Epic Summer--A Journey Through Pictures And Gratitude

Sooooo grateful...

1371. that sometimes pirates masquerade as little boys at soccer games. 

1372. How Spiderman somehow became a hero this year. He's never watched the show but he wants to act like him everyday. (Our church festival)

 

1373. for all the bouncy castles and super-fantastic activities that drew the surrounding neighbourhoods to our church festival.

1374. How Lilly and Meg--friends since birth--helped at the craft table. 

1375. How Joan and her two sisters and so much like my two sisters and me.

1376. for spunky Benjamite :) 

1377. for outdoor movies and lawn chairs, blankets and treats--love it! 

1378. how they all love on Baby Clara 

1379. her quirkiness and how she loves to be different

1380. how tree climbing was the number one sport this summer. 

1381. how these two (Meg and Hannah) remained friends after the closing of their dance studio and helped the kids at the festival. 

1382. that my cool sister and her awesome husband made the hour-long trip. 

1383. for little sisters of bigger sisters who like each other too (Holly and Molly). 

1384. how Spiderman made a guest appearance and Terry got to have his photo taken with him (doesn't my husband look so happy? He's star-struck). 

1385. my dear friend, Bethany and how she gives of herself to others.

1386. that I found this cute little bunny while I wandered around

1387.and how she multiplied quickly :)

1388. for years-long friendships and our journey together through thick and thin.

 

1389. for these two amazing families in our church

 

1390. for our yearly point-and-shoot-each-other moment (hi Kelly!)

1391. for quiet, summer nights of flying his new plane. 

1392. for great times in Mama and Papa's hot tub--heat turned down so it could double as a swimming pool.

1393. how the determination of Papa and the stupidity of me, helped get those 300 lb. walls up around it (after which, one fell on us and I had a lovely bruised shoulder for weeks--gratitude because I truly felt helpful :). 

1394. how they don't care that there's barely any space to move, they just have fun all squashed in there.  

1395. how Papa just sat there and blasted them with cold water while they screamed! 

1396. how they screamed for more! 

1397. the love of sisters (generally after some major arguing). 

 1398. for babies and how they keep finding me :)

 1399. for my crazy sister and her need for thrills.

1400. how she said her biggest concern was that the photographer who took these pics was plummeting to her death as she didn't open her chute for a long time. 

1401. how she got to experience floating over Niagara Falls. 

1402. that she said it was fun but not scary (THIS type of quality does NOT run in the family). 

1403. how my sweet nephew hung his head out of his bedroom window to say goodbye to us the other day.

1404. sunsets and sillohettes 

1405. for scooters that everyone can share 

1406. for pogo-stick jumpers counting in the hundreds

1407. for driveway soccer 

 

 

Our Disappearing Visitors

We've experienced a glorious summer of visitors at our feeders. We've watched squabbles between grackles and cardinals, nurturing between parent and fledgling downy woodpeckers, and rare sightings of indigo buntings that made our day. But it's that time of year when some of our tiny visitors disappear. It's bitter-sweet; bitter because we'll miss our frequent entertainment and sweet because it means we'll be enjoying the odd species we haven't seen since spring as they pass through here again on their way south.

Some of our winter birds will hang out on our branches, fluffing their feathers for warmth and pecking through the snow, scrounging for lost seeds. We will enjoy them and wait till spring for our long-lost visitors, peeking through the window, trying to catch a glimpse.

Operation Caterpillar Rescue

We traipsed through a darkening woods and I tried to remember why we were there as I caught a shot of lightening in the clearing above me. My three youngest were nearly running behind me, slapping at bugs as I strode long and quickly in the lead. We were searching for milkweed before it was too late for our very hungry caterpillars and that is where Annie told us to go... or so I thought. Thankfully, my cell phone picked up a signal out in the country area and my dear friend answered the other end and assured me I was not too far from the location. But, she purported that she was driving out to meet us with a flashlight. I breathlessly refused her offer and told her not to leave her cozy home and family but my kiddos called out, "We need her, Mommy!", so I obliged. Fifteen minutes later, we were back at my truck and closer to our target. Annie pulled up with a headlamp and we traipsed once again through long, wet grass, spotted the dewy, milky treasure that would save our babies and thanked our nature guide. You see, she has babies at home too and we alert each other when milestones are being reached. We had both released adult butterflies that day and we did not want to lose those creatures at the beginning of the metamorphic stage!

Eeewy, there's spiders on it!

 

Just as the last leaves were being nibbled from the small plant we were given from the conservatory, I replaced it by shoving the new stalk into the pot and zipped up the butterfly tent. We watched as those creeping, pudgy characters slid onto their life-sustaining home. I sighed relief.  

 

 

So, we enjoy another season of rearing caterpillars to save the Monarch butterflies. It's a process that blows my mind and I shake my head at the everyday miracles in creation that we overlook. God is truly awesome.

Bits And Pieces Of Summer