natural wonders and disasters

"I've never been so alone, alone, and I've, and I've never been so alive. So alive." - Motorcycle Drive-by - Third Eye Blind //How we feel. All the time. Glad we could share a little piece of our hearts today with the senior center. They all knew "You Are My Sunshine" which made my heart Happy. #music #thismanandhisguitar#wooshearts #lovehim #evieproject#evielaree one of the residents told us to look up a video on YouTube about Amazing Grace. He thought we would like it. #forreal #howcouldheknow#n8lovesthirdeyeblind #ilovehimforit 
Also my friend intends to "adopt a grandma here". What a great idea. I can't wait to find out how it goes. #opa

Jeff thinks it's fun to get up with the sun. Apparently it's starting to wear on him because this is what I woke up to this morning. #goodmorning #goodmorning #asleepagainalready #itsgreattostayoutlate

We signed up to help at the Houston food Bank with some friends. It's a major production here. #1 #inthenation #helpieNate wanted to be a part of this Evie project in June but was unable to come due to work. So we found a time he could come... Even if he had to come straight from work in his business attire. 

#hesmyfavorite #houstonisfamilyfriendlytothecore #gottagotoworkworkworkworkwork #evieproject #evielaree

It wouldn't be summer without at least one more Beach day. Doing our best to avoid sunburns, taking Nate's boat out on the waves, constructing the sand castle moat of the century that didn't have a castle and enjoying the sound of the waves. Clearest water I've seen here. 

#itsabeautifulday#beachday #beachbums #sandyknees#hairinhereyes #windswept #greatfriends#miniboat #surfsidebeach #boomerang#lilmissaria #myjeffyboy #bodysurfer

I did not realize what kind of bond existed between those that are truly experiencing grief. My husband is a dentist. A really good one. But he doesn't actually do any traditional dentistry. He treats only people with major jaw problems and chronic head and neck pain. Because of this, his patients are some of the hardest but also some of the sweetest and kindest you'll ever meet. Yesterday a patient brought in a paper in an envelope. Printed on which was a description of grief that she found helped her when her husband died. I'll talk more about what it said later but it was something simple that meant a lot to my husband and a lot to me. 

#clueaboutwhatitsaidinthephoto #waves #evieproject #ifyourethinkingaboutsomeone #letthemknow #nobigdeal #dogood #beachbabies

I made this for the Pettits to have as a little piece of Evie. It is our most current family picture. I think it turned out lovely. 

At 4am you get all sorts of sentimental and all sorts of things make you cry like the fact that your husband and son are clones. They walk the same, move the same, have the same pace, and the same zest and energy for life. He's just got my hair, face, and coloring. ;) #myjeffyboy #mymancubs#remindmenevertodo6amdepartures#hobbyairport #i♥️Southwest #n8man#everythingmakesmecry #eclipsecruiser 😂#lagrande #summerlovin

But when you leave at 4 am you get to Oregon in time enough to go see the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. It was fun to be reminded of the history and to get out and stretch our legs a little bit. #welove #everykidinapark #oregontrailinterpretive center

#buffalo

Nate's been looking forward to this eclipse for the WHOLE year! We got him a magnet to take home for his memory.

When we got to Grandpa's house, they got a new freshwater well installed. The kids had fun pumping it and watching the water flow. It definitely worked better when they worked as a team.

They really do live in a beautiful valley.

Our first fun adventure was going on a hike #naturewalk with Grandpa and Grandma! Because we were going to the lake afterwards, Aria wore a dress #coverup and Jeff lent her some socks. These two were definitely at their wits end with each other#lastweekofsummer but they are both a perfect blend with complimentary personalities. I feel so lucky to be their mom.

#blessed #dramaqueens #wallowalakestatepark #hopetogofarthernexttime

The destination! #wellkindof some beautiful miniature "falls" and a fun bridge to run across. So fun to find a little corner of the world to explore #familyselfie #wallowalakestatepark

I'm hoping that when we do this at the family reunion we can go a little farther if we want to.

It wouldn't be a visit to wallowa lake state park without a stop at the lake. #webroughtourboat #acrossthecountry #inasuitcase #coldwater #sopeaceful #andfun #lovemyfamily #grandpashat #texasorange #wallowalake

We stopped on our way back at Joseph to get some of THE BEST hot chocolate I've ever had #darkchocolatesaltedcaramel #idontevenlikehotchocolate #nomnomnom  we also stopped at the the bears ice cream.... Because it wouldn't be a trip to Grandma's without stopping at every treat location on the way. Aria and Jeff were in heaven.#pbshake #oreoshake #icecream #littlebear🐻🐻🐻🐻 #wallowalakestatepark #mycubs

The highlight for the kids was that we got to go to the Drive-in Theater! It was only fitting that we got to see Cars 3. :)

The other fun part of our trip was hanging out at Pendleton water park... Which is more like what our regular pools are like here in Sienna.... With Nate's sister Rachel #andkids. We went to a drive-in movie #cars3.... Snuggled in blankets and lawn chairs because it was actually chilly. And finally, It sort of rained on our parade when they#thewholefamdamily wanted to come for Sunday dinner, #nobacktoschoolfeast #itscoming but it was definitely the warm kind of rain that you love to play in. #sogladtheycame #ariaandalice #jeffandisaacandemma #theygotanewdrone #preeclipseparty

Although I don't think the viewing was quite what Nate imagined, it was incredibly cool to watch. The automatic street lights came on, birds started to chirp. Making waffle shadows with our hands and watching the shape of the crescents flip when the sun finally passed the moon. A little Chick-fil-A breakfast. #eclipsecruiser #8.21.17 #superontimetotheairport #98% #nexttimewewant100 #7years #jeffwillbe14 #eek

First day of School!!!

I'd say we had a pretty "swimmingly successful" first day of school. Despite the fact that we were up until midnight the night before, and Mom didn't hear her alarm, both kids were Happy going and happy coming home. So fun to see the latest finz TV star in action. 

#newsanchor #maybeshecouldbeabroadcastjournalist #shethrivesinit #areyousmarterthana5thgrader #or2ndgrader #backtoschool

The second day after we returned home, and the day after the first day of school...word of Harvey came. It was headed our way.

What an emotional roller coaster we've been riding today. We've done the equivalent of moving a house, upstairs... And packed for a vacation where we don't know where we're going or how long we'll be gone. All in the same day. Then leaving your home not knowing when you'll come back or what you'll come back to. We are safe, dry, and grateful for friends that help calm the storm that's inside me. #ihatehurricaneharvey #thekidsseemunphased #mandatoryevacuation #theyremostworriedaboutalligators #savesienna #staysafe #anxiety

The hardest thing about Harvey was figuring out what were our necessities. For us it was hard drives and pictures and then food and clothing. My most precious items were defeinitely the notes that people sent us when Eve died. It's now over a year later and I finally got the courage to take them down because I couldn't bear not having those sweet words with me always. 

#hurricaneharvey #stilldrythere #prayingitstaysthatway #courage #notesfromheaven #evieproject #itwontletmetagmorethan20people #iamsoblessed #evielaree #rainraingoaway

" 'cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise" -Laura Story// Flood or no flood, job or no job, loss or no loss, trial or no trial, baby or no baby, God's greatest blessings come despite our circumstances. And sometimes they are even more abundant when our circumstances are different than our ideal. God craves the opportunity to give us more. Like this beautiful sky with no rain immediately following our tornado warning. 

His blessings are there. You have but to look for them. 
Also, I'm not a big Christian pop fan, but this song really resonates with my soul. Give her/it a listen soon. 
#evielaree #lightningstorm #hurricaneharvey #breakintherain #blessings #indisguise #floodsdontequatewithfaithfulness #laurastory

I may be alpha, but he's definitely her favorite. 
#hazelmae #thefeelingismutual #evacuees #welovemisssusan #sogenerous #braeswoodbuddies #safeanddry #homey #jackandnolan #memories #hazelwasnevermeanttobeanapartmentdog #barkbarkbark 

Update: our house is high and dry, they've taken away our evacuation order. We turned it into a vacation, making lemonade out of lemons. We are grateful for how fortunate we have been regarding the flood waters. And blessed to have so many people reach out and offer support. I believe that that support is the method God chooses to send His greatest blessings. #hurricaneharvey #texasforever

For the first part of our journey... we stayed at a friend's apartment by our old house. We were anxious while we were there but we couldn't make up our minds to stay or go. It was fun to play with old friends though and have a safe place to be. Definitely not a shelter.

We turned our evacuation last week into a vacation and found a home to go to in Kansas. #theresnoplacelikehomeWe were Happy to see our dear friends again and the kids LOVED trying out the traditional playgrounds with Merry-go-rounds. Nate really is... THE best Dad. 
#derbykansas #merrygoround #boomerang #penpal #toto-lyawesome

The best part about Kansas was that we just played and played. We went swimming at their little pool, played at the park and a new one: Greek yogurt for pie-in-the-face. We had yummy food and went on lots of fun exercising adventures. The people are so nice here. Everywhere we go, someone reaches out in some way... Makes us feel important. 
#harveyevacuee #wegettocomehome #grateful

If you ask both my kids, the highlight of the trip was this rinky dink miniature golf course at the science museum. They had some really cool exhibits. Nate worked on the cove puzzle for quite awhile, and even got a hint from a worker. He eventually got it with a little nudge from me... This was Hazel's makeshift bed while we were gone. It rocked her world too. I just feel bad that she scratched up that door. Hopefully I'll have a better plan for something like that in a year or so.