Someone very precious to me turns 36 years old today. Can you guess who?

My sweet Cherice. My BEST friend. 💜💚🧡

While this year has not been the smoothest for her, she perseveres like no other. Very few things have been simple or easy but she is constantly seeking God’s direction and strength, because she KNOWS His strength is promised to her. Seriously, Cher, how many times have we said “flesh fails” to one another?

This is my mental picture of you. Facing curveball after curveball. Only curveballs, really. And you are READY. Your bat has spikes in it. You have your Sword in the other hand, protecting yourself. Not in fear, but in Jesus’ name! And looking cute to boot all the way.

Just got too excited about this pic and poured root beer on my face, so, thank you for that.

Seriously, though, I hope you can see how beautiful you are. How beautiful your faith is. How beautiful your goals are. How beautiful your strength and determination are. How beautiful your heart is. Aaaaand let’s just call it like it is – how beautiful you are to look at 😍

Jim Carrey would say “Well, thats because you got….” wait no. Thats not the one.

There thats better! Whew! Almost got awkward for a second there…

But.

I love you and I love you and I love you some more. I am truly so thankful that you were born. Our life experiences are pretty different, but I think thats what makes us such an excellent pair.

I love you like Anne loves Diana 💜

Like Fletcher loves the elevator woman’s boobs 💜

Like Hailey loves Cherice 💜

Happy birthday, dear girl. I hope it is truly a beautiful day. You deserve it.

Habbirdy 😘

Whew! Today has also been a pretty huge whirlwind like yesterday. It started a bit hard with the kids. Some rushing and fighting on their way out the door. Quite exhausting. Then Brady had a hard time with some of his morning routine so that adds a layer of pressure to some things. Not his fault, obviously, but I’m trying to say it was not a smooth first couple of hours. Doesn’t help that a kid woke me up at 4am to let me know they had a mosquito bite. I’m SO tired, guys, I can barely put it into words.

Once the kids left, Cher came to join us for coffee and she brought me a birthday gift from her mama!!! Isn’t this SWEET?!

A little ghosty lamp! ACK! I love it SO much. A definite bright spot in the day, both literal and figurative!

We went to the doctors this afternoon to have our family doctor talk to us about the infection Brady is brewing. The on-staff nurse came as well and we all talked infection, packing, wounds, etc. We have a great home care situation right now, but our doctor was really happy to see it person and make sure all was looking good and that he was on the mend. We did, however, bring all three little ones to that appointment, which wasn’t a bad thing, but definitely made the whole thing a bit more hands on and rowdy. There were only really tears at the end and they were quickly mopped up with the promise and subsequent delivery of stickers.

Before going home, we went to pick up medical supplies for Brady. Another high point was discussing something we have been using that isn’t quite working well, and finding an alternative! Hopefully, anyway! 🤞 Felt encouraging. I tried to leave but we forgot something and went back.

And then we finally went home. Kids were home from soccer. I got the babies down for a late nap. Unpacked a very small grocery order. Texted a social worker. RSVPed for an event. Started writing this blog. Made a few plans and listened to a lot of stories. Re-ordered some groceries that were substituted and were not appropriate substitutions. Put rice on. Flipped the ham in the crock pot. Shed a few tears.

Aaaaand finished this blog.

😅😂😭

Goodness guys, these days are long. Come on, sleep!!! Show UP for me!

I am positively wiped. Today was gigantic. We could not have managed it so smoothly without Rae and Cher, so thank you both for stepping in and investing in us the way you have 💜

Brady and I left the house around 7:15 and made it to City Hospital for *drumroll* Bradys 27th MRI! 🥳😂

Impressive, right? It was important, though. It was the one that is meant to show exactly where they will come at him with them radiation lasers. So its a very important, very delicate process. And because Brady held SO still, the scan was done WAY earlier than they anticipated. Lol! He’s SO experienced 🤣 It paid off, though. We left the hospital around 10am ish, grabbed coffee, and headed home.

Cher was there with 2/3 babes. It was a very chill scene. Brady had some things to do, so he disappeared fairly quickly. Babies lunched. Brady napped. Then Cher went home for lunch and I hung back and met up with the family who we are transitioning one of our kiddos to 💜 It is always a treat to see them, and see our efforts pay off. This part of fostering is SO hard, but I really do think we’re doing well by this kid whom we love so deeply. So we had a little visit before we went our respective ways.

Once nap time began, Brady and I ducked out for yet another appointment. This time, it was to fit Brady for one of those scary masks that immobilizes his head and shoulders so no one ends up zapping the wrong spot in there. This took place at the Cancer Centre at RUH. At least he’s on the parking list for the cancer centre so we only paid for hospital parking once today! 😅 Heyooo!!

We even grabbed some burgers on the way in as a late lunch. Fielded a social worker call at Wendys. No big deal.

We came home after the cancer centre. Relieved Cher from baby duty. Texted Rae to send the soccer camp kids home.

We had an appliance guy come by and do a little fixing on our washer. Discovered we need another part but he’s very willing and said he’ll make sure the price really doesn’t change much at all, which we REALLY appreciate.

Then Laela eagerly made a big fat pot of KD for the family and I pan fried up some leftover chicken nuggets.

Post supper, we gratefully had a friend come help us with some home care stuff, and now, the day seems like it might finally wind down! What a humungous day!!! 😅

Tomorrow is a two appointment day. Only one in person, though, I hope! I need to get kids off to soccer camp in the morning but then we might even get to sit still for a few minutes before the next responsibility comes around! 😂 Maaaaaybe I’ll get some crocheting in even! The end of one particular project is nearing completion! Ack! I am VERY excited. I showed a young child today and was promptly asked if she could have it when she grew up, so it feels like a win 🤣🥰

In the words of Wavy, what a “jyjungous” day.

Welp, now that I finally have useable internet, here is a quick photo recap of the weekend!

So, first of all, we picked up Laela and Rowan, and these were their faces upon realizing we were short a baby. One they were very eagerly anticipating seeing. #fosteringishard #lovestinks

This was when Laela propositioned Kelly to take her out for ice cream 🤣🍦

The camp has a cat that comes around the campground from time to time. While I don’t love when it walks on our table full of food, the kids enjoy the snuggle from time to time. A very pretty kitty 💜

The AC was apparently working too good in the morning, and these girls snuggles in for a game of SkipBo.

We finally got to the water this weekend. A couple of times. Wavy loved it more than anyone. This girly is a total fishy! Look at those purple lips!

So I got a LOT of sunburns this weekend.

The most odd one was my feet. Well. Foot. Weird, right?? My legs weren’t crossed and my feet weren’t stacked. Yet 🤷‍♀️ here we are.

Fish fry niiiiiiight! Wish I had paid for two people so I could’ve gone back for seconds. Delicious!!!

The skies were just unbelievably beautiful. Stunning. Picturesque.

Smorning with cappuccino celebration cookies on top!

Aaaaand then project time!!! Our dear Dahlsjos gathered up all the things we had compiled for a project last year already that we clearly never got to, and they got to it!!!

They kept working after we left for home, going to PA to pick up extras and working into the evening. Voila 💜 An outdoor wash station in our campsite!! The DREAM!

Day = MADE!

Now, we are home, everyone is tucked except Brady and I, though that shouldn’t be too long from now either. I deeply anticipate bedtime. Thank you, sweet Cherice, for getting our bed all washed and freshened up! What a huge gift!!!

Goodnight, all 💜

The signal is so bad right now out here so I cannot post with pictures. I can barely post anything at all! So I’ll take what I can get and I hope you will too! 

It was so beautifully hot out today. Finally, the kind of beach day we’ve been waiting for! While Brady and the babies napped, I took Laela, Rowan, Solly, and Wavy to the beach. They swam and dug in the sand. They rested and played. It was so fresh and peaceful. They SHIVERED and also sweated good and proper. Some of us burned to a crisp! 🥵 no regrets, though! 

Since weather is super bizarre lately, naturally we wrapped up the day with a very short, very aggressive rainstorm, complete with thunder, lightening, and a little hail. It’s stopped now, but everything is wet and the fire is struggling to come back to life. But I’m truly not complaining at all. It was so nice to finally get to the beach today and really get our sweat on! 

We closed the evening off with a fish fry for me c/o a campground event, and a light snacky supper for everyone else who didn’t know what they were missing. And soon, I anticipate some chocolate covered raisins, a handful of sour cream and onion chips, and an episode of How to Get Away with Murder, which Brady’s brain has oddly deleted from his memory 🤣 they must’ve popped that one out in the last surgery hahahahaha! I’m not mad at rewatching it! 

It was a VERY mixed up morning and it took a little extra time and effort to get out the door, but we still did, and we made it to camp!!! Better late than never! 

I ran into the chapel for the closing program maybe ten ish minutes late and snuck onto the bench behind Laela. I gave her a big hug and she and Avery invited me to come sit up with them, which I did. 

I’ll admit I barely heard the closing program because I just had an arm around each girl and we quietly whispered about their week 💜 it was pretty special times. I loved it. 

Rowan and Jaxon weren’t far away but they were across the aisle and promptly took off the moment the program ended. 

My favorite part was Wavy and Laela. They were so happy to be back together. What’s sweet is that Laela just ITCHED to see Wavy after her week of camp, and now this week, Wavy cried every night going to bed without Laela, and then again when they finally got hands on each other. 

It was VERY sweet. 

Still waiting for the whole gang to be back together 💜 ugh. Dekker. This stinks. 

We’re also short one of the babies this weekend 💔 goodness. Emotions be runnin’ high over here. 

We’ve spent the week with Solly and Wavy. No big kids allowed. The vibe has been different, for sure. Scrappier. But also super innocent. This morning, I got up to pour Brady and I some coffee, and I found the monkeys were already awake.

And they were snuggling.

Could they be any cuter?! 😍 This was not for my benefit. It was just them. Hanging out, pre-breakfast.

These two. They either fight like dogs or play like besties. You never know which version you’re going to get!

And this morning, it was besties. And it was so good to see 💜

Later in the afternoon, however, Wavy came to me out of nowhere for a hug, and when she wouldn’t respond to my words, I realized she was crying.

“I’m ok, I just really miss Laela! It’s been SO long!”

💜💔

Oof. My kids. I am SO grateful for them. It’ll be nice to have most of the gang back together soon.

Except Dekker!! ACK!!! I miss that boy!!! One more week!!

This morning turned out to be a tough one. It started off pretty well with a visit from Rae, and ambled downhill after that.

First was a social worker visit. One of our children is moving along, which I’m not allowed to talk about 💔 so today was our final visit with this worker. After a long time knowing her, I was anticipating seeing each other and kind of thanking her. While the visit carried on, the Costco grocery guy came and for whatever reason, instead of dropping and running, he asked me to look over the order, in case he missed anything. Which was not ideal timing, nor especially realistic considering there were over 20 items and I didn’t just have them all off the top of my head. Anyway. Could’ve done without that.

Also while the worker was here, home care came to help Brady with a couple of things. She didn’t really read the room very well, but considering we’ve known this worker long enough, she managed the second interruption seamlessly.

We talked some details of this child transitioning out of our home and into the next one, and then started to say some goodbyes. She talked about how she’s gotten pretty invested over here and how she really enjoys coming to our hours. “Will we ever see each other again??” Niceties like that. But suddenly I heard Brady calling me from our room so I went running, and the worker left for her next meeting. It was abrupt and kind of disappointing.

Especially disappointing when I learned that the nurse hadn’t read the orders sent by our doctor and had come quite unprepared for what we needed, therefore needing me to go digging for supplies of our own to fill in where she lacked. Completely avoidable. I don’t know why it bothered me so much but it really did.

I eventually cooled off a bit and everyone ate some lunch. Babies went down for naps, and Wavy and Solly went to play outside with some of the neighbour kids. While they were all in their places, Cher came over for a coffee date – the first in a while. It was really, really nice to see her 💜

I will admit, the morning set my attitude up for failure, and I’m still struggling a bit to come back from it. But I will. Its a me problem, and I will get over myself soon. Not yet, clearly 😅 but soon.

“Tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it.” – Anne

I don’t mean sandwiches that were left over. I mean sandwiches from leftovers. Leftover lunch food. Leftover picnic stuff.

At camp last weekend, I just brought a huge bag of coined garlic sausage, crackers and cheese, and coined cucumbers. Boom. Tiny sandwiches. Maybe boring, but we did it for both lunches we were present for and it went over well. Plus it required virtually no hand holding, so everyone could just get their lunch independently.

Unsurprisingly, the cucumbers didn’t make it beyond the weekend. Too squidgy. But We have more, plus we did come out of the weekend with some leftover hot dog buns.

Meat. Cheese. Sauce. Mini cucumbers sliced like sandwich pickles. On a hot dog bun. Feels like a picnic sandwich, right??

As I write this, I just hear the old song from McDonalds ads…

🎶 Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed buuuuuuuun 🎵

Today, my brain feels a bit tapped out. I can tell I am not quite 100%, and that my body wants to move slower. It has been a nice day! A successful day. A lovely morning coffee with Cher, and one appointment in the city. Completely manageable. But try as I might to just flat out ignore it, today, I feel tired.

We will set our bar for greatness a little bit lower today and simply get by, and that will be totally ok 🙂 Everyone is well cared for and happy 💜 Solly is getting his laundry put through and Wavy has some kinetic sand going. The sun is beautiful and the AC is pumping. A simple supper will be the order of the day. I am totally content.

But also, I don’t want to do anything else today 😅 I would love to sit in this chair for the rest of the day and crochet the hours away until its time to sleep.

I promise, even though I feel this way today, I still LOVE my life, and everything/everyone in it. Its just a tired day.

🧠🥱