The Daily Hailey

I slept well last night, which is pretty rare these days, and I am SO grateful.

Turns out I really needed it because WOW was it a rough morning over here! 😅 Yikes, man. Yikes.

However, once the chaos died down a little bit, Brady got up and had coffee with me. We haven’t had coffee together in a long time. It felt like home. I loved it.

Coffee could only last so long, however, and the was full of little ones, organizing, emailing, prepping supper, and all the other things that are normal and and take up most of my waking hours. No complaints! Just, busy!

As I type this, I have a kid eating an apple out of our backyard next to me. One smaller kid pulling up using my pants as the hand holds. I have a kid playing with the digital calendar. A kid practicing piano. My island is FULL of apples, pumpkins, and tomatoes. My countertop is full of potatoes. Goodness we have it SO good.

Sure, throw in between the mayhem of gifts and freshness are gross documents that need signing and sending. But there is also a precious memory book already made depicting our day at Kinasao. Some crochet projects. Dishes I need to hand back to people who have fed us.

Meanwhile, the potatoes seasonings are starting to smell in the kitchen in a nice way. Yay for Kinders and their delicious products.

I’m really grateful when I look around my home and see how covered we are, and in all the different ways. There are hard things, don’t get me wrong. More than most of you know. But there is SO much good.

For both sides of our coin, and every dumb little bumpy edge surrounding them, I praise the Lord!

I won’t lie. The highlight of Laelas birthday for me was using SO much of our stovetop real estate!! 😍 Remember when we started renovating our island, getting a new stovetop and hood vent, etc? Remember how it was grossly overshadowed by Brady’s mobility deteriorating? Well. What did end up happening was we traded in our little pine cupboards and laminate top for a white IKEA island with drawers, and a beast of a butcher block island top, assembled and oiled up perfectly by Brady himself. It was the last house project he did before he couldn’t stand up anymore.

The highlight of that island, however, is our super stove. Eight elements!!! Does a person use all eight at once? We haven’t, no. But we used six yesterday!!! And it was SO FUN!!!

Even if we don’t use all eight at a time, the space is still welcomed, being that our pots tend to be YUGE and its nice to space them out a little. Also, whoever helps with supper can do it without rubbing shoulders too closely.

Rowan helped by frying up the sausage, and then we both took a pan and got the perogies fried to perfection. 😘👌

So for supper, we had perogies and sausage with mushroom gravy, plus corn on the cob, and broccoli with cheese sauce. It was all SO yummy! Haven’t made a feed like that in a while!

And her MAIN request was for her dessert to be sugar cookie bars! I made them for Christms treats, and then again for LD’s birthday, and now for hers!! Her exact words were “I’ve waited ALL YEAR for these!!!” It seems like they landed.

Ok. Whew. It was a cute day, but mostly, it was a yummy day. Watching “13 Going On 30” didn’t disappoint, either.

I have a second TEENAGER!!!! 🤯 Laela is officially 13!

Behold 🙌 Her last twelve months in photos!

It has been a hugely shaping year for Laela. Her grade seven year was one she loved. She loves the high school. She loves working at the concession. She loves volleyball. She loves the computers in the library. She loves home ec. She loves youth. She loves later bedtimes, more freedom, and older friends.

She endured some bullying that I recognize is par for the course as kids grow and change and move through junior high, but it was hard to watch her confidence beat down a little. For a good while there, she flip-flopped between overalls and dresses until she got teased enough that she changed her tune. That was a tough one for me, but conveniently, she has of course proved that fashion is the least important detail of hers. She is incredible all on her own, regardless of her outfit.

Laela is a total go-to for so many things. She is responsible and playful. Hardworking while being singsongy. She can rise to just about any occasion, and when she can’t she gives some really, really soft hugs. I’m not sure anyone has softer cheeks than her.

I can confidently say that Laela is the total package. She is everything you want your teenaged daughter to be. And she will be the total package as an adult when the time comes. Her character speaks loudly, and it is GOOD. Does she have struggles? Yes. Is that normal and allowed? Double yes. Is she constantly seeking and learning and aiming for greatness? All the way she is!

This girl right here 🙌

She’s one to watch 💜

Happy birthday, dear girl. I’d relive your wild delivery every day if I had to in order to keep you 💜

All through the day today, I’ve said to myself “I should blog about that!” So. Many. Times. And can I remember what any of those little stories I wanted to share with you? No I cannot. But the fact that I know there were so many tells me I have it very good, and so much to be grateful for.

Brady and I had a really lovely visit with our pastor this morning. We are so fortunate to live in our small town and to be so well connected to our church and our pastor. After he truly helped us out with a few important things, he headed on his way. We had a loving friend stop by with supper for this evening. No, we have no meal train going, but these are the reasons we don’t always need one. Because our people are still showing up 💜 Thank you, friends. Brady was off to bed not long after she left, and I got the young ones lunch and down for naps. I then moved my fatigued behind over to my spot in my recliner, with my crocheting on my lap and some true crime nearby.

It was maybe ten minutes into my letdown when someone knocked on my door with an armful of corn cobs, and as many pumpkins as I wanted, fresh out of the garden.

Guys, what more could I ask for? The support we are surrounded by is astounding. ONLY by the power of God.

I saw it said the other day that, if you want a village, you have to be a villager. I feel like I’ve been shirking my villager duties, which everyone around us justifies based on our current set of circumstances. Which I really appreciate 💜 Please know my heart aches for a day where we will be able to put more into the beautiful village of those who have formed around us. You are not going unseen. Whether you’re feeding us, clothing our kids, updating me on school info, driving my kids places, making calls on our behalf, doing our laundry, giving us deals or special treatment, praying, petitioning, and loving us up close or from a distance, it is all being noticed, felt, and deeply appreciated.

Today was a good day for reminders of exactly these things 💜 Thank you, Lord.

The very first time I called for counselling, I had to really work up to it. I wasn’t at all ashamed of needing help, or seeing a counsellor. Not at all. But just calling that first time and putting myself out there felt daunting. Having to actually pick a time and commit to the appointment, and then tell the stranger on the phone what I wanted to talk about – ack! I had to really psych myself up for that! I remember finally making the call, and then no one answered the phone!! 🤣 It took me another couple of days to work myself up to the point of calling again, haha! I’m sure some of you know the feeling I’m describing.

Today we were supposed to have a bit of a heavy appointment, and while it was not to the same level, I felt my body psyching itself up to prepare.

And then it didn’t happen!!! 😅 Aaaaaaahhh!!!

So rather than actually take care of something we needed to do, Brady and I sat and had coffee while I worked on some other things on the laptop. It was still semi-productive, but not in the lofty ways I had hoped for. Not in the ways my body was preparing for. Thankfully, that appointment was rescheduled with someone who is committed to showing up for us, and today was not a total loss.

Bonus points to Walmart for having vanilla Coke! It’s possible I stocked up a little 😬 Such a yummy little guilty pleasure treat today!

Alright. Hamburger helper is the name of the game tonight, plus yummy salad made from the garden veggies of people who have shown us love. Signing off for this one. ✌️

Summer was so different this year. That goes without saying. Our family greatly enjoys fall camping, and we usually go every weekend until we can’t anymore – usually into the very beginnings of October. With all of the changes over here, we haven’t been in Kinasao in two months. Yesterday was our day for fall camping 💜 Transport was funded (don’t ask me exactly how, I don’t know the answer) so Brady slept through his bus ride and I took the rest of our clan up to Christopher Lake in time for lunch. We even had the pleasure of bringing our little foster bestie, which was such a gift to us, and made the whole thing feel like the whole family was there.

Most of the pictures, I can’t show you, because our little ones were right in there with everyone. But you’ll have to believe me that we had a beautiful gang of those we love so deeply. Our Dahlsjos were with us. (For the many of you who have asked, “doll show.” Lol!) Scott came down to visit. Sue did also. Our closest camp people were nearby and full of love and softness.

Photo highlight reel in no particular order:

The kids found a haul of shells in the sand. Not sure how they got there (or who got them there) but it was SO fun for the kids to dig for them! They happened upon some of the smooth stones that go in plants or fishtanks as well. “Butt cheeks” as Wavy called them.

The trees and the skies did not disappoint 💜

We had a very tame fox friend hanging around 🦊

At least he didn’t legitimately steal out food like the squirrel! It took a cupcake!! You can’t see it, but you’ll have to trust me. No joke.

Brady’s iced capp took on the fall flavoring

as did my tiramisu a la Sadie 😋

And the water 😍 It was so so beautiful down by the water. Took some pretty great pictures of a certain little down there. Every picture of that kid is a great picture! But the water on its own is lovely too 💜

Kinasao is such a precious place for our family. Our last day there this summer was incredibly hard, and yesterday, we got to rewrite that day. No idea what next summer will hold, but today, I am just very grateful we got that day.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow! Thank you for Kinasao!!!

As we’re on the road today…

There have been a lot of songs this last year that have felt like theme songs. This one is new to me, and these days, I could just pump it on repeat. I will be the first to admit that worship music is rarely my thing. While I LOVE to sing, and I LOVE to praise the Lord, yikes sometimes worship music just suuuuucks 😩 Take this all with a grain of salt if you love worship music. I just struggle with the majority of it. But this song just cries to my heart. That bridge gets me all stompy and I can barely sing it aloud without choking up. So please take a second and give it a listen.

When the world offers counterfeit, we choose Jesus!

When it costs more than we can give, we choose Jesus!

When the world can’t make sense of it, we choose Jesus!

When nobody’s coming with, we choose Jesus!

😭

Tell me who’s coming with!

Every year, our school hosts a soccer tournament for our grades five and six kids to compete against other schools. Each year, I try to get out there and hit at least a few of the games. This year, I had both Rowan and Solly playing, so I definitely had to get there! Aaaaand this year, Brady could come, too! Extra special! 💜

Rowan has played a lot of recess soccer and has a lot of fun. He has a great run with great endurance.

Solly isn’t much for sports but when he was on the field, he was waving his arms, calling out to his team, in full participation mode!

Dekker is expected to manage some volunteering at his age, so today, he helped ref some of the grade five games. Not his jam, but he managed it well without any real nerves or apprehension.

Brady and I huffed it to the elementary school for Sollys games, and then further to Centennial park for Rowans. That one was a trek, let me tell you! You don’t realize how uneven grass and lawn is until you’re huffing a man in a chair! Whew! But we made it!! By the time we were ready to head back to our house, I didn’t have much left in the tank to take a longer, more peaceful, way. I had to take the most direct way, which was right along the main drag through town. Which, on a day like today, was bustling with school buses, parent vehicles, and even the recycling truck. And WOW was everyone SO patient and kind. We were definitely not in the ideal position on the road, yet everyone waited to patiently to go past us safely and slowly, waving to reassure us that we were seen and safe. It wasn’t too long ago that my self talk would’ve tormented me, telling me that everyone was annoyed and we were too slow or we didn’t deserve to be on the road that way. That I should have pushed it and just gone the long way. But today, my self talk has changed a lot. Not only was it totally clear that no one was annoyed with us, but had they been, I actually feel quiet secure in our position on the road, and even though it maybe was less convenient for some, we had every right to walk where we did. It was a challenge to get to these games, and I’m so very glad we could make it happen. Couldn’t do it without help at home, of course, c/o Cher 💜 And the reassurance of the many people who whispered to me that they were around if I needed someone to help get Brady where he needed to be brought a lot of comfort. We feel so taken care of 💜

Piano is back in action!! I have

laela was here 😛

Alright, Laela had her fun. Thats what I get for walking away from my laptop.

So, as I was saying, piano is back in action!! I have three kids in piano again this year – Laela, Solomon, and Waverly. Everyone is one lesson in and our instrument is back in full force.

Today, Wavy had a lesson and then immediately left for a playdate, so, there’s that. Solly had his lesson, came home, practiced, and then played for at least another 45 minutes. And then Laela snuck in some practicing before and after supper, asking me lots of questions about the theory she is learning. All along, there is a toddler holding themselves up by the keys, booming along with her plinky plunkies. I’d show you a picture, but, its illegal.

My favorite part of piano so far was Laela after her lesson yesterday. I was coming into the house as she was leaving. She came home early for her piano lesson, had it, dropped her books, and ran to the school to get into an impromptu volleyball game against the junior boys team. As we passed, she called to me “Piano was really good. I have purple books! They’re PURPLE!!!”

She proved it to me today 😂

I’ll admit that juggling volleyball and piano sometimes is a lot, and not something I necessarily love. I suppose I can be grateful that ballet is starting a little late at least, as their teacher is having a baby. So one less activity to schedule around.

Its the season for settling into evvvvverything!! 😅 But when the books are purple, its all worth it.

We have been so fortunate to receive gifts from so many people in and around our community. I catch myself often overthinking where our beautiful village came from, and how little we did to actually earn it. But I know I don’t need to question those things, and rather, just be grateful. There are seasons where we need more and seasons where we can give more. I just feel like the season of need refuses to quit 😅

Aaaaanyway.

Todays supper consisted of:

Potatoes from the Sawyers 🥔

Ham from the Dahlsjos 🐷

Corn from Heather 🌽

Carrots from Rae 🥕

How did we get SO lucky?? How do we have it THIS good??

Thank you, all, for putting into us in all the ways you do. Its not only food, but goodness when its food, its goooood food! 🤤 And that day, friends, was today 💜