- There's a really good reason why I haven't posted nearly at all lately: summer is busy. Busy, busy, busy! Somehow I always think of summer as a season with more time and lots of really great little moments to savor. And that's true, but the part I always forget is that, like a goldfish that expands with a bigger bowl, life just gets busier to fill any spare time. Oh, well.
- Some of those moments that I'm savoring lately: swimming with my coaches before class. (We arrive from our various day jobs hot and tired, can barely wait to jump in, and then act like kids until the students begin trickling in. Unlike my regular coaches, who always kept me at a respectful distance no matter what I did, everyone here seems unfazed by my presence, possibly because they find my boss incredibly intimidating - which I think is just funny - and I look pretty nonthreatening in comparison. Connor is on a quest to be able to balance on as many stacked kickboard as humanly possible - his current record is sixteen. And as of today, there's a little friendly competition to see who can swim the farthest without thing a breath - again, Connor is leading with something like thirty five meters. He's got a wicked dolphin kick). Watching a friend's daughter and former student come in first in her heat at summer swim team (go Lills!). Cuddling up with Abigail on the couch after we come home from VBS, exhausted. Everything coming together in a rare moment of universal kismet for me to take a day off and go on a trip with Cris, Dar, Ruth, and Isaac. Eating fresh mangos cross-legged on the couch after a hot day while the AC cranks out frigid air.
- Some not-so-great moments: getting jumped on by a student - I had a heel mark on my abdomen for a week, but an inch or two higher and she would have broken my rib, so I consider myself lucky - and then getting kicked in the nose tonight by another (everything went black for a second and I almost called over the next coach, but there was no blood, just a suspicious scraping sound, so I'm assuming it's not broken. Again, lucky). The atrocious heat (which, thankfully, seems to be leaving) followed by the huge thunderstorms (which are a bit hard to sleep through when the WHOLE PLACE is shaking), during which I discovered that my kitchen window is leaking like a sieve. Lovely.
- We're wrapping up drama team for another year (last day of VBS is tomorrow, final performance is Sunday) and I'm relishing every moment. Lots of good times, we're all in our groove, and it's just plain fun to work with a group that's been together for five years and has gotten good at what we do. I'm excited about Sunday. And extra excited about having my Sunday afternoons back for long lazy naps when it's over! :)
- Tuesday will mark an entire month of drinking my coffee unsweetened! (Technically I added a packet of Sweet-n-low to a cup last week after I couldn't choke it down black, but I only took one sip afterwards before deciding that the problem wasn't lack of sweetener but crappy coffee, and I threw it out. So I say it stands).
- I am super excited about: going on a late-night girl's date to see Inside Out tomorrow after work. The John Williams concert at the college next week (and fireworks!). Getting to train with my coaches next week. Elena coming home (I MISS her!). Really excited about starting a new swim year in September (although there's a month of NO swim between now and then, which I'm definitely less excited about).
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Happy Birthdays
It's the first thing I think in the morning when I open my eyes and see the light filtering down from the skylight onto my beautiful gray walls.
It's usually the last thing I think when I return to my bed after the (usually long) day and contemplate the quiet.
I am so blessed.
I am. There's no doubt about it.
My life is full - of really, really good people, of kids (lots of kids!), of joy. I have warmth, protection from the heat and rain and snow, nourishment, a soft bed. The fact that these things are also beautiful and lovely is just grace.
Which is why it breaks my heart a little to remember that on this day a year ago, I struggled to be anything but devastated. I thought that this was probably due, at least in part, to the fact that the previous two weeks had been filled with travel, vacationing, and friends. My birthday neatly coincided with the first day back to "real life" and the inevitable emotional letdown. And I tried hard to convince myself that was the only reason.
I remember that every time I looked in the mirror that day, the gray hairs that had begun to sprout in the past year laughed at me. I don't know why, but they made me feel like a failure - like time was slipping through my fingers and I still hadn't figured out a way to matter. To be worth anything.
It was a complicated time in my life, and I was tired, and a bit conflicted, and months later, I would struggle with God for wisdom, and He would supply it (along with a new level of peace). But on that day, all I felt was sad.
I want to go back and hug that girl, and laugh, and say, "If you thought three gray hairs were bad, wait until you see the 'glitter strands' in your head now. And if you thought gray hair was disaster, now you have wrinkles!"
(They're so obviously formed by smiling, I can't regret them even a little bit. In fact, I'm kind of fond of them. There was a time in my life when I thought I'd never spend enough time smiling to cause wrinkles.)
And I'd want to tell that girl, "In this moment, right now, you have all the pieces of your happiness already. You haven't quite figured out how to put them together yet, but you will. Nothing in your life will change in the next year, except you, but you will be happy. So happy, in fact, that you can't imagine anyone you'd be willing to trade lives with. Don't let people talk you out of your joy."
Happy birthday to that girl. You are blessed.
It's usually the last thing I think when I return to my bed after the (usually long) day and contemplate the quiet.
I am so blessed.
I am. There's no doubt about it.
My life is full - of really, really good people, of kids (lots of kids!), of joy. I have warmth, protection from the heat and rain and snow, nourishment, a soft bed. The fact that these things are also beautiful and lovely is just grace.
Which is why it breaks my heart a little to remember that on this day a year ago, I struggled to be anything but devastated. I thought that this was probably due, at least in part, to the fact that the previous two weeks had been filled with travel, vacationing, and friends. My birthday neatly coincided with the first day back to "real life" and the inevitable emotional letdown. And I tried hard to convince myself that was the only reason.
I remember that every time I looked in the mirror that day, the gray hairs that had begun to sprout in the past year laughed at me. I don't know why, but they made me feel like a failure - like time was slipping through my fingers and I still hadn't figured out a way to matter. To be worth anything.
It was a complicated time in my life, and I was tired, and a bit conflicted, and months later, I would struggle with God for wisdom, and He would supply it (along with a new level of peace). But on that day, all I felt was sad.
I want to go back and hug that girl, and laugh, and say, "If you thought three gray hairs were bad, wait until you see the 'glitter strands' in your head now. And if you thought gray hair was disaster, now you have wrinkles!"
(They're so obviously formed by smiling, I can't regret them even a little bit. In fact, I'm kind of fond of them. There was a time in my life when I thought I'd never spend enough time smiling to cause wrinkles.)
And I'd want to tell that girl, "In this moment, right now, you have all the pieces of your happiness already. You haven't quite figured out how to put them together yet, but you will. Nothing in your life will change in the next year, except you, but you will be happy. So happy, in fact, that you can't imagine anyone you'd be willing to trade lives with. Don't let people talk you out of your joy."
Happy birthday to that girl. You are blessed.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Monday Morning Randomizer
- I have a week (and weekend!) of staycation that started on Saturday. I am so excited! A chance to putter and accomplish (my to-do list has been crazy-long lately) and relax (I bought myself a floating lounger and I plan to spend at least a good chunk of this week in the pool reading). And it's my birthday week! :) And on Wednesday it worked out perfectly so I could take the day off and
- I bought Abigail an inflatable dolphin for her birthday. I didn't realize it was six feet long.
Nor did I realize that they also have a whale, a sea turtle, an alligator, a shark, and a stingray. I'm thinking maybe we need to start a collection! (My seven-year-old self would have LOVED these!)
- I've had a little more time to cook lately, and I'm gravitating back to the paleo-ish things I ate while doing my Whole30 last year. I'm thinking maybe it's time to do another one. Would doing a second one be harder (because there's no "I have to do it at least once!" feeling to keep me going?) or easier?
- VBS is next week, and the cast is in crunch week. Not really, actually. We're pretty confident (one person said "the most confident we've ever been going in."). I love these folks, and knowing that I might not be able to do this again (if life gets any busier), I've tried to enjoy every last minute of our time together.
- Lately, I'm aware that there is a lot of blue coming into my life. I'm not sure if you'd call it cobalt or royal, but it's been gradually making a presence - a new water bottle, a shirt, a handbag that instantly caught my eye. I've been finding myself drawn to it, almost unwillingly. Not sure what this means. According to some (very shallow) Googling, orange is all about energy and happiness, joy, creativity, enthusiasm, determination, and encouragement. Blue, on the other hand, is depth and stability, trust, wisdom, confidence, faith, truth, and calm. I guess my life has become more ordered, more stable in the last six months or so. Is this a sign of changes to come? (I'm a little apprehensive. I've liked the orange.)
- I bought Abigail an inflatable dolphin for her birthday. I didn't realize it was six feet long.
- I've had a little more time to cook lately, and I'm gravitating back to the paleo-ish things I ate while doing my Whole30 last year. I'm thinking maybe it's time to do another one. Would doing a second one be harder (because there's no "I have to do it at least once!" feeling to keep me going?) or easier?
- VBS is next week, and the cast is in crunch week. Not really, actually. We're pretty confident (one person said "the most confident we've ever been going in."). I love these folks, and knowing that I might not be able to do this again (if life gets any busier), I've tried to enjoy every last minute of our time together.
- Lately, I'm aware that there is a lot of blue coming into my life. I'm not sure if you'd call it cobalt or royal, but it's been gradually making a presence - a new water bottle, a shirt, a handbag that instantly caught my eye. I've been finding myself drawn to it, almost unwillingly. Not sure what this means. According to some (very shallow) Googling, orange is all about energy and happiness, joy, creativity, enthusiasm, determination, and encouragement. Blue, on the other hand, is depth and stability, trust, wisdom, confidence, faith, truth, and calm. I guess my life has become more ordered, more stable in the last six months or so. Is this a sign of changes to come? (I'm a little apprehensive. I've liked the orange.)
Monday, June 1, 2015
Summer Bucket List 2015
June
1. Learn to drink my coffee unsweetened
2. Go see live theater
3. Go to the movies
4. Get a new singalong CD for the triplets
5. Take the triplets to the pool
6. Make treats for my summer coaches
7. Get a new toe ring
8. Get a henna tattoo
9. Take Abby to the lake
10. Take a nap
11. Make a Starbucks run for the VBS cast
12. Watch a sunset
July
1. Get dressed up for a girl's night out
2. Do a messy craft
3. Explore a local history site I've never been to before
4. Buy new sunglasses
5. Leave a really big tip
6. Go to a concert
7. Go on a people-watching date
8. Save money
9. Make popsicles
10. Tile the kitchen backsplash
11. Get my ears pierced
12. Get a pedicure
August
1. Go stargazing
2. Spend a day on the beach
3. Take a road trip
Friday, May 29, 2015
Life, Lately
- Now that the produce in the stores looks appealing again (for some reason everything looked really sad this winter, and I was reluctant to spend money on stuff that already looked half-spoiled), fruits and veggies have totally taken over my grocery bill. Last week I found this baby pineapple:
Apparently it has a soft, edible core and is super sweet. I'm looking forward to grilling it! This week the find was tiny bell peppers (about 2"). And strawberries were $1.50 for a big container! I bought two; might be time to make more of the homemade whipped cream I whipped by hand last week and was so proud of. ;)
- My birthday is coming up, it worked out for me to take a day off (from everything but swimming) and I'm trying to decide how I want to spend the day. Spend the day in D.C. in the modern wing of the art museum? Sleep in and putter around working on projects? Spend the day driving around corners of the county I've never seen before? So many choices! :)
- Abigail's last day of school was on Friday, Thursday was the last time I drove her as a first grader, so we did our traditional first-and-last-drive-to-school donut stop. :) I cannot wait for summer to start! So much fun planned and there's never enough time to do all the cool stuff we want to do (but we're sure going to give it our best shot LOL!).
Apparently it has a soft, edible core and is super sweet. I'm looking forward to grilling it! This week the find was tiny bell peppers (about 2"). And strawberries were $1.50 for a big container! I bought two; might be time to make more of the homemade whipped cream I whipped by hand last week and was so proud of. ;)
- My birthday is coming up, it worked out for me to take a day off (from everything but swimming) and I'm trying to decide how I want to spend the day. Spend the day in D.C. in the modern wing of the art museum? Sleep in and putter around working on projects? Spend the day driving around corners of the county I've never seen before? So many choices! :)
- Abigail's last day of school was on Friday, Thursday was the last time I drove her as a first grader, so we did our traditional first-and-last-drive-to-school donut stop. :) I cannot wait for summer to start! So much fun planned and there's never enough time to do all the cool stuff we want to do (but we're sure going to give it our best shot LOL!).
- Last weekend I started my very first batch of ginger ale brewing, yeast, sugar, and all! On Wednesday, Maggie and I tried it, and I loved it; a little sweeter than I prefer, but still good. I'm looking forward to trying another batch soon so I can play with the sugar and ginger proportions.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Cupcakes For Connor
Connor is one of my favorite people. Some people have so much positivity that they can't help but affect everyone around them, and that's Connor to a T. I look forward to winter and summer breaks when he returns to coach with us; I say I'm looking forward to having extra help, another pair of hands, but the truth is, I crave the upbeat energy he brings to the deck. I love knowing that if (when) things hit a rough patch, his attitude changes a bad day into a challenge to be conquered.
Lately, I've been thinking about how incredible it is to be surrounded by people who embody traits that you want to develop in your own life, and Connor is a great example of that. I'm the one who overloads under stress, who generally assumes the worst that can happen, will happen. Time to grow. Time to change. I have all summer to practice. ;)
Happy birthday, Connor!
(Cupcake deets: yes, I saw it on Pinterest - it was originally a sheet cake. The cupcakes are Duncan Hines vanilla, topped with blue raspberry frosting. The swimmers are made from peanut MM's and pretzels. The lane lines are regular MM's.)
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Today
I have... my windows open. It's cold (less than 60 degrees out today!) and dripping rain, and I'm listening to the raindrops on the roof.
I smell... the candles I'm burning: "Rainy Spring Day" and "Silver Birch." The flicker and glow of the latter against my gray walls is absolutely beautiful.
I am wearing... a long-sleeved tee and fleece pants, both from the pile of clothes I've been meaning to store away for days.
I am working on... lesson plans. Today was mostly for Abigail - lots of math games and creative writing. But I still need to put together stuff for the triplets.
I am looking forward to... swim tonight. My favorite class to teach, even if one of my favorite students is in Disney World for the week.
I am feeling... sad. And today, I'm not going to talk myself out of it, or keep moving forward; I'm just going to be sad. I don't like the way God is writing the Story lately. Faith is hard.
I am thinking about... my best friend, whose birthday it is today. Happy birthday, bestie! :)
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