I’ve come to enjoy the rhythms of Monday posts that are rambles as much as Friday posts that are structured.

This weekend was full and crowded with stuff and things.

Friday night I crossed an imaginary line.  A tattoo line.  I went from two small tattoos to just sky diving right off into a third much larger one.

Maybe it’ll be a story for another day.  Who knows?

Saturday the girls played their last soccer game of the season.  It was a really great experience for them all in different ways.  Saturdays spent cheering them on were actually quite enjoyable.  All the same, I’m grateful the season has ended.  Two practices each week – at 6:30 pm no less – took a bite out of evening routines and I’ll be thankful to have the nights back.

Saturday also saw some of our family attending a beautifully sweet wedding highlighting new hope and shared stories and the joining of two families.  And cake.  Of course it’s not a wedding worth attending without cake.

Sunday the big kids and I and a half dozen of their friends all joined the rest of the United States in viewing the latest super hero film in Avengers: Infinity War.  Man, you guys.  That was a hard one.  But I’m not about spoiling films, so just go see it yourselves.  I’ve never been a die hard action film fan.  I’d say almost every action movie I have ever watched was because I loved the person who wanted to watch the movie.  Watching Avengers was certainly no different.  But I do so love being a part of what my kids love and engaging in their conversations and entering into their world.  (Sure, sometimes I wish their world was more about reading novels that I love and taking long hikes without complaining and one of them rubbing my feet, but whatever. A mom takes what a mom can get.)

In other news, this last year I had the privilege of editing two different books for two different friends.

In the past month both of those buddies have published their books and they are both available on Amazon.  Which makes me thrilled for my friends.  (And, let’s be honest, it also makes me think – Hey, Lacey.  Write your own book, would you?)

Zac wrote a book entitled Valleys Fill First.  His book is about the start of a small church in Vermont and the experiences associated with that.

And Abby wrote a book called All the Days about working at summer camps and being single and loving Jesus.

Right now I’m not writing a book, however.  I am, instead, balancing all the lovely life in front of me and thinking about verses that shouted at me last night at church like “Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest” and what that means in this house.

I’m also planning the way to and from our summer journey across the states to Colorado.  You know how much I like to name things and my friend Addy suggested we call this trip Circumventing Flatlands.  Which made me laugh a lot. Because we are, you know.  Avoiding Kansas has played a rather significant role in our route so that title seems to work.  I think the official long title will be  …..

Circumventing Flatlands: The Scenic Route.

We’ve got stops mostly planned for the way out – stays with friends in Kentucky and Missouri.  Goodness, I could not be more grateful for the gift of friends who live across the states and who are kind enough to let six people crash at their homes.  Hospitality is a generous gift.  We also have a stop planned at a castle so that’s cool.  And another at a KOA near Mt. Rushmore.  We’re still scouting out ideas for a stop in northeast Colorado, as well as Hot Springs, South Dakota and a spot or two in the mid west on the route home.  If you have any connections or ideas for those, I’m all ears.

I’ve already packed the winter gear and I’ve printed the US maps for the license plate game and I’ve created the classic traditional scavenger hunt.  I’m afraid we have to pony up for new cowboy boots for London who outgrew hers this year as well as rain gear for the teenage girls.  What’s with them getting so tall and such?  And why on earth are rain jackets so expensive?  That just seems silly.

I’ve got more to do here and there with the plans but I like to try to arrange details early so it’s not a mad rush that last few days before heading out.

We only have three more weeks of “official” school.  Although I am thoroughly convinced that our drive west is for certain as equally educational as any ‘school” out there.  Not only because we listen to audio books (Tale of Two Cities is sure going to thrill my kids when I put that one in the line up) but because driving across the states you spent the school year mapping out is the best way I know how to learn.  And meeting people that lie in other places and experiencing other cities and towns and seeing National Parks and visiting historic landmarks – all history, all learning, all sorts of the best kinds of education you could ask for.  (We’re venturing over to Wind Cave National Park and the Badlands too.  Piper is in fourth grade and we plan to take full advantage of that Every Child in a Park pass that lets fourth graders and their families enter state parks for free.)

I think that’s a wrap for this weekend.  I’ve started a new novel – The Light Between the Oceans – and I’m anxious to read a few more chapters!  (So far it’s beautiful and tender and I’m afraid it’s going to be tragic.)

 

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