Family time

Well, the India family came to the states this summer and we spent a few very full days together.  It was too short, but we are grateful anyway. we aren't perfect and neither was our visit, but it was still a great time.

at my brother's house there were people sleeping everywhere, which is tricky with the bright-eyed early risers

caroline and owen were cute together

uncles and cousins

cheap (and dangerous) thrills

hadn't seen her in a year! 

more morning snuggles

kelly's scones were amazing

crochet lessons for char

Getaway

back in May, i weaned owen and we celebrated our 11th anniversary. my parents and my brother and sister-in-law all agreed to hold down our fort so we could sneak away.  what a gift!  they even had to deal with throw-up, so we know they really, really love us.  we stayed at my dear late Grandma's house so splurged on good meals and the biltmore estate.  it was loverly... and so needed! 

here we are at lookinglass rock 10 years ago.  i think this was our first christmas card picture

hiking is my love-language

my grandma's peonies were blooming and adam made breakfast feasts

our favorite restaurant from pre-children days

it was super interesting and just a treat to stroll around unhurried and see downton abbey costumes!

Swim team

it was another fun swimteam season for our crew.  miles joined up this year and earned the most improved in his age group.  marit came into her own as a backstroker also.  it was a lot of fun and we made some new summertime friends.

sometimes we walked together while the boys practiced.  here she said "the grass is like a deep carpet"

sporting the "lucky dots" from one of the coaches.  this guy is such a strong swimmer now so that makes me grateful when i take the whole crew to the pool!

waiting for their events at the meets would often give rise to serious card games

Graduated

After a decade of training, Adam finally completed residency!  Here are some pictures of the festivities.  It seemed anticlimactic since he started his new job the next week, but I am so very grateful that a new season is upon us. Adam has worked so hard and not neglected us in the process. God sustained us and graced us throughout many long rotations when our bodies, minds, marriage, strength seemed to be near to failing at times.  He is good and faithful. I don't expect Adam's new job to be any kind of picnic, but it is fresh and new and something to dig into.  So far he really loves it though the learning curve is steep.

proud class

each graduate was given an opportunity for remarks (makes for a loooong evening) and Adam was so sweet and funny and he made me cry (surprise, surprise)

with department heads...he was given the resident clinician award!

post-boat ride gelato

riverboat with his class

we made this for his last shift when he came home to a quiet house in the middle of the night.

Skidaway

This is my first effort at getting pictures off my new smartphone (i know, i know, total sellouts) to the bloggy. i do like to document our adventures on occasion. my brother and his precious family along with some of their friends took a trip to a state park. they camped because they are awesome and brave with littles, while we stayed in a camper cabin (think tiny house). it was truly sweet time. we went to the beach one day, but did not take any pictures because adam was afraid of getting sand in our phones....

cousins in the cabin

these two loooove each other

who says you can't have fancy coffee when you camp?

so many breezy hikes

shoe of choice

a known birdwatching spot and we saw so many neat ones...this is my favorite, the painted bunting!

the extent of our accommodations...simple and just enough

another first

we have our first broken bone in the family. the kids were jumping on a neighbor's trampoline (we all know they are SO fun and SO dangerous!) and graham came racing home to tell me miles was hurt. adam was on call at a different hospital, so we talked on the phone and i ended up taking him to the er where they did not x-ray his whole arm. 4 yr olds aren't the best at pin-pointing the pain. they saw no fracture, but he was still not using it at all the next day, so adam took him back in and the elbow was broken. kids are so resilient. he really has been a little trooper! i even had to tell him to get out of the tree he was climbing because, well, that's not wise one-armed. oh these boys keep us on our toes.

closing april

if you haven't yet, go buy sandra's new psalms album.  above is one of my favorites...i find it on my lips often these days.  singing scripture settles me in a mysterious (but not surprising) way. adam is closing out his icu month this week and it has been busy and long, but not as bad as i expected.

we wrapped up the school year with our co-op, soccer, violin concert.  we are plugging away and finishing up the rest of our school books and preparing for a gear change this summer.  in between the april showers, the weather has been so beautiful and we planted a little garden and water the flowers. i'm grateful for these slow days, home with my children.

rainy day nature video that lost miles' interest

unhappy baby in the laundry

causing all kinds of trouble at the concert!

last mother-daughter Bible study of the year

the evil rat snake who ate our wren eggs.  we actually saw him hanging from our geranium (miles spotted him), followed by a chase and lots of sobbing upon seeing an empty nest. nature can be so violent.

helping me free the crepe myrtles from crazy vines. g is usually a very willing yard helper.