Camp, Bathroom Humor and Rest

Last weekend, Ty attended a middle school church camp and had a blast. He ran non-stop, played hard, ate well and barely slept. He can't wait for his sixth grade camping trip with his classmates in a few weeks. 

While Ty was at camp, Kate spent the better part of the weekend with Grace so Greg and I enjoyed some quality time at home alone. We lounged on the deck and relaxed around routine errands. Even meals were laid back. I'm fairly certain these glimpses into our empty nest years are necessary. Whereas I love our time alone, I also lament the seasons with our kids flying by.

Our grandson called concerned he accidentally swallowed gum. Greg, without missing a beat, asked if he can now fart bubbles. This delighted Austin and cracked up his mother. This grandparent gig is the best, inappropriate humor and all.

Greg has a new partner at church. They are greeters together and she has embraced her "job" so fully, she will have a name tag next time. 

Ty and I started reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane together and are enjoying the story. It's been awhile since we last read a bedtime book. He recently renegotiated his electronic rules, "once testing is over, can I turn off games at nine instead of eight thirty?" You drive a hard bargain, buddy and you've got yourself a deal.

Monday Kate took my car to work and I took full advantage. She went with my grocery list, books that needed returned to the library and and my debit card for gas. She likes driving and I'd rather not spend the evening running all over town. I'm calling this a win. 

Years ago, when our floors were new and I was fighting the uphill battle of maintaining them, I asked a friend how she fought every speck of dust showing on her dark floors. She, being much wiser than me, informed me it was easy. "Don't open the blinds and you can't see the dirt." As hilarious as her advice may be, I won't ever follow it. I simply cannot get enough of this gorgeous natural light. 

The last two weeks were exhausting and so very long. We have fifteen school days remaining and I'm beyond ready to finish. Testing for nine days with squirrelly fourth graders depleted me and apparently my sweet younger friends too.....

Me too, Ava. Me too.

Easter Weekend

My parents arrived for a weekend full of good food, laughter, chocolate bunnies and a bonfire. We attended church and gathered together for dinner afterward. 

When Grandma visits, even grown-up children get chocolate rabbits

 

Easter bunny cookies on a random Thursday. 

Saturday, I received mail from my favorite artist. 

The similarities are uncanny although I do wonder if Austin believes both Greg and I use the same barber.

This week launched state testing and the stress was palatable. We had tummy aches, tears and meltdowns. I wish the politicians mandating this would have to experience what this looks like in elementary schools. Our kids deserve better. 

Ty, who has inherited his father's sense of humor, asked what would happen if it rained for an entire year. I responded that I didn't know, thinking this was a serious question. Deadpan, he answered, "the ground would be wet." 🙄

Holy Week

We went on a "date" to both Aldi and Walmart early Saturday morning. I had a strong desire to hibernate instead so I failed to clean up for the errand/date. He was not impressed with the oversized sweats I happened to also sleep in and accused me of wearing pajamas on our date. I assured him, given the glamorous level of our date, he was lucky I wore a bra.

Ty was invited to his girlfriend's birthday party but declined. We agreed to be his scape goats because as Ty said, "being the only boy around nine girls is going to be drama." He is not wrong. But on her special day, he made pizzelles to celebrate. This boy. 

Speaking of little heart throbs, Austin enjoyed an Easter egg hunt with his buddy and also sent me some mail. These photos made my whole day.

Ty and I were granted Good Friday out of school because smaller country schools are traditional. I love this. But I scheduled an appointment with the doctor, as one does on a day off and failed to bring a book. I had my lists for all the additional errands I would be running and walked out without what I needed most for waiting. Anyway, it was there I discovered we had used all our high speed data (I'm looking at you, Kate Ryan) and had to entertain my active brain people watching. I kind of miss the old days of strangers conversing in waiting rooms. Maybe we stopped talking to each other when the world fell apart? More likely though, the world fell apart because we stopped talking. It's sad either way.

This Instagram post from Lisa Jo Baker spoke to me this week......

Faith

I remember the days I tackled chaos with peace and joy. I do. I recall people saying they noticed how strong we were in the face of grief. We felt God's presence in those days and I miss it. There have been too many losses, too many hits and so much pain. I'm tired in my bones and I miss peace. In church on Sunday, they were singing "thank you Lord for all of it" and my throat froze. I couldn't sing. I'm no longer grateful for the journey, the growth or the seemingly endless waves of it always being something or multiple somethings. I no longer thank God for the lot of it because I feel like I'm just waiting on the next shoe to drop. Not everything happens for a reason and whereas I always wrestled with God for Job of the Bible, I could usually see God redeeming the mess of my own life. However, I no longer can lean in and say, "it is good". So today, I'm grateful God's shoulders are big enough to bear the truth of my heart. I'm tired. And a plea? Can it, for a few moments, be quiet? Maybe? Because the constant prayer requests are embarrassing. I'm unable to speak them anymore. 

On Saturday, I picked up a few books and text this photo to my boss,"I'm going to need another week off." Plot twist. I worked all week.

He wanted to try coffee. He did not enjoy it. 

Kate passed her driving test today. Now, I'm supposed to ignore the fact all three of her sisters had car accidents in their teen years and allow her to actually drive. On the road. With other people around her. It's ridiculous. 

Last weekend we prepared for work and school with a bonfire including s'mores with friends, some routine maintenance around the house and a quick date to The Home Depot, of course. But we wrapped the week with cheeseburgers and fries at our local Chillburger as a couple too, so we're calling it a win. 

Spring Break

Someone made friends with a lady bug

Makenna and Kate arrived home safely, reporting a great long weekend with Lauren. My parents, Theresa with her family and all of Taylor's parents and siblings made the trek to Georgia for a birthday party. It was crazy fun according to those in attendance. 

Erin and Carlyn attended a banquet for the American Heart Association and networked with advocates in hopes of increasing connections to expand their CCAP Across The Map fundraising. They enjoyed the evening and dressing up for the occasion too.

They made fun of me for ordering the salad. But on the one nice day this week, we celebrated with treats at our local ice cream shoppe.

We opted out of a Spring Break bucket list and travel in exchange for rest and mundane errands. Manicures at home and pizza the size of their heads sweetened the deal. We needed what we prioritized;  napping and reading the goal beyond simply enjoying the calm. It's a rarity here; fleeting, so we embraced it fully. There was an afternoon of bowling with friends and an hour at the trampoline park to hold over the youngest among us but even those excursions were fairly relaxed. It was a good week.

As much as this little momma does not like me on my own front porch, I have felt for her this week as she weathered some pretty nasty storms and cold fronts. She is pretty tough, my husband assured me when my nighttime wondering seeped out. He has his hands full with the brief insights I share of my brain in motion. 

We've got babies!

Spring is trying to break through and glimpses are everywhere but the unseasonably cool and cloudy weather made it challenging to visualize. I lack patience, as we all know, so I expedited it's colorful arrival with a Costco bouquet split five ways. It makes me smile. However, there are indications the cat waits until we are asleep to sabotage my efforts by eating the flowers. Apparently he believes he is the only pretty allowed in these parts. He knows he isn't permitted on my counters or table; however, the runner has been adjusted every morning. Sadly, since Layla's passing, the cat has discovered he is actually a cat and I don't like him nearly as much as I did when he thought he was a dog. He cares exactly zero percent.

I took *his* seat and blanket again. This is how we compromise now.

We plan to rest more this weekend as we prepare to enter our final two months of the school year. We needed spring break and it was a good one.