Entry Way Progress

Back in May, I wrote a bit about how I was trying to finish the entry way project that's been going on in our tiny entry way for YEARS. 

At the beginning of June, Shannon had texted Jeremy about coming over to do some work in there that was the next step. We were at my parents' but [unbeknownst to me] Jeremy told Shannon to go ahead and let himself in to the house if he wanted to. So Shannon and Dawn spent their day at our house working!  Dawn sent me this photo later of Shannon's things spread out on our front porch.

When we got home, Jeremy and Sylvia went in first and he got her to take a video of me coming in and being completely surprised.

I had a little bit of staining and sealing to do on the shelf and trim pieces that Shannon put in, but it was a quick and easy part of the project.

After looking at dozens of solar lanterns, I finally found a really good deal on some white plastic ones at Menard's. (It was an interesting adventure for me to drive into the lumber yard with the contractors and pick up my little lanterns, haha!) But I love what they add to the space.

Especially at night!

I put some tap lights under the shelf to add some more light 

when we actually need to see something in the space.

I love this space now, and I love it even more because of these dear friends! It was all Dawn's design and vision and Shannon's handiwork that made it come to life! We love sharing life with these friends!

Life rushing by

Directing the fall play has me a bit behind in blogging--and a lot of other parts of life!  But, here are some random things I stopped to take a picture of this week...

I've seen several praying mantises this week--including this one on the napkin basket in our kitchen!

Our community came together on Wednesday evening to hold simultaneous prayer vigils in 4 villages for 9-year-old Daelin Tolan, who is in treatment for a brain tumor.  The girls and I attended the vigil in Saybrook, grateful to be able to add our prayers for this sweet little girl and her family.

 After a few years, the vocal jazz ensemble finally agreed on an official name--the Midnight Blues! 
And, Annah designed the new t-shirts!

 I made supper before going to rehearsal so the kids could put it in the oven and eat before I got home and the girls had to go to band rehearsal on Thursday.

I haven't been crocheting much in recent weeks with the extra activity of the play, so I joined a crochet-along to have goals with deadlines.  I'm keeping up so far... It will be a cardigan when I finish.  I still have about 6 unfinished summer projects though.

Our girls have recently been hit with the sad fact that sometimes people wrongly interpret humility as timidity or weakness.  A high school boy literally yelled repeatedly at one of our girls this week during rehearsal on the marching band field that she is weak and should just admit it!  Even though she was hurt by his words and attitude, she asked him to stop because it isn't true.  Then, several other students literally stood by her side to show their respect to her.
The Lord brought these wise words to my attention to share with our daughter the day after that happened.  Not a coincidence...

It is supposed to be fall now, but this is the weather situation here...