ALL IN

 Friday! Yay!  Welcome!  

Today was Claire's day off, so we decided to hit a Barre class together

then we quickly rushed back home because our friend Morgan Jones Pearson,

who is the host of the popular podcast All In, interviewed us for

a special Mother's Day episode.

I love this podcast because Morgan interviews people who share their feelings on

what it means to be ALL IN the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Morgan recently interviewed coach Andy Reid, and it was fire.)

Morgan asked us about the accident, especially Claire's perspective, and

she was eloquent and clear with her words and descriptions

of what she remembers and has gained from her experiences.

I was so touched.

We also talked about our relationship as mother/daughter.

But, she's more my bestie.

Later, after school, (and a nap), Claire took Jane and Lod to the mall.

(For posterity's sake, Jane HATES HATES shopping).

But they did what sisters do together and had fun,

I mean, they came home happy (and with treats).

You can listen to our podcast HERE.

Haircuts All Around

After school, Lottie and I took to the swing to relax before the dinner shift

where, once again, she begged me to let her cut her hair.

I've been saying no because she has such beautiful, thick red hair

and I feel like it should be long.

She adamantly disagrees.

I was that grade-schooler with the short hair.

For some reason, I kept cutting my hair super short because

I thought cutting my hair would make me look like Demi Moore in Ghost.

I ended up looking more like Dorothy Hamill in 1980 something.

I was a scrawny 11-year-old who was often mistaken for a boy, and

I often regret that period of my life.

It wasn't until puberty hit IN HIGH SCHOOL, did I feel

confident with short hair.

But the truth is, Lottie has lots of confidence and is very comfortable

in the way she looks and acts.

It's refreshing and inspiring.

And hair grows.

So I set up an appointment for next week.

Also, I scheduled a haircut for Gigs, too!!!!!!!!

We've been looking for options:

He's not super jazzed about a haircut, but it's SOO time.

Angus, you're next!

A & B

 Wednesdays are my favorite days because:

A. I get to watch Lottie at horse lessons. 

She is adorable, and I can see her confidence shining out 

as she learns to control her horse.  

I see it in her body language. It's really cool.

I'm so proud of her. 

 Today, her instructor, Megan, asked her if she'd like to try her lesson

using a Western saddle.

I think Christian was more excited about her as a Western cowgirl,

 but she said she preferred her English style.

(I do, too, Lod!)

B. Jane is at home making dinner while we're at horse lessons.

As I mentioned before, she's cooking through her Pinterest board.

She has years' worth of food and recipes she's pinned, and she's finally

cooking now that she has a little more time in her life.

Tonight, we had a really yummy salad and veggie skillet pancakes

with some kind of delicious orange sauce.

(I need to get official names from her to do it justice).

And that's why Wednesdays are the best.

Why Did The Turtle Cross The Road?

 This morning, as Jane and I pulled up from Barre, 

Jane opened the door to get out, and Muppet, 

our hen jumped right into her lap.  

We had a good laugh. 

Later, on my way home after picking up Lottie from school, 

I was probably driving at 60 mph

 when I almost hit a slow-moving turtle that was crossing the road. 

It's turtle season, which means we see a lot of turtles wandering around 

looking for food or places to lay eggs. 

Unfortunately, we also come across a lot of turtles that have been hit by cars. 

I stopped my car, backed up, opened the door, and rescued the turtle. 

Lottie was thrilled and named him Marcus. 

I told Lottie that she could play with Marcus until sunset, 

and then she would have to let him go. 

She spent the whole afternoon feeding him and building him a house 

using sticks and flowers. 

At dinner, she took him near the pond behind the

 house and set him free. Marcus wandered off into the wild. 

As I kissed Lottie goodnight, she told me that she had 

written her name on Marcus' shell using a Sharpie 

so that she would know him if he ever came back to visit.

I really hope he does.

The Best House In The World

 We didn't have school today because of a teacher work day.
So, Gigs flew his drone around the house, including in Claire's room 
to bug her while she had a little nap before her 12-hour shift at the hospital.
She was thrilled.

Later, Lottie and I sat on the couch and laughed at stuff,

watched a few Mr. Beast videos on my phone, and then we finally got

 ourselves up and drove to the store, where she 
talked me into buying her ANOTHER Squishmallow stuffed animal thing.

She's still so obsessed with those things.

On the way home, she said to me,

"Mom, I love you so much.  I have the best life!

I have a Mom and Dad who love me so much,

we live in this cool place,

we have money to buy groceries, and I'm happy."

I thought my heart would burst.

We've been super conservative with our activities lately

while we pray that BovIQ/work sees better days.

So our days off of school usually look like hanging around the house,

working in the yard, watching movies upstairs, family walks around the farm,

epic wiffle ball games, car drives, and motorcycle rides around Stillestead.

 

As I went to bed tonight, there were 12 dollar bills

laying on my pillow with a sticky note and a drawing 

of her newest Squishmallow with a bubble chat 

coming out above her head saying:

"This is money for buying me and bringing

 me home to the best house in the world."

Sundee Best

While Claire was in Ghana, she had skirts and ties made for us. 

Today, we all wore them to church and matched fantastically!

Then we had an epic family whiffle ball match on the front lawn

and I laughed so hard.

I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

Superhuman

 

Yesterday, in the evening, Angus ran away.

 Angus occasionally makes a run for it 

when the opportunity arises. (Who left the gate open???).

I got on the motorcycle, yelled his name, and honked the horn, but to 

no avail.  No Angus.

This must have gone on for hours.

At one point, Lottie came with me on the back of the motorcycle 

to search for our delinquent dog.

We came up on a fence line where I needed to turn around, and the

wheel went right into a mound- possibly made by giant ants 

hidden under the tall grass

and I dumped the bike with Lottie underneath.

This, however, wasn't just any grass; this was POSIN IVY.

With unknown angels who were probably laughing at me, I somehow

lifted the 270-pound bike up (using my super strong thunder thighs and back)

brushed off the grass, and Lottie and I sped home so she could

get in the shower and scrub the poison ivy off her.

We don't need another PI episode.  (That was bad).

We have all heard stories at one time or another – 

stories about ordinary people exhibiting superhuman strength during a crisis. 

They become heroes by performing extraordinary acts to save someone's life. 

These tales often involve people lifting 

heavy objects like cars, structural beams, and even helicopters 

to free someone who is trapped underneath them.

Ok, this wasn't that bad, but it kind of was in my head at that moment.

Also, I was kind of crying in frustration and worry.

Then, I was sure I would get my P22 and shoot Angus the second he came home.

But then I was like, what if he's dead in a ditch somewhere?

Then I felt bad for thinking of shooting him.

It was just far too many emotions.

Anyway, Angus came trotting back through the gate as the sun was setting.

Needless to say, he slept on the porch.

 Tied up.

I've had better days.

That's How You Know

Gigs went into the weekend sick.

Good thing he has three super nice sisters

and a really nice mom to take care of him!

He actually said to me,

"I'd rather go to school for 15 hours than feel this way"

That's how you know it's bad.

RIP Cody

 It is with a heavy heart to report that our dear and beloved 
Cody, the rooster, has been missing for several days.  

This inevitably means Cody has passed on to the other side.
I'll miss him running around chasing the hens, 

bumping into things (he only had one eye), 

and occasionally getting stuck inside the shed.

Gigs came home from work late tonight and cooked him up

three veggie dogs for dinner.  

One day, when he's on his mission,

I'll look at this photo and probably cry.

Their Babies Will

Today, I spoke with my friend, Morgan, who is having her second daughter

in a few months, and her girls will be 17 months apart.

I can relate.  Claire and Jane are 16 months apart and have the

sweetest sister relationship.  

In February of 2003, in the middle of a chilly night, 

I went into labor with Jane. Before heading to the hospital, I stood over

 Claire's crib in tears, silently saying goodbye to her. 

I whispered to Claire that I had to leave her to go to the hospital

and when we'd see each other next, she would get to meet her new sister, Winnie 

(that was when we had planned to name Jane 'Bronwyn'). 

After kissing Claire on the forehead, I left her with my sister, Lucy

then Christian and I sped to the hospital.

We barely made it.

That's another story.

I felt so guilty about cutting Claire's babyhood short.

She would be the big sister now, even though she was still

a baby in diapers sleeping in a crib.

As I watched them interact, it became clear that it was a blessing for 

Claire to have a best friend and permanent buddy. 

They did everything together, from sleeping in the same crib

 to sharing clothes and changing dress-up multiple times a day.

They'd get in the tub together, 

and were even on the same nap schedule. 

In some ways, they are still sharing everything,

occasionally sleeping in the same bed so they can watch Bridgeton together,

share clothes, and come home from working out to fall asleep on the couch.

They laugh at funny memes and speak in Portuguese when they

want to be secret.  

They don't share a tub anymore, but I bet one day their babies will.

, 

Girlie!

This evening, we picked up Claire from the airport after her life-changing,

amazing medical mission to Ghana.

On the ride home, we heard stories and saw photos of where she was,

and what she was doing.

When we arrived back home, Jane was busy preparing

 a scrumptious dinner. She has been cooking her way through

 all the saved pins on her Pinterest board, 

and every week she cooks a meal or a treat.

 I am definitely not complaining!

Lottie had been eagerly waiting for Claire's arrival and 

 when she saw Claire, she yelled, 

"Girlie!" - which is what they call each other.

They all hugged and screamed like little girls.

(They are still little girls, aren't they?!)

Claire pulled out gifts she had lovingly picked out for all of us.

All I wanted was for her to stop at Pierre Hermé

 to get the most amazing macaroons while she was in Paris.  

She did!  She brought me home a box of mouthwatering macaroon goodness.

She didn't even eat one...not even to sample it.

I was shocked.

I would have bought me a box just for the plane ride home!

Then we ate them all in one sitting.

It was very un-French-like, I know.

Then we ate Jane's delicious veggie pot pie she made

and turned out amazing.

I told her to keep this recipe pinned on her board.