Day 4,196

The Clean Teef

We’ve got a bunch of pretty smiles around here! One of them has some cavities we’re keeping an eye on, but otherwise, looking good!

Day 4,078

The Forward Progress

Good morning Beautifuls!

Mama had a trip to the dentist. 

Then it was off to The Property for update on the willows we’re attempting to propagate. Look at all the roots growing!!! 

And then school, lunch, naps, and Taekwondo!





The kids are loving their new sport. And this boy especially—he has already gained such impressive skill and technique over the past few months!! 

Day 4,056

The School Physicals

A date with the doctor. 

All the babes passed all the tests and are doing just as good as ever! Now they’re official for next school year’s art and PE at CCA again!

Day 4,029

The Conley Teeth on Full Display

Smile! Time for clean teeth!

And time for more plants. 

LOTS more. 

And time for Baby Kendall!











The Conleys had every reason to smile. 

Day 3,973

The Celebration of Lives

Our sweet friend, Sondra (pictured middle), passed away a few weeks ago and on Wednesday, I was able to attend her memorial service. It was a day of celebration as we remembered a woman who’s 78 years were filled with a heart that rejoiced in serving the Lord, even in spite of the many physical ailments she faced throughout the entirety of her life. She was my first Florida “grandmother,” so often reminding me of my own and teaching me early on in my faith what it looked like to be intentional with those that God places into our lives. She opened her home up to our newlywed small group and taught us—mainly without words—hospitality, homemaking, loyalty, longsuffering, contentment, and consideration of others. She was an early reader of this now-decade-long blog and was rare to miss a day of our adventures. We will miss her friendship, her kindness, her particular thoughtfulness, and the smile that everyone quickly came to love. 

Thank you for everything, Sondra. I love you friend. 

Little did I know however, that as I sat at the funeral of a dear friend, my own home was quickly turning into a very dangerous situation. And as I walked through the door upon arriving home, I was both relieved everyone was alive and urgent to attend to the matter. 

Before leaving home, I didn’t tell our babysitter that our oven is run on gas. What we now enjoy as an unexpected perk upon buying The Cottage, we also realize is potentially incredibly dangerous if not used properly. 

At lunch time, one of the kids must have scooted up against the knobs and knocked the gas line to two burners on. Without the ignition of the flame, the gas continued to pour out of the burners. Intentionally, gas companies add an awful smelling sulfur compound to the gas so that if there’s a leak, you’ll know by the smell. BUT if you’ve never had gas before (like our babysitter and us prior to this home), you’d never correlate the smell with a gas leak. Instead, she was left with this awful smell stinking up the house for an hour and never being able to pinpoint the source. It got so bad, that she tried lighting a candle to get some momentary relief from the stench. But PRAISE GOD, the lighter didn’t work and she gave up on it. 

When I walked into my home that afternoon, the overwhelming smell led me to first call our firefighter friend who told us to leave the home immediately and call 911. 

Thankfully, nobody was showing symptoms of poisoning and our home was cleared of gas. 

I did end up taking Molly to the hospital, just to be sure of some funky readings she received from the firemen. The doctor was ready to assure us that she was totally fine. 

It was a day I won’t quickly forget. The Lord’s hand in protecting my children and dear friend is so evident and has given me yet another reason to trust Him even in—especially in—the normal, mundane moments of life. The moments where life really lives. 



I lay here more and more grateful for the gifts God has so graciously given me in the lives of my children and the smiles of my friends. I pray I would cherish them more and more and grow in urgency of Gospel proclamation because oh, how delicate life on this earth really is. 

PSA: if your home runs on gas, get a detector and be sure to tell anyone staying in the home or babysitting while you’re gone what to do in the case of a potential gas leak. Now, I know. I didn’t before. 

Day 3,947

The Tiny Big Delivery

Our Little Cottage is quickly turning into the very place I love being. It’s cozy and sweet and absolutely adorable. Truth is though, no matter how cozy, the washer/dryer situation was tiny in a way that cleaning six people’s clothes would’ve been a near impossibility. So, Daddy surprised us with new ones! Hooray!

And hooray in a different way—I threw my back out on Tuesday night moving the built-ins into the house. By Friday, I still wasn’t able to stand upright. Thankfully, one of my girlfriends is a massage therapist and she was able to loosen my back up significantly. Added to the perk was this beautiful view from just outside the room! Thanks Ana!!



After all the work we’ve been doing, game night Matching Game was definitely a well earned break! Molly won (with Mom’s help). Ella Mae cried. 

Day 3,625

The ER Trip. The Minneapolis Trip. 

All is good. All is good. We had some popsicles by the pool yesterday. 

The scene quickly changed about 20 minutes after this, when Amelia came up out of the water with a busted chin. She somehow managed to reopen the same wound from two years ago when she slipped on the tile in her ballet tights. 

So, we changed out of our suits, drove to our new friend’s house, dropped the kids off (THANK YOU WHITE FAMILY!!!), and my babe and I headed to Duke Emergency. 

And they were hands down, the best ER doctors ever!

It was a breeze and completely calming. Amelia didn’t shed a single tear and ended up with three stitches!

That’s my girl! So proud of her and SO grateful to the pediatric team at Duke! Truly, an incredible experience!

After only two hours in the ER(!), we picked up the rest of the babes, said a huge gigantic thank you to our friends, and headed out for family ice cream. 

The kids finally all passed out by midnight, and at that point, I had just barely spoken to Adam. Last I had heard from him (maybe around 11), he was told he was opening the Durham game on Saturday (sort of like a starter but they only pitch one or two innings before the actual starter comes in) and was hoping to get some extra sleep. Molly struggled falling asleep, so when I got him on the phone at 12:05, I was in every way expecting him to give me a brief update and then we’d go to sleep. But instead, he told me he wasn’t opening anymore. Ok. Well that was a quick turnaround. Well, why? Well because the Rays decided to call him up instead!! :) So from midnight until about 1:30, Adam was receiving itineraries and texts and phone calls and the like, preparing him for his noontime flight to Minneapolis, where he is right now. A total, utter surprise, especially after the past couple weeks we’ve had! The Lord has been working so intimately on our hearts in regards to baseball this past month, and truly, we were at a point before last night where we were both content with whatever was to come of the rest of his season and career. We trust God ultimately and live our lives in pursuit of glorifying Him, but sinfully, we were hoping in all that baseball would give us as well. We had had so many expectations fail miserably over the last couple years and the weight of any more was just wearing us out. It was wrong. So, we resolved to enjoy a season finished in peaceful contentment, striving to work his very best, but nothing more, and wherever that would be. And as of tonight, it is with the Rays in Tampa. We are incredibly excited and feel honored to have gotten the call. Durham is loaded with not only exceptional talent, but the best group of guys Adam has ever professionally played with. Thank you, Rays, for giving him the ball again. Wow. Our past few baseball years have been pretty tough, but this is the team we specifically wanted to play for, and you’ll get our very best. 

Finally we can say it together:

RaysUp!

Day 3,474

The Second ER Visit in Two Weeks

We have one desk remaining and the school room is nearly empty. So this has been our homeschool experience the last few days. Notice Bearett’s desk in the background: a chair to write on and some blocks to sit on! 

And, notice the blood on my shirt and the gauze on her head. 

Hello again, ER. The same chair Bearett was using as a desk for school also served as the object in which Molly fell headfirst into while doing twirls at supper time. She gashed it open and we immediately loaded everyone into the car around 7:05. At about 9:30, they rolled her up into a human burrito—without a single peep from Molly—and stitched her up. 

She *literally* did not make a peep. Didn’t squirm, didn’t cry, and actually nearly fell asleep as they gave her shots of novocaine. 

Every single one of us was shocked at the calm she displayed, as the process went much faster and easier than any stitches the doctor had ever done on a child before. 

Good job, you crazy baby! If you’re going to be as active as you are, I’m sure thankful that you’re as tough too. But for Pete’s sake, can I get a break from the ER for a while please?