This house smells fantastic! I just finished baking some banana bread and coffee cake for our company tonight and tomorrow morning. As soon as I'm done this, I'll get ready to meet the girls at the bus and take Naomi in for her first dance class (ballet and jazz). Then home to greet our guests/friends for dinner and an evening of fellowship. Tomorrow morning starts with a run, putting girls on the bus and then a few other moms are coming over for coffee and goodies before I head to work at 10:45 and then again tomorrow evening. Friday I work in the morning and then lunch with our neighbors and then Joanna and Miriam arrive (yay!) just in time for a Garden potluck and a campfire at our place.
Luke is currently in class. His classes started officially last week and he has two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and one class on Wednesday. He's also taking an intensive class that meets all day on Friday and Saturday once a month. And he is loving it!! His classes are all unique (one is a study of Matthew, one is church history, another is on worship, and I don't remember what the intensive is... after all, I'm not taking it, heehee) and he is enjoying every single one. He keeps saying, "I can't believe I get to be here!" His days usually start with a run except Thursdays where he participates in a men's small group that meets on campus. His nights are mostly hanging out with us and reading his very big, and in my opinion, very boring books. I must note that he does not find them boring at all and desires nothing more than to talk to me about them but my poor husband notices that moment where my eyes glaze over and he backs off and says things like, "So, do you want to watch something?" So glad he gets me!
The girls are at school. At this moment, they are in their specials classes. Hannah is very much enjoying 4th grade and is kinda a celebrity because she got to take the whole week off last week. Her class has to do 100 minutes of out-of-class reading per week so the Jessamine Countly Public Library has become a good friend of our family. At home she has invited many girls over to "make cards" with her and it is not unsual for 3 or more girls to be in her room, scrapping away.
Naomi came back from vacation to a new teacher (long story) so she is still adjusting. Her closest friend at school is a girl named Nanami so when the two are together, it can be a bit of a tongue twister. When she's here, we rarely see her as she is usually out riding her bike, learning how to ride a Ripstik, or playing over at her friends' houses. I never really know where she is most of the time but she always comes back smiling, chattering, and very sweaty. The moms in the neighborhood know her well and it is not unusual for me to get a "Naomi story" on a daily basis.
Caleb is taking his nap right now. You'd think with the trains going by and his overwhelming enthusiasm each time one passes by that he wouldn't sleep here. But he actually sleeps here very well and he really enjoys playing outside in the neighborhood. One little girl up the road named Anna has kind of adopted him and I love answering her sweet little knock and seeing her little face turned up and asking, "Can Caleb play?" His favorite activity on his own is to run up and down the sidewalk pushing his grocery cart or lawn mower but if he can get mommy to take him on a bike ride, he is never happier.
And that's basically it. Throw in my runs with a friend in the morning, trips to the grocery store, lots of biking and walking, and some good old family time and you've got a pretty good snapshot of our lives here in, as one of my friends called it, the "bubble of Wilmore." I heard so many people describe it as Mayberry and I can see why. The sense of community and belonging, of sharing lives and meals and hopes and disappointments, and the understanding and empathy the families share with one another is truly unique and special. I don't anticipate ever really finding a place like this again. So as we have been encouraged time and time again, we are going to do our best to embrace this life here, live it to the fullest and "be all here."
We'd LOVE for you to come see us. If you live in Wilmore and read this, know that our door is always open. We truly enjoy your company and look forward to many friendships through the years. If you live elsewhere, like IN or PA, know that our door is always open!! We look forward to your visits (girls are counting down the hours to see Nanna and Mim this weekend) and we love and miss your hugs.
Okay, bread is ready to come out of the oven and I still have time to read a little bit before the bus arrives, Caleb wakes up, and our life bustles on! Have a beautiful day friends and "wherever you are, be all there!"
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