A Month of Summer

Four weeks of summer was all I needed. 

To get my sanity, my joy, my self back.  

On July 17th, I sat back and thought, "I am so happy.  Content. At peace."  I thought about how hard the fall, winter and spring truly were with our boys learning {mostly} at home, and I felt so grateful that summer had come exactly one month earlier (June 18th was our last day of school) and ushered in the relief we all needed.

Week after week; day after day; suffering at the hands of my children COVID and quarantine and distance learning, it turns out all I needed was an entire month off. 

Hah.

We watched movies. We went camping. We swam.  We slept.  We laughed.  We lived together.  We loved.  We didn't argue once over Google Classroom, attendance log-ins or Class Meets.  We had not one conversation about cameras being turned on; work being turned in; or music being turned down during assignments.  And it was a blessed relief. 

We celebrated Father's Day; got the twins' second dose of vaccine; spent time with cousins on both sides; and hosted a super fun fourth of July party.  I continued with my bi-weekly counseling; took all four kids to the dentist where we had zero cavities; and we hit 90 days post-medication for Logan (a big deal! He was most likely to have a breakthrough seizure during the first 90 days following him being weaned off his epilepsy meds, but he didn't! He has officially outgrown his seizures!)  I got to meet for book club in person; made cake and celebrated Josh's birthday; and sent the twins to a Mariner's game with their dad, much to their delight.  I (nervously) watched my sister's girls (ages 3 & 6 months) so she could take her boys (and Wyatt) to the water park and cross it off their summer bucket list.  We also went kayaking; made smores; rubbed sunscreen and aloe on each other after long days in the sun; and collected fresh, tiny, red strawberries from our garden. I read books; wore the bikini; ate cold watermelon; and fell in love with Carly's vibrant, colorful, uninhibited art. I watched my dahlias bloom, and started a paint by number (thanks to my friend Kristina who sent me one. Love you girl!) 

I started Mine To Tell, something that is all my own.  A writing class where I am attempting to pull together all that I lived through during our time in the village in Alaska.  I prepared for a garage sale that has kick started the most intense home organization/simplification that I have ever executed. I have faced what fall will bring (all four kids in school for the first time ever), which leaves me feeling both terrified and ecstatic, and am content to just take each day as it comes.  I am soaking up all the days of summer, and am not borrowing trouble worrying about school, sick days or masks.  What's coming will come and we'll face it when it does. 

I have dealt with heartache that's left me sobbing, gasping for breath; and I have experienced the euphoric joy that comes from knowing (down to my bones) that I am beloved for just who I am. 

Here's hoping my second month of summer vacation is as calm, relaxed, soothing, and fun as the first month was. 

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Raising kids together

Yesterday my sister came over with her four kiddos to help my twins celebrate their twelfth birthday.  Her arrival MADE their day.  If we had done nothing else (no cake, no presents, no water play) their presence alone would have been enough for them.  It made me so grateful that we are raising kids together. 

Growing up, we were almost five years apart.  And she claimed that if she was having kids, it would be when she was much older, and she would be adopting them.  So I never dreamed we would be raising a crew of 8 together at the same time. 

It makes me so happy.  Very little brings me as much joy as hanging with my sister and seeing my kids with their cousins.  Taking them swimming together, to the park together, or just hanging out on a rainy day in the house playing Legos together. We are at our best together. 

I love calling my sister after a rough day and having her make me feel completely normal.  Her boys spent the day fighting, too.  Her four year old spent the day making messes and asking loud questions, too.  Her cats puked on the carpet, too.  Something about knowing I am not in these trenches alone is just so, so lovely.

"The informality of family life 

is a blessed condition that allows us 

all to become our best 

while looking our worst."

-Marge Kennedy

My sister, somehow, while seeing me (for sure) at my worst,

assures me that I am a great mom, wife & friend,

sees the best in me, and encourages me to keep going,

despite my darkest, hardest days that threaten to take me down.

Ever so grateful for her.

And the fact that we're raising kids (side by side) together.

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