J is for June

June, let me think about you for a few minutes... maybe if I think really specifically about Math, some equations will float over my head...

I couldn't resist!  June brought the beginning of our use of filters, and we have been laughing every time since.  I chose this one to save because of how much James&Hayden look alike with the 'glasses' on!?!  haha, I got such a kick out of the glimpse of them as young men; I enjoyed daydreaming about all that lies ahead of them.

June, you brought Father's Day, the end of school & the beginning of summer break!  And this year, June you brought us the Zobacs!  Gosh, what a lovely few weeks we had, so unexpectedly.  Just as we were finishing the school year, I heard from a childhood friend of mine from Illinois, Jessica Zobac!  It turned out that she&her husband Chris were coming to Jacksonville to adopt a baby boy, and they needed a place to stay- so we said come stay with us!

It may not seem honest, but I really loved having them at our house for just over two weeks.  I was so honored to be able to host them during an incredible time for their family: the welcoming of their son!  He came early, so it was almost like we invited them to come, and they were here the next day! haha, it may have been two days, but it was fast!  The boys were really excited to have them, but even more so, they could not wait to meet their baby boy!  James & Hayden made him sweet gifts, and they waited so patiently till he got to come over to our house to stay.

I was absolutely honored to get to visit him in the hospital & meet their precious boy!  I even got to hold him, and loved snapping a couple of pictures of his precious face.  He looks so much like Jessica&Chris; my heart was just overflowing.  Getting to be their only friend in town, gave me a front row seat to their journey, and I am so grateful that the Lord gave me that gift.  Not to mention I just adore Jessica, and reliving some of our childhood memories was priceless!!  A sweet, sweet reunion.

Oh precious, beautiful baby boy.  You are a priceless gift!

My Calvin with his second year of swimming lessons with Coach Sally!  She does an amazing job, and he has become a proficient swimmer this summer.  Go Calvin!

 Matt's Mom has told me stories about how he would make a 'fishy' face as a baby, and I always thought that sounded so funny!  None of the other boys did make a face like that, but here we are with proof that #4 can do it!  He must have gotten all the 'creature tricks' because he can raise one eyebrow like momma too!

I had to include a picture of an end-of-school YL hang out!  Some of our first OP YL kids.

We also got to do some baby play dates!  David has some super cute girl buddies, like Zoe! :-)

Last day of Kindergarten & 1st Grade!  Unbelievable.  They took their teachers some flowers to celebrate!

 Davy Baby loves playing guitar with Daddy, but honestly?  He has just started to get into everything, and the independence has just flooded his little mind with surprising activity.  Applesauce, dust pan, head phones, magazines, these are a few of his favorite things!

 One clear, hazy beach day where all the happy screams just fade away into the sound of the ocean's roar.  Beach: All of our happy place!

Summer time brings the thunderstorms & heat, and we spend more time than you would think indoors.  This was a glimpse of some rainy-day-chaos in David's room.

The day arrived!  The Zobacs were able to bring their buddy home to our house for a night, and my boys could have just eaten him up!  They adored him; we made welcome home signs & balloons to celebrate!

And of course, James wanted to hold him.  I told him the answer may not be yes, but he was welcome to ask.  His dream came true!  He LOVES babies & built a little pillow fort to hold him on the couch. The sweetest.

All loaded up, and ready to head home! It was so hard to say goodbye, but we were so happy for them to be able to finally take their baby home.  What a joyful, sad farewell.

James with the guitar & Hayden's muscles.  You never know what you're going to get around our house these days!

 We celebrated Father's Day for Matt with some local country flair, and I tried to get a picture of these boys smiling with their daddy.  What an incredible father you are Matt; our boys will never know how hard you worked for them.

 So to you we say, "Yoda best dad!"  Because you truly are-just the absolute best.

Summer hair cut day at our house got a little wild&crazy!  These boys all wanted 'cool' hair cuts, even though they never let me fix their hair like this for a normal day.  It was fun!

 Playdate with some sweet friends who have moved away but still visit!  Calvin was so happy to see y'all!

This little fella, those little legs.  His little red balloon.  I could just eat.him.up.

The boys had always wanted to stand inside the mouth since it was moved to the park!

A stormy, dark beach day where we saw gopher turtles & braved the cloud cover.

 Our salty beach bum babe.

I finished Jill Briscoe's book, "here am I Lord... send somebody else!" which was timely for me as we stepped out into Young Life as leaders.  She is just a lovely soul & the Lord speaks to me through her words.  I highly recommend.

Calvin recommends the Shooting Mag from Grammy&Papa's house! hahah!

We ended our June with a trip up to Atlanta to visit my parents & see our nieces & have a night away for our 11th Anniversary!  We only made it up once this summer, but we love getting to spend time all together.  The boys absolutely love the girls' company & they don't know what to do with themselves when they are at Grammy&Papa's without them!

Thank you Lord for a wonderful beginning to summer, for the surprise of the Zobacs being with us, for all the time we got to spend together.  Thank you or the ushering in to weeks removed from 'hurry' and for the constant chaos that pushes me to grow during these summer months.  Lord help me to become more like you because of the stretching.  Smooth out my sharp edges Lord in the rock tumbler of summer.  Allow me to breath deeply & enjoy the memories with my sons.  Forgive me for missing out on opportunities to teach my sons your grace when we crash into one another.  Refine me Lord so that I can be used to refine them.  Amen!