Lexi's 20th Birthday

Oh my!

How can it be that I've been a mother for two decades?

I hardly feel two decades old myself!!

Good thing I have a mirror to reflect the truth to me!!!

During our first week of school, we also celebrated this girl's

20th birthday!!
Over the last several years, she has taken it upon herself to plan her own

birthday celebrations.  Which is great for Mom....in some ways.

But this year, she is really busy with college and work

and so are all her friends.

So we collaboratively decided to quietly celebrate at home with our family.

It's interesting letting go of the princess parties elaborately planned

with 10 little friends coming for a sleepover celebration.

Or the 13th makeover birthday party complete with photo session

in the park with more friends!

Those days are behind us now (for this girl anyway)

and we're enjoying the simpler joys of busy days that require

a less complicated means of gathering and celebrating.

I love the satisfaction that a dinner out or time together honoring

one another brings now!!

Growing up has its perks!!

Savoring the last days of summer slow

We're preparing for a new school year in our neck-of-the-woods!

School curriculum has been chosen, purchased, delivered, and filed.

High school transcripts have been mapped and printed out.

Learning clothes have been tried on, fitted, shortened, and ironed.
Daily volleyball practice has begun.

We've met the new co-op supervisor.
Snack and menu management for busy days has been organized.

Earlier bedtimes have commenced, and our calendars are filling up.

We have several big ministry projects at our church coming up in several weeks
that we are busy preparing for as well!

But before the busiest days swallow us up,

we are intentionally savoring the last days of summer together.

Dad doesn't usually get to join the teenagers on church youth activities,

but he was able to work out this special evening

with their very favorite local baseball team!!! 

Celebrating a summer birthday

Summer free time is winding down here.

You can feel it.

A restlessness and lethargy as structured summer activities have all

come to an end, and we are moving things out and getting

organized for another school year.

Recently, we all gathered together to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday.

My children adore their grandmother, and it's become an annual

tradition to lavish some extra love on her on her special day!!

She was just booked solid the week of her birthday and Ashlyn was

working this evening, so the three of us planned a fun lunch together

the following week to extend the festivities!!

Happy Birthday, Mom/Grandma!!
We love you!!

Relishing Summer

When we found some local businesses with little cards on their counters

 for free games of bowling, the kids all wanted to go.

"Mom, why does summer go so fast and the school days so slow?"

asked my very observant one.

Isn't that the way it always is?
As much fun as we've had since January, and all the things we've been able to do,

to accomplish, to experience, it was a bit of a blur.
I'm trying to be more intentional about our lovely summer days this year.

Taking more time to unplug and just spend slow time

focused on each other.
Relishing the moments and enjoying each other's company.

I recently read a friend's conversation on social media about

 learning how to slow down.

Someone made this poignant statement,
"Saying no to others is a yes to my family."

Even Jesus promoted this idea of taking time to relish and rest.

"He {Jesus} said unto them {his inner circle of disciples},
'Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,

and rest a while.'
for there were many coming and going, and they {the disciples}
had no leisure so much as to eat."
~Mark 6:31

Ever blasted through your day and realized you missed lunchtime?
I'm remembering a camp director in my not-so-distant past
who admonished us camp counselors to be intentional about resting
on the weekends.
"Come apart, before you come a part."

When it did ever become Biblical to "burn the candle at both ends?"
To "burn yourself into the ground" for Jesus?
To be so frenetically busy that you feel spiritually and emotionally exhausted?
I can't find anywhere in scripture where that idea is taught.

We're intentionally savoring the moments this summer,

because the fall and schooling is coming!!

Free Day!

As a "Mom-of-Many" I'm always on the lookout for

fun opportunities for my children that are not going 

to break the bank!!

Recently, we found a whole day of fun activities that helped us beat the heat

as well as cost us nothing!!!

Maybe in your area, your local schools or libraries offer free lunches

to children of all ages during the summer months.

We have several facilities here in town that do that,

so we got out of the kitchen and helped ourselves to a free lunch.

On this day, our local slurpee joint was offering free slurpees all day,

so we stopped off there for dessert after lunch!

A couple hours later, we drove over to our amazing local library where

they offer incredible free educational programs every Tuesday afternoon 

during the months of June and July!

We have attended so many of these through the years

 and they are always a pleasure!

On this particular day, our local zoo brought a slew of small animals

 for the children to see and learn about!! 

 Aryn even got picked to go up front and have a hands-on

experience with a giant lizard!

After the library presentation, we hit a different slurpee store for free slurpee #2 with a friend!

Not to be left-out, the grown-ups had a free date night to our favorite

dinner spot because of a gift card my husband had received on Father's Day!!

Such a lovely, relaxing summer day!!

With a little planning, you can hunt down some budget-friendly

ways to get your family off the summer couch too!!!