We had a miraculous week with a stranger giving us a lot of money, we got a new water heater installed in half the time it was supposed to, Lori getting a job in Charlotte, the girls putting on a successful play, I sold one meteorology syllabus I wrote online, and I got a babysitting job. I really felt the Lord looking out for us! I'm especially thrilled that my sister is moving only 2 hours from us!! I prayed so hard she'd get a job by us all summer. She's a coach/athletic trainer at colleges so jobs are usually just available over the summer and since colleges are starting next week, it was our last hope. We can't wait to have family close by!
Samuel showing Aunt Lori how big our fig tree leaves are.
I got a total miracle! Our water heater has been leaking since October and for the past few months I've researched other tankless kinds and prayed about what to do. I never got an answer so I went ahead and told the gas company I'd get theirs and they'd install it on Wednesday. It was $2,000 and I hated that when I didn't care much about hot water. I wasn't sure if it was even worth that to me. So I still debated if I could get an electric one cheaper and which one would cost less in the long run and prayed for an answer. I'd asked at least 20 friends and plumbers and never got a clear answer. And had never found an electrician who would install an electric one. Then Monday night the gas man, Aron, who would install it for us (and had been over last week to take measurements and give me an estimate and heard I was a single mom of 10), came over and gave me a folded envelope with cash in it! Said the Lord told him to give it to me; that I must need it more than he does. So then I knew I was supposed to get the gas one and everything would work out.
After recovering from my astonishment I counted it and it's $1200!! I can't believe a stranger would give me that much money!! What an answer to prayers!
Tuesday: Talea loves watching the butterflies on the impatients.
I enjoyed working on a little mud kitchen area for Tilly. Or a workbench for the boys.
Inside Kait and Kenna were getting the house ready for a baby doll play. They turned all the couches around and set up seating.
The dining table became the stage. The white fabric is the curtains and the yellow is the yellow brick road.
I'm sure you've guessed that they're doing "The Wizard of Oz." They started sewing costumes and painting backdrops last October and never knew who to perform it for until the YW president saw Kaitlyn crocheting doll costumes at girls' camp and asked if the YW could come see it. So that's what's happening tomorrow!
"Back stage." All the doll actors are organized and ready.
Wednesday: The gas guys (Aron and his cute boy helper) came and installed our new water heater. Sam and Andy watched their every move, followed them to their truck to get tools and supplies, followed them back down to the basement, followed them outside where they were drilling holes for the pvc vent pipes, always talking in awe amongst each other. Now all Andy talks about is how he's going to be a gas guy when he grows up. :)
All done! I stressed all summer about what to do about the leaky water heater; about which one to buy to replace it when it burst. Water heaters are not fun toys I want to spend my money on and I didn't even mind not having hot water for 1.5 weeks. But I'm so glad I went with the gas one and it's all installed and over! What a relief!
Dress rehearsal for The Wizard of Oz.
Getting out party foods for our guests.
Makenna's doll, Lyzziebelle, was the star of the show and performed all her lines perfectly.
The whole show was put on by Kait and Kenna using different dolls as the actors. They memorized every single line! Sam, Andy, and Tilly came in on the ensemble scenes and were the backstage managers, changing dolls' costumes, readying props, etc.
This was the hot air balloon and was super cool.
These were all of Kaitlyn's manager notes.
Sam and Andy were mostly stage crew. This is one page of the notes she made for them so they'd know what to do.
I didn't get a picture of all our guests but here's them going out to their cars. It was a very exciting night and the kids felt so special to have so many people come see their play.
Lisa gave Kaitlyn flowers. :)
Thursday: Doing school outside.
Looking at old blog posts together.
Eating dinner outside because there are still dolls and sets on the table. We weren't ready to clean it up yet or throw everything away after 10 months of hard work!
A beautiful Great Blue Heron I saw on a walk.
Friday: Finally cleaning up the sets, Kaitlyn took pictures of some of her stuff.
Here's the scarecrow's garden, Ms. Gulch's bike, Oz, Tin man's scenerey.
The back of the Oz guy. Kaitlyn spoke into the tubes to make his voice.
Tin Man, Ms Gulch, two winkies
Munchkins
Lion, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Guard
Glenda!
So neat to see how overflowing our garden is by August when we start in April with just seeds.
(looking the opposite way.)
Even in June we didn't have a lot of big plants yet. But now we do! I've had a blast gardening here! It's been so rewarding even with the animals digging up our plants or eating them.
The okra is huge! It's my first time growing it so I have no idea what I'm doing.
I think I'm supposed to pick them when they're only 2-3" but I keep finding really huge ones I missed the day before.
Corn growing out of the compost pile.
Weird gourd growing that we didn't plant.
I'ts getting so long! Every day it's a lot longer than the day before.
Another little gourd growing.
A thank you note we're writing to Aron.
Babysitting our friends Callie and Clara.
Saturday: Kaitlyn put all of the Philly cheesesteak on her bun and Andy only got a tiny bit! It made a fun sandwich!
The 4 little kids being trees in each season. Tilly is spring, Makenna is summer, Sam is fall, and Andy is winter.
