Highlights of the Past 2+ Weeks

The difficulty of seasons full of sweet and busy activity is that the sweet, busy activity tends to preclude (me, at least) from actually recording what has happened!

So, to briefly catch up on life since graduation ...

We enjoyed Grandma Kay's visit so much, along with lots of lovely time together with our Katterson cousins! It was a special and meaningful gift that she was able to come and celebrate the big milestone of Ben's graduation.

Ben built me a sweet raised garden bed, and I am earnestly seeking to reform from my entire life's track record of killing plants! It has been rather thrilling to see what simple care and God's gifts of sun and rain will grow!

And my cute little gardener helpers are the best.

We had our last week of Sunday school a couple weeks ago. These sweet girls were in my small group, and it was a joy to get to know them through the year. I'm thankful for their friendship!

 

We were able to host 3 camp trainings, a "new 7th graders" open house, and a volunteer appreciation at our home. It's been really great to be able to use the beautiful yard and great big garage for the kinds of hospitality that we dreamed of when we first saw this home. Great and exhausting. :)

For Memorial Day weekend we were able to make a trip to Iowa, which provided a lovely, refreshing break from the busyness and also a chance to celebrate Ben's graduation with my family.

Everybody loved some time with the cousins, and we had a little Elliot birthday celebration as well! On Saturday the girls and kids went to Stringtown Grocery while the guys golfed. And Sunday afternoon Ben and I had a great date! A leisurely lunch and time to chat at Panera, walking through a park, stopping in at Half Price Books, and picking up frozen yogurt for later in the evening.

Big handsome growing boy.

Classic Elliot face...

Our last evening there was a great highlight of picnicking at the Banowetz Christmas tree farm and then shooting off some super cool rockets!

Now we have completed a full week of Ben's new full-time position, and we are amazed by God's grace, enjoying these full and meaningful moments, and looking forward to what the new mercies of our next morning will bring.