Week(s) in Review

We are so blessed to be experiencing our first Spring in our new house...in our new town. But along with that, brings more work and responsibilities with the house and yard. I'm working on the house...the inside. It's a HUGE work in progress...and Jim is working in the yard. He has a vision of how he wants it, and I'm not a "yard person" (or so he tells me!) (and I totally agree!), so I just stay out of it. That system must work well, because our yard always looks great!

Side note: Jim's dad, Papaw Genie, is known for his eccentric ways. His piddling in the yard gardening makes NO SENSE to anyone. Watching him would make a sane person go crazy. He will decide to plant some flowers right in the middle of the yard and just start digging. And he hauls dirt and gravel and rocks in buckets from all over the Creation. Seriously. Jim's Mom says she remembers men that he used to work with...talking about how he would go out into the woods with buckets, and come back with them full of dirt or whatever.  Because, ya know, "God ain't makin' no more dirt." But he always has beautiful flowers, and lots of vegetables come from his gardens, so just sayin'.  Anyway, now Jim has started doing the same thing. I never thought I would see the day, because he has made such fun of his Dad's ways all these years. Our house in Bryant still hasn't sold, so Jim has been digging up plants, flowers, bushes, trees from that house and bringing them to this one. Okayyyy. That yard may look like it's infested with gophers by the time he's done, I'm on board with whatever he wants to do about that. But last week, we had to take the trailer down there with the mower...to do the yard. As we are loading up to head home, I notice that Jim has BUCKETS FULL OF DIRT and one full of rocks, loaded on the back of the trailer. Oh, yes, ma'am. He has caught a ride on the crazy train.

The past few weeks have been filled with track meets and cold weather and wondering what in the world that ground-hog was thinking. Brrr...

But this week, we went up to Ft. Smith for the 7A conference track meet, and it was the PERFECT day. Sunny...warm...breezy. Probably won't have another day like that this whole year. Clark's relay team qualified for the State meet...which is this week...which is scheduled to be on what is predicted to be the coldest day of this week. Like, it's predicted there could be SNOW.

AREYOUKIDDINGME?

Holly had her last clinical for the semester. She is loving nursing school and doing really well. It's been such a blessing to watch her and Aaron start their lives. Aaron loves his job. It's great when what you do is what you love. Holly will have 2 months off...from May 8-July 8...and then her classes will start back with a vengeance. She's gonna really enjoy her time off!

So, Joshua had his 2 night "camping" trip at Camp Aldersgate last week. His group had been looking forward to it for WEEKS. They were all so excited! I took him on Wednesday and got him all settled. It was no big deal for him, because he's used to going a week to Camp Barnabas in the summers.

It was WEIRD not having him here at home. When he's here, he spends a lot of time up in his room, but he keeps the door open and he goes up and down quite a bit. He's not loud at ALL, typically, but the house was really quiet without him. It's true that each person in a family has their own place...and they are really missed when they aren't here. Anyway, he was on his camping trip on Thursday, so he didn't go with us to the track meet.

On Friday, Logan came home! YAY! I was SO EXCITED! He brought a load from his room...to start moving home for the summer. It was also the day that Joshua needed to be picked up. Jim had some errands to run, so he picked up Joshua and they headed down to see his parents for the night. Holly came over and spent the afternoon since Logan was here. And then I guess all that visiting wore Logan OUT, because he went to his room to lie down...and FOUR HOURS LATER, he came out! I guess he was tired! By this time, Clark had gone to watch his school play, and so Logan and I went to get some dinner. Jim and Joshua came home on Saturday, and it was kind of a yucky day, weather-wise. Holly and Aaron met us for dinner on Saturday night. I love it when we are all together.

Logan left right after dinner to go back to school. He wanted to check on Morgan, but also wanted to be back for church on Sunday. We are so blessed that they LOVE their church. They are connected there and participate in ministry there. It is something I prayed for when he left for college and the Lord answered in a BIG way. They also are gearing up for finals this week, and then they will be HOME for the summer! Yay!

Sunday was a great day! We went to SS and church. Joshua is still fighting a cold or allergies...not sure. I feel so bad for him! He's not feeling great. His voice is deep and gravel-y. Or, as he describes it, "more manly-er and more huskier." (he adds "more" and "er" to a lot of words and it cracks us up!) We ate all the left-overs from the frig for lunch, and then spent the rest of the day just hanging out here.The weather was SO NICE! Jim took Joshua to the gym. I cleaned up the kitchen. Holly and Aaron came over and hung out. Holly worked on some of her crafts. She's always got something going on. She'll see it on Pinterest and we'll go get the supplies...and she will create something really cute! Aaron brought over the BAGGO game. It's one of Joshua's favorite things to do...play BAGGO with Aaron. Or with whoever. We ordered pizza for dinner and ate here at home.

*A funny thing: We were all outside. Jim was working in his garden. Aaron and Joshua were playing BAGGO. Holly was painting something...and I was coming in and out of the house, because I was making cheese dip and getting out plates and all that stuff for dinner. All of a sudden, I realized that the animals were everywhere. It's like we were living in Animal Kingdom or something. We have one Black Lab and one cat that Clark picked up from the local Wal-Marks parking lot.  And Holly and Aaron have a yorkie...which Jim and I refer to as the "half-a-dog." And the animals are so funny because they all 3 try to stay together. They are so afraid that they will miss out on something...like food. Or, like, if one of the animals is being held...or...(gasp!) being petted. They want IN.ON.IT. So, it was like we couldn't even walk...couldn't even sit in our chairs...the animals were everywhere!

*I just read this back and it doesn't sound remotely funny...but it was! Guess you had to be here.

Such a great weekend. I never want to forget these "ordinary"days.

"But from eternity to eternity the LORD's faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His precepts." (Psalm 103: 17-18)