June comes to an end

Today is the last day of June, and I have yet to sit down and continue documenting our lives for my poor memory. I left off last time in mid-June; here are a few more photos of the month. High school graduation was the same day as the now 14 year old's birthday, so we had a double family celebration with cake. The 14 year old not only had ice cream and cake for her birthday and eighth grade promotion, but also for a swimming party for her friends - who stayed 8 hours (we did reapply sunscreen) - and for her confirmation the next Sunday - which was a small service for immediate families and sponsors only.   We did have a small celebration with the families of her two friends who also went through the program. They used the Matthew Kelly Decision Point videos and workbook, which are fine, light on catechism, but easily supplemented, although with this sixth child we were not as diligent with intentional teaching.  The program was sponsored by the military archdiocese, and for our group of 8 students, we met in family homes, watched the videos, did the discussions, shared a meal, and then played games that were supposed to have a catechetical tie-in - like hangman or scavenger hunt for fruits of the spirit.  I really liked the combination of family involvement, learning, and fellowship of this format, which is why we went through the military chapel instead of our own parish, which has changed to confirmation program several times, to its current iteration, which is a week of lectures in addition to attending youth group regularly, which doesn't get a great turnout. 

The following week the younger girls and I went to Tucson to take some furniture to our oldest son, who now is officially independent, with a job, an apartment, a new car, and insurance.  We brought him a table and chairs, which I bought for him from a neighbor who was moving - and I bought myself a new used couch for our living room.  We also tried to bring him a box spring, but halfway through the six hour drive, the tie down straps broke and the box spring flew off the top of the car. One of the ratchets of the tie down straps hit our back window and shattered it. Fortunately, the glass didn't blow into the car - thank goodness for tempered glass.  But the girls were crying as I pulled over, ran down the side of the interstate to pull the box spring off to the side and recover our tarp and straps to try to shield the windshield so we could continue driving. My husband called ahead to a glass repair company that boarded it up for us when we reached Yuma, 30 minutes down the road. The rest of the trip was uneventful, but hot. I loved the heat, since I never feel hot here. The girls withered, however, on our three mile hike through Saguaro National Park, which just outside of the city - almost an urban national park.

Not wanting to waste time, the girls and I and a couple of  the 14 year old's friends took another short road trip - this time northeast, to the San Bernardino National Forest to camp two nights. I don't know why we have never visited this area - it was gorgeous, and just 2.5 hours away.  Maybe because it was on fire a few years ago? Or because it is close to LA? But for a midweek campout during a Covid pandemic, it was not crowded at all.  I loved getting out into the pine trees. We did have one stutter-start when a drunk/high couple on the verge of a nasty breakup, or so it seemed because of their fighting, pulled into the camp spot across from ours. I kept hoping they would just break up and leave - or at least one of them peel out. But they had their tent set up by the time the camp host came around to check everyone in. We were 3/4ths set up by this time, but I still asked the host if we could change spots. That particular campground didn't have any openings for two nights in a row, but the more primitive campground down the road did, so we moved. The second campground was nearly empty, and much prettier. That's the difference between a place with flush toilets and one with pit toilets.  I'd much rather endure the stench of pit and have peace and quiet than have the luxury of flushing the toilet.  This camp was more wooded and had a scenic little creek with small falls burbling through it.  The girls were great sports about resetting camp and were also great hikers.

No sooner were we unpacked and settled back in at home after that little respite, than my son found a puppy at the pound down the road.  I must have been sleep deprived from camping, or on a fresh air high, but for some reason, I said yes to the puppy.  I woke up the next morning after we brought it home - at 5:30 to the sound of its cries - than I second-guessed my decision.  He is a small terrier mix with a tiny bladder.  We have a fourteen day trial period, so if  I'm a zombie by then, he may go back.  Fortunately for him, he has only had one accident - maybe because I am like a hawk soaring above him when he is out of his crate.  His presence will make going camping again any time soon complicated, but he has an adoring audience who are spending much less time on electronic devices, so is it worth it?  We shall see how the next ten days go...

High school graduation day

Senior class president address

Another drive-by graduation 

... followed by a student organized gathering in the park.

Celebrating with sparklers

Race awareness art for a small march in our town - an introduction to activism. The march ended with a presentation of a petition to the school board for a stronger response to racism in the schools, which is a problem in our affluent, mostly white community. 

Prior to the march there was a gathering at the park to hear the experiences of minorities in the school district, which ranged from disappointing to shocking.  It was not a large gathering but it made an impact; the school board accepted the petition and pledged to respond. 

A mother son paddle board expedition - the only photo he allowed me to take

Confirmand and her sponsor

Fancy hair for the confirmation

Picking up Albert the Great

My middle son commented that he looks a little like those wiry Webkinz. As my sister commented, he is an odd creature, but he is very affectionate.

Reading to Bertie on the new used couch.