This has been what seems to me probably the shortest summer I can recall as an adult. Over the last few years (read probably like 10+ or so) summertime has presented itself as a time of challenge....how to keep the children occupied lol!
This summer has been so different, and I'm not quite sure why. Maybe we have had more opportunities to enjoy activities? 5 of the kids took swim lessons this summer, 2 played baseball, we started kiddie bootcamps, I spent the first half of the summer in my own bootcamp, and also prepping for my first ever 5 mile marathon....we did a house addition, and did 3 other major house projects (2 of which still need a bit of finishing ;) ),....and still somehow managed to find time as a family to relax and just enjoy the weather.
A few of my kids got the chance to visit relatives, and will do so again in a few weeks when Dean and I take our first vacation away from the kids in like....ever lol. My 3 oldest girls got a chance to attend my cousins wedding in Valpo IN a few weeks ago, then spent 12 days afterward with my mom and step dad in IA. They had a blast but were sorely missed by mommy and daddy!! :) Nate also got a chance to go stay with his Nana for 2 nights along with his older cousin Catie up at Nana and Papa's cabin in central MI.
With all that said, this summer has literally flown by. I cannot recall ever a summer where we were quite so busy. In retrospect it was great....I wouldn't change a thing (other than maybe Dean being home a teensy bit more ;) ).
As I stood on my driveway a few mornings ago while Dean and I sipped our morning coffee, I felt summer making it's last stand. The seasons speak to me, and as funny as that seems its true. I can smell fall on the tip of the breeze now, as if it has a foot in the door just waiting for summer to finish it's final moment of glory and begin its journey away for 9 more months. It feels good, that feeling of life having been renewed, and the blessings of the harvest coming to a head. I love fall, thats no secret if you know me. While I used to loathe all other seasons, in the last few years I have actually come to love them almost as much, and find good things about each, especially since Lettie was born in the spring. I never appreciated spring before that other than the rain, but that was it. It was nothing more than a wet soggy (yet still cold lol) time of year. Now I so look forward to those fresh cool days where its almost warm enough to go without a jacket, and where you see the first signs of crocuses peeking out from the newly thawed ground.
Anyway, this post isn't about weather so much as its about seasons. I feel like I have finally come to peace with this season of my life. The past few years have brought many challenges, some of which I feared would break me because of how difficult they were, but this summer has taken a lot of those things and given me life perspective on them. I have come to terms (or am working on) with friendships, my job as mother, having 8 kids, where my future is leading me, losses and how to accept them, and finding joy regardless of what life throws my way. I wouldn't say I'm content, lol...I'm never content, I'm always searching to learn more, be better, love harder, see the beauty in simple things, be more thankful and trust God as much as humanly possible.
As the days grow shorter and the sun sets earlier, I'm reminded yet once again how truly blessed I am, and how amazing this journey called life continues to be.
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2 comments:
this post choked me up a little bit-only u could describe how I feel about the seasons so well. <3 u Chris.
What is kiddie boot camp? I feel the same way about how our summer went, seems the strangest thing. It just flew by and I felt like we didn't get enough lazy days of summer. O well back to the grind.
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