Tonight is the craft and cookie event for Saints Yes! at our church. (Saints Yes! is the social/activity group for 4th-6th graders that Jake and I are leading. Prep for this month’s event is more substantial than the other months. I ended up making over 60 sugar cookies and just about as many rice krispy bars. Here’s hoping the kids have fun crafting and decorating the treats.
Jake’s grandparents invited us to come for dinner tonight. While we were there, Shecklet #3 got to show Grandma Lois the game he made using SCRATCH.
He has really enjoyed learning how to code and has a friend at school (as well as his teacher) who he shares his games with and gets feedback for improving them.
I’m turning another year older in a few days – and it’s a “special” birthday.
My friend, Michelle, planned a get together at a local restaurant and a great group of friends showed up to help me celebrate! I wish I had had our server take a group picture of everyone, but one of my friends did capture these pictures for me. (The lone color one is of the ladies I know from our old parish – several who have known me since before we had kids.)
In the invite, Michelle offered to put together a spiritual bouquet for me. On the vase that held 40 roses are the prayers she collected. I can’t tell you how much the love, support, and friendship of the ladies who came tonight (and many others,) means to me – especially as I close in on the “T-2 months til surgery” mark, which coincidentally is my actual birthday. I am truly blessed to have so many beautiful women supporting me in the rough times and celebrating with me in the joyful times. ❤️
We took the kids out for dinner to celebrate our 15th anniversary. Some may wonder why, but we love spending time with them. Maybe we’ll do a round 2 of just us going out before my birthday rolls around next month.
Jake also surprised me with a crystal elephant since it’s our crystal anniversary.
Grandpa Dave went with us to the orchard where Grandma Patti works in the fall. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun, as usual!
After the orchard, we went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house and the kids played outside and rode on the 4-wheeler.
Family and friends gathered this afternoon to share food, cake, and ice cream to celebrate Shecklet #3 turning 7! She is so full of life and I am so grateful to be her mom 💗
Our family friend, Alyssa, married her longtime love last weekend in Seattle. Tonight we had the privilege of celebrating with them. The event was held at Paikka and they had food trucks serving sandwiches & salad, ice cream, and hot dogs (if you were still hungry after sandwiches.) It was fun catching up with the Cowger clan (who we consider family.)
My dad asked to meet me yesterday afternoon so we settled on Hy-Vee for lunch (which is roughly in between us.) When I arrived, he handed me an envelope along with a beautiful quilt. In the envelope was a note he wrote explaining the gift I was now holding. Tears came to my eyes as I read his words and the words of his friend who made the quilt. I am so blessed to be supported by so many people – some whom I haven’t even had the privilege of meeting yet.
We took a day trip to Duluth to visit my Aunt Deb and Uncle Steve. We stopped at their townhouse and got a tour of their new place before heading the Bulldog Pizza for lunch. After filling up, we headed to the aquarium. We also took a walk down the pier – it was a beautiful blue-skied day!
When we returned to Deb and Steve’s house, we were treated to cookies and milk before heading for home. We were also loaded up with pasties and beef burgundy – dinner for the week!
