How could one week hold so much goodness. I'm not sure.

1. last day of school
2. perfect first day of summer at the zoo and picnicking in a rose garden
3. Scott calling to tell me he's taking off the next 7 days
4. last night's concert

Today is Friday and I'm thinking that these were the most wonderful five days ever. Maybe because of the spring we had. All of the events. All the things we had to get ready for. It doesn't really matter why, I'm just grateful for them.

And the best part is that there are 10 more of these weeks. 10!!!

Last night Scott and I brought the girls to their first big concert. (outside of the hundreds of orchestra ones that they are involved in)

We've been to many Steven Curtis Chapman concerts over the past 23 years. Every time he played anywhere near New York or Boston we were there.

I was introduced to Steven Curtis Chapman as a freshman in college. (1991) when this album was out. (For the Sake of the Call, 1990).

I told the story a little bit way back here on my blog when I told you about my college friend Pam.

I was a catholic girl who was homesick at college. Homesick so much that I understand when they called it home SICK.

And the girl next door in my dorm asked me if I wanted to pray with her.  We did and it changed everything.  She let me borrow her CD 'For the Sake of the Call'.  And I was hooked on this artist.  I memorized every word he sang.  And bought every single album he ever released.

Scott and I went to his huge "Great Adventure" tour/concert.  And Scott was hooked.

And so if he sang anywhere never CT we were there.  Those early concerts for us really helped to lay the foundation for our married/adult/we can't live on my parents faith anymore.  And it was so so good.

When this album came out, I didn't know yet that God would lead our hearts toward adoption.  But he did and I'm so grateful.  A powerful time in our lives.

After Abigail came into our lives and we started to walk down the journey of EoE I can remember having one really bad test result in checking on her disease.   We were so saddened.  Scott sent this song to me the next day and told us all we had to we take another step and trust.

On and I could write and write about all of his songs that had an impact on my faith journey and my life.  But I'd be here forever.

So last night we brought our girls to their first Steven Curtis Chapman concert.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I mean, two little catholic girls at a christian, hands in the air praising event?  I was excited.

It hard to put it all into words but amazing doesn't even come close. While his early concert days were more huge tours with huge bands, this concert was him, right in front of us.  He sang songs and wove in stories throughout.  He told the why he wrote the songs he did.  And my girls were captivated.

They thanked me and thanked me for taking them.  I am so glad I did.



He opened with this hymn and it was so beautiful to be in that room.





Let Us Pray (so glad my girls heard this song and this truth)

(yes, we were THAT close)





'When Love Takes You In' about his journey to adoption. I played this song as I read a letter in a scrapbook in 2002. Tears poured down as I listened to this song. With Scott on one side of me and Anna on the other, it felt like a complete circle. I couldn't believe I was listening to this song with Anna not little any more. This song, and all things adoption are so powerfully moving. Adoption is truly a miracle.





Another favorite moment was when he sang 'Cinderella'. Abigail climbed up in Scott's lap. I held that moment so close to me.



It was such an amazing night for our little family. A night to remember all of our blessings, all that God has moved in our life and all that He's entrusted to us.

Our faith grew. We watched our daughters faith grow, and for this night I am grateful.

Can't wait for the next one!

Around our House

When summer was approaching I made a list of things in our house that needed some attention. Closets too stuffed, clothes to go through, things like that. And then when the girls had their last day on Monday I put that list aside and decided that being with them and making memories was the most important thing in the summer.

I love day trips with them. I love vacation too of course. But I love days at home that just happen. Long hours of reading. Lots of good food and the feeling of summer. We cleaned up a bit of our book piles on that first day of summer so that they are ready to go.

I cleaned up my recipes cabinet too. I love reading cookbooks and planning good food for my family to eat.

Here's a bit of what has been in our house the past few days.



Lots of fresh ingredients. Lots and lots of leafy greens. And the crockpot is so great in the summer. Set it and enjoy the rest of the day.



I love sweet potatoes roasted in the oven but I love them in crockpot in the summer.



Blueberries and strawberries these days... practically free. Buy one, get two free!






I eat a lot of green and drink a ton of green lately. More on my health and my journey with food when I get the chance (or the courage)







Reading and tea, the perfect mix.  Yes, I drink tea in the summer.



I'm reading the new Steven Curtis Chapman book.  I read Mary Beth Chapmans' book "Choosing to See" and loved it.  Scott and I have seen Steven Curtis Chapman in concert many many many times over the years.  And his story of adoption certainly played a part in our lives.  We are involved in his ministry, "Show Hope" and was so excited when he wrote this book !

Joyce Meyer, always reading one of hers.

And the recipes in Susan Branches Girlfriends book look so good.  I'm making a list!



Anna's books this week.  She wants to relax and be little again I think.  Sounds good to me!



and her knitting not too far away... it's summer!



Abigail's reading...



Yes, it's going to be a wonderful summer.  With food and books all set, we are ready!!!

My Theme for the Summer: Making Memories

I was home over a week before Anna and Abigail got out of school for the summer. I had time to think through some things that I wanted to get done in June, July, and August. I made a spreadsheet list with categories. And got started with it. Just typing out the list made me feel so much better about all of the things that bug me in this house, things for the girls, just to dos that have been waiting.

But then it was the first day of summer with my girls home. That morning during my prayer/Bible time I kept thinking about how this is the only summer with Anna as a 14 year old and Abigail as a 10 year old. I will never get this summer/these ages back. And more than to do's I want to MAKE MEMORIES with my girls this summer.

Memories at home in our house doing simple things.

Memories out and about.

Memories that are planned (vacations)

Memories that are spontaneous.

And really memories are simple time. Time WITH my girls. Time NOT doing things on my list.

Sure, there will be plenty of days at home, long stretches of hours that I can tackle my to dos. But when I can, whenever I can I must choose to make memories.

So when Abigail didn't sleep in that first day of summer (like I was thinking she would) we made Zucchini, Chocolate Chip Breakfast bread TOGETHER.







And when they were both at the breakfast table eating I said, without a thought (because as I said it, it was the first time I'd thought of it) "who wants to go to the zoo today?"

So I made lunches, we hopped in the car and off we were to the zoo. Spontaneous memory making at its best.

No phones, no computer, just me with them.

Perfect weather. Picnic lunch. Breezy and cool. A whole day with my little girls.



They spied with peacock sitting on her 9 eggs and could have stayed there all day.





She brought bitty baby to the zoo. Just stay little, just stay little.

























Lunch in the shade by the rose garden.







On my pillow last night there was an envelope from Anna.  She thanked me for taking her to the zoo and said, "I had fun spending time with you and Abigail."

So here's to my theme for the summer. MAKING MEMORIES. We've got 10 more weeks!

The Last Day of School

Hooray!  It's summer!

The last day of school can be a day filled with mixed emotions.  Happiness for sure!  For the freedom that no school brings.  For a change.  For time.  To think.  To play.  To create.  To be together.

But of course that last day makes us aware that another year has passed, another grade.  And in this case for Anna, another school.

I adore the middle school (grades 6-8) in our backyard, literally.  I love that she's walked through that garden gate, under the arbor, and across the field both to and from school for three years.

I've loved knowing that she's so close to home while she's at school.  There was comfort in her leaving elementary school knowing at least I could see where she was on my way in and out of our house each day.

But those wonderful, close to home years are now memories to pack away.  And we will.  Pack them away and remember them.



Usually in her left hand is her viola. On the last day it was a box of munchkins to share.







I remember when we bought this house in 2001 we had to put up a fence for our dog, Chester. I didn't want the fence all the way enclosing our backyard because that school was there. I didn't have a baby yet, and it almost seemed silly to think that one day I'd have a baby old enough to go to that school. But somehow I knew that I need a pretty walk to school. And so an arbor and gate we put up.



Before Scott became an elementary school principal he was a social studies teacher at that middle school and although he'd often drive to school there were many times that he'd walk right through that gate as well.

So this middle school is special to us. Hard to say goodbye to for sure. Since daddy taught there. Because Anna's years were magical there. Because it is so close. Because it is filled with amazing teachers that we are privileged to know.

After Anna came home from China there were many times that we visited daddy as his school. I can remember bringing a picnic basket with Anna on my hip (yes, we walked through that garden gate) to have lunch with daddy. So many wonderful memories of this middle school.



The staff at this school had a HUGE baby shower for Scott and I when Anna came home. They gave her a huge playhouse for our yard and so many special things.

I took Anna dressed up on Halloween to this school when she was a baby.





When I was a little girl, my own Dad was a teacher at this middle school. We practiced our father/daughter wedding dance on the stage of this school. To say that saying goodbye to this school is tough is an understatement.

This was Anna on her very first day of middle school. Sigh.

(2014)



(2014, first day of middle school)





And after I got over that last walk to school I got Abigail all ready for her last day of fourth grade. And I even got the chance to go to her flag closing ceremony.



Abigail's school. And her walking back to her classroom after the assembly for just a few short more hours of school.



The half day of school flew by and before I knew it, it was time for Anna to come home.



With a big smile and a huge look of relief on her face.



Middle school done! I now have a high schooler!

(Anna on her graduation night last week) (that post is back here)



On the last day of her middle school all of the teachers line up and wave goodbye as the busses pull out. Anna walks out the back door of course so she's never seen this. I've always seen it as I'm driving by to pick up Abigail at her school and wanted Anna to see how awesome her middle school teachers are. So wonderful!



And so here we are at Abigail's school, just down the road. Anna and I waited and out the happiest (now 5th grader!!!) came. Such joy ran straight into my arms!





Home for a snack and a small 'happy summer' gift.











So the girls ate and I read the two new books aloud. Happiness.





I love this book. LOVE! And perfect for Anna.





So we did it. Scott and I. And the girls. Another school year. With all of its ups and downs. Challenges and sucesses. We did it. And now... SUMMER!

(The First Day of School post is back here)