Ehlana and Ethan:
Happy 2nd Birthday, Jeremiah Fletcher!
This is another early update because we’re going to be busy for the rest of the day and don’t expect to be doing any computing later tonight. Since our last report, we had fun with the barbeque dinner, park play and babysitting with the next-gen kids, and our respective co-ed sleepovers with Naomi or Aiden. Ethan and Naomi got to start the day with Mom and Dad, but Aiden and I managed to have fun too thanks to Tai Chi by the river with Cassie and Michael and then breakfast with Hailey and Leah. We all got together for the rest of the chores we needed to get done ahead of the holiday weekend. The work wasn’t newsworthy beyond getting it done; and then we’ve been playing this afternoon along with setting up tents for a camping night that we’re hosting for a large gang of teens and kids.
We have a fair number of incoming weekend guests arriving today and tonight; more will be arriving tomorrow; and we’re going to help out with the entertainment for the teens and kids. So far today, Jayden has arrived with his parents; Chris and Sadie are here already too for some work they have planned for today and tomorrow; and the Malloys are inbound and will be here by dinnertime. The top news for guests so far, though, is the arrival of Uncle Mark’s family. Mom and Aunt Leanne helped with the airport run for them; since they needed passenger room for eleven. They are here now; Uncle Mark’s sister and her family are staying in our family cottage while here; and his parents, brother, and his family are staying with him. Kellum is the oldest of the ‘kids’ at nineteen, so he’ll likely hang out with Kaitlyn, Jeremy, and the other collegians, but we expect the four younger teens will hang out with us and our friends. We’ll have more on that as we go along over the next four or five days, but we’ve barely talked with them so far – though they have been invited for the camping and we’ve set up the extra tents already too.
That brings us up to now and we’re really only inside to grab our camping gear before heading outside again. The weather has been great, and while it is a bit hot right now; it will cool down into the mid-seventies tonight and be comfortable for the camping. We’re waiting to vote on our evening entertainment, but expect outdoor movies to win out over a campfire; and are ready for either option. Ethan and I do need to help out with either pre-cooking or kid-control now; so let’s wrap this up with just a quick world news report.
Ukraine was in the news thanks to a major missile and drone attack on Kiev and other cities across the country with widespread damage. There were attacks into Russia too, but not to the same extent; and the escalations on both sides are bad news for everyone. The frontlines news is terrible for Ukraine too, and if nothing changes soon; we will not be surprised to see Russia push far beyond the Donbass region – just as they’ve repeatedly warned over the past couple of years. Western countries are definitely helping out more with the deeper strikes into Russia; and they are literally playing with fire as they anger more and more Russians and risk direct conflict and retaliations into their own countries.
The Middle East continues to be a disaster with no good news to offer, but western leaders and media don’t care about the truth and roll along with the never-ending cheerleading – whether that’s about peace talks that aren’t really happening or war-mongering. We don’t need to rant on that this afternoon, but we continue to keep up with the news and sift through the nonsense; and hope for better while expecting the worst. Venezuela is not in the news anymore, but the disaster recovery needs continue and are immense; and our family businesses and charities will continue to send support where we can. We’re also keeping an eye on our own country this weekend for everything from economic impact for tourism and holiday travel to risks of violence during holiday events across the country. We’ll again hope for the best, but recent history needs to be respected; since there have been significant attacks over most major holidays.
That isn’t a happy note to end this update on, but we need to get going now; so that’s all we have for today.
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
