We Have Each Other ║ Large Family Vlog │ Summer Break 2018

This video covers from July 16 (when we got home from Oklahoma) to July 31. What struck me as I edited was seeing so many different life stages and how families support each other no matter which stage you're in. During this two weeks, we potty trained Claudia and she had all of her sisters there to model for her and cheer her on. On the other end of the spectrum, Grandma Fern had a mini stroke and needed some physical therapy so we spent many, many hours sitting by her side. We celebrated Grandma Jane's birthday by having a little barbecue and sprinkling her ashes under the big trees outside her home. It was a time to reflect and remember her with those who owe her their very lives, as well as a time of fun and being together. (Tom gave Grandpa Frank a fun joyride in his wheelchair!) Somewhere between those stages are Papa Gary, with whom the boys spent lots of time working at his property, Grandma Kitty, who had us out for a fun game night and Tom & I. We celebrated our 19th anniversary during this two weeks. There are lots of visits I don't get any video of, but I did get some one day when my sister, Bethany, spent the day with us. (She's going to have a baby in the spring!) We also went to the Crook County Fair Parade with my sister, Ami, and her kids. Normally, we spend the night with Grandma Fern before the parade (a tradition we started back when my mom was still alive), but this year we had to forgo the sleepover since Grandma was in the hospital. I suppose that little tradition is probably over forever now. Old routines go away, but there are always new ones to put in their place. The kids and I have been trying to settle into a new summer routine with breakfast on the porch followed by working in the yard/garden, time spent with our "clubs," and we switched to do chores before bed instead of the morning. Everyone pitches in with a few chores at lunch, too, and it's been fun eating produce from the garden that everyone has helped to grow. Of course, life has lots of time for play with friends and siblings, sleepovers, trips to the library and just plain "hanging out." (We had fun taste testing all of the strange sodas that Tom and I bought on our anniversary with the Reeves family.) Old water pipes are being replaced with new water pipes in our neighborhood, good habits are being reinforced with reward charts at our house and we're learning all about The Hidden Life of Trees. It's amazing to learn how trees are really a community and it makes me see our own community and family in a new light. When Thomas got bit by a dog at work this week, I saw how much people care in our little town. The people Thomas works with were so supportive and the police were so supportive. I'm thankful it all turned out all right and the herbs we used on Thomas' face healed his wound so fast! Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with each other and bountiful provision.

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Mills Family
P.O. Box 323
Moorcroft, Wyoming 82721
USA

Birthdays
Thomas- Jan. 5
Sophia- Jan. 19
Eden- Feb. 24
Hannah- May 2
Judah- May 26
Solomon- June 15
Andrea- June 22
Our Anniversary- July 24
Claudia- Aug. 4
Justus- Sep. 21
Tom- Oct. 25
Asher- Dec. 15