Rachael's Birthday!

Rach elected to have her birthday dinner at Mom and Dad's this year.  It also fell on our regular family dinner night, which worked out well for everyone! ❤

Sadly, T-man left before we got the above group pic, but he was there for our lasagna dinner and Rach's white b-day cake with whipped icing, and we all had fun playing Scattergories (an old favorite for me + Mom, Dad, and Rach, but new to all the kids)!

Rach made a comment about Kyndal not always understanding ironic humor.  She does understand sarcasm, though!  She dramatically pretended not to understand the very next time Jace made a joke: "But I don't get it - how is it funny? - Can someone explain it all to me?"  She's the best!! lol =)

Since we failed to get a cake pic, I thought it'd be cute to just hold up the birthday banner... happy to say I was not wrong! lol

Me during dinner, looking at Rach:  So what all have you done so far today?

Jace, fully assuming I was asking him, goes into a lengthy answer about school work and friends and his fish and more, whilst Kyndal chimes in a couple times "Stop talking - she doesn't care - she was asking Mom!!" and he 100% ignores her.

Eventually, we finish talking about Jace's day, and I turn to Rachael and say, "So what all have you done so far on your birthday!?"

Jace gasps - "Were you talking to her!?  My bad!" lolol

Me:  "Well, I'm so happy to hear about your day too!"

(For real, though!)

This = the collage from my bday post on Facebook, all holiday-themed pics that make me happy.  The final year of Rachael's 30s has now begun - I told her hopefully God is saving the best year of that decade for last! ❤

Here's the Miss K with her "Big Sis," Sabrina, at their volleyball practice.

They had the 11s pair up with girls from the Charge 15s team, and each of them dressed to match for practice that night - super cute and FUN!! ❤

Doing my best to be gentle and patient with myself...

...While also doing my part to create change!  This is another good reminder from Mel.  We all face painful things, and there's a time for grief and processing.  But we don't just get to wallow endlessly and live in victim mode and fail to transform - there's no beauty and redemption on that path.  We can move forward with grief and hope, honoring all that we've been through, acknowledging what IS in our control, and taking responsibility for building a purposeful life moving forward!

Another meme from Chettles. lol

I for sure overthought that one and decided that my inner light does get brighter and warmer as I discard and burn away the sinful trash polluting my mind and soul.  Externally, a LOT is shifting at once in the world around us, and that can feel scary, but hopefully some of it is shifting for the positive, getting rid of waste and pulling people out of apathy and paving way for better things ahead!

Okay, back on topic - I'm grateful for my one and only sister, Rachael LaJo, and the vast myriad of ways her life has impacted mine!  And I'm grateful for a fun dinner and game night celebrating with the fam!! ❤

Happy Wednesday, gang!

❤ ❤ ❤