Month: August 2022

Did Molly-in-the-Middle get our leftovers on her birthday? Maybe. But we did make it home to meet the group for her birthday dinner that she planned.

I left a new pair of shoes for her since I would be gone. But that was about the extent of it. We gave her cash and paid for dinner, of course.

Thankfully, sweet Bethany baked and brought some delicious cookie bars that we were able to share. Molly is #1 in our eyes🤩

In all seriousness, Molly is unique, fun, independent, creative, and always so helpful! As a fellow middle child, I am well aware that her placement in the family is God-ordained. Middle children, they say, are some of the most well-adjusted adults. 🤣 (My sisters are rolling their eyes if they are reading this.) But Molly is awesome. We love her and are going to soak up this year with her!!!!!

She took her own first day of school pic. Josh took one of her and Mack. He wondered why that was bad. It wasn’t Mack’s first day. 😑

Love watching this girl grow and mature! She is a blessing to our family. Happy 17th Birthday!

Though Josh nor I feel old enough to be taking our child to college, this is what we found ourselves doing on August 18th.

Ruby and I drove to Virginia on Tuesday evening, spent Wednesday together running a few errands and registering her car with the school, and Josh met us that afternoon. Thursday morning we got up early and started moving her in.

Liberty has upper classmen dispersed at each dorm with smiles and huge red bins to load up your stuff. They do it all, and we just walk up to the room. It was very nice!

Ruby can’t understand all that has gone in to her being in this exact spot in this season. The Lord has ordered her steps, and we are deeply grateful! It’s such a comfort as a parent to rest in this truth and to continue to trust God with Ruby. He has provided so abundantly.

Getting her room all put together was fun! And she was happy with how it all turned out. Josh was so helpful, as usual. Such a great dad.

Leaving Ruby there went well. She did not shed a tear. And neither did we. It’s hard for me to be anything but super excited for her—I would love to go to a college like this!!! It could also be the fact that we had to get back for Molly’s birthday dinner, and then we had some things to do for Mack’s Friday night football game. This season of life is so full. Trying to take it all in, but sure I’m missing some of it.

Since leaving we have had only one face time call and a few texts. The girl has jumped in with both feet! She met girls on her hall, walked around downtown, went to an ice cream place with her hall, got her books at the bookstore, went to bingo night, went to the gym to learn football chants and cheers, and went to church and lunch this morning. Classes start Monday!

❤️💙We love you, Ruby!💙❤️ Praying you will grow and mature and walk in all the purposes God has for you. Call me some time.

We are winding down a strange summer around here. Molly is back home from her summer internship. Mack continues to practice football every day. Ruby is doing some babysitting and watching Gilmore Girls and reading all the Hoover books as she awaits her move-in day to Liberty University. Josh stays busy with work and fine tuning his archery skills. I feel like I’m floundering in the most annoying, yet seemingly unavoidable ways.

I had hoped Ruby and Mack might endear themselves to one another this summer, but that hasn’t really shaken out. They like to argue, evidently. One day I believe they will be close friends. Just not today. 😊

Pictures, anyone?

Molly’s summer was one she will remember forever! So. Much. Fun. And so. Many. Amazing. People. Thank the Lord for making a way for her this summer. I would get pictures from friends who had spotted Molly around town or in church. There was not a lack of things to do and people to hang out with for Molly in Woodstock! But man, we are glad she is back home.

Mack spent a good bit of time hanging out with Josh and me. They’ve done a lot of fishing and football. He got his learners permit. Ruby got her 18 year old adult license. I spruced up our teeny tiny guest room. Most of the summer Molly’s room was used for storage—clothes Ruby didn’t want, dorm room supplies and packages that arrived almost daily—so I spent time in there cleaning before Molly came home in late July. We had some new landscaping installed in the front yard, which was unexpected. I was thinking about Josh and me planting some ivy. No one liked that idea, so this next plan got implemented in a flash. And I actually like how it turned out.

I truly want to spend some more time on here typing out words rolling around in my mind rather than just updates and photos. But there seems to be more pressing things to do—especially as this summer quickly comes to a close. Stay tuned for Ruby’s move in to college, Molly’s first day of her senior year and Mack’s first day of his new school. 🤪