{finding joy in the journey...}: August 2025 Recap {Butterflies, Fountains, Flowers, New Jobs for the Teens + More}

Sunday, August 31, 2025

August 2025 Recap {Butterflies, Fountains, Flowers, New Jobs for the Teens + More}

August was a busy but beautiful month for the Beelers.

We started strong by taking a family vacation. Travel Evie believes in ice cream at every stop.

Vacation was wonderful. While at a coffee shop in Wisconsin I saw this sign and chuckled....moms - the magic makers of every moment. Don't get me wrong - Dads are awesome. They execute. But moms - they are in the details. Thanks, Mom, for all the details when we went on vacations as little girls. It's exhausting.

When we got home we jumped right back into it. We started school and I worked on my classroom for the homeschool assistance program. This year I'm teaching one large classroom for 5-8 STEAM, two sections of 4-8 Art, and 3 sections of K-3 Art on Tuesdays, then 9-12 STEAM and High School World Geography & Cultures on Wednesday afternoons. I'm excited to get started and the children are eager to begin their classes. I went with a fluorescent theme this year and the bright colors make me happy.

Evalynn is over the moon at having monarch caterpillars...

A friend from church gave us some to start with. She gave us 3 tiny caterpillars and 2 eggs (1 egg did not hatch).

I had always thought of milkweed as a plant with big leaves. When we saw the milkweed from our church friend I was surprised to see it was small leaves. Then I wondered if the plant I've called "butterfly bush" that I have outside was a kind of milkweed.

(caterpillar photography by Ev)

So a few days after we got the caterpillars from our friend, Ev and I were outside inspecting the fairy garden (the butterfly bush is beside it) and there were 2 huge monarch caterpillars munching away! Indeed it is milkweed.

However, our little bush is covered in some kind of pest and it's not big enough to sustain our hungry caterpillars, so another friend brought us big leaf milkweed from her house, and then the kids went hunting and found some on campus and in a nearby cemetery. Our caterpillars are thankful for a fresh supply, however every time they bring back milkweed it seems like they bring an egg or a caterpillar with them. The cycle may never end. LOL.

This is through a magnifying glass....on the right in the middle you'll see a teeny tiny baby caterpillar that came out of his egg. Actually you might not see it. But it's there.

We've also enjoyed the fairy garden and the flowers...

A gift from the fairies... {courtesy, Nannie - wink}

My birdbath was in the backyard. I brought it around front, filled it with the beautiful rocks from the great lakes, put my fountain back in, and it brings me immense joy through the front windows. The birds NEVER touch it, but oh well. I still love it.

I also enjoyed my bird friends...

Bad pictures but still lovely.

We had many still spurts of time in August and many busy moments, too.

This beautiful girl got herself a job...

She's found a perfect fit at the Christian bookstore in town. We are so thankful for the opportunity for her.

Xavier also started working for a landscaping crew. We're flexing their school time to fit their part time jobs and are grateful they have those options!

Zayden and Evie had a grandparent/cousins sleepover with Artie and Theo. They were delighted at their weekend of fun!

Xavier, Natalee, Ameliya, and Mike took a full day to help Grandma Sara and Papa Phil start demo on their back porch...

.....and low and behold - their demo work day aligned with the younger two's sleepover and Mom had a full day at home alone. I mostly got some much needed work done for Cubbies, homeschool, and HSAP (which is why I stayed home), but I did watch a show, read a little, and cleaned. I love my people but sometimes my brain does get full...the quiet was lovely.

The teens gave their mission report with their team...