Day 150 - Project 366

I love to stop by the National Cemetery this time of year  - such a beautiful, solemn place of remembrance.

Day 149 - Project 366

I love that our church throws an annual block party at one of the nearby apartment projects on Memorial Day! When we moved here 10 years ago this weekend it's one of the first things we attended and I was blown away - I still am ten years later.  Showing Christ's love through a mister fan, bike repair, new swings, face painting, good food, inflatables, praise and worship - yes!  Today's POD is my friend, Amanda, who was one of the girls in my cabin when I came down to do Urban Camp when we still lived in MI.  It was so great to see her today and meet her precious son.  I am excited for the next ten years and beyond of life in Chattanooga or wherever the Lord leads us!

Day 148 - Project 366

Carmen and Dawn's first full day in Chatt! 

 

We enjoyed a great worship service at New City as Pastor Randy closed out his years of service there as our senior pastor.  After church we changed clothes and went down to the Market and later we walked the Bridge and went to Ce Ce's.  As we were walking back we saw the fireworks show at the Lookouts Stadium.  Fun, full day!

Day 147 - Project 366

One of my favorite animals:-)  And so crazy that goat viewing is available at a local BBQ restaurant after dinner! 

Day 146 - Project 366

The YL office is a swinging door and it's so fun to have a variety of visitors to make my day a little more interesting!  Today I got to hang out with Sara and her niece Sutton - that stash of YL balloons came in handy for one very active 2 year old and her worn out auntie:-)  (Sara is a new leader/friend - one of the huge blessings of my job is that every year a whole new batch of amazing young people squirm their way into my heart - it makes it crowded but cozy!)

Day 145 - Project 366

Fun night at the Lookouts Stadium with the Littles thanks to Dale's work!  Hullco had a private box with free food and drinks:-)  The boys really enjoyed the Lookout's victory a bunch and so did we!  Great night at the ballpark! Love these guys so much!

Day 144 - Project 366

Special attendee at small group tonight - joined in the discussion with an occasional howl:-) She belongs to the Haynes who live within walking distance - cute canine!

Day 143 - Project 366

All day staff retreat at a riverhouse today:-)  Best part? Wandering thru hydrangea heaven at lunch break.  I'm reading a book about midlife right now and the author wrote the following that seems to be true for me...."God the Creator feels closer and more real to many at midlife. Each year I seem to be growing in my ability to observe. That increased ability to notice the details in nature is intimately connected with my awareness of God's presence in my life."  But enough words now.....just savor the beauty.......

Day 142 - Project 366

Yep, totally one of those days when it's almost 10 PM and I realize I haven't taken a POD yet!  But I do love this collage of the three boys so very much!  Now three young men - all of whom I am very proud of! It was so sweet to spend the weekend with Mark and watch him parent Crew & Sohee ~ he is a great daddy!

Day 141 - Project 366

Crew loves to play basketball in the gym at church after service and Sunday School:-)

After hugs and goodbyes we headed for Chattanooga - uneventful trip home which we're so very thankful for!  The mountains were so beautiful wrapped in clouds!



Day 140 - Project 366

Beautiful Saturday in Indianapolis!  Tara had to be on a panel at a conference, Crew had a birthday party, and Sohee got to hang out with the Grandpas and Dad as they worked on moving the back section of the fence.  Mark and Tara had a date night after all the tools were put away for the day and we got to babysit!

Day 139 - Project 355

 Very fun first ever Grandparents Day at Crew's wonderful school! 

 All four grandparents plus Tara took Sohee out for a special lunch date as Crew finished up his school day!

At night his school had Spring Fling which included a parade with each class dressing up in costumes from a time period or subject they've been studying this year.  Crew's class had Mother Goose characters and Crew was one of the three men in a tub.  So cute!!  After the parade all of the parents/grandparents went into their classroom for recitations.  After that we were invited to watch the middle schoolers perform the different dances they've learned.  Very fun night!!

Day 138 - Project 366

On the road again heading for Indianapolis for Grandparents Day!  Love this view on the way out of town - beautiful Nickajack Lake!

Day 137 - Project 366

Cleaning out Dan's old room for its next inhabitant ~ our niece Carmen, who will be coming down from MI to stay with us for the summer.  We are excited and curious to see what the Lord has in store for all of us - her presence here is one of His surprises:-)  The room will be hers to do with what she wants except for one hard and fast request......nobody, nobody, nobody erases the precious message that Brea wrote on the white board in that room right before she moved out after living with us during her last couple years of college.....the message that brought thankful tears to our eyes when we found it after she left to start the next chapter of her life.....

Day 136 - Project 366

Once a week I gather with a few friends on a rooftop overlooking beautiful Chattanooga and we read out loud from one of the most impactful books I have ever read.  I've given 26 copies of this book to friends and family:-)  And the very best thanks to receive after sharing this special book is to hear these words....."About to start my list!".....To perpetuate gratefulness and awareness....that's all right.  Tonight we sat quietly with spring breezes blowing, the sun setting behind Lookout Mountain and tasted the words again and believed that "Life is not an emergency. Life is Eucharisteo." and "Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle."  And together we resolve to slow down and savor and celebrate and to list life's daily miracles.  In a little less than a month we'll make a road trip to hear the author speak - I am slightly excited about that!

Day 135 - Project 366

I thought picture of the day was going to be one from the entryway of the Confederate cemetery near McKays and then I turned and saw how the evening sun was making this homemade sign shimmer!  And I realized that's the picture that was waiting for me all along:-)  How often we set out with a goal in mind and then something comes along even better - if we're aware and open to the possibilities!

 I do love the entrance of the cemetery so much!

Personally, I could make my beautiful hydrangeas POD every day but what would Mike say?!  This bush was a gift from D.A. a few years ago for Mother's Day and they are so pretty this year!!

Day 134 - Project 366

Mother's Day lunch with two very handsome men at one of my favorite spots up in Dunlap!  Such an emotional day as I remember my amazing mom (today would have been her 81st birthday), realize all over again how blessed I am to be the mom of Mark Adam, Daniel Jon, and Joseph David and mom in law to my precious Tara and Brea!  My heart is bursting full of thanksgiving for what was, what is, and what will be! 

Day 133 - Project 366

Afternoon Tea at the English Rose to celebrate the happy day that Anne with an e arrived on Planet Earth - love this girl so very much!

Day 132 - Project 366

I've been saying this for years ~ it was fun to find it in print on a wall downtown:-)