This morning I knocked out a few projects, including wallpapering
the back of the kitchen cabinets.
This is my go-to quick fix to brighten up and beautify spaces.
I swear I've done it in every house I've lived in.
The wallpaper is so cute with little woodland animals.
Stillestead is coming together slowly, one day at a time.
Then, Claire and I drove to the mall (remember malls?)
and went shopping for a dress for her tomorrow as she
gives a talk and reports to our church congregation about her mission.
We went to several places but ultimately found her a dress in Anthropologie.
She looks like a Greek goddess.
She's so lovely!
Then we had dinner together and talked about her next steps in life.
Coming home from a mission is hard.
Moving forward in life isn't as straightforward as it was on her mission.
In Brazil, everything was so exact and laid out.
Each day she had a plan and was needed, and she experienced so much joy.
Coming home seems anti-climactic.
She misses her friends and feels a little lonely.
I told her my favorite advice from Bonnie L. Oscarson,
"Life rarely goes exactly according to plan for anyone,
...aim for the ideal but plan for contingencies."
We're figuring it out one day at a time.
For now, she'll enjoy the rest of July at home, sleeping in, playing
with our family and spending time with Jane before she leaves.
But come August, she has a job lined up working at Barre3
and will begin applying for nursing schools.
Go, Claire, Go!!
