organizing.

I totally forgot that I was supposed to make dinner, but in the time that it took to play the songs "When Can I See You Again" and "I'm Coming After You"  it was in the crockpot. *pumps fist*

In the afternoon I took Christian to run some errands after he and Dad returned from meetings.

After dinner we watched "Little Big Shot" which is becoming a favorite with the kids. 

Wednesday morning I left at 8:00 to go watch Calvin. He was so sweet that day! (Not that he usually isn't, he was just even more so.) 

Meanwhile, at home, Mom was in bed sick again, Dad had left for the day not feeling well, Ava was having to take care of Sofia by herself, and Chloe was taking Gabe and Mia to gymnastics. 

By the time I got home Sofia had left and the report was that Ava had done a great job with her. Mom was asleep and Dad was still gone. The others were doing their own thing quietly. 

I showered and left with Christian as soon as we were ready. We needed to go to Clothes Mentor for me to find a dress for graduation. We were in and out of the store with a beautiful White House, Black Market dress for $14 in less than 20 minutes. It was a record. 

Then we picked up dinner for me at Chick-fil-a (otherwise I'd have forgotten to eat) and shared a milkshake on the drive to drop him off for guys' group. 

I enjoyed a DECAF coffee and caught up in my journal some until it was time to go pick Christian up again. 

Thursday morning I got up to receive Sofia as Mom was still in bed sick and cared for her until I had to leave with Chloe and Christian at 9:00. At that point Ava took over again. Thankfully, Dad was not feeling too awful after a good night of sleep.

I dropped Chloe and Christian off at the college to take their TSI tests for reading and writing, then went to Starbucks to journal and sip coffee. 

They finished about 11:00 and I went back to get them.They both did great!

From there we went to Aron's apartment to help him pack as he was moving that week. 

First things first, though, we arrived and then went with him to buy medicine for Mom and pizza for our lunch. We ate all but one slice of two large Papa John's pizzas. I guess test taking makes you hungry. (Actually, I already knew that from taking my test the week before and using all my mental energy, etc. As I had not taken a test, I only ate 3 slices. *wink*) 

Chloe and Christian got the entire kitchen packed in almost no time flat. Aron and I worked on sorting stuff to pack, throw away, and get rid of, and got stuff in boxes. 

We finished with enough time to play a fast Texas Hold 'em poker game before leaving to get Chloe and Christian to Debate. I got third! Chloe didn't play.

I met a friend for coffee (except I didn't get coffee) for part of the time while they were at club, then journaled more. (I was still behind, but I'm pretty sure I got completely caught up that night and as I write I can tell you I am current!) 

Friday I had Sofia the whole day and Dad took Mom to Care Now. Turned out she had three different "itises." No wonder she had been in bed all week! 

I think she has out grown that bed... 

Coffee while she slept!

After lunch Chloe took Ava to the library for a couple of hours as a treat for taking care of Sofia so much while Mom was sick. 

I had to leave with Christian at 2:00 to take him to meet Uncle Phil at a disc golf park near Dallas. He spent the weekend with Aunt Lauren and Uncle Phil in honor of his birthday which is in November. 

Meanwhile, Dad was home with Gabe, Mia, and Sofia, the latter who had decided she didn't want an afternoon nap. 

Superman set the kids up with music and kept up with work while monitoring them. He is amazing!

Chloe, Ava, and I all eventually made it home. Then Chloe left to go pick up food from Babe's for dinner. While she was gone I did a month's worth of menu planning in less than an hour. That felt good. I am in charge of the planning, shopping, and cooking again this month.

Chloe and the littles watched a Tinker Bell movie, Mom and I watched "Hitch," and Dad worked and dreamed about the pool we'd like to put in. 

Saturday Mom was some improved, thanks to drugs, but still needed to be in bed. 

Chloe and I left to go to Bible study in the morning and Dad and the littles worked at the little house for a while. 

We all got ready and left for church (except for Mom, of course) and the others made a Costco run while I played piano during early worship. 

Sunday I opted to wake up early and make coffee and enjoy the quiet instead of sleep in. It was a good decision. Seriously, the times our house is really truly quiet are rare. And I love quiet. If you get up at 6:30, though, and do not eat until 11:00, you are going to likely be very hungry. 

After brunch Dad and I put a roast in the oven and the others had rest time while Mom, Dad, and I visited for a couple of hours. 

Aunt Lauren and Uncle Phil brought Christian home and stayed to visit for a bit before going next door to eat dinner. Mom felt well enough to get up to see them! 

Aron came for dinner and Mom got to eat with us for the first time all week. We were all very grateful to have her "back." Everyone stepped up in amazing ways while she was sick, and everything got taken care of, but we missed her! 

After dinner we all watched the more recent version of "Yours, Mine, and Ours." 

Compared to the week before, this was a much more quiet week! Sorry if it was kind of boring...


I've been Pondering...

This is why I want to be a ray of sunshine. 

I don't want to shine so people look at me and think I'm something special. I want to shine so that people look at me and see Jesus in me and know that it is He who has made me all that I am. And I want them to know that just as I am special and loved by Jesus, so are they. 

Any light that I generate on my own is not worth the attention it could receive, because without Christ I am nothing. He is my everything. So with all of me I want to point back to Him. 

The light He has placed in me is all that I want shining forth from me. That is the light worth seeing. That is the light that glorifies Him. That is the light I want others to see.

That Moment When...

Christian exclaims that something is in his mouth and in shock pulls out an inch worm.

Chloe begins setting reminders on her phone to text me that I need to eat at every meal and get decaf coffee at night.


The Herd: Quoted 

"What?! Oh, I read that wrong." -Me reading the start of one of Chloe's novels.
"Pay attention! That was so obvious!" -Chloe
"I just wasn't paying attention to what I was reading." -Me
"You are reading my story, why on earth would you read it and not pay attention to what you are reading?" -Chloe
"I was paying attention!" -Me
"You just said you weren't." -Chloe
"I said that?" -Me
"Yes!" -Chloe
"I just said I wasn't paying attention to what I was reading? I don't remember saying that!" -Me
"Drink your coffee." -Chloe

"He was definitely foreign. I think. Probably." -Me
*Christian repeats me*
"I said that?" -Me
"Yup." -Christian
"Just now I said that?" -Me
"Yup." -Christian.

"Please help Mommy to find her voice again and please let it be the same as the one she had before." -Mia praying over Mom who had lost her voice while being sick. Mia has been praying over different ones of us whenever we say we have a headache, or backache, or are sick, etc. She is precious and in so many ways, a real inspiration to me. Prayer should always be our first response!

Some People Will Do Anything for a Chick-fil-a Sandwich

Days in the Life...

Thursday morning Mom, Ava, Christian, Chloe, and I left for Tyler, Texas around 8:39 ish for our second (and possibly last) Speech and Debate Tournament. We took our big family truck, which resulted in plenty of space to spread out. Chloe was happy to take the absolute back since that meant she'd have three seats all to herself. Never mind the fact that there is no leg room.

Mom's stomach was a little upset when we started out, but she hoped it was nothing. The further we got, though, the more fatigued she became. Several times we pulled over so she could walk around a little. Finally she had me take over driving as she wasn't just tired, she felt drugged. We were a little over halfway there at that point. 

The nice thing about a road trip with older kids is that the car is completely quiet. Everyone was totally content to do their own thing, whether that be reading, looking out the window, listening to music, or sleeping. 

We arrived in Tyler close to noon. It took us longer because I had to pull over several times for Mom to walk around. Her nausea kept getting worse. She was pretty sure she must have eaten something that didn't agree with her. 

None of us were scheduled to compete until late in the afternoon, but we had lunch meal tickets we wanted to use. I lead us into the church to check in and get the tickets. 

We ate our Chick-fil-a sandwiches and chips and fruit, while Mom rested in the bathroom. 

Dad called me to try to get a plan. Mom was in no shape to judge the competition and we didn't know if, because of that, we would even be allowed to compete. I explain the situation to "someone who looked like a pretty in-charge person" and since I am 18, they said I could be responsible for my siblings and Mom could stay at the hotel, no judging responsibilities required. 

Our check-in for the hotel was not supposed to be until later, but Mom needed to rest, she felt awful. I called our hotel and they said we could come early. Thankfully it was right down the road. 

Mom was able to get us checked in and pretty much right after we dropped all of our bags in the room, she escaped to the restroom to empty her stomach. After that she felt some better. 

She and Ava stayed in the room and I took the others back to the tournament. 

Christian delivered his speech late in the afternoon after I finished communicating with Dad about what the plan for the weekend should be (this was a three-day tournament). During that time, Mia threw up at home. 

We left the church around 5:30 and went to a very busy Subway to pick up dinner to take back to the hotel room. 

Then we had the hardest time in the world finding an open Walmart (the one we thought we could go to apparently was still being built) to buy food for the next couple of days that we could take with us to the tournament. 

Chloe and Christian joked about their new theme song needing to be "I will survive" since I was driving our truck all over an unfamiliar town, in the dark, without another adult. I was actually feeling a little bit proud of myself for being able to step up and be in charge of this road trip. Pretty quick, though, I realized that I would never have been able to do all that I did that day on my own. God was hands down the one sustaining me and giving me the confidence and wisdom and grace to walk through the events that transpired so differently from anything that I had planned or expected. *Insert the moment that Good Good Father comes on in Starbucks as I write and I have to choke back tears because that's currently my favorite song* 

We got back to the hotel close to 7:30. Mom and Ava were watching "Flip or Flop" and trying to figure out what to do. 

We ended up deciding that we should go ahead and drive home that night. Mom didn't want to risk anyone else (namely the drivers) getting sick and us then being stuck there. Others at home were getting sick and we knew all of us had been exposed. 

So we let "in-charge" people know our plans and I drove us out of Tyler at 8:30. The others all put on their pajamas and settled down for the three hour trip. Again. 

Christian especially was discouraged about leaving and not getting to compete (He had worked pretty hard preparing), but he came down with a fever in the car so we knew we'd made the right decision. 

I got us to Dallas before my shoulders, neck, and back completely gave out. Our truck requires strength to control, especially on highways, so I was tense for the whole drive. There was no way to relax. It was a little discouraging to know all of the work of getting rid of that stress tension the past two months was virtually reversed, but I know that God has a plan and a purpose, even in that, and I'm so grateful that I was not sick and had the ability to drive us all home. 

Mom drove us through Dallas, feeling well enough and awake enough after her rest to do that safely. Then Chloe took us through the home stretch. We got in a little before midnight. 

Dad, Gabe, and Mia were all set up in the living room watching HGTV when we arrived. Everyone was grateful to be in their own beds after such a long, eventful day with the unexpected. 

And so the quarantine went into effect. Mom "does blood," Dad "does throw-up." Dad was on duty. 

Friday morning everyone slept in a lot and then most made their way to the living room to watch HGTV for a good part of the day. The rest of the time they slept, read, sipped ginger ale, etc. 

I stayed in my room resting, having my Bible time, working, reading, etc. 

I honestly couldn't tell if I was hungry because I'd not eaten in 18 hours, 

or starting to get sick, or just afraid to eat. 

Mom, Christian, and Mia were feeling better by the end of the day and no one else had come down with it. 

We all watched Mall Cop and cautiously ate. 

Saturday morning was also slow, but everyone felt fine. 

In the afternoon the little girls decided they wanted to rearrange their room for fun. They had drawn out a floor plan depicting what they wanted to change and had already measured to be sure things would fit. Mom told them the could earn the privilege of rearranging their room by first making it clean and tidy. 

Before

Before

After

After

That consumed a majority of their afternoon. And Mom's.

The boys did things together (most likely "things" that involved sports cards and games of poker), Dad worked, and Chloe and I both (yes, me too, but only after I worked some) read. 

That night we all ate dinner and then the others watched "Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back," while Mom and I watched "Old Fashioned." 

Sunday everyone was back to normal! We made our brunch meal and enjoyed eating with no thoughts of "what it might look like if it came back up." 

I was so excited to drink a cup of coffee.

We had another restful afternoon and then all watched a Louie Giglio sermon. 

After dinner and ice cream and some apple thing Chloe saw online and decided to try, the others watched "Star Wars, Return of the Jedi" and Mom and I watched "Alone, Yet Not Alone," which is a very serious movie, but we were laughing a lot because of a humorous group text strand that transpired during that time. 

I've Been Pondering...

I love how every sunset is so different and yet always so beautiful. We never get to see one that is quite the same as the last, but each time I am amazed by the splendor of it. God designed each one to point us to Him for His glory.

Just. Like. Us.

We are created so differently, and yet each one of us is uniquely special. There is not a one of us that God did not create with love and for the purpose of glorifying Him, simply by being who He created us to be.


That Moment When...

Mom wears her plaid, pajama pants and her black, dress boots to drive home.


The Herd: Quoted 

"Thinking about sleeping on the couch tonight, I really don't feel like making my bed." -Chloe 

"You can have your own bed tonight!" -Me to Mom after she threw up in the hotel bathroom.

"What? No one wants to share with me?" -Mom  

"Well you're lucky, I only get half the floor!" -Christian telling his friend where he'd be sleeping in the hotel room. 

"Your turn isn't at this light, so keep going, but the light is red, so stop." -Chloe

"Does that look like an open Walmart to you?" -Me driving by one.

"Yes." -Chloe

"No." -Christian joking at the same time. 

"Wait, there's a Walmart? Is it open?" -Me apparently coming up on another one.

"Yes, it's open." -Chloe

"Oh no! It's closed!" -Christian as I pulled in. 

"I thought this day was going to be so boring. Nope!" -Me

"He was so hitting on you!" -Chloe, as we leave Subway.

"No, just because somebody gives me free food, doesn't mean he's hitting on me." -Me

"Oh! And lock the car." -Me 

"It's just so lame! So, so lame! They are just father and son! Lame!" -Mia after watching "The Empire Strikes Back."