Family visit

20 August 2025: Got to spend some time today with my parents, Erin, Krista, and Isla. We celebrated my dad's 79th birthday a few days early, too.

Nine!

5 July 2025: Eric sent me this picture from Isla's pool party for her 9th (!) birthday today. I am glad to see she put this silly little bag that I sent her to use on the one day is it relevant. 

My goodness, is time flying! Colin turned 21 this past Tuesday, which also blows my mind. 

Christmas: Part 2

29 December 2024: Hosted Erin and company, Tara and the boys, and my parents today for Christmas: Part 2. Pretty great time!

(this last one taken--obviously--shortly after everyone left)

Christmas 2024

25 December 2024: Blessed to spend the day with Erin, Eric, and the girls (and the dogs, one of whom was insistent on some face-licking...).

Here comes Christmas...

29 November 2024: After spending last night at the McNetts', it was quite nice to wake up and spend some time with them, including helping them decorate the tree. I think I'll put mine up tomorrow, a bit earlier than usual, but not much. Feels like we need all the light and joy we can muster.

Thanksgiving 2024

28 November 2024: 

[Catch-up post]

So thankful to have these four in my life and for the chance to spend the day with them.

The girls invited me to spend the night and watch Christmas movies with them, which delighted me. We watched Mickey's Christmas Carol, Frosty the Snowman, and Home Alone. Just a really lovely, cozy day. 

"Reading anything good?"

5 September 2024: This is kind of a cheat, since the thing I am writing about happened yesterday, but it's been making me smile today. I called Krista and Isla to find out how school was going and then asked them each if they were reading anything good.

Krista's answer was pure Krista: she had checked a book out from the library about mythologies from around the world.

Isla's answer: The Big Book of Butts, also from the library.

I told Hannah that story and she said, "The two sides of your brain!" Ha!

Sweet Frog Meet-Up

22 July 2024: 

[Catch-up post]

Caught some great synergy yesterday as Tara, Jeff, Evan, and their new puppy passed right through Martinsburg on their way to Oklahoma for Colin's graduation from basic training. So Isla, Krista, and I met them at the Sweet Frog just off 81 for a quick visit. Really lovely that it worked out!

It's called "New Romantics"

21 July 2024:

[Catch-up post]

Isla introducing me to her third favorite Taylor Swift song on the first night of her and Krista's visit. We also painted nails, made ice-cream sundaes, and watched silly TV. 

Street Fest 2024

29 June 2024: What a great day today was! This morning, I had a volunteer shift at Street Fest. Then I can home to meet Erin and the girls, who finally met Jo. That went swimmingly, of course. And we went to Street Fest. Hot as heck, but fun. 

Youth consult...

28 June 2024: Decided to get Isla some earrings for her birthday and ultimately decided on some pairs at Kohl's. I was half-heartedly looking around, hoping to ask a young person if they thought an almost-eight-year-old (going on eighteen) would like them. 

At one point, I overheard an older customer being really difficult with an associate (maybe mid-twenties?), making snarky comments about how expensive things are, how the store had really gone downhill, etc. The associate was so professional and calm, it really impressed me. After the old woman walked away, I walked by associate and said, "Good job" and rolled my eyes. We whispered a bit about how she tried her best, she was great, etc.

Eventually, I went to the front to pay. And that same associate checked me out. I put the earrings down and said, "niece's birthday!" She said, "oh, these are cute!" and then rang up the next pair--and she was wearing the same ones. She complimented all of my choices and then I said what I wrote above: that I was hoping for a young person's take on them. She (and another associate, probably the same age) laughed as a left about being called "young people," since obviously they didn't feel young. It's all relative, after all. 

Anyway, we'll see what the kid herself thinks about them tomorrow when she and the rest of her gang come to visit. 

Easter 2024

31 March 2024: Marshmallow Peeps are not my fav, but they helped my carrot cake look good enough to impress some of my *actual* favorite peeps. 

So very blessed to get to spend every Easter with Erin, Eric, and the girls. 

Christmas Eve 2023

24 December 2023: 

[Catch-up post...]

A couple of pictures from the nicest parts of the day...

"The Bleakening"

23 December 2023:

[Catch-up post]

Made to NY in pretty good time on Saturday. That evening, I was thrilled to introduce Krista and Isla to Bob's Burgers, specifically to "The Bleakening." 

Thanksgiving 2023

23 November 2023:Some pictures from Thanksgiving at the McNett house.

With Krista and my silly veggie turkey.

Doing the "mashed potato" at dinner.

The chefs with their work.

Art with Isla.

Just hanging with two of my favorite people.

My influence, continued...

16 July 2023: 

[Catch-up post]

"Yes! Toilet, toilet, toilet!" --Isla and Krista yesterday morning, as we watched a toilet-smashing episode of Is It Cake. I literally heard about that moment--with the toilet--on a podcast I listened to on the drive-up and knew it would be a hit. I know my audience. 

My influence...

14 July 2023: Little trip to NY coming up for Aidan and Colin's graduation parties. Erin and the girls are already up there. Erin sent this dispatch earlier.

I mean, in the long run, my legacy of TV influence on them better be more than this, but I am not ashamed. 

Easter 2023

9 April 2023: 

Thanksgiving 2022

24 November 2022:

Morning boosts...

31 October 2022: Kind of inexplicably woke up at 5:00 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Weird morning anxiety that just wouldn't let me settle. So I got to campus very early--saw the sun just starting to rise as I got out of my car and then paused to watch it come up. Headed out for my walk about an hour later, still feeling not great. But the Lord provided some mood boosts. 

First, the early morning sun on the river and the autumn leaves by the monument just stopped me.

Then, as I was still walking, I got this from Erin:

The day was still a weird one and the vibes still aren't great, but those two moments and images made and make me smile and fill me with gratitude.