Hello August

Summer is rolling on. August is here. At our house that means birthdays, anniversaries, school shopping, and the state fair. Fun, but busy.

I've also started running. I started in May, actually. I used this plan, recommended by my amazing, running neighbor. She has been a huge inspiration and encouragement to me and I can't recommend this plan highly enough for anyone interested in running or (like me) who's had bad experiences with running in the past. You really can do this. Trust the plan and give yourself permission to go slow and easy. Get good shoes. I didn't until recently and I'm paying for it.

I need moments to focus on the summer beauty. To re-center and to celebrate the beauty of this season. In the closing days days (for us) of summer and the build up of activity and celebration, here are a few calm places in my house/yard. I hope you can find a few quiet places that refresh your mind and soul this week.

Grace and peace.

Summer is

play dates and picnics at the park.

beach towels on the clothes line.

kids in swimsuits still happy to play in the backyard wading pool.

hearing her sing and knowing it's because she's happy.
sweet toes.
sidewalk chalk

skinned knees, kisses and band aids.

talking over the fence with neighbors.

fireflies rising out of the grass as the light fades.

sitting on the porch with him.

dreaming.

Colorado

We're home from 10 days in Colorado. We flew in and out of Denver after driving to Florida. It was best for the sanity of our family! My Aunt and Uncle generously hosted us and we had a lot of fun hanging with with cousins and baby Anne. Matching home made polka dot outfits greeted the kids and we managed a successful photo shoot before our departure:
We met with a fellow adoptive family who's daughter is nearly David's age. David and Raina were in the children's home together and came home within weeks of each other. Animal crackers and ice cream (two universal loves of toddlers) smoothed the path to friendship. Thanks to Tami for making the time and the drive to meet us. It was fun!


Apricots at the Farmer's Market just asked to be tasted and photographed. Mountain sunsets in the wide and colorful Colorado sky took our breath away every single day. It was greener than it has been there for, oh, about 45 years (according to my Grandpa, a Colorado native). This is dangerous for me. My soul is somehow deeply fed by all things green in nature. I grew up in Wyoming and Colorado constantly disappointed by brown summers and brown winters. I longed for magical, romantic, robust seasons. I dearly love the midwest's seasons--fireflies, piles of leaves, giant snowflakes, you get what I'm saying. So an unusually green summer in Colorado made me question my memories a bit and wonder if I should give the western climate another chance.

The mountains were also unusually stunning to my jaded eyes. I had lots of summer camps in the mountains in my teen years. All I remembered was that it was scraggly, cold, and it rained almost every day--usually at the most in-opportune times. The mountains were unfortunately associated with the teen angst that accompanied too many of my summer camp experiences.

It was fresh and new and beautiful, this time. Seeing my kids surrounded by pine trees, swaying grasses and huge boulders was amazing. Humming birds buzzed all around us with their mesmerizing wings and shimmering bodies.





In Boulder, we were hosted by an amazing retired couple who built their home on a wildlife reserve for the purpose of hosting people. There were three huge bedrooms upstairs and a porch with a stunning view of the valley and wildlife. They fed us every morning and the kids loved playing with Lucy, their sweet dog and on the "mountain swing."

All in all, it was a rich and enjoyable time. Lots of great pictures, good memories and important conversations. Thanks to all our friends and family who made time to share a meal with us. Thank you to our host family in Boulder. Strangers who are now friends.

Rest

Adam's on a 6-week sabbatical from his job as a worship and arts pastor. Our church generously gives pastors a break on their 7th year of service. It's been a great time for him to rest and get away. He went to the Abby where I was in April. We've been to Florida. First to the beach.


Then we surprised the kids with Disney World. It was such a gift as parents to be able to take the kids to experience the whole Disney thing. It was overwhelming and hot, but worth it.
We drove home for a little turn around time and then got on a plane to Colorado. We're staying with my aunt and uncle and they have a spectacular view of mountain sunsets.


More to come. I just wanted to let you all know we haven't dropped off the map.

Good Days

Her training wheels are off.
We had a great dinner with family. There was strawberry shortcake and BBQ Chicken sandwiches.
He got up early and made me breakfast--before work at 7am. They made cards and a seed holder tower.


I wore my clothes from India and said a prayer for a mother who is part of our lives, yet someone I've never met.

I hope your weekend was lovely, too.

Savor

Yesterday the laundry and dishes and house cleaning and list-making had to wait. We played outside and rode bikes and he pulled the wagon.I'm trying to savor these moments. As cute and sweet and funny as they are, sometimes it's still hard.

Savor is the word of the day, for me. --v. To have a particular savor 2. To appreciate fully; relish.

I was savoring in a moment last Thursday on the Canal downtown. It was sunny and warm. It was quiet. Adam had David at home and I had an hour or so to myself. I took my journal and my camera. As soon as I came near these trees the sweet smell enveloped me. The smell of childhood. The smell of spring. Of new life. Of possibility.


What struck me the most was the extravagant number of flowers on each tree. The branches were literally bending under the weight of flowers! It was like a love note from God, "This is how much I love you: not an adequate amount; not a functional amount; an extravagant amount of love." It's here to savor. To marvel over. To relish.

the abby

As some of you may know, i had the opportunity to go on a 5-day personal retreat to The Abby at Gethsamani in Trappist, KY. They observe silence most of the time as a chance to deeply reflect and to more easily commune and pray to God. It was a simple, yet deeply beautiful place. It was good and strange to be alone with almost no time constraints (except meals).

I took long walks on the grounds, found a huge grassy hill that was warm and sunny the first day and just lay down in the grass and let the sun warm me and the breeze flow over my skin and rustle the long grass all around me. When I opened my eyes, my head was turned to the side. All I could see was long grass dancing in the wind with deep blue sky behind it. I purposely didn't bring my camera the first day so I could focus on "being" not doing. I wish I had my camera at that moment, but the image was so vivid, I hope I'll never forget it.

I read and wrote a lot in my journal. There were a lot of places to sit and reflect and a lot of beautiful scenery. Here's a link to an album on flickr.

For those who long for a taste of this sort of experience, let me encourage you: go for it. Even for a day or two. The drive was lovely and the experience will awaken your soul, if you let it. I have the best husband in the world, for making space and supporting me so generously. Thank you also to my amazing sister-in-law who kept all 3 kids and shuttled everyone to and from school, made lunches and helped with homework. It was a relief knowing they were in such good hands.

If you don't mind, I'll share a bit more in the next couple of days.

Grace and peace.