Vacation, kinda.

I am enjoying the last few hours of some much needed time off from work.  Because Paul's actual homecoming date was something we weren't sure of, I didn't know how to schedule a "normal" vacation for us.  I didn't know if he could get time off if he was home, or, if he would even be here if I planned something.  So, we didn't make any real plans.  I took a week off from work, but we stayed home.  My mom and sister were at the cottage that we've gone to since the beginning of time... (beginning of my time anyway - there has not been a year without it in my lifetime!) so the kids and I were able to spend most of the week with them.  Paul decided to work most of the week - and just sitting around at the cottage isn't his thing, so it was probably a good choice.  He did spend the weekend there with us, and he took a day off too. And since the kids and I stayed home, we were still able to see him.  All in all, it was a good week. 

We started our "stay"cation with a fun dinner with some good friends, and ended it yesterday with a mini-reunion with friends we haven't seen in about 13 years. So, along with some fun family time, we enjoyed some friend time too.  Mark and Mark (and later their wives) were a huge part of our "pre-kid" years, and reconnecting was so much fun!

If I looked hard enough, I am sure I could find some mullet-filled pics of "back in the day". And here they are married, dads.  Back then, we could never have imagined it!  It was fun to see our kids get to know each other too - we don't live close, and visits may not happen often (we plan to get together sooner than 13 years from now!) - but making new friends, and keeping in touch with the old ones is so important!

Its been a busy week. Busier than our vacations normally are. But in a good way. We are all together, all healthy. This summer, I can't ask for more than that!

june

Its been a busy month for us.  I have a hard time balancing the things I want to do, and the things that I NEED to do.  Wouldn't we all rather do the "fun" things??  And, when it seems that there is so MUCH that I need to do, and I don't know how to fit the things I want to do in... well, I get down.  I know I'm not alone in this, and I really, REALLY don't want to whine about it. My goal with this is not to weigh others down with my negativity... so, I will focus on the things that get me UP:)

I am reminded what good kids I have.  We really have been extra busy this month, and with the exception of a few "don't bug me" episodes and a little teenage attitude - the big 3 especially have been helpful and pleasant to be around.  Baby girl, she just wants to help all the time...  even when help isn't really helpful:) And, as long as she gets a good nights sleep, she's pretty much a joy to be around;)  They are also good friends - most of the time! Dev and Liv had friends visit from Tennessee, who were a bit homesick. So, we invited them to be part of our family for 10 days.  (I'm sure the days they spent with their grandparents were a welcome respite from our hectic house!) Zak and Dev have also been working part-time at the mill. In the NASTY, dirty, basement of the mill. That probably hasn't been cleaned or used in, well, a really long time.  They have been doing this without complaint (generally!).  They do get a day at Aunt Lisa's pool once a week, and Grandma Smit plans on them helping out around her house too, so they will get a break from the dust and dirt, but its good for them.  Keeps them off the video games all summer.  Liv is "in charge" while the boys are working this summer.  Its been, good. Most of the time.  We haven't had a very normal schedule yet, so time will tell. I have confidence in her though. 

I treasure the good friends who always call at just the right time.  To go for a walk, to plan a movie date, or just tell me about their day.  It reminds me that I'm not alone in this. Not that I am ever alone... Sometimes, I admit, I long for some moments by myself that don't include speeding down the expressway! My walks do help this, but I am getting those in before work right now with my sister when I drop the boys at weightlifting.  And, lets face it - sometimes you just don't want to do it again! So, my evening walks - my reflection time - is on hiatus for now.  Which, in 90+ degree weather isn't all bad!  And, speaking of treasured people... my sister is my go-to for just about everything right now.  I'm pretty sure she gets awfully sick of me some days!  But I appreciate everything she does for me, and I KNOW I don't know what I would do without her!

Sisters...  I have some difficult news from my mom about one of her sisters.  She went into the hospital with some stomach issues, and they discovered a tumor on her pancreas. Right now, they do not know for sure that it is cancerous, but she is having some pretty major surgery tomorrow, followed by what sounds like a longish hospital stay.  Growing up, we were always really close to my mom's sisters and this is a really hard thing for me - I can't imagine what her husband/kids/grandkids are feeling or how my mom and her other sisters feel.  I am praying hard, and ask that you do as well.  She has always been an amazing example of faith in my life, and no matter what I KNOW she will continue to be one of God's shining lights for me.  So, while this isn't necessarily an "upper" for me, it does serve to remind me that God always has His hands on us, and a purpose for everything we live through.

Paul is planning on coming home in about 10 days.  This is a HUGE step for us.  I have so many mixed feelings about it, I can't even put it into words.  One of the steps in deciding if he is ready to come home, and continue his program from here was talking to the "leveling counselor", who makes the recomendation to stay at the ARC for the last level, or determines if someone is strong enough to complete the program from home.  Paul said the counselor is confident that he has the tools he needs to come home at the end of the month.  I need to be confident then, too.  God placed the people at the ARC in Paul's life at this time for a reason, and I have to trust that He is working on a much larger plan for our lives.  I'm not good at trust. I'm not good at giving up control.  I'm not good at living without a "plan".  These are all things that I am asking you to pray for. For me, and for Paul. For our kids.

Funny how just writing it all out, gets it out of my system. How I feel so much better than I did just a 1/2 hour ago:) I may not know each of you reading this, but I thank God for all of you as well, and ask a blessing on your lives too - without you, this would just be a diary...! 

summertime

Summer vacation started "officially" at our house this week.  The last day of school for my kids was last Friday. On Monday, the boys started their summer weightlifting schedule for football. At 7am. 4 days a week.  This means MY day actually needs to start earlier than it did during the school year. Hmmm. Something about this doesn't sound right! Part of being a mom I guess. Next year, this will all be different - as Zak will be driving then. OH, that really makes me feel old! 

We also have house guests for about 10 days.  Devin and Olivia have a brother-sister set of friends from their classes who moved to TN during the school year.  It happened to work out that they were able to travel to MI on Wednesday, and they will be staying with us until next Saturday, when I will meet their parents 1/2 way between their home and ours.  It makes us busier, but only because we are trying to fit in friend-visits and fun during my non-working hours OR shuffling Elaina around so that everyone else can go places/do things during the day when I am working and she requires some more "mature" sibling guidance. Sometimes I think she is (and she acts!) older than all of them:)  I love their different personalities, and fun-loving natures - but (again!) I feel old around/because of them!

The end of June Liv will be going on her first YG serve trip.  Even though she is only just entering 6th grade in the fall, the current YG has invited her age-group to join them this summer.  I can't wait to see her reaction to the work they will be doing. Of course, a big draw for her in going is the last-day visit to Michigan's Adventure... I know she will enjoy it all.   Her being part of this group, and then joining YG in the fall when she starts middle school... (you all know this part) makes me feel old:)

One of the biggest changes June brings is Paul's return home.  He is on level 4 of his 5 level program right now.  At the end of level 4, he has the option of coming home, and completing the program from home while still getting credit for finishing the course.  He will have some challenges in completing the program, AND the challenges of returning to his life.  I am hopeful and scared all at the same time.  His commitment to this has remained steady over the last 4.5 months, so I am hopeful that he will be able to come home and stay sober.  He has never been willing to give this kind of time and effort to his alcoholism before.  I'm scared because coming back to "real" life after being so insulated for the last 4.5 months is going to be (IMO) his largest hurdle.  I can't imagine being thrown back into water I was drowning in. I have to trust that he has learned to swim, or at least been given the floatation device he needs to succeed.  When I think of the years we have let go by us... I don't think I need to say it...

July brings us to the traditional "cottage vacation week". Last year we didn't go, so that we could take our first ever family road trip - to Gatlinburg.  We had such a good time.  It was hot, and of course the tourist town was busy, but our cabin on the mountain was a refuge. A wonderful, amazing, much needed escape from our daily lives.  Which is what the best vacations are.  This year, we have no plans.  Or, at least, no road-trips planned. And, no cottage stay in the works either.  I AM taking a week off. We will see where that week finds us.  Maybe we'll just drive until we decide to stop. And see where we are.  Maybe we'll just get some work done at home.  Whatever we decide - we will VACATION. Because this year, just being together is going to be vacation.  And, I won't feel old:)

Throw in summer camp, and summer dance lessons, football camps, 3 days of drivers training, probably a wedding and of course the 4th of July, a couple graduation open houses... oh, and football practices starting in August!  I don't think we'll need to go looking for anything else to do!  

So, on that note, a song to end this post:  I love this crazy, tragic, Sometimes almost magic,
Awful, beautiful life...