•1:47 PM
Has it really been 5 months since my last entry? Good grief. I turned 38 this weekend, and this is as good a time as any to catch up and re-dedicate myself.
The summer both dragged and flew by, if that is possible. We were all so incredibly exhausted and burned out by the last day of school. We spent a good portion of the summer just enjoying being able to sleep in and stay up late. Aaron was still spending his days studying, and his Saturdays teaching a class at the University, so we stayed on the island during June and July. This summer's weather was the coldest and wettest we've ever had since moving here 8 years ago - rarely reaching 70 degrees, even while we did our fireworks on the 4th of July.
The last week in July was Kylie's first year of our church's Girls' Camp. I have been dreading it for years, knowing I would be going along. I've been on enough field trips to know that large groups of young people are rarely enjoyable for any length of time. That's where I was wrong. The week was wonderful. I was surrounded by over 100 girls who had no need to engage in drama or histrionics because they were confident in their identities as daughters of God. Everyone could relax, enjoy, cooperate, and learn in an environment of friendship and sisterhood. I am so glad I get to go back again with these girls and these women. Next year, I'll even smile in a picture or two.
In August, Aaron's schedule cleared out for a bit, so we took advantage of that time to travel to Oregon to visit with my folks. I realize that my Grandma's ability and willingness to travel up from Medford to see us in Portland may not last much longer. So any time she is willing to make the trip, we try to coordinate our efforts. It takes an act of Congress to get this family of 6 + dog organized, packed, and loaded for a road trip, but we did it. We knew we probably wouldn't make the best time, leaving at 1:00 on a Friday afternoon, but we didn't figure the normally-5-hour trip would take nearly 9 hours. Dang. It was so great to have some free time to enjoy our family, both immediate and extended. We had all of Grandma's grandchildren in one room for the first time in years. That was awesome.
There was a lot of informal fun too. Thank the Lord for summer!
The summer both dragged and flew by, if that is possible. We were all so incredibly exhausted and burned out by the last day of school. We spent a good portion of the summer just enjoying being able to sleep in and stay up late. Aaron was still spending his days studying, and his Saturdays teaching a class at the University, so we stayed on the island during June and July. This summer's weather was the coldest and wettest we've ever had since moving here 8 years ago - rarely reaching 70 degrees, even while we did our fireworks on the 4th of July.
The last week in July was Kylie's first year of our church's Girls' Camp. I have been dreading it for years, knowing I would be going along. I've been on enough field trips to know that large groups of young people are rarely enjoyable for any length of time. That's where I was wrong. The week was wonderful. I was surrounded by over 100 girls who had no need to engage in drama or histrionics because they were confident in their identities as daughters of God. Everyone could relax, enjoy, cooperate, and learn in an environment of friendship and sisterhood. I am so glad I get to go back again with these girls and these women. Next year, I'll even smile in a picture or two.
In August, Aaron's schedule cleared out for a bit, so we took advantage of that time to travel to Oregon to visit with my folks. I realize that my Grandma's ability and willingness to travel up from Medford to see us in Portland may not last much longer. So any time she is willing to make the trip, we try to coordinate our efforts. It takes an act of Congress to get this family of 6 + dog organized, packed, and loaded for a road trip, but we did it. We knew we probably wouldn't make the best time, leaving at 1:00 on a Friday afternoon, but we didn't figure the normally-5-hour trip would take nearly 9 hours. Dang. It was so great to have some free time to enjoy our family, both immediate and extended. We had all of Grandma's grandchildren in one room for the first time in years. That was awesome.
There was a lot of informal fun too. Thank the Lord for summer!
Now we are back in full Fall swing - 2 middle schoolers and a first grader, soccer, piano, voice lessons, church activities. It's amazing how the schedule goes from empty to overflowing in the space of one week. Aiden was thrilled to get Mr. Mills for his teacher. Nicest. Man. Ever. I have the utmost respect for school teachers, especially elementary school teachers - overworked, underpaid, and the patience of Job.
Alysia and I are getting into the groove of her being without siblings for 6-7 hours a day. She seems to be really enjoying the alone time with Mami and Papi, and her behavior has improved noticeably. Thank goodness. It was getting very dicey there the last couple weeks of summer - as evidenced by her joyful expression on the first day of school.
September is always a whirlwind of school, activities, and birthday fun. Kylie and I both had a great birthday celebration, which included our very first Whidbey visit from Aunt Barbara. It was so wonderful to have her and Nana here. I got to have a really nice birthday lunch with some of my church friends (complete with a cake by Kerstin), got a beautiful sweater/top and necklace from Shannon all the way from North Carolina, lunch with Lee, and was showered with gifts from friends and family. I really felt quite spoiled the whole week.
As we hit the ground running this fall, we have set goals individually and as a family. We anticipate opposition, and have already felt some of it. But we go forth with faith, knowing that when we are striving to give our very best to each other and the Lord, He will make up the difference.
