Joplin Journal Volume 9-7, Issue 1

From the Editor's Desk:

And once again I missed two weeks. It wasn't planned. Well, the first Saturday was. Last Saturday we had the kids over so no time to write a Joplin Journal. These Journals might be a little less frequent in the next month or so. We have big plans. (More about that in Old House News.) But I should get going as I have a long to-do list for today.

Weather Report:

The last few days have been cooler and quite nice. We haven't had the windows open much, but a few times it reminded me of fall. We've also had some hot, humid days that aren't anything like fall. :) The grass is growing quite well and will probably need mowed again soon. We have a lot of daisies blooming right now. And blackberries are ripening on the alley side of the fence.

"Genius Burns":

Well, I have been writing. But not on any of my longer stories like Lawrence & Lenexa or Kelsey. Instead I've been writing short things. You see, at KDWC we've been posting picture prompts and word of the day challenges for girls to use in their stories or just to write. I decided to combine the Word of the Day and the day's picture prompts and write a scene or short story for each one. Some have been quite challenging. Others have turned into fun stories.

Project Prognosis:

• Publish Phil Wood √
• Update Website – Well, I got started, but haven't finished.
• Blog posts for July and August – √ July is done, but not August.
• KDWC – That's happening.

4th of July:

On the 3rd we went out to a families home for a church Independence Day celebration. We helped set up. We did water rockets which were a huge hit once again. Even some of the older young people got in on the act and created and designed their own rockets. There were some baseball games played, the little ones played on the swings and on the climbing place. Supper was enjoyed and people sat around and visited. When it got dark there was a fantastic display of fireworks. Kinsley loved them! I was holding her and she just grinned and pointed. When they would pause she would pat me and point. "Do you want more?" I asked. She grinned and nodded. She also had to make sure Sarah and Krista knew about the fireworks and were watching them too. Some of the fireworks were making loud pops and Kinsley grinned and said, "Pop. Pop." When she was getting impatient and wanting more fireworks I told her she had to wait and she nodded and said, "Okay." She's talking more now and it's so much fun!.

Old House News:

The big news from the Morris house is that we are going to finally gut the last two rooms of the house! The sewing room and Mom & Dad's room. They still have the old lath and plaster, the floors are sagging in places and they just need redone. We're also going to be finishing the hall. But this means we have to pack up several thousand books, move other books, move bookshelves, and pack away things we can do without for a few months. Sarah's sewing things will all be moved upstairs to the back room which means some things up there have to be cleaned out or moved. And Mom & Dad will move into the living room later. It's rather crazy. But so exciting! This means new lights in both rooms, new windows, closets, shelves, and it will be so much better! The kids have gotten to help pack some boxes of books. And Krista really wants to come back over and pack more books. Joel is already talking about which wall in the sewing room he wants to rip out. We are pressing forward as quickly as we can because once the kids start school they won't have much time to help.

The Music Stand:

Working on a song for church. Probably playing in September. We'll practice for the first time tomorrow after church.

KDWC:

Writing camp is going well. We have over 100 campers! It really is amazing seeing God bring girls together from South Africa, Singapore, Austria, Zambia, Chile, Canada, and all across the US. Writing is happening, encouragement is being given, prayer requests are shared and prayed for, and friendships made and renewed.

Babysitting:

As I mentioned before, the kids were over last Saturday for breakfast and until almost 2:00. It was overcast and sprinkled some. The boys helped Papa cut up some dead branches we'd trimmed when we cut down the pecan. They had a fire going in the pot, and Grant and Kailyn learned what matches were. :) Krista and James helped pack some boxes of books, Kinsley dozed off during lunch, Lucas read, and Drew spent most of the time working outside. Grant got the small blower out and blew Grammy's porch off and the sidewalk until the battery "ran out of juice."

Sewing Room:

The orders have slowed down which has been nice since we have so much prep for remodeling the house to do.

Read Another Page:

And yes, I have published the next Woodbreak book!

You can get your paperback or kindle copy HERE.

Teacher's Lounge:

Closed until Fall.

Book Nook:

Not nearly as many books to list this time. We've been so busy that I haven't gotten to read very much. Here's what I have gotten read. Edward R. Murrow: Young Newscaster, The Ringling Brothers: Circus Boys, The Mystery of Bandit Gulch (the last of the Bret King books. How sad.), Will Clark, boy in buckskins. And that's it. I'm currently reading the Childhood of Famous Americans about Meriwether Lewis. I figured that since I had just read William Clark, I should read the other member of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Farewell:

And I'm finally reaching the end of this. I've been interrupted by this and that, distracted with this thing and that thing, and need to get on with other things. I have no idea if I'm missing anything or not. But I'll never get to the rest of my list if I don't send this. Have a lovely weekend and I might be popping into your inbox next week. Or not. I have no idea. :D