Birthday and New Beginnings

The weather is still in the 80's but not the suffocating heat we had all summer. I watered my patio plants twice a day but still wasn't certain they would make it. With the cooler weather my lavender burst into bloom again. It smells wonderful and I am so surprised. I was about to give up and prune it for the season.

Then my Geranium staged a comeback. Not quite as fabulous as the lavender but enough for me. 

Today is my eldest son Chris' birthday. He passed the 50 mark. Our family dinner last night was his birthday party. Again I failed to do photos, too busy talking. However, he got two desserts a delicious lemon cake and some brownies that I made. 

The family party was made larger by one more person. My youngest son Dave and his wife (with the nine assorted kids) who both said "no more" changed their minds and now added an almost 16 year-old boy to the family. He's been homeless over year since his remaining parent abandoned him. He's been going from shelter to shelter ever since until the foster system caught up with him. Foster homes are really scarce in our State even more so for teenagers. The boy is a sweeet kid who some how has managed to keep up with his studies for the last two years, which is pretty impressive in itself. The two 16-year olds in the house have taken him under their wing(s). After the five eldest left you can believe there are spare bedrooms and now the new boy has his own room. There won't be any photos or names, the State would get their panties in a bunch and then there is the issues of the boy's privacy. I like him, the other kids like him. I think it's a great match. He and my son sat on the sofa after dinner looking at the same thing on their phones and chatting about it. He's starting to smile. 💓