I don’t know if you might have noticed or not, but let me make it clear: this has been a hard summer. Summer is always hard for me because I’m never available as much as I want to be with the girls so there’s always this undercurrent of disappointment. Add in the unexpected water leak and a leadership position in our company’s internship program this year along with all the other stuff I’m usually juggling and my capacity was simply pegged.
The past few days though I’ve been able to gain some relief.
I’ve simply let go of getting everything back together from the water leak. The rooms are together and livable. I still have a bookcase to stain, decorations to make, and wall art to buy but I realized I was the only one feeling pressured to get it all done and NOW. I’ll work on it when I can and other than that, I’ve just had to let go of my own expectations (story of my life).
Last Thursday, we had our closing ceremonies to our internship program during a trip to Sioux Falls SD. I haven’t talked much about it but I’ll say that it stretched me more than anything I’ve done to date at work.
Even though it was challenging, seeing the difference of my intern between the start and finish was pretty astounding and it really did make the time worth it. I was like a proud momma watching him give his final presentation. Add in some great dinners and conversation (and a pedicure) with my coworkers, and our trip last week truly felt like a celebration and closure of the summer.
I followed up that trip with a 24 hour stop in Wisconsin see my friend (and Scott’s cousin) Carla. I mentioned it in Thursday’s anniversary post but she divorced this past year and we had spent countless hours together walking through that valley.
I hadn’t seen her in nearly two years so being with her was felt like a final closure to that time. In fact, she hasn’t seen any family or friends from home for almost two years so I know for her too it was relieving, to say the least.
I felt God’s grace all over our weekend. From a special bakery to a beautiful night of fireworks to a prayer sung by a 6 year old over homemade spaghetti to a little cheese house to a school house turned cafe to an empty table at a restaurant in the airport, God didn’t just pass by, he orchestrated every moment. Even the one where I had to hug the one that had hurt her and hurt us and silently say I forgive you. God’s grace multiplied.
We have just a week and a half before school starts so the start of this final full week of summer truly feels like a goodbye to Summer of 2013. Emma gets her braces at the end of this week so even that feels like a new start.
Sure, I will miss having the kids home and the warm weather and trips to the beach and ice cream runs and late-night movies but I’m ready to dust myself off, give our routines at home, school and work a new beginning.
How about you? How would you describe this summer for your family?
I’m with you. It has been a rough summer here, too. We are dealing with lots of medical and other issues with my parents and my work is always more hectic in the summer. Add in the fact that my daughter is going to Kindergarten in a couple weeks and I’ve really struggled with whether to home school or send her to school. Sigh. Thanks for sharing and inviting us to do the same!
Carly recently posted…Afterschooling
Ah! I was a disaster when my daughter went to Kindergarten. It does gets easier–and fast. Will say a prayer for you guys as you make that decision!
I feel like we’ve had a frustrating summer somewhat. Libbie is finally old enough to really do things with … and we have an infant. We’ve spent a lot of the summer hibernating in infant mode, which is super frustrating to our extrovert 4-year-old. Mommy and Daddy have been SO TIRED it feels like we’re barely functioning. I’m hoping sleep will come soon, and preschool starts at the end of the month.
Vanderbilt Wife recently posted…What I Wore Wednesday 8.14.13
Yay for preschool! We were just talking about missing their preschool the other day.