The Status Update

As I mentioned, we are almost empty nesters. 

I'll start at the top, though. HD just had a milestone birthday and unfortunately couldn't celebrate in the way that he has become accustomed... by having 200 of his closest friends in our backyard! It was really weird only having family-Don't read that as 'bad', because it was a wonderful party celebrating my favorite human. It was just different than any of us could have imagined. We did have a few family members here from out of town, and some that are close by couldn't come. See? Weird. The other cool thing that he has done lately is he now has a couple initials after his name relating to a new position at his company. I'm super proud of him; he has worked long and hard for this and he really deserves it!

HG and her husband moved from Colorado to Mississippi and they seem to really love it there and are putting down roots. She has family in the area that she moved to, they have joined a church, and have even become foster parents! Their first placement was a sibling pair, and of course they fell in love. While they have been able to go home, HG has maintained a good relationship with their family and has seen the kids a couple of times since they went home. Someday I might even have grandkids! 

HB1 graduated in 2018 and headed off to spend his freshman year in Spain in a First Year Abroad program. He traveled quite a bit fell in love with Europe. I'm pretty jealous of the year that he had! London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Northern Italy, the coast of Spain... And those were just his weekend trips! Since last fall he has lived in Boston for college and has really grown to love the northeast. He told me just last week that he wants to stay for a while because he really enjoys the seasons. Because of Covid he may not finish at his school; online classes won't work for his major and paying private school tuition is silly when he already has an internship and paying jobs in his field. So, he's living and working in Boston and I'm looking forward to visiting one of my favorite cities in the very near future.

And that brings me to the baby of the family. Last year, HB2 decided that he no longer wanted to play football, which left his schedule open to take other classes at the high school that he was interested in, as well as have a free period. He made a lot of new friends, and after Christmas he started working at HD's company as a 'yard guy' for a couple of hours after school each day as a way to make money before he went to college. (Insert ominous forshadowing music here!) In March, when the Covid shutdown hit and schools were closed he started working full time, and became an 'essential' worker sanitizing the offices. In July he decided not to go to college, and instead joined the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,) to go through the apprenticeship program. He will also get an engineering degree, as well as other certifications and training, and he gets to do it all at a company along side his dad and trusted mentors. A pretty good decision!

So, instead of being true empty nesters, our youngest has chosen to stay at home. In a year of unpredictable changes, it's just another change to get used to! We are so proud of all of the kids. Making changes and shifting directions is all a part of life and so far all 3 of them have weathered the changes that 2020 has thrown at them just fine. 

Mom on the other hand? I'm ok, but, Man, change can be hard! 

Time

I think it's time I dusted this thing off. Not really sure if anyone will read, or if anyone cares. I don't suppose it even matters. I'm ready to write again. 

For me.

There has been lots of changes in the last 2 years since my last post. Personally, and in the world. Currently we're in the middle of the Covid outbreak. More on that later, obviously. We're almost empty-nesters. More on that later, too. I'm personally off Facebook, at least for the time being. (Yet another post for another day.)  The same week I wrote my last post I went back to work, and now have 2 jobs. 

So, that makes about 5 posts in the pipeline. Keep me accountable!

Missing many of my old friends from around these parts. What are you up to? Leave a comment!! I have to approve them, but I promise they'll show up eventually. 

We'll chat again soon!!

50

In one week I will be 50 years old.

Like, really? How does that happen?

Ok, technically, I know how it happens. But we get so caught up in day to day life that sometimes things like this creep up on you and, BAM! You're 50 years old. A half-century. Like when your children are all of a sudden moving out or getting married and you wonder where the years went in between sleepy infant-hood and responsible-bill-paying-adulting? Same phenomenon. Weird.

I'm not to concerned about 50, really. I don't mind the number, itself, but I have started to reflect. Notice changes. And not just the physical ones.

I'm old enough to speak with some authority on life issues, at least in the way that I've experienced them. But also old enough to realize that my experience does not make it law. Old enough and weary enough of life and cycles that I no longer put stock in "politics" or "issues", but in family, and love, and creating a safe place in my home and heart for those that are around me.

I've let go of caring if people know that I've unfollowed them on social media. I no longer have time in my life for people or things that don't respect me or my time or my energy. What does that mean? Return my phone calls, texts, or emails. Honor your commitments to me. Be honest when there needs to be a change in plans, or if I've done something that has hurt you. I'm a big girl. I can take it. I'm also learning how to be honest with the people in my life and have the tough conversations. Sure, it's still a work in progress, but I'm learning. I'm embracing the learning because I know that I (and you,) will be happier and healthier because of it. That is growth, y'all.

50 is an age for reflection like no other before it. I look back on my teens and 20's and am so thankful that we didn't have social media to record all of our mistakes and heartaches. Those years of growth and learning are much better remembered with the haze of time blurring the edges and softening the blow of harsh realities of uninformed opinions and lack of wisdom. Much less comparison of our older bodies and faces mapped with the lines of good living, to the not-even-airbrushed photos of our youth. Sometimes there are things better left unsaid or unviewed! My thirties were a blur of diapers and naps, and cheer competitions, trying to be the perfect wife and mom, and feeling like I was failing miserably. 40 brought perspective. Now 50.

So many things learned in a half-century of living and so many of them long forgotten. Like the name of that boy that I had a crush on, or the address of my first apartment; fleeting things that at the time seemed so important but fade. These things remain: faith, hope, and love. The memories of these things. They remain.

This is what going beyond 50 looks like: holding fast to the things that really matter.

Time and Again

The funny thing about time is... well, it never stops.

See, in my head is till feel like I'm about 25. The mirror reminds me otherwise! And the calendar reminds me that 25 was 25 years ago. Ahem.

And sometimes, if the wind is just right and I'm lost in thought, I'm snuggling my babies while watching Little Bill, and get a big whiff of their sweaty little boy heads. It was just this morning, right?

Or a chill of fall comes through the air and I'm sitting in the stands of a Friday night football game paying little attention to the field, instead, I'm watching my girl dance and jump her way through another routine. A tear of pride blurs my vision....

Was it really 6 months ago that I updated you? That I began to share our 20th anniversary trip and then dropped out of sight? Sigh. So much time and so many memories, so many stories to share, yet where to start? What about you? What has been told in your story this year?

Since time marches on, I guess it's time to update the About page. Dust off the keyboard. Share my stories again and ask about yours. I've been craving your words, and my fingers have been aching to tell the tales.

Dazzle me with you. I'll try to do the same. Let me hold your hand, and you can hold mine and we'll get back to where we used to be... Young and in love with life and time.

And...We're Off!

There is nothing worse than bumper to bumper traffic on your way out of town, mid morning on a Saturday. Thankfully, this was the worst of it!

Because this is our view for the next few days!

Any guesses of where we are? And if you follow me on Facebook you're not allowed to guess!