Joplin Journal Volume 10-6, Issue 3

From the Editor's Desk:

I'm so used to doing only 1-2 Joplin Journals a month that I tried to say it was July already. :) It's not. It's still June. The month is going by really fast, but not quite that fast. I feel like my brain is trying to juggle again and it's not working. I had to do a "brain dump" and get everything I could think of that I needed to do or work on out and onto paper. Then it was easier.

Weather Report:

Summer has arrived with a vengeance. We didn't just go up to 80ºs or low 90ºs, nope, we had to jump right to mid to upper 90ºs with heat index of 100º+. Ugh! I needed to mow the yard, but with heat advisories I was wondering when I would mow. And then Wednesday came and the high was supposed to be in the low 90ºs and no heat index! So I went out at 7:00 AM (the earliest you are supposed to run a power tool or machine in town) and mowed our yard the fastest way. Yes, I mow our yard in all sorts of ways, but there is one way that is fastest, and I was able to get almost all of it done before breakfast. Next week is also supposed to be hot and dry, so maybe the grass won't grow quite as fast.

"Genius Burns":

I'm now past my "goal" of 30k words. Writing was a little slower this week. Sometimes I just felt like my brain was too full to figure out what I was doing. Another day I was too tired to write. But I am hoping to get some good writing in this evening.

Project Prognosis:

Let's see how my projects are coming this week.

• Work on Blog Posts – Yeah, well . . . I did get one post done. And I got a few figured out, but haven't started writing them yet.
• Publish my Writing Camp Journal – I did! If you want to see the covers or look at some of the pages, you can go HERE and read my post about them.
• Prepare for KDWC – I am working on that.
• Work on my Name List – Haven't done anything else with that. I need to get another book to read, but I have so many other books, that I haven't pulled one of my own out.

Spring 100:

There are a few days left if I wanted to walk and get a few more miles in, but since it's so hot out, I haven't been motivated at all. But I'm, oh, so glad I finished last Saturday before it got hot! Even on Saturday it was hot.

Visitors:

I don't have any pictures from our time together, but Amber, Angela, and I went out for ice cream and took some pictures together last Saturday. It was fun to just hang out with them. I did spend half of Saturday morning over there hanging out with the kids and the family. I even stayed for lunch. Then on Sunday I went down after church to say goodbye. The littlest guy kept telling me, "I need to hug you," and the little girl would kiss my cheek and then say, "You're sweaty." (I had just walked down in the 98º sun. Yeah, I was sweaty.) I said an official goodbye and waved as they drove away on Monday morning. It was so nice to have them down here again!

Babysitting:

The kids haven't been over, but . . . I do have some pictures from when they were all here last and played restaurant. Don't laugh too much.

This is the whole crew. Starting on the left we have, Kailyn–visitor to the restaurants, Krista–instigator, and creative brains behind it all, Lucas–"Frenchy," the well known chef, Joel–part owner of "the Chuck Wagon", Grant–visitor to every restaurant, Drew–part own of "the Chuck Wagon", James–waiter at "Frenchy's". Yes, stick-on mustaches are really fun when playing dress-up or pretend.

I just had to share this picture of Joel and Drew.

And isn't this little guy just the cutest? I'm not sure what country he looks like he's from.

And this is Kinsley. No, she's not a princess, she's just "pretty." :D

Birthday Party:

Yesterday was Drew's 11th birthday. Grandpa and my aunt came down from KC and we all went over to J & Co.'s. We ate lunch, got in a few games of ping-pong, and had dessert and presents. Here is Drew with his new outfit. (Gun and glasses were already his.)

Now he can really hide in the woods.

And I have to give you a picture of their dog, Rocco.

He's really sweet.

And to end this, section, I must show you Kinsley. I had taken one of her blankies and tied it around her head like a hat. She suddenly noticed a corner hanging down and exclaimed, "Here's my corner!" Then she proceeded to hold on to that corner and her other blankie's corner and sucked her thumb. When she saw Sarah was taking a picture she pretended to go to sleep. Silly girl!

From Camp:

Krista is having a wonderful time at camp! We missed her yesterday, but from the looks of these pictures I was sent, she's enjoying it. She loves kitchen stuff, so this is just her type of thing.

The Music Stand:

Orchestra practice is going well. We still haven't had everyone there, but last time the brass were a little quieter and the strings played louder, so it was a better balance. We're now playing two songs for the 3rd.

KDWC:

It's almost here! Registration starts on Monday! I've been informed by one of the girls who has been in my tent most of the time, that she's been recruiting for my tent! Yikes! I'm not sure I want a full tent of 20 girls! We'll see what happens though. We're still trying to get the final things done and ready. Prayers for a good camp would be appreciated. I don't know if we'll keep growing numbers like we have been, and if so, what we'll end up with. We did add a new "Auntie" and "tent" so maybe our tents won't be quite as crowded. (Except for mine. :P)

Sewing Room:

I can hear the sewing machine going. I don't know if Sarah is still working on those fancy dresses or not, but if not, she still has things to sew that keep her busy.

Read Another Page:

I proof listened to 4 more chapters of Hymns in the Hills. It's getting closer to being done.

Teacher's Lounge:

Last papers graded. I need to get the final grades together and then this will be closed until later.

Book Nook:

I've read some, but they've all been middle grade type of books. That's okay, sometimes you need to read something easy and fun. On my shelf this week are: Ember (fun rescue dog story), Mr. Popper's Penguins (oh the laughs!), Star in the Storm (another dog book), and Thunder from the Sea (not reviewed yet, but fun).

Farewell:

I hope you enjoyed this Joplin Journal. Dad has been outside cutting down some large dead branches from a tree so they didn't come down on his truck or work van. Sarah is sewing, and Mom might be doing dishes or something.