These Faces

When the light is hitting my littles just right, I can't resist the urge to capture them.  Here's my latest capture.

Wading with Grandpa

Grandpa time is coveted around here.  A few weeks ago Grandpa and Diane came to town to visit their daughter, Stephanie, who is our new Denver neighbor.  We all had an awesome post-church lunch on Pearl Street and Dad came our way for a bike ride to our favorite park spot.  The kids were able to do some river wading with Grandpa.  A random little girl who was wading with us approached me and said, "Your children look JUST like each other!  Do they always get a long so well?"  I told her I wish that was case and she said, "You know, it's Adam and Eve's fault."  Very matter of fact.  That little exchange made my day.  

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These Two

This friendship is not yet one year old, but one might conclude they're already kindred little spirits. We're so grateful for new friends who enter our lives and so quickly become an integral part of our day to day.  It's a priceless jewel when you find people who would hypothetically cancel dinner with Patrick Dempsey (if you're into him, which I absolutely am) if they thought you needed them, you hold on tight.    

 

 Do you get the feeling I love camera stalking these two?  It's irresistible. 

 

 The girls captured a real winner of Dara and me.  One for the books.  And yes, we do have matching stone washed jeans on.  It's a long story.

Ridiculous.  Absolutely ridiculous.  While we're addressing cuteness, I'd like to showcase two baby dolls I happen to adore.  Little Mable Anne spent 3 days with us last week and we ate up every second of her monster, squinty smile and easy going nature.  The kids fell in love and were not super happy about giving her back to her family.  And then of course there's our Hayes.  I happened to have my camera out while he was showing off his new scrunchy face. He has two faces.  Joyful and scrunchy face.  Equally darling.

Joshua Station

A few weeks ago a woman from a Mama bible study I frequent talked about a service project she was working on.  A group of her neighbors volunteered to decorate and furnish an apartment, soon to be home to a family transitioning from a homeless shelter.  We didn't know much about this family other than there are two teenage girls and their mom and this would be a fresh start for their journey.  A home.  Perhaps the first place they can safely rest their heads without concern over where they would end up the next day.  I jumped at the chance to help and was asked to take on the girls' bedroom.  I enlisted the help of Dara, who also is passionate about making spaces beautiful and we got to work shopping, planning and painting.  Below shows the before and after. We had so much fun working on the space and felt honored to be part of something so meaningful for this family.

We're talking about how we can start a non-profit where we do this more regularly.  We'll see.  If you're looking for a cool cause to get invested in, Joshua Station does amazing work for families trying to get back on their feet.  We've been really humbled by their mission and the scope of people they assist.  

 

92 Amazing Years

My mom's parents have been married 71 years and recently turned 92 years old.  92 years young is more accurate.  They've been amazingly healthy, memories in tact and still very much in love.  A picture of a Christ centered marriage in every sense of the word.  My grandpa had recently begun losing some memory and his health was inconsistent.  This week his health began declining and he entered the hospital about a week ago.  Unfortunately, his organ function began shutting down and he passed away in Grand Rapids, MI last night.  My mom was able to be there over the past few days and has been with her mom, sisters, and brother through the last days of his life.

I'll head to Michigan on Wednesday to see my throngs of family members (they have 6 children, 17 grandkids and 20 great-grandkids).  It's a beautiful family they've been blessed with and I really look forward to celebrating Grandpa John's simple yet so so powerful life of blessing others with his God-given gifts and sense of humor.  Upon hearing of his passing, my sweet Grandma said to my mom, "Oh John has entered the gates of glory."  Amazing.  Love you Grandpa.  No doubt God is welcoming you with a bold and exuberant "Job Well Done."