It was a simple enough evening --pedicures (hot mega neon pink for her, shimmery medium pink for me) followed by dinner at an Italian place downtown-- but I had the best time. I love that I can talk with her about anything and everything, and although we're different in some ways, I'm grateful that she makes the effort to get where I'm coming from and to present different opinions when I need to hear them.
So yep: I'm thankful for the blessing she has been --and continues to be-- in my life.
I'd say I'm not sure how he can stand it, but the truth is that I used to do the same thing, so I get it: There's something inexplicably comforting about being surrounded by a bevy of furry friends as you drift off to dreamland. So tonight, I'm thankful for things that bring comfort, no matter how small.
Now, it's kinda-sorta just... normal.
I reflected a bit on that rather surreal truth as I waited for them to finish their conversation this evening. We live this life in stages. I've been with Abby as she went from pre-born to newborn to toddler to preschooler to elementary schooler to middle schooler to high schooler. I've watched her become more and more independent and self-reliant, to the point that later this year, she too will be able to drive her own car, by herself. Sometimes I can scarcely believe she's the same person as the sassy, precocious toddler who plodded through the house wearing my shoes and conversed with "Baby YO-gan" before he was old enough to speak. Yet she and that little girl are one and the same.
Yep, growing up is terrifying (for parents and offspring alike, methinks). But it's also incredibly exciting and incredibly cool to watch your kids experience and pass through those phases one by one until they're ready to fly on their own. It's all a tremendous blessing.
It initially caught my eye as Abby and I left the house bound for the high school, and as we rode along, I found my attention occasionally pulled to the left as the clouds shifted and the orangey-pink light intensified. I finally snapped a pic as I sat at the post drop-off red light.
His mercies are new every morning, says the Bible. And for that big-deal truth, I'm grateful.
After I dropped Abby and Isaac at school, we sat together in the family room, me on my laptop and him playing a game on his game-phone. I looked over at him at one point and, noting his droopy eyelids, told him that he looked tired and should take a nap. And then voila, about 60 seconds later, he was out like the proverbial light with BearBear tucked under his arm.
I sat and watched him for a few moments before I decided to head upstairs to keep the click-clacking of my keyboard action from disturbing his slumber. He may not be a baby anymore --in fact, he'll be 10 at the end of the year!-- but he's still my baby. And I'm thankful for every day -- even the sick ones.
We've bought two houses in the past but this is the first time we've gotten to this stage of selling one, so it was a strange feeling to see that SALE PENDING add-on gently swaying in the breeze. I felt a sense of nostalgia as memories of Abby and Logan during their earliest years came and went like fireflies dotting an open field, but as we walked away, a new feeling took over: one of assured completion. Although I'll always treasure those visions of Abby taking her first steps in the kitchen and of newborn Logan napping on the couch in front of the window next to Adam, I know it's time for a new family to make memories of their own within those walls. And I wish them well.
I wasn't thrilled to be up at 7:15, but as always, I'm glad I went because I do so love watching him play. The defense was a bit lax this go-round and they wound up playing to a 12-12 tie, but Brady again performed well, putting up three buckets plus two free throws.
It still kind of shocks me to realize that he's developed into a pretty good player. And I am thankful for that, but I'm more thankful for the joy he clearly feels when he's doing his thing.
I met Shilpa when she agreed to step into the PTA Treasurer's role back in the fall of 2018, and she was a virtual pillar of stability when all of the proverbial crap hit the fan during my Presidency, so I will always be thankful for her.
On top of that, she's super easy to talk to and we have quite a lot in common, so I really enjoyed --and am so grateful for-- our three hours of talk-time tonight.
Dani and Micah were perfect little angels as they watched "Mickey Mouse" and ate their fries while their mommies and I caught up a bit. (As as aside, it was a novelty for me to be the one without any children along for the ride because for a long while, I was the one with at least one kid at the table. The years really do fly by.)
I say this over and over again, but I so value time spent with friends, whether we're driving somewhere or having coffee at the Mother Ship or just catching up via phone. I'm grateful for the shared memories that come to mind and the laughter and the plain old sharing of life's mundane details. And I'm grateful for these two.
Angela texted this afternoon to see if I wanted to walk this evening while Abby and Gracie were at youth group, so that's what we did.
It was a lovely stroll in the dark (that had the bonus effect of helping me get my steps in!) and an even lovelier catch-up chat. I do so value her input and her willingness to listen to my rambling commentary --especially since I know how rare really good listeners are-- so I'm closing out my Wednesday feeling thankful.
I'd only met a couple of the parents before, so it was fun for me to sit and chat with a whole new group of folks I'll be spending a lot of time with over the course of the spring. As I've said in the past, I've met some of my favorite people through baseball, so I'm excited for the new season to start. I'm excited to sit on the bleachers on lazy Saturday afternoons and I'm excited to have a whole new group of boys to cheer on. And, of course, I'm excited to see my boys out there on the diamond doing something they really enjoy. That's always a blessing to a mom's heart.
Since the kids didn't have school, the boys went to baseball camp and Abby hung around the house. And at one point, we went to her current favorite store: Safeway. (I also think that's weird. And it's weird that I've referenced the grocery store twice in the last week.) While there, she opted to take advantage of a sale and came away with six bags of (salty) potato chips.
It amused me to see her juggling her purchases but more than that, it amused me to walk around with her, sharing our customary doses of banter. That's always a blessing.
I quietly nodded along with numbers one and two, because he adores his sports. I snorted to myself over numbers three and seven (because holy self-awareness, Batman), and then again when I realized that the five remaining "traits" were related to eating (and given that bit of intelligence, Heaven help my fridge when he's a teenager).
In short, I loved getting such a clear peek at how he views himself. Although I hope that he won't always feel defined by root beer and mac 'n cheese, I'm thankful to know --for sure-- what's important to him in the right now because he'll only be in the right now... well, for now.
That jaunt wound up turning into an adults versus kids basketball game. And I have to tell you: it was a humbling experience for me as Adam and I watched Isaac and Brady tirelessly run from one end of the court to the other. In the end, the old people lost 10-8 (which was yet another slice of humble pie -- being both outrun and outscored by a 9-year old and an 11-year old when you have a serious height advantage. Oof).
But huff-puffing and shot of humility aside, it was fun to play with them. It was fun to run (hobble) back and forth and it was fun to hear them giggle. And I'm thankful.
See, Adam was just about falling-over tired and I was the opposite, so I bounced down the aisle toward the cookies I wanted. Abby caught up to me and noted that she knew a few of the boys we'd passed. I asked if she was embarrassed to be seen, she said no, I said 'you should be. In Safeway, on a Friday night, hangin' with the parents...'
I guess it's not all that amusing in hindsight, but I made myself laugh. And I'm always thankful for those 'lighter side of life' moments.
Brady shouted "Isaac! Pit stop!" as he threw open his door and a moment later, Isaac followed suit from his side. They scrambled to the cans and, within less than a minute, had lugged them up the driveway and pushed them into the garage.
It's a totally mundane task and to be fully truthful, it was raining and I just didn't feel like doing it, but I loved their enthusiasm. Just imagine what the world would be like if we all approached our everyday must-do tasks with that kind of joy.
I studied it for a while and proclaimed it a pioneer of sorts. A warrior. In spite of the less-than-ideal circumstances --the cold weather, the clouds-- it grew into something beautiful. And by all appearances, it's thriving. It's kinda-sorta remarkable.
The sight reminded me of an important truth: we all experience dark times during this life when it's cold outside and the sun never seems to shine. But somehow, we grow anyway. And eventually, we wind up being strong and beautiful in spite of our ordeals -- just like this rose. I think that's pretty darn cool.
I typically meet him on the blacktop and then we walk down the path toward the car together while he tells me a little about his day. I hear all about PE, music, recess, speech, who behaves (and who doesn't!), lunchtime... the life of the average third grader, I suppose. And as we walked today, I listened to his chirpy voice and looked over at his freckled cheeks like I always do when he shares those precious details and realized how much I treasure those minutes with my baby.
So tonight, I'm grateful to have them.
I was running the boys to a friend's house late this afternoon when I looked up and noticed them. Different shades, different heights, different sizes, all melded together to make a lovely whole picture.
He doesn't even drink coffee so there's no reason for him to do it other than as an outward expression of care for me. Given that I know how often relationships --especially long-term ones and double-especially those that have weathered a loss like we've experienced-- go wrong, I feel blessed to have a partner who still does those little things just to make me feel valued.
Brady had a 9 AM basketball game across town so it began earlier than my loves-sleeping-in-on-Saturday self might've liked, but my little muffin made it well-worth my while by throwing down yet another dominant performance on the court: of the 25 points logged by his team, he scored 15, which included a pair of nothing-but-net free throws and helped to secure a 25-11 win.
Then it was on to CPK for lunch, where I nibbled on a delicious pear and gorgonzola pizza and sipped a cosmo. Afterward, we headed home and thanks to said cosmo, I half-watched the 49ers beat the Vikings and half-napped until three, when Abby and I did an abbreviated version of our Saturday shopping routine (which, of course, included a stop by Starbucks to score my birthday freebie! For the record, the almond milk honey flat white is very honeylicious).
The evening brought Zachary's pizza for the grown-ups and Dominos for the youngsters (since they don't care for the former, which is madness), and then gifts and homemade cake, which featured yummy peanut butter frosting made by my girl (and 42 candles. And yes, 42 candles make a lot of fire and even more smoke, especially when several of them are of the trick variety).
So yes: it was a very good day and it made my heart happy. Although there are things I wish I could change about my life, I feel content. I couldn't think of a better way to begin this next year, and I am thankful.
He said he was cold, but I think he also wanted some mom-time. And I was happy to give it to him, because I know those moments will become increasingly rare as time continues to pass us by. And those moments are some of life's sweetest, tenderest gifts.
It appeared and then disappeared over the course of half a minute, but I saw it because I knew it should be there and, more simply, because I looked.
That's how God quite often operates, I think: He's there and He shows Himself, but if we're not seeking Him, we won't see Him. Period. I'm grateful that this rainbow reminded me of that very simple truth.
I loved every second of it. I am most definitely someone who thrives on face-to-face connection, so I treasure those kinds of interactions.
And Nikki... I treasure her, too. I was thinking about it earlier and Brady and her Austin first met in school seven years ago, so conventional wisdom says we're friends for life. :) And that is most definitely a blessing.
In case it's hard to tell what "it" is, I'll fill in the blanks: it's a little pendant that reads "Not sisters by blood but sisters by heart." Given that I don't have any biological sisters, I've always rather liked this quote. And seeing it there made me think about the small group of ladies who have been my "sisters by heart" over the course of my lifetime. For a number of reasons, I'm not really one to let others get particularly close to me, so I'm very thankful for those who have had the patience and the desire to get to know the real me.
And, after they were able to overcome their generic 'last day of break' apathy (and after I convinced them that pajamas after noon were a no-go), I took them to late lunch at Black Bear.
The "Abby and Isaac" combo isn't one that frequently forms (it's usually just Abby and me or Isaac and Brady or, slightly less commonly, Abby and Brady), so it was a blessing to watch the two of them interact a little.
So here's a surprising truth: the past two weeks at home were wonderful as was the annual Wight Elephant family party this afternoon, but I'm tired. In fact, I'm upstairs in my room right now with my head resting on the doughnut pillow Isaac got me for Christmas while the rest of my family is watching a movie downstairs. I love them, but my spirit has been prodding me to find some quiet-time for the past few days, so I'm getting it.
My natural inclination (as a perfectionist with a slant toward people-pleasing) is to feel guilty about a) needing that time and b) even admitting that I need that time, but we all to rest and re-charge, especially after intensive (or even just extensive) time around other people. We're made to need people and to need time with God alone, so at this moment, as I sit here resting against my funny pillow, I'm grateful that I have a few minutes to myself and that for once, I don't feel badly about taking them.
A nearly hour-long delay and a pair of unhappy infants made the typically six-hour journey a wee bit more painful than it might otherwise have been, but it all worked out in the end, and I'm writing from my usual spot on the couch in our family room.
As I reflect on the day and on the time back home, I feel a strong sense of gratitude. I may not get to live near everyone I care for, but I'm blessed to have friends and family in many different places and I'm blessed that spending time with them --even limited time-- brings me joy.
After we returned the little Christmas tree to my mom's house this afternoon, we gave in to Brady's repeated requests for a Slurpee (because winter is a great time for icy treats!) with a pit stop at 7-Eleven. That made way for a lazy rest-of-the-afternoon, which saw Adam taking a long walk along the winding country road that fronts the house, the boys playing together, and me (and sometimes Abby) joining grandma for some TLC TV and Dr. Phil.
Then this evening, 3/4 of Bobby's family (Brendan had another commitment) came over to join us for Ledo pizza and a few more minutes of play-time for the cousins. The kids were all a little blue when they left, but I know they're glad to have had the chance to see them.
I say this just about every time I head back to California after being in Maryland, but it's tough to be bicoastal. It's hard to be away from family for extended periods of time and it's strange that my kids don't know my relatives particularly well. But I'm grateful to have had this time here and I'm thankful for every connection we were able to make during this trip, because connecting with people is one of the best parts of this life.
While inside, we watched a short documentary on the Battle of Gettysburg and then experienced the Cyclorama before sauntering through the museum (where we found the flag in the collage).
Then we were off to visit some of the notable locations and monuments. Although there's a well-marked and detailed auto tour available, we had limited time, so we hit just a few spots, including Cemetery Hill (see the boys with the cannon), Little Round Top (center and lower left), and The Pennsylvania State Monument, which we were amused to discover features a statue of Alfred Pleasonton, the namesake for our little town in California (the two on the right).
From there we hit the highway bound for mom's house so she and Harvey could join us for lunch at their pick: Cheesecake Factory. We had a pleasant mid-afternoon meal before returning to grandma's house for the night. I was amused when my jovial grandma, who was sitting in her usual spot in the family room, turned and, with a sly grin on her face, pointed a finger in my direction and cooed that she knew where we'd gone on our adventure. She confessed that though my aunt told her where we went (courtesy of a few Facebook posts I made), she had guessed either Gettysburg or Harper's Ferry. And, of course, she was right.
I'm certainly tired, but I'm also grateful that we were blessed with the opportunity to share some history with our kiddos and to spend more time with family.
I arose late this morning and while Adam and Abby headed off to the store on a secret birthday-related mission (as mine is next weekend), I braved the newly-arrived chill in the air and the wind to join the boys for some outside time. (Well, for a few minutes anyway. They played outside in their 'secret hiding place' --which was located behind the large shrub that runs along the front of the house-- long after my California-weakened blood sent me inside in search of warmer temps.
Later in the day, I met up with Gretchen at a Starbucks. Gretchen and I go all the way back to first grade and she's one of the sweetest people I know, so it was a real blessing to sit and talk with her for a few hours.
When I got back to the house, we almost immediately left again, this time to get dinner at Jerry's. While we were there, Reaya texted to ask if we wanted to come over, so we headed to their house for what wound up being some late-evening "Star Wars" themed banter (which went over my head since I'm not a "Star Wars" gal). And then it was back to grandma's for the night.
It was, in short, a nice start to the new year, complete with family, a friend, and some good food. (And a visit to the Mother Ship, of course.) So for all of that, I'm thankful.
