welcome back letter

It's been so long, my friends.  And a busy, busy summer since I've last written.  It occurred to me as I sat at the computer that it was just officially summer the last time I wrote anything of substance.  Now summer is over, despite the fact that the calendar says there are five weeks left to enjoy.  (I work in higher education, so my summer ends the day the first set of student athletes arrive to campus.)

As the last few weeks raced by, I thought often of this space and my few faithful readers.  I've missed you much.  I've missed the loving and supportive comments of this space.  I've missed the understanding.  I've missed the opportunity to use words in my own process of meaning making.  I have to be honest, though.  I would not have traded a. single. moment. of my summer for the opportunity to write more.

Writing has given me the gift of considering the present: stopping long enough to ponder what each moment means and putting each story on paper so the moments take on a life of their own.  But this summer, I lived in the moment.  For. the. first. time. of. my. life...

I know this because I did not think of work when I was home with my family.  

I know this because I have hundreds of memories that keep playing on the screen of my mind - the sound of two girls arguing and solving their conflict; the mimicking of teaching in their makeshift classroom; the modeling of outfits complete with bracelets and necklaces and high-heeled shoes; the red-eyed, wet-haired exhaustion of children who spent the day in the pool; the sweet chatter of cousins at bedtime; the silly songs with lyrics made up by older and younger children alike; the snuggling; the quiet walks around the pond (yes, with all 8 children).

I know this because my heart leaps at Mr. Man impersonating his younger cousin. I feel the pang of excitement when my text tone sounds, hoping it will be a picture or a greeting or an update about the daily goings-on of my sister and her children.  I know this because I share any news with my husband and children and they are equally excited and interested.  Together, we share our goings-on with them.

I know this because I've learned so much about myself and my own children that I would have never realized without this summer.  Things like I can survive without being in complete control or Peace and Pie thrive in very social environments, while Mr. Man and I need some quiet alone time often or I may worry about choices my sister makes, but they are hers and they are made with thought and care and love, as are mine, each in the hopes of meeting the needs of our families, neither exactly right and neither exactly wrong.

So, I hope you'll understand my absence.  I hope you'll return to read my musings again.  And I hope I'll bring something different to this space because of the difference this summer has made in my real-time life.

Peace,

G

discovery

One of my favorite pleasures of parenting is watching children discover something new.  And with six new members in our home, there is lots of new to discover.

 

:: new to them toys brought by cousins who carefully selected toys for sharing.

:: dress up clothes and old costumes.

:: new ways of being silly.

:: sharing is a little harder than we sometimes imagine it to be.

:: that swing we have is the BEST THING EVER!

:: making room for six new family members is much easier than letting go of my need to be in control of my surroundings.

:: being in another family's home makes it hard to know what your role is in being helpful.

:: two household's of children being raised by sisters does NOT mean that said children know the world in the same way.

:: sister's have a special way of being honest and working through the anxieties that transition brings.

:: swimming at Grandma & Grandpa's makes everything better.

:: ice cream helps too!

:: sunbeams make everything simpler.

the arrival

1500 miles lay between the two families.  1500 miles to be traveled by car.

Wednesday's text read: We are on our way.

Thursday's text: We're in Arkansas.  A few hours later: We're stuck in Arkansas. Which turned out to be the remnants of a car accident much earlier in the day, shutting down a major highway for hours.

Friday's messages were much more encouraging.  At 6 p.m., the text read: We're in Cincinnati.

They were six hours out and contemplating whether to stop for the night or keep plugging.  The kids were in great spirits and had handled being cooped up in a car for two days rather well.  There was hope in the air.

We cheered them on from our front porch as we watched to sun set and found creative ways to occupy our time. 

Then they were in Columbus.  Then on 80.  Then Akron.

The chatter and conversation from my front porch was precious:  When they get here, I want to show them my swing.  Well, I want to show them the bedrooms.  I can't wait to play Just Dance on the Wii.  I'm going to win!

By now, it was well past 11 p.m., but sleep was farthest from our minds!

Then they were on the highway near our home.

Then a few streets away.

My littles abandoned any activity and waited with angst in the front yard, watching for headlights on our usually quiet cul de sac.

There are here!  And here's what happened next:

 

Sometime near 2 a.m., the frenzy and excitement calmed as sleepy eyes and yawns overtook us all.  Twelve heads on pillows, resting with anticipation of summer time well spent.  Oh, it's going to be a great time!

this moment {swimming}

Linking with SouleMamma and many others:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wishing you a cool and fun-filled weekend!

making room

Two homes, many miles from each other, are filling with anticipation.  In Texas, packing and planning suck up the energy of a weary mama of five.  The three day road trip seems insurmountable in some ways.  Yet, the journey promises to be well-worth the wait. 

In the second home, much is happening in the way of preparation.  Extra mattresses are being secured, bedrooms rearranged, the second bathroom emptied of all but a set of linens.  The office is set up to host the new little scrapbooker who will most assuredly need time away from the other children.  A few new toys have been purchased to accommodate the growth, craft supplies replenished. The sizeable grocery list readily posted on the fridge for the last minute preparations later this week.  Eleven mouths make for quite a long list!

Along with the anticipation, both homes are wondering: was this a good idea? are we nuts?  can we make it six whole weeks with each other? will eight children be too much for one mama/now child care giver to handle?

You see, in the two homes live two sisters.  One is a working mama, the other works at home.  When one sister is in need, the other responds.  Sometimes, we respond in ways that may seem overzealous to others.  But this is what we do for one another.  In the absence of summer childcare for my three littles, my sister and her five children are driving 1500 miles to stay with us.  She will be my child care.  If you've been keeping count, she will be caring for eight children - ages 9, 8, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3, and 10 months.

There have been open and honest conversations about food, bedtime, space needed, partnering in this time, cooking, cleaning, escape plans.  We are so bold as to hope and imagine that this can and will be one of the most fun and memorable summers of our children's lives.  What a great opportunity for the cousins to grow close, to learn together, to experience together, to be together.

So different from last summer this will be.  Last summer was one in which I made dreams and plans.  This summer will require flexibility, adaptability, less planning and more simply being in the moment.  Because when an opportunity like this comes along, one should simply soak up every. single. minute.

Now, if you'll excuse me this week, I have to start making some room.  For I have very special visitors coming.  Very special indeed.

right now

As summer fast approaches we are excited to celebrate with summer zest.  Right now, we are:

 

:: finishing the soccer season with a double header and making a day of it

:: realizing it might be time for coach (Papa Bear) to retire his cleats, but certainly not time to retire from coaching

:: enjoying my new camera, trying out each setting and finding the sports setting quite useful at said soccer tournament

:: tasting every strawberry we can pop into our mouths

:: canning and freezing half pints of strawberry jam and grateful to be pulling out the canning supplies again

:: enjoying our first dip in the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's house

:: discovering the joy of swimming when even the four-year-old can touch the bottom of the pool

:: preparing for something special (more on that later this week)

:: loving and gifting our very special father, with the written word and reading out loud, perhaps the most precious gift ever given

We hope your weekend was as fun-filled and celebratory as ours!  Happy summer!

reflective walk

 

On a warm Fall afternoon, I found myself walking across campus to grab a quick bite to eat before heading off to the next meeting.  In my usual hurried pace, my mind as brisk as my step, I thought of the agenda for the rest of the evening.  The mind - ever two steps ahead of my body.

Suddenly, I looked up.  I don't know what called my attention or what caught my mind's eye.  But I stopped.  And looked.  All around me. And saw the most glorious sky. And colors in the trees.  And the peaking of fall mums amidst the otherwise browning foliage.  It's Autumn!

I've been reading other blogs that tell me it's fall.  Most know this because their kids are back to school, or because their gardens are winding down, or the chill in the air.  My summer ends with the birth of August and so fall usually slips in quite unnoticed.  This year, I'm happy to notice the lingering of summer - the green tomatoes still in our garden, the occasional 80 degree day.  I'm also happy to notice the delicate change of color that is shyly poking its way into my days.

As with others, the presence of fall made me look back on this summer. I entered summer with a tremendous amount of intentionality, called to shift my priorities and live like my family genuinely took first place.  I worked hard at this - rising early to get a full days work in with plenty of day left to spend with the kids, finding just the right sitter to give my kids a true lazy summer, planting and harvesting to give my family healthy and homemade, with some fun days planned to spend together - without distraction - just us.  I did it!  Ten short weeks of play, fun, and summer.

I frequently wondered whether my children noticed the difference.  Whether this summer was as memorable and life-shaping as I had hoped.  Then, I walked past my daughter's preschool and saw the family photo we had given the teachers. Under the photo, in quotes, it read, "This is my family.  This summer I got a balloon dog and it leaked so I got a sword.  Then we took a boat ride.  It was lots of fun."  

My mind conjured up the next memory.  An early school project that my son brought home.  Under his drawing, he'd written, "We went to an amusement park. I didn't like the roller coaster, but I loved the park.  We had so much fun."  Then, the memories flooded.  One child asking if I remember when we were swimming in the kiddie pool at the water park.  Another child asking if I remember the mechanical and robotics games we played at the science center.  Each child recalling their own memories and making connections to what they are doing today.

I think they noticed.

This is peace.

The day went as planned.  One meeting, then the next.  At the end of the day as I was unpacking book bags, checking homework, and packing lunches.  I came across this . . .

It's good to know . . .

August break (august lily)

This month I'm joining Susannah and others in the August Break!

One picture (or more).

Each day (or not).

With or without words.

One of my favorite late summer flowers.  The delicate white flowers remind me of a cooler beginning to summer despite the "dag-days" temperature and thickness in the air.  It is good to remember!

August break (reading list)

This month I'm joining Susannah and others in the August Break!

One picture (or more).

Each day (or not).

With or without words.

August is a busy, busy month for me!  While many are frantically soaking up their last bits of summer, the "school year" has already begun in my world.  Summer --- OVER!  

Along with dreams of another fantastic summer, sits a stack of books longing to be opened and read.  This list will have to wait for August to come to its end, but I --- Can't ---Wait!

August break (good sport)

This month I'm joining Susannah and others in the August Break!

One picture (or more).

Each day (or not).

With or without words.

Pictures taken by me 3-year-old daughter.  Thanks to Grandpa for being such a good sport! 

August break (grandma's kitchen)

This month I'm joining Susannah and others in the August Break!

One picture (or more).

Each day (or not).

With or without words.

August break (sundays)

This month I'm joining Susannah and others in the August Break!

One picture (or more).

Each day (or not).

With or without words.




I've often associated Sundays with rest and renewal, even peaceful moments in our hectic lives.  Today, these three images made my heart fill with peace.