Summer 2025 derecho.

Wow, what a storm! I have never seen anything like it. It came on suddenly and was quick but brutal. Our sweet house and yard took a beating, but thankful we are safe. Things can be repaired and are not the most important, but it was still a sad and difficult time. We had to get a new AC unit because ours was broken during the storm (and subsequently a new furnace too because that was ancient and it made more sense financially to do both at once with the casing they had to do around the units), and repair some roof damage and clean up water that leaked in upstairs because of that. There were a ton of branches and trees to clean up in the yard. We got water in our basement because our gutters were damaged and rain came in because it wasn't flowing properly away. What a sight! I'm thankful we were home (and not on vacation) when it happened so we could start clean up right away, and also super grateful for the 20 different people that showed up to help clean for periods of time throughout the week. Two of them had skid loaders that were incredibly helpful and faster at making piles. What a wonderful community we have! And a good God, always, and hope despite our circumstances because of His love. We ended up losing four entire trees and many others lost big parts, so our yard looks really different!

Farmer's Market, end of softball, adventure camp, and Lucy's triathlon.

Softball is officially over! It was a great summer with lots of time at the ball field. The girls each improved and did really well! I'm thankful for the opportunities our girls get to be involved in many different activities here. While the many summer activities were great, it's also nice to be done! It will be nice to have the days we are home to be slower before school starts again, and we also have a few trips planned too. 

Norah's group had a swimming party on the last day and didn't do any special ending because they are older. Lucy and Ellory's age group hands out medals and watermelon on the last night, and it's a hit by all, as in they both looked forward to getting their medal at the end for weeks and talked about it. So cute. 

Go Cardinals! We love watching you girls! Ellory asked me if her medal was made of real gold- love their young little minds! :)

Another summer highlight for Lucy was participating in her first mighty kids triathlon! She did some mild training (per her own request- she was thrilled about this and begged to "train") and she did so good! Norah and Ellory weren't interested in joining, but came along to cheer. Her age group was 7-9 and it was both boys and girls, so Lucy was about the smallest and youngest one there, but her bravery was high and she gave it her all!  She had to swim a full pool lap, run half a mile, and bike a mile. They didn't keep track of times or places, but she got 5th place, go Lucy! Lucy was actually in 2nd place after the running portion, but a few kids passed her on the bike, but she also had a smaller bike than the older kids and was the youngest! She was really excited and we are proud of her determination and courage to try something new! (She told me I could share this info.)

Once a month, our farmer's market here does a kids day where kids can sell items. The girls worked really hard preparing bracelets, perler beads. and cupcakes to sell, and were very brave in talking to many customers! A few weeks ago, there was some really bad flooding in our area and many are still recovering from that. A few towns close to us got hit really hard, and several families we know had to leave their homes. So sad! The girls donated all the proceeds towards flood victims and we divided it up and mailed it to our friends who lost their homes. Norah, Lucy, and Ellory, we are so proud of you for shining His light and working hard to help others. What a beautiful way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. :)

We tried something new this summer and the girls went to adventure camp! It was two days and they went with a couple friends from church/school, and they got to do lots of fun stuff outside! They learned about animals and their tracks, whittled soap, learned how to start a fire, canoed and kayaked, and lots of nature walks. They all said they wanted to go back next year!

Sweet summer at the pool.

While this summer feels like it's getting more normal, at least more normal than it was in the spring, it's still strange that things are different. Some of our favorite summer events are cancelled because of COVID, but that is also making the small things we are able to do seem even sweeter. We were excited for the pool to open up! We actually don't go to the pool super often, like not enough to make buying a pass worth it, but it's fun to have as an option as a special treat and something fun to do! We went twice this week and the girls loved it!

Once I took the girls by myself while Kley was golfing league, and then Kley was able to come with, which all four of us loved! So thankful that Kley is such a fun dad! (Also, yay for new stages- this is the first year I feel comfortable taking the girls to the pool by myself! When I take them by myself, they all wear life jackets, but when Kley is able to come they don't to practice their swimming more since we have more hands to help.)

All three went down the slide! Norah and Lucy loved it. Ellory needed some encouragement, but she did it and smiled, but didn't want to do it again. Norah and Lucy each went several times (on Kley's lap- definitely not ready to brave it solo yet). 

We truly do have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the activities we are getting to do, for time as a family, and that we are healthy. Hope you are all enjoying summer too!

Starting to see friends and family again!

This post makes me super happy because we are starting to see some of our loved ones again! Hip hip hooray! Due to COVID-19, we didn't see anyone for a long time, and now that some restrictions are starting to slowly lift, we have seen some family again and it's amazing!

My parents and my youngest sister (who is at home on summer break from college), came to visit us for the weekend, and it was amazing to see them! Many things still aren't fully open yet, but we had all been quarantining and we hadn't seen each other in three months! We went for a couple walks and just hung out at our house, but it was so great to see them again. The girls were loving it! I know there are some out there who go much longer in between seeing their family, but I am so thankful to live fairly close to all of our family, so three months was the longest in my entire life that I hadn't seen my parents!

No Tulip Festival this year, but we are still grateful for the beautiful tulips!

Our parks are still closed, but it was fun to walk around together still!

Our good family friends have lived in the area for the past couple years, and it was such a joy to be able to watch their daughter on Tuesdays this past year. It was seriously a highlight of the week and the girls were so excited every time she came. They are moving away, so this was their goodbye. We will sure miss you, Audrey!

We also have gotten together with the De Jongs a couple times recently too. So great to be back together again! The girls missed Papa and Amma, and so fun to see cousin Will (and Uncle Brett and Aunt Elizabeth too) again! Also, please take note of one of the top best movies ever playing in the background!

 It was so fun to go on a walk with cousin Will one day and check out the windmills and tulips!

Hope you are all doing well and staying safe and healthy!

Tulips!

We are bummed that Tulip Festival was cancelled this year, but we are trying our best to have positive attitudes! We have a lot to be thankful for and it's such a game changer for our spirits to focus on what we do have and can do. I'm so proud of how our girls are handling this COVID situation. They are missing family/friends and activities, but they are doing a great job (mostly) of staying busy and happy at home. We are thankful for warmer weather- getting outside more helps us all! We may not have Tulip Festival, but thankful we can still go look at the pretty tulips!

My three beautiful girls! Nearly impossible to get them all to look and smile at the same time. This is the best we got. ;) I had wanted to go when Kley could come with us, but it didn't end up working out. One sunny night this week Kley was mowing, and he will be gone some this weekend practicing/filming for the worship team for online church, and the other nights it was raining! I didn't want to wait too long and miss the prime time, so we went on a bike ride just the girls and I, which was still fun!