Week twenty nine, part three.

Thursday, July 20

Listening to music, singing, and praising Jesus with Nana. 

When we woke this am, my dad was already out fishing! 

Olive leaned in to touch the fish without hesitation!

The posture my sister has and the way she brings everything to the feet of Jesus is incredible and so inspiring. Her humility and surrender is such a beautiful gift to get to witness. Her love for Jesus is so big and watching her live her life trying to be more like Him each day is a gift to watch and walk alongside and glean from. 

My mom was supposed to be doing something, I forget what now but when I walked outside, she was sitting and reading to Jack. If that doesn’t sum up vacation, I don’t know what does. Easily able to pause in the moment and say yes to what you want to do.

My dad spent a lot of this day fishing with Isaac and my boys. 

Luca caught a fish! And Isaac’s face/reaction was the best.

Isaac was determined to catch a fish and he did! He was over the moon! 

My cousin Melissa and her family came by for a visit this afternoon. They were all excited to meet Olive. 

Larry and Lil so kindly offered to bring their boat to our lake so we could tube and/or water ski. It was so incredibly thoughtful and selfless of them to offer such a thing and I’m still thinking about it a week later. It made the boys’ day too because after Luca’s taste of boat life on Saturday, he asked to go for his birthday. It felt like answered prayer that I didn’t even think to directly pray for and his hearts desire was fulfilled. 

Jack didn’t go on Saturday and was very hesitant to go this day. He seemed really nervous about it and when I tried to talk to him about it he didn’t want to talk about it. So while I was sunscreening Luca, I encouraged him to talk to Jack about it since he had just done it and could relate. He did (so sweetly) and Jack willingly and happily got on the boat when it was time with his brother by his side. And he went tubing!!! Twice!!! Goodness I was so proud of his brave, so proud of Luca’s gentle leadership and love for his brother, and so grateful to Larry and Lil for providing such a deep learning experience for my boys. 

At one point, the boat was back in front of our house and I could see Jack was on the tube. I was so excited and proud so I stood yelling, “Yay Jack! I’m so proud of you!” And he so casually yelled back, “it’s my second time.” I laughed so hard! It was like he was saying, “calm down mom, I’ve done it before.” He’s so cool and chill and so much like Lee and not like me. 

I didn’t go on the boat but H sent me some good pictures.

Back at the house, after the little kids got off the boat, Isaac and Pops spent some more time fishing and together caught a fish that Isaac happily carried up to show us. 

Lee tried three times to get up on skis and did it! He hadn’t water skied in over 15 years. Watching him try was my favorite. On his third attempt he got up on one ski! He skied like that for a minute and then fell. On his fourth attempt, he got up and stayed up and made it one loop around the entire lake. When they got back in front of the house, he let go and waved with both hands and fell. I was so grateful they did the water ski attempts in front of the house so I could watch. And I was so proud watching my strong guy so hard things and make them look easy. 

Christian stopped over after he got off of work and I thought that was the sweetest thing! My mom’s cousin Brad came over on his boat for a quick visit and Auntie Marcia came this afternoon too. It was so wonderful to get to squeeze her! 

Goodbyes are hard. I remember growing up I would sob when it was time for my cousin Kara to go back home after a visit. And now I watch that happen in Luca as he says goodbye to Jamya. He’s so tender hearted and sensitive like his momma. 

Peaceful hangs on our last night at the lake. 

Olive woke in the night and was super congested so we spent time doing a steam shower and tried to get her to go to sleep. Eventually we figured out she was hungry so we fed her and thankfully she went to sleep shortly after that. 

Friday, July 21

Last morning to watch the ducks swim by. 

We made it to our hotel! We only stopped one time before arriving- it went by so fast! All three kids did awesome. We grabbed dinner on the way to the hotel and stayed in for the night. We were all so tired from a busy week. 

Saturday, July 22

This leg of the drive back didn’t go as smoothly. The kids felt pretty done with the car and needed a lot of stops to get out and move. I think we stopped 5 times? It was a lot. The drive seemed to last an eternity. We finally made it though and got kids bathed, got all unpacked, and started some laundry. Sleeping in our own beds with walls between us has never felt better. 

Week twenty nine, part two. Luca is 10!

Wednesdy, July 19

Happy 10 to our sweet Luca Loo! Luca woke to balloons on the hallway floor outside of our bedroom door and was thrilled. We tried to keep traditions alive even though we were in a different space for his birthday this year. He was so excited for his birthday and said he had the best day. He said it was one of his best yet! While some of the things we typically do were different, it was really special to get to celebrate it with people he doesn’t normally get to and I think he felt the significance of that more than anything. Goodness he’s such a gift! I’m so grateful for ten years with him and have a hard time believing it’s been a decade! 

Initially he said he’d like to open his gifts at his party that night but woke and changed his mind. Watching him open gifts is my favorite. He has the best facial expressions and such a grateful heart. 

I also love watching Jack watch Luca open gifts because he is so full of genuine joy for his brother. 

We (me and Lee) were tired from being up all night with Olive but she seemed to be acting as if nothing happened. 

Running to see his donut cake surprise. 

Unfortunately, the candles didn’t want to stay up in the donuts on their own but the falling candle reality made me laugh. 

More of his smile, I’m obsessed! 

Lee and my dad showed the boys how to fish this am. They’ve never gone fishing on a lake before, only with a net in the ocean with Grandpa. 

My boys called it quits after a while but my dad persevered and caught a fish! 

We were all so excited but seeing his smile and excitement was the best. My dad seemed to really enjoy the lake life which was I was so grateful for. It’s been a hard year for him. 

Then he caught a second, bigger fish! This one slipped off the hook so he had to catch it again with his bare hands. 

It’s was a really slow morning, which we really needed. Olive took better naps and we didn’t have to rush anywhere- which Luca really appreciates. 

Luca spent a long while reading his new books by the lake. A slow and peaceful morning is his jam. 

The tears running down her cheeks were from her watery eyes. Thankfully she took good naps this day and slept this night, but she was pretty congested. 

Auntie Sarah got dressed and came out in a Pokemon shirt which shocked us all. First, it was bright red and she is typically drawn to all black. Second, it had big, bold images on it. Luca was so touched (and so was I) at her thoughtfulness. She was dressed perfectly for his Pokemon party! 

I did a Pokémon themed scavenger hunt and then we all traded cards for a while. The kids, me, Lee, and Sarah all have cards. After that, we sat around telling him what we loved about him. My favorite birthday tradition. 

Amy picked me up shortly after that so I could see her house and get ready for the party that she so graciously offered to host for us (there was a limit on how many guests we could have at the rental house). It was so great to get to see their house in person, it is so beautiful! More than that though, I loved getting to be in their home and feel the way they love on people like Jesus as they host. The atmosphere, their words, their openness, their kindness, their genuine love and joy- all of it and more that I can’t quite put my finger on created such a beautiful homey feel that was overflowing with Holy Spirit. I was so grateful to get to see their house and also experience that. 

The kids played hard and Luca had a blast. He loved the trampoline, playing Mario, but mostly I think just being with friends and cousins. 

I love his face when we sing happy birthday to him. Every year it’s the same, “I feel so loved” face and I hope it never changes.

Weeks before his birthday Luca said the only thing he wanted for his birthday party was for all the adults to line up and to throw water balloons at them. Somehow the idea evolved into a kids vs. adults water balloon fight and it was the most fun! 

At the end, Luca and I snuck up on Lee and dumped the bucket of cold water over his head. 

Then Uncle Ry put the hose/sprinkler on and Lee did a cartwheel through it. I didn’t even know Lee could do a cartwheel. 

Emme and Amy put on a pretty sweet performance as I tried to clean up decorations and tried to pick things up. 

We ended the night with some silly string with these four and their giggles were truly the BEST. 

Back at the lake house, we sat around the fire together reminiscing about the day and hearing Luca’s thoughts on it all. It was a really special day all around and he felt loved and special and that’s really all my momma heart could ask for.