That’s not an exaggeration, by the way.
And it has nothing to do with elaborate travels or fancy plans (though we did go on a few short trips – and even out of the country, which I’ll share about in another post). Instead, it has everything to do with these two behind me:
They are at the most fun ages. When they were really little and I’d talk about loving a particular age, I’d hear people say things like “It just gets better” and “they just get more fun” and I’d have a mix of feelings. But I’ll miss this… How could it be more fun… And then, of course, I’d hear all the negative stuff about kids getting older, too.
And now I wonder, how can it get more fun than this? These ages (6 and 7 1/2) are so fun, y’all.
They are relatively independent. They can do a lot of things by themselves and are eager to learn other things. They are curious and energetic and loud. They are playful and active and hilarious. They like to talk and cuddle and help and spend time with me… And this summer was filled with so much time together – them and me. (And Daddy, when he wasn’t working.)
Sometimes I get caught up feeling like I’m not doing enough. I’m not more than a mom, wife and co-church planter. Which really translates: I’m not making a living as an interior designer even though I have a masters degree in it…
But this summer I let that go and enjoyed the fact that I got to spend each day with two of the most important people in my universe.
I soaked it in. I lived in the present. I embraced the gift of slow-paced mornings, surprising the kids with little outings, playing games, and relaxing the school-year routine.
I captured a lot of it on Instagram through photos and my summertime “good list” postings. The good list included things like…
movies and stove-top (real) popcorn on rainy afternoons
ice cream cones, guacamole and other food references
running alongside the kids as they biked
morning cuddling and having a little one (or two) join me on my bed for my devotion time
watching Hannah’s “shows”
lake time with friends
spending hours at the pool
quick road trips and visiting family and friends
summer camps
sunrises at the beach
family games, Legos, and putting together puzzles
getting away…
It flew by.
Obviously I hardly did anything with this blog. I didn’t even sign into my website but a few times. Honestly, there were periods of days when I did not even open my laptop. The blogs I read…my own posts I had started or planned to write…the photo book I was working on…and the whole email thing, forget it. I kept up with housework (mostly) and my physical well-being, subscribing to an on-demand fitness program where I could stream workouts at home. There were moments I felt guilty for not being more productive, but for the most part I was unapologetic, caught up in life and making the most of the days with my people.
The school year ended with more sickness (yes…it was probably our most unhealthy year, both kids seeming to get everything that went around and missing the max number of days). Joseph did get to perform in the kindergarten end-of-year program before he got sick again, and Hannah, at least, got to participate in her field day… Let’s just say we were grateful when the school year came to an end. I was ready to have my babies at home, get them well, and get busy having fun.
While I cannot possibly post about our whole summer. I am going to attempt to hit the highlights right here in one post…
We joined friends at the lake for Memorial Day and the kids went tubing for the first time. It took Joseph a bit to come around (he was happy driving), but Hannah took no convincing whatsoever.
***
Joseph kissed his training wheels goodbye (his words). Hannah graduated to two wheels last fall, but he was fine going as fast as his bike could carry him on four. At our last house/town, our neighborhood was hilly and was not conducive to learning to ride a bike. It wasn’t a big enough priority to deal with the hassle of loading the kids and bikes into the car and driving somewhere flat to ride. We did it a few times, but the kids were more interested in playing in the backyard, swinging and climbing trees.
Anyhoo, on the first day of June, he decided it would be more fun – and he would be able to go faster (and keep up with his speedy big sister) – if he didn’t have the training wheels. So he walked back into the house, got the wrench out of the toolbox, and brought it to me.
I took the wheels off and adjusted the seat. He got on. And I ran up and down the street with him, first with my hand on the seat, then on his back, and then just hovering. Just as I did his sister. When he got frustrated and began to doubt himself, I’d say You can do this. Say it, ‘I can do it.’ And he would. And he did.
It took almost no time before I heard those words. Let go, Momma.
And once I did, there was no turning back. Also: his sister took videos with some excellent commentary and made up songs on the spot.
He is zooming happily all over this neighborhood. He even took Raffie for a ride one Saturday with Daddy and Hannah.
***
The kids and I tagged along to a church conference Joe had to go to on Jekyll Island. We were hoping for some good weather, but the forecast proved correct and it rained almost the whole time. We only got to spend about three hours on the beach, but we did get to experience two beautiful sunrises.
One night we got together with Joe’s peer group and their families. We all know the ministry – and each other – well, so it is always great catching up. One of the girls took this photo of us:
Before we left town we drove across the little island to Driftwood Beach. I had heard it was really pretty with a lot of driftwood, a great spot for pictures. I thought there’d be a bit more driftwood, but we did take a few sweet photos.
From Jekyll we drove straight up I-95 to Savannah and spent a couple of days, where we closed on the house we own there (hooray!!) and visited with family. Among the fun we had dinner with Joe’s parents, watched the doughnut assembly line with cousin Stella at Krispy Kreme, drove out to Tybee Island for a little wave watching and dinner with Meme who came straight from the airport, and played in the fountains at one of our favorite parks. Happy to have good weather, we took full advantage.
***
My high-school bff, Bee, came to town with her cutie patootie twins, who are Joseph’s age. The boys did boy things and the girls…well, of course, they put on a show (wearing my old dance costumes)!
They were supposed to stay two nights but one of her kids got sick with the stomach bug and they had to leave not 24 hours after they arrived. We had been looking forward to this trip for months. So sad! What’s worse – Joseph got the bug the following day. Then I did. Thankfully he was well fast. I, on the other hand, struggled for a few days.
This coincided with camp week. Joseph went to Camp Invention, an all-day camp sponsored by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and hosted at Valdosta State. Perfect for our curious engineer. Hannah went to a three-day art camp, doing what she loves best. Both love to create things and had a blast.
I took the kids to the pool a lot. It’s really the only bearable thing you can do outside when it’s 100 degrees. Joseph learned to swim and was no longer relegated to the side of the pool. I took away the floaties two years ago and told him it was time to learn. We put him in lessons last summer but, at best, it only made him more comfortable in the water. He didn’t have a whole lot of interest in swimming and spent his time at the pool jumping in to me (or Daddy) and, if I could talk him into it, letting me coach him a little in the water (while he clung to me with a death grip). I taught Hannah to swim and figured I could do a fine job with him.
As with all things with Joseph, he will learn how to do things when he is ready and not a minute before. This summer he was ready. We need to work on technique but he’s afloat and for now, that’s all that matters. And I can sit and read while the kids play. Certainly a win win.
***
My bearded husband had his first coffee.
If you’re wondering, that was a summer highlight… I’ve been working on him for a decade.
In other news about him, Father’s Day was a big day for our church with field-day-style activities and a lunch in the park. Afterwards we went our friends’ to swim and cool off. We sure do love this dad right here…
Joe got his presents that afternoon, including these shirts I had made for numbers IV and V. I have since seen one that says “mic drop” for the little boy and think that might have been a more appropriate description for Joseph. Ha!
On an unrelated note, the beard was finally shaved. It had been growing since Christmas and I was ready for it to go. He wanted a change for a while, had it, and now we’ve moved on. At least for now, right?
***
I went to St. Augustine on a short but sweet girls trip (maybe only the second since having kids?!).
These three ladies have become so so dear to me. They, and their families, are invaluable to Shoreline. There is no doubt in my mind that God orchestrated the intersection of these lives and, because of that, I have been so blessed.
{Shoreline, in general, is going great. I’ll have to write an update on our church planting adventure soon.}
***
The Fourth of July was pretty low-key, but I feel it should still be included on the list of highlights as we had a fun time swimming, eating ice cream on our first visit to Burton Brooks Orchards (supposedly the best ice cream around), and watching fireworks with friends. We also had our second annual family water balloon fight in the backyard…
***
Mid-July we went to Mexico. {Separate post.} At the end of July, we drove down to the Gulf to spend a couple days with friends who had rented a house at Seacrest Beach. It was my only chance of seeing my dear friend, “Auntie Jen”, and her sweet family (including our godchild, Leah).
I wish I would have gotten a group photo with all 9 of us.
***
We went to Wild Adventures’ Splash Island several times. Buying those annual passes was a no-brainer. Joe went with us twice, and I took the kids during the week a few times. Hannah and Joseph could spend forever in the wave pool or going up and down one of their two favorite slides, but they also enjoyed having Dippin’ Dots for the first time and the 99 cent refills of lemonade and buckets of popcorn with our souvenir containers.
***
There were many days this summer spent just hanging out at home, going nowhere except maybe to the store or to meet Joe for lunch. You know what, that was pretty great too, some of my very favorite days in fact. Simpler things, relaxed schedule. My bookworm and I read. Joseph helped me clean and do laundry.
{For the record, Hannah helps, too, and loves to organize things, but her brother is very enthusiastic about it…to the point of driving me crazy getting out the vacuum daily and leaving it out with the cord unraveled half the time.}
August came, and summer all of a sudden ended. But it left me with a heart filled and soul refreshed. I am so grateful for the last two months. Seriously, it was the best. So much memory making with my people.
Now I always try to be real as I put my life out there on social media and this blog…
Was everyday wonderful? Of course not. Did the kids bicker, whine, need some disciplinary action, etc.? You know they did. Was I always game for the noise and messes? Definitely not. Were there moments when I wanted to lock myself in my bedroom? Yep.
But did the joy outweigh all of that? Absolutely.
Those Instagram “good list” postings was something I started to both reflect on the simple things and to share my gratitude. I hope that it inspired others to focus on the good things, the countless blessings that too often go unnoticed.
I don’t think that it is a coincidence that our summer was so joyful. After all, rarely is everything sunshine and rainbows. There are always situations that could be better, easier. But I believe, passionately, that joy is a choice. That contentment comes when you live gratefully.
And I am making the decision now to carry that joy and gratitude with me into this busy back-to-school time of year.
Won’t you join me?
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