In the past two weeks, I’ve written a couple posts on the crazy busy-ness of May with three teens and a kindergartner in the house, a globetrotting college student returning home, and a 10-month-old puppy in a dog’s body underfoot. The schedule has not relented:

• We enjoyed a three-day (Monday through Wednesday, May 14-16) visit from my parents that overlapped Busia’s birthday, a band concert for Emma, a band concert for Trevor, and a high-school awards night for Emma and Gabe.

Eddie’s Mickey Mouse “smash cake,” by Emma

• On Saturday, May 19, we enjoyed a first birthday party for our youngest nephew Eddie, featuring Emma’s second commissioned cake—before scooting home so Gabe and Emma could attend a National Honor Society party.
• On Sunday, May 20, we hosted a Confirmation brunch with the Engels and Trevor’s sponsor Jack, and Livi’s sponsor Elizabeth, then drove to the Cathedral of St. Paul for Confirmation. (Brendan served at the altar with Bishop Cozzens.)

Confirmandi and sponsors: Poland daughter Elizabeth, second “other daughter” Livi, youngest son Trevor, and good friend and guide Jack.

• We then drove home and had supper with the Engels, Elizabeth, and Grandma and Grandpa Venjohn, then went to our second Mass of the day: Baccalaureate for Gabe, Kate, and Elizabeth.

Three of the best grads I know: my second son Gabe, my Poland daughter Elizabeth, and my eldest daughter from our “other family” Kate…

• On Monday, we enjoyed Emma’s Beatles-themed pops concert—possibly her last choir concert ever, since her schedule won’t allow both band and choir next year.

• On Tuesday we took in Trevor’s final choir concert of the year, including his featured vocals on “Carry On, My Wayward Son” by Kansas.
• On Wednesday, we went to the high-school local scholarship night, where Gabe received a Knights of Columbus scholarship. (Our local KC Council 4174 gave out 20 $750 scholarships this year–$15,000 total.)
• And last night, we went to Trevor’s WEB Leader Ice Cream Social, in which he and his fellow WEB Leaders were recognized for their service this year acclimating the incoming fifth-graders to middle-school life.

Also, somewhere in there Jodi chaperoned a zoo field trip; I took in Trevor’s science fair project; Lily and Emma had dentist appointments; and I fixed my old truck’s wiper just in time for the first storms of the spring.

Tonight, I’m hosting a mini-Poland reunion with whichever Poland families can make it for laughs and tacos. (They’re universal; see Bren’s recent post on the Ukraine.) Then we escape for a few days on the water.

We didn’t earn this. We don’t deserve it. We are humbled these lives have been entrusted to us. We are “cursed” with what Chris Stefanick describes as the problem of managing our blessings. Life is good. Busy. Exhausting. But so good.

Time for gratitude, prayer and re-creation. May God speed to heaven the souls of all those who gave their lives in military service—and may He bless your weekend, as well.