this summer

This past summer 

Trent was just itching to build something!

He decided it would be a house, fort- play house for the nephews- 

nearly every week it changed.

The folks at Home Depot were so awesome- truly!

Brett & Trent ran over there countless days for "supplies." 

When Brett mentioned Trent had Asperger's Syndrome & was building a fort all on his own, they offered him a discount. For the rest of the summer they could get boards from their -not so great- board pile for an excellent price. It was a great learning opportunity for Trent.

Now- fast forward to October & the fort is all taken apart & laying in a pile under the apple tree. Next spring they are going to draw up plans & build a tree house for Trent & all the grandsons. 

Trent is lucky- lucky we are patient & we haven't killed him by now. 

Lucky to have such a great dad.

We saw a couple of movies!

I have remembered how much I love to go to the movies.

For years we didn't go very often if ever- just too much going on with a little one with autism etc.

Hailey & her friend Ryan who have been dating almost a year now!

We saw Disney's Planes

and 

Despicable Me 2

and

The Way Way Back

I loved them all- but I am aware I am not a good movie judge since

 I just like any movie in the theater really...

When Chloe had home visits I tried to make her favorite food.

Like Buttermilk fried chicken!

This picture is of a fire we saw taking her back to the hospital one Sunday night.

A fire started up in the West- wild fires are so scary & devastating- but isn't this picture incredible?

(brett & chloe out to lunch on a day visit)

We had some super fun day visits & family therapy. 

Well, therapy wasn't always what you'd call fun, but it was good.

Here are Brett, Hailey & Chloe 

taking a tour on Segways- one of Chloe's bucket list items.

We ate a lot of peaches & ice cream.

One of my favorite things in late summer & in life in general-

and we had a new back patio poured

and steps put in.

Sadly our deck died. 

It was a good deck- but had to go.

The kind men who we hired to build our new patio & stairs were so nice to let Trent help them.

 It was an adventure.

 All in all it was kind of a tough summer.

But I am glad we had it. I look forward to next summer & hopefully a little family vacation? 

A girl can dream right?

I will acknowledge that God has never left us.

He doesn't leave us alone in our trials. He really doesn't.

It can certainly feel like it at times, oh I know that- 

But in the lowest moments - those moments when I don't feel like I can take it anymore, or hurt any deeper, He has lifted my burdens

and

I am grateful