We just had one of those crazy fun weekends that wears you out but was totally worth it. It started with a good-bye party for a co-worker, J. He has completed his two years and will be leaving in just a couple of weeks. He lives in a different city than we do but we still got to see him often. He has become a favorite visitor of the boys and we joked about him being our oldest son. So we planned a 'getting rid of J' party. I know, aren't we nice! Don't worry the title was all in good fun. There is a golf course--a very expensive golf course--in town and he's a big golfer so a big group went and played golf on Friday. I stayed behind with the boys and prepared things for a cookout at our place that night. We had burgers, cheesy ranch mashed potatoes (by request) and 7 Layer salad. G made home made onion rings, yes he makes AMAZING onion rings, and the ladies made a Banana Split dessert, also AMAZING. And after we all took an aspirin to thin our blood and prevent a heart attack, we watched a little presentation the ladies made (I laughed so hard it hurt) and gave him some gifts. Funny gifts. So he can never, ever forget us. Ever. He stayed through lunch on Sunday and then we had a last good bye. My boy is all grown up, heading back to the States and starting law school. *sigh* Makes a momma proud.
We have a lot of such goodbyes coming up. We will lose all of our singles, except one, by the end of October. That means the other J will leave in August and the ladies, M and W, will both leave in October. Things will seem so different in the coming months. But as I've said many times, such is the way of life here. People coming and going and moving on. It will be, for obvious reasons, mostly difficult to say goodbye to the ladies. But I am excited for them all and the paths Father has begun to lay for them.
On to the rest of our fun weekend. Some friends that have 4 older children (meaning between ages 9 and 15) were sending the 3 oldest off to camp for the week and they wanted to go off for a night to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. They asked us if their youngest could stay at our house. I of course quickly agreed. He is one of those children that you definitely want hanging around your own. You know what I mean. A great kid that you hope will rub off on your own children. They are in there playing blocks and trains and with their tools (thanks to Papa Jiohn and Eric). And even though he's 9 he is playing with them without complaining that they are too young or that he's bored or that he would rather be doing something else. He's taking on this role of temporary big brother like a champ. It makes me want to shadow his mom, K, (who deserves a whole blog post all on her own cause she is super woman without even knowing it) and copy her every move. Seriously I live around some amazing women who can teach me so much. And she, who also has three sons plus a lovely daughter who is the oldest, I know will teach me so much. Her 4 are close in age and she has been through these tough years of babies, preschoolers and beginning homeschooling. Anyway, I'm so glad their youngest has been able to spend a couple of days with us. We had hoped to take all the boys out for a picnic lunch but it is raining. So I think we will do a living room picnic instead.
It's a busy week ahead as well with Stan heading to KM for a special training. But even after being so busy all weekend, which usually leaves me dragging on Monday morning, I feel energized and overflowing and ready to go. Happy Monday to you all!
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