“He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hinderance.”
~Acts 28:31~

One of the camp couples got engaged this afternoon. The counselors and camp staff arrived today for their camp reunion so I guess they wanted to get it out of the way before then. No one close to me was aware this was happening. We’d seen Graham, Miles’ brother, here this morning with his camera tripod walking toward camp. We wondered what he was doing but no one thought anything else about it.

So he was able to get some pictures. Graham really wants a German Shepherd so he likes when he gets to see and play with Elianna’s. She and I were out taking Zorro for a walk when more of the camp people started arriving. A silver minivan pulled up and it was Miles and Laura. I like to be dramatic around my daughter sometimes and so I put my hand to my heart and said in a lovey voice something about “my kids”.

Miles didn’t have a car so Laura picked him up on her way. They both really are these wonderful people and it seems so surreal to think about them being a part of our family. They already feel like that in a way. Laura’s family is leaving Monday for a trip to visit family in Texas. Ethan is going with and so is Laura’s sister’s boyfriend, Andy. She showed me the seat where they will have to sit squished for the drive down.

They had to put on of the back seats down leaving only the middle seat and a side seat in the back. I was cracking up imagining the two of them sitting back there. First actually I was a little less amused by it when Laura’s mom was first telling me. I don’t know why I feel this small resistance at times to things that for me would’ve just been funny, normal, and fun. Of course they will be fine squished together back there.

So they’ll be gone for a week. We’ve still been somewhat busy with Christmas gathering things. Yesterday late afternoon and evening we went over to Laura’s house to play games with another family and hers. They had a kennel in their garage where we could put Zorro. Laura has two dogs, Angel and Mischief. Their dogs will stay at home and while they’re gone they have a neighbor who stops by and checks on them.

This afternoon we went to a get-together at the home of the homeschool family from our church. There were two other families from the homeschool group there. That was fun too and the kids put on a play at the end that was very impressive and I told them it was. I was glad we were there to substantially add to the audience because if it hadn’t have been for my husband we likely wouldn’t have gone. I would’ve passed.

They’d been out here this week to bury a miscarried baby. Josh did the service and so had spent some extra time with them. My son was just in here sitting on the yoga ball in our bedroom. He was telling me about this or that frustration when I remembered that Ethan used to come in here and sit on this ball. He’d come in after baseball games and wouldn’t have nearly as much to say but I was always happy when he came in.

Whether he knew that or not who knows. So I did try to communicate this time despite my tears that he was welcome to come and sit on my yoga ball at any time. I have felt surprisingly good considering the holiday activity and had a few times of feeling surprisingly seen in regard to my health. One person asked how I’d been feeling and another person said, “Is that because you never fully recovered from your thing?”

I don’t know, those unexpected validations just help you to feel more understood sometimes. I did finish Acts sometime last week or the week before. I enjoyed reading the book and have already moved on to Romans. Whether it’s movies, or the Bible, or people who say different things here or there, I’m glad God uses these things to straighten us out at times. That’s what it felt like this time, like being straightened.

I don’t know what we’re doing tonight. The boys wanted to spy on the counselors but I don’t think I’m going to let them do that. Plus I already told Elianna she’s the spy. I’m kind of liking the movie routine and not having much to cook or do in the evenings. Sooner or later we’ll clean up Christmas and put the house semi back together. Zorro bit off the new lights plug so for now we’re just going to have to deal with tree only.