It was the most amazing trip

We had the best trip this past weekend!  I think we were all a little hesitant about spending so much time together and staying with our friend instead of having our own hotel rooms.  But, it was absolutely spectacular.  We loved having so much time together, and since we were all staying under the same roof, it actually allowed us the chance to be more laid back with our schedule rather than worrying about what time we were meeting Julie.  And the best part was that we could hang out in the evening and have a few drinks without anyone having to drive anywhere.  We visited some wineries, a brewery, and the best part was that we found this amazing park to walk around on our last evening after having the most amazing dinner.  We were able to cross another state off our list, and overall it was just the most amazing trip.  Julie is building a new house this year, and it will be even more fun next year.  We even made a plan to meet half way again in October, and even the drive home was awesome.  I'm so incredibly grateful for Lyndi staying at our house with the pets, for having the funds and flexibility to do this, and for our treasured friendships!

My perspective on this week

We are essentially half way through my summer break.  It's been nothing at all like I had planned it, and I'm completely okay with that!  I had "grand" plans for all the house work that was going to happen, especially painting what used to be Catherine's room.  Not going to happen.

Instead, there have been afternoons of naps and lots of genealogy work.  For one thing, the heat indices have been close to over 100 degrees.  So painting a small room is probably not what I'd be going for anyway.  Secondly, I've had little things pop up during the week and it hasn't allowed me hours on end of painting time, which is what I prefer.  And honestly, I'm prioritizing mental health, and I'm good with that.

The further I get from this past year, the more I realize how awful it was.  As my boss pointed out, we used to have weekly admin meetings, but this past year it was common for us to meet two or three times...a day!  I've realized how unfair it was to Andrew that I would come home and do absolutely nothing.  I didn't even want to talk to him.  I literally just wanted to sit and stare at something, usually my computer screen as I would mindlessly surf the internet.  If I had been parenting younger children, I've told my co-workers I would have resigned because it just wasn't fair to my family.

So, yes, the room will need painted at some point.  But, it's perfectly livable as it is, I'm just not a fan of purple! :). But I've enjoyed spending afternoons with my husband, relaxing, and I've enjoyed spending time (and dinner) with my adult kiddo and his wife, and I'm absolutely certain I will enjoy our trip with friends this coming weekend.  I'm physically able to travel and that is never a guarantee in life.  My dad died at age 59.  Andrew and I have made smart choices and we continue to do so, but it is 100% okay that my week has been more enjoyable than productive!

June is the best

As much as I love the holidays and prefer cooler weather, June really is the best month of the year in many ways.  I work minimal hours in June, and the nice thing is...July is much of the same.  June is usually cooler than July, plus, even after June, I still have July.  So June really is the best.

It also wraps up our first summer month of being empty nesters.  I enjoy it, but I also miss my kiddos.  They've had a lot going on recently, but I'll admit, it is less stressful when they aren't living it under my roof.  Catherine has a new job, and it's closer to where she now lives.  They had hoped to be able to move later this summer, but have agreed to remain where they are for one more year.  Overall, things are working out for her and I'm grateful.  Thomas and Lyndi are house hunting.  I'm not sure how things are going to work out for them in that regard, but I do understand them wanting to leave their current housing situation.  There is a chance they'll be moving in with us in September, but hopefully it doesn't come to that.

It's been a really lovely first six months of the year (knock on wood) in terms of my family, generally speaking.  I'm optimistic that the second six months of the year will also be lovely at work!

Returning the book brought tears to my eyes

Nearly a decade ago, Andrew and I came into possession of about 40 books that had been written by children in our school district.  These books were 10-20 years old at the time, and I was tasked with trying to get them returned to the "authors".  We were able to get a few returned, but most of the people I didn't know.  We are desperate to get this box out of our garage, so I decided to start taking action.  The one I returned this morning, brought me to tears, and this is going to stay with me for a bit.

I had been contacted by the step-daughter of one of the names.  Unfortunately, the gentleman had passed away two years ago.  His step-daughter was so excited about the prospect that this book may have been a part of his childhood.  When we discussed getting the book to her, she mentioned she didn't have transportation, but she would see if she could find a friend.  I told her I'd be happy to drop off the book to her.  That is when I learned she lives in the "project housing" here in town, but has a job at the fast food restaurant next to it and works mostly evenings.  I told her I would bring the book by after church.

Andrew doesn't like me going to this place by myself, and I was happy he was along to accompany me, although it was fairly quiet on a Sunday morning.  This woman lives with a partner and small child at the end, and honestly, they are more isolated and I'm sure that helps to keep things quieter.  As I handed the book to her, I showed her where her step-dad's picture was in the back, and as she kept thanking me, tears came to her eyes.  I hugged her, and I am so incredibly glad that I was able to get the book back to her family.  Her plan is to make copies and give the original to his mother.

This is going to stay with me, to be honest.  I have no idea what this family's story is, but they are going to be on my heart and mind for a long time.  Clearly, things have been hard for them.  I can't help but feel there is a reason I was to do this.  I don't know what it might be yet, but I'm not going to forget these people anytime soon.

The beginning of summer break

Today is officially the beginning of summer break.  It sounds a little ridiculous, but it is the only week of the entire summer that our office is completely closed.  It is also really the only week of the entire year that nothing has to happen and everything can wait.  I take an extra day at the end since we are traveling back from visiting our friend, so I don't have to be at work again until July 7.  Woohoo!

I know I'll be ready for the kids again in August, but I'm also very grateful that we still have almost eight weeks until that happens.  Tonight, we had a school event at the community concert and a few families showed up.  I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing for the next couple of days, but relaxing and sleeping is on the list!

Father's Day 2026

Today, as we all know, was Father's Day.  I think Andrew struggled a little bit, as it was the first time he didn't get to see any of the kids on Father's Day.  Originally, I was supposed to be up helping my mom today so I hadn't planned anything with the kids.  I hadn't seen them on Mother's Day, so I didn't worry too much about it.  Andrew made an incredible dinner.  I told him I felt really badly that he had to cook, but I also pointed out that there was no way I was going to cook anything near as yummy as what he had made.  I'm so grateful for the incredible man that shares his life with me, and he couldn't be a more amazing father!

Of course, I've thought about my Dad a lot today.  He would love seeing what the kids are doing, especially Thomas.  I think Thomas would spend a lot of time with my parents if Dad were still alive.  I also was so blessed to be able to grow up with my grandfathers.  As I'm in my early 50's, there are so many years of memories.

We are keeping an eye out for severe storms again right now.  I'm tired and looking forward to a good night of sleeping, so hopefully nothing more severe will develop.

Another week in June

We are now 4-1/2 weeks into our summer with 8-1/2 weeks to go.  This summer is one of those rare summers where we get an extra week and have 13 weeks instead of 12.  I'm not sad about that at all.

This week has had some really gorgeous weather, although Wednesday was a really rough night.  We had two tornado warnings in town, and a tornado did touch down northeast of us.  Thankfully, it was an EF-0, but since the timing of the storms was from Midnight-2am, it made for a very-not-great night of sleep.  Fortunately, there wasn't a lot that needed accomplished at work this week, so we worked the minimum number of hours and that was that.  And we were closed today (although we try to never work Fridays in the summer), so yesterday's early departure was the start to our weekend!

It was a bit of a busy week.  Tuesday we had dinner plans with our best friends, and then on Wednesday I had TWO meetings at church.  And our week was after our busy weekend, which included two graduation parties on Sunday.  The first one was family, and my cousin expressed to me how she felt a little disappointed that one branch of our family (my uncle's...surprise, hmph) had no one attend and how her dad's side of the family had no one attend either.  As someone who just went through that with Thomas's reception last year, I get it, but they hadn't been there either.  Just remembering to feel grateful for the times we do have together.

We spent today's gorgeous weather day working in garages, although even with the nice weather it took a really big toll on my.  I've been fighting a migraine all day.  I'm hoping that soon I can get back to digitizing photos.

I'll say it again...I'm so incredibly grateful for the slower pace of summer!