Yesterday was pretty glorious. After sleeping in clear until 6:30, Alan and I did our strength workout in the basement and had our Saturday oatmeal and smoothies with the kids. Then Alan worked through his bishop prep work while I made the kids clean their rooms after slacking all week. Griffin struggled. Eve lacked motivation. Eve left for the lake with the DalBello-Stengers.
Then the rest of us finally made it to Melvern Lake, which is in the middle of some Kansas fields and was created by a dam made by the Army Corp of Engineers. It is about 8 miles of lake with coves and tidy shorelines with a few boat launches, beaches, engineered stone shorelines, seagulls, and few people. Our friends Angie and Chris have a jet ski they store in Olathe and bring down every weekend they can in the summer. We ate lunch with them and then left our kids to play with fun Hattie while Alan and I borrowed the jet ski for a beautiful ride under gorgeous cloudy skies. After we came back Chris took the kids on a few turns tubing behind the jet ski around the cove.
We had to leave early, because we had two receptions to go to that night: a retirement celebration for Barry Rutherford and Ken Huber, the two most senior physicians at St Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants, and an open house to celebrate Ethan Iba's marriage to the lovely Daniela. The retirement open house was in a beautiful old tudor home just off of Ward Parkway and we had a great time talking with my favorite couples from the practice--ones we knew from Michigan, the Chan-Lorands and the Gupta-Hulsings. The wedding open house was 30 minutes away at the Ward's new(ish) house in Greenwood Missouri in their tranquil back yard. It was catered by Sharon Sheldon who made super delicious Mexican food and mouth-watering desserts while Nelly and Mallory, her daughters, helped serve. We visited with people we love and relaxed at tables outside as the sun went down. I got to hold Parker and Angelica Hamrick's adorable squishy six month old for a few minutes and bask in the comfort of women friends until Doug Furnell, aging Missouri roughian, invaded us and told me Alan would proably be a bishop for at least two more years.
Alan and I drove home with grateful hearts for the very good people we get to associate with. Eliza called, as she often does on our dates. We walked in the door to see Eve sneaking off to bed finally as we greeted Claire, who babysat them (after coming late because she was Homecoming dress shopping) while we were gone.
The rest of the week was pretty good too. We loved the last few days we had with Willa. She finally recovered from traveling here just before she left. I made it to Back to School night at Briarwood and home just in time to drive her to the airport and then pick up the kids from activity days at the church. Griffin had a good chat with Dr. Lassen. I finished reading two books: Breath by James Nestor and Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. I also got a couple of fun walks (Linda and Carrie) and talks with friends (Karin and Aubrey L.). Alan fine tuned new biking gear and Griffin got a flat fixed while he was in school. Eve had a play date with her besties and loved hanging with Hattie.
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| That sky! This was the scenery on the way home from the lake. |
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| Katie Lorand and Paul Chan, Alan, Sanjay Gupta and Wendy Hulsing. The Michigan crew! So much goodness and intelligence in these people! |
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| Angie teaching the kids the signals for the tube. Griff chickened out. |
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| Don't you just love her?! |
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| My favorite part of Back to School night was Eve's poem. |
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| Keeping it real. This was all sweaty after walking home from school. |
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| The APW Plumbing, Heating and Cooling van! Our APW just does Heating and Cooling. |
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| The Nerman Art Museum at JCCC with Willa |
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| Andy's custard for FHE |
Last Sunday I helped with an essentials giveaway to benefit families in the Hickman Mills School District, which is in our ward boundaries. Volunteers came from Bethel Family Worship Center, International House of Prayer (IHOP), Grace Point Baptist Church, and our stake. I took a few pictures for the paper. Willa helped me edit them, but these ones are the originals.
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| These people were handing out soap. |
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| Julie and Wendy were giving out mouthwash. I was at the toothpaste table. |
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| Michelle was giving out the 1200 deodorants our stake donated. |
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| This guy had a beautiful smile after he realized I was taking his picture. |
You write so beautifully. Your children are wonderful. I loved it that the one who looked like he was paying attention to the lesson on communication was the one who chose not to stay on the tube! Eve's poem was so dear. So many feelings and memories to hear that just when Willa was recovering it was time to travel again. She is another wonder, that Willa. Your life is full of all the best things. I think you're doing it right.
ReplyDeleteYour Saturday does sound quite splendid. Some of all the right and best things, except that ruffian. That comment is probably what nightmares are made of for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping it real that your kids struggle to clean their rooms. It’s a big struggle at our house right now.
I love how you share how many good people you have in your life and the things you do to work on those connections and relationships.
Happy bottoms?
ReplyDeleteI also relished the sun photo
Paige
I’m sorry. John came home just as I was making my comment. I meant your clouds are wonderful. Eve and Griffin are totally funny. Your date with Allen sounds tremendous. I’m all for good people who are also smart. Like you. I sure love you.
DeletePaige