Lazy days?!? HA!

I apologize for missing Foto Friday this past week~I did my first ever two-day yard sale on Friday and Saturday and believe me when I tell you, I've been crazy busy because of it.

Living in the country requires a bit of innovation when it comes to holding a yard sale, you just don't get as many customers as you would in town. Because of this, I held my yard sale on the same weekend as a neighboring auction house was holding an auction. Auctions are an EVENT and people can go just to meet up with neighbors, not even just to buy. I thought if ever I was going to do a yard sale, THIS would have to be the weekend.

A tremendous amount of work but surprisingly no-stress (why have I never set yard sales up the night before and tarped things?!?!) this time, and I am $110.00 dollars richer. Surprisingly, my biggest ticket item was $6.00~ it's amazing how profitable nickel and diming it can be.

So the week leading up to Friday and Saturday were pretty busy and of course, those days followed suite. Sunday, after church we had a picnic/birthday party to attend-with FREE carousel rides and kiddie pool. Fun!

TOMORROW is Adele's fifth (and final) hearing test. I kinda left everyone hanging about the last one, which was a failed test due to machine difficulties-but it didn't fail to overwhelm me a bit. I was sick of thinking about it, sick of worrying about it and sick of talking about it. SO, I stopped. For four months. And I am happy that I did, even though I know lots of people aren't happy about it (Hi Mom! hehehe), because it gave me an opportunity to look at my girl through unconcerned eyes and to see firsthand that she and I love one another (CAN love one another) no more and no less than if she weren't just as she is this very minute. Regardless of hearing status. Regardless of anything. I feel refreshed and ready to hear the verdict, or ready to put it out of our heads, which we have decided to do if this test too is inconclusive. At some point, enough is enough.

It seems to me that unless my mind is playing tricks on me (and Matt's, on him) that Adele' does respond to sounds and such. My gut tells me her "odd" ear is deaf but that she has hearing in her other. But we know now more than ever before that with or without hearing, not only is she fully functioning but she is bright, and sweet and very very dear. So, whatever comes may come and we will not only survive but thrive. And I'll try very hard to clear each bump in the road with as much grace as is possible.

So, that's Tuesday.

and THEN. (HA! You thought I was done?!) On Thursday I am very excited to be hosting an outdoor picnic party at our home, combining lots of great loves. Good food, good friends, children, flowers, picnics...and books. It's a book exchange! I'll give you all the details once I actually MAKE them, which has not yet happened. Which is surprising because there are nearly 100 people invited....3/4 of which are....CHILDREN! It will be fun, of that I am certain.

But it is a large gathering, with many people who have never been to our new home (so you know it must be in shipshape!), will require lots of food, and SHOULD have some preparations...and you KNOW I can't host a party without a bit of frugal, make-do or do-without decorating (read: homemade). Needless to say, I've got my work cut out for me.

Who ever coined the term "lazy days of summer" didn't have a clue.

Likely, I will not be on the blog-scene again until AFTER all the wonderfulness of this week transpires but I WILL be back, hopefully with lots of good book exchange coverage and ideas. In my head--it's gonna be FABULOUS.

(after a bath. Our Bunkin has turned into a little fish, she loves the water so.)

(in case you were wondering what she was looking at...)

(and you KNOW, I couldn't resist....)