The Whole Summer + Some Fall

Me with a mug from the very first Starbucks in Seattle, Washington

 It happened again: I let this blog go for months without an update. The summer was a blur..

Over the summer we took a couple trips up to NY to visit with family. Devin showed his wild and brave side and Lukas has continued to grow more and more independent.

We continued with much of our same preparations to open a business: several CrossFit certifications and many many nights talking business and logistics.

I have been trying to cultivate an interest in CrossFit, but I really have no natural inclination or desire to do it. I think this is unfortunate for Justin since he's turned into a big-time fitness enthusiast. Left to my own devices I would probably just read books all day. One other thing we've been discussing is personality types. He is the type that feels energized being around people, while I'm the type that feels drained. My own friends will attest to this here as I don't often go out to hang out and I prefer to be one-on-one. Give me a secluded house, a garden and some books.. or a good show ;) I think this is why it takes me at least a year after every PCS to make good friends.

At a CrossFit Bolling get-together.

Lukas, my super good kitchen helper

Justin has recently spent a lot of time away from home. Much of September was spent away and most weekends are gone. I knew going into the drill team job that this would be the case. Happily the boys are a bit older and I get overwhelmed a lot less than I used to when he would work ultra-long days during parade season or the very busy Spring/Summer months in Arlington when it seems like every official wanted to do a wreath laying ceremony. I'm not meaning to diminish the importance of their job here, it's just hard to remember in the moment.

One neat thing that Justin has started doing is bringing me home a mug from each StarBucks shop he visits. It's turning into a tradition now and in a weird way I look forward to getting my new mug when I hear he's going TDY to a new place. One other neat thing is the closeness the boys and I have. There are moments I know they act out extra because dad is away, but it seems like overall we help each other deal with missing dad by loving on each other more.

The boys doing FaceTime with Justin while he's away

Justin has been awesome through it all: making sure to call or text often and being understanding when I'm D-O-N-E with drill team and tdy's and him being away. It makes me wonder if I keep getting this test to see if someday I'll pass it............... ;)

In any case, it's kind of brought into sharp focus that life has to be lived one day at a time. There's no "I'll be happy when xyz happens.." because usually xyz doesn't happen when you want it to or at all. You really have to find joy in each day. Sometimes it seems like waves in an ocean.. sometimes those waves are like tidal waves, but then they recede and things are going fine until the next wave happens. Maybe I'm rambling, but this is sort of how I'm coming to peace with our reality. It's just way too easy to let resentment build up and steal your happiness. 

Dad holding a sleeping Devin at Iron Kettle Farm

Justin reading to the boys on his first or second day home after the September TDY

Playing at the Playseum in DC during a goodbye trip with the Kendalls!

I have been exploring homeschooling with Lukas by following a series called Five in a Row. It's actually quite a bit of work. I don't think this one is really sustainable with my Type-A personality.. if we do do homeschooling, I'd rather have a program already put together that I know for sure meets the requirements for age-appropriate learning without a ton of preparation work. Lukas has fun "doing school" in the mornings.

Something else we've been doing is trying to find some direction as to what to do within the next year or so. We have many choices in front of us and sometimes it's hard to know which direction is the right one to go. After months and months and months of discussion, I've finally come to the conclusion that whatever happens, I don't care as long as I'm with my boys and my husband. If you spend too much time thinking about a future that might not even come to be as you like, you will lose precious moments now that will certainly never come back. 

Dream house

Promise the next post will be more of a what's-going-on post than a me-me-me philosophical post.