And still counting (16,884-16,940)

dinner at the table with Jeff, Connie, Val and Lee; a beautiful wedding

a rest day, the fragrance on the morning run, chicken greetings, six eggs, frisbee with Ruth

big blue opened, summer plans, blue skies, cheesesteak lunches, milk chocolate

green smoothie breakfasts, jump rope, summer training thoughts, the gardens, the weeds

ice water, naps, the gym, super early runs, a visit at Kellie's

a good book stack, air conditioning, the story of Job's daughters, a postponement that gave me a month back, Anna's graduation

a group photo, white pants, garden beds, beans growing on a bush, all that water

the gym, a June run streak, Jenne, a book order, a parent letter uploaded

grass on the driveway, lessons on perspective, mental toughness, a break in humidity, lavender

75 Hard, a July (weight) goal date, (her) son's surgery, Erin from 66 Books and her query, Jose and the quote

Autumn over for a swim, tomato plants gifted from a neighbor, a text from Sam checking in, old ab videos, the older woman (Deb) at Food Lion who chatted me about watermelons and shook my hand

the front garden weeded, cool temperatures, quiche, Nella's happy prance, the view from my seat as the sky brightens for a new day

Day story

 June 2022

Outside my window, tidying spaces. The nook is swept and freshly mulched. Recently a woodland neighbor put their child's drum set outside, and Erin told me how she heard the playing. I love living in the woods. I love music in the woods. The big garden in front is fully weeded. Please note: fully. It will be mulched today. I already imagine enjoying the yard with an iced tea, a gentle breeze, and a gorgeous view.

And I quote,

"Listen, Ender, commanders have just as much authority as you let them have. The more you obey them, the more power they have over you." (Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card, p 73.) 

and

"And you know that victories are won and excellence is achieved not on the field but in practice. You know that the gap between good performers and exceptional performers is not between those who know a lot and those who know a little, but between those who give some of themselves to their practice and those who give all of themselves. 

You know that excellence comes wrapped in hard work. You know that the will to win is cheap and common, while the will to train is rare and noble." (Resilience, Greitens, p150) (I have so many dog-earred pages from this book--such a treasure. A keeper for sure!)

Giving thanks for June running, really wonderful temperatures, my family. I love my people so much. Erin has been away at a camp the past week, and comes home to refresh on the weekends. Thankful for my family oh so much!

In the school room, readying for a next year. In an effort to tidy up for a friend visit, I decided to swap out this past year's books and bring up next year's books. Wow. What a mess. Suddenly, more stacks and stuff. So much for tidying! But I am excited. We are doing ancients. And I added a new instrument to learn: spoons! There's a woman called The Spoon Lady on YouTube, and I discovered her videos when I was trying to figure out how to play spoons.

From the kitchen, I baked up apple cider donuts for Erin's Saturday breakfast before she left that first week for camp. This weekend, lots of fruit and pizza.

I am getting it done! The front garden. Inside: buckets of paint. I haven't painted the kitchen in ten years. Excited to freshen things up. Kitchen, laundry room, living room, powder room, hallway spaces, basement stairway. I'm so grateful for this burst of energy to take it all back. It's a nesting of sorts before we head into the rhythm of fall and schooling.

I don't want to forget the 400 smiles crossing the finish line at a recent triathlon. My legs are sore from bending low to remove their ankle timing chips! Ha! A workout for me too. (And all the weeding!) Don't want to forget the video Erin made of her selfies with the pets. She is so sweet and dear. Sometimes she seems so grown up, and sometimes I'm still aware of the girl she is. Precious. Shane's been working on the raised beds and weed wacking the hill spaces. Lanie's been working and doing a lot with piano and a summer class.

I am reading Resilience by Eric Greitens and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I have a huge stack of library books waiting, along with a few others I purchased (for curriculum!). 

Around the house, a refreshing of spaces and mindset. A very needed tending. I've been enjoying podcasts and music in the front garden while I work.

I value challenge. The grass on the driveway--the example of an inner wrestle. In 75 Hard, he talks about doing the hard things, the mental toughness to see things through. Says how you'll start welcoming the challenges to push through. And really, it's only in the challenge that you grow. No one gets fit on the couch or making excuses. And no one grows in maturity without situations and people to test who they are. A person from middle school reached out to ask about a(n) (forever ago) ending, and I mentioned to Shane in a larger context, how people can do or say something that has a lasting effect on another and never realize in the moment the impact of their deposit. 

A view of my favorite things

our kids growing up

summer vibes

sky

the weeds

finish line--these women inspired me!

summer running

after weeds, before mulch

July mood

 

At the table, a glimpse at lunch of the empty nest. Both kids doing their thing someplace else. I really loved the life we created. These years as their mom with them home, the best of my life. It makes me sad that some people never realize the value of family (I think of my own parents).

At the finish line

 I volunteered at a triathlon last weekend. I worked the finish line with four other people. I got to see the first person cross the finish line. I got to see smiles, jumps, cartwheels across the finish line. I got to see parents with their little children chasing after them at the finish line. I saw someone vomit. I saw another person battling the heaves. At the end of the race, there was only one runner left on the course. Everyone else had crossed. The clean up crews were taking down area barriers. And then there was us, the group at the finish line, ready with a bottle of water, a medal, to take off the ankle strap chip, and record the time. We waited. This runner was on the last stretch, so it couldn't be far. I was dressed in capris and black flats. I looked at another volunteer who had full running attire and running shoes. 

"Can you go find her and run her in?" I asked.

"Sure! I was going to go for a run after this anyway," she said. And she took off.

 I didn't want this last finisher to feel alone. And I'm so thankful for a teammate who was dressed and ready and willing to go. She found her and they ran together. My teammate chatted her and encouraged her. This woman crossed the finish line, her first triathlon, all smiles. And not alone. 

Note to self: next time when you volunteer, be ready to run.