A New Patio

We, like so many other families, have had a home project - a new patio!

This area right outside our back door was just a area overgrown with weeds. We decided it would be nice to make it into a paved patio area for extra seating. We weeded it and then put a weed blocker on top. 

Then we leveled it with sand.

Next we added a border that would also serve as a retaining wall. 

We chose some paving stones that would complement the tiles on our covered patio. 

Since the area has a curved edge, we filled in the gaps surrounding the stones with pea gravel. 

It took 2 weekends, but was totally worth it! 

The kids really loved working on this project! That night we sat out on the patio and shared memories while we watched the stars. We even saw the ISS! 

We love the way it turned out and definitely made more memories as a family. 

Serna's in the News!

Not long after starting quarantine I was contacted by a local reporter wanting to do an article on homeschooling - since we are all homeschooling now! He asked me to give advice to parents finding themselves homeschooling for the first time - somewhat unwillingly. We even had a photographer come with a mask and gloves to take pictures of us for the article. It was really a fun experience! 

A Mother's Day Tribute

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street,

she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself.

She's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well,

She's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.

She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep,

the color of a rainbow

she is Christmas morning.

Your mother lives inside your laughter.

She's the place you came from, your first home,

and the map you follow with every step you take.

She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy,

but nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space...

not even death. 

Happy Mother's Day!! 

Celebrating a Milestone Birthday in Quarantine!

The Coronavirus has affected so many things! Graduations are being cancelled or postponed, performances are being cancelled. Even the end of school has been cancelled! What a crazy world! Birthday celebrations for so many have been affected, too. It has been fun to see the creative ways people are celebrating their loved ones - parades, virtual parties through zoom, video compilations - so much creativity! 

We have been a part of a birthday parade and we also did a drive-by birthday shout out. 

We made signs and blared the Beatles Birthday song for the parade. For the drive-by, we came up with our own special birthday song and performed it for the birthday boy. So fun!

I also celebrated a birthday under quarantine. I had been planning on celebrating my 40th birthday by getting the party room at one of my favorite local restaurants and inviting my friends to help celebrate. I had also wanted to get my ear cartilage pierced. Because of Coronavirus none of that could happen. Byron had arranged a surprise visit from our sweet friends from Missouri. They had to cancel because of Stay-at-Home orders.  

The day before my birthday I had to run to the store (with my mask and gloves) for milk. While I was out, Selah and Faith decorated the house with decorations my mom sent through Amazon. 

  

Most of the decorations say "40 and Fabulous", but one said "40 and Flawless". 

At first I didn't like it. I am totally NOT flawless! I have so. many. flaws. But then I remembered the words to MercyMe's song entitled "Flawless" and embraced the sign!

"No matter the bumps, no matter the bruises,

no matter the scars, still the truth is the cross has made you flawless." 

We made the most out of my 40 and Quarantined birthday, though!

I opened gifts.

A squishy from Faith:

Homemade birthday cards:

A bracelet with 40 rose gold beads from my parents:

In February Byron surprised me with an early 40th birthday gift - a new car! 

I LOVE it! The color is beautiful and it is so fun to drive!

So on my birthday, he gave me a trailer hitch cover for my new car. 

Gotta support those Cowboys!

He also gave me a new "nifty-fifty" camera lens. 

Quarantine birthday queen.

We picked up Chic-fil-A (and they sang "Happy Birthday" as we drove through) and headed to some hiking trails. 

After hiking a bit, Byron had to answer the call of nature....

Yes, I wore my tiara on the hike! You only turn 40 once!

The trails were open, but parks were closed.

That afternoon the Linn's stopped by for a socially distanced birthday visit and brought some flowers. 

Selah made me a beautiful carrot cake. 

 That evening we had a little FaceTime party with my parents. They even had their own cake ready at home! They were able to sing to me and watch me blow out the candles. 

Not the birthday I had planned, but still special. 

40 is not so bad!