2018 was so beautiful.
We started 2018 with a deep sadness. So much disappointment was felt in 2017 and our foster son that had been with us for six months left very abruptly. But we welcomed 2018 with full hearts, expectant of all God had for us. We heard Him say this year would be a year of harvest. And we definitely saw that. It was beautiful. We saw the first fruits of all the good seed we have been sowing for so many years. It was a year I’ll deeply cherish.
We got away just the two of us for a week in paradise.
We had these big plans when we were newlyweds that our tenth anniversary we’d go to Hawaii or someplace like that. But then life happened. We paid for several rounds of infertility treatments, two adoptions, lots of unexpected medical procedures for Micah and before we knew it, Hawaii just wasn’t going to happen.
But it didn’t matter to us. I know this sounds cheesy, but just give me this man, a beach, a book, and fruity drinks and that’s my paradise. So we took our thousandth cruise to the Bahamas and loved every single sun-kissed second.
It’s easy to peek into someone else’s life and imagine theirs to be much easier than yours.
Like that mom at the preschool who always has makeup on and her hair fixed. Or that girl on Instagram whose life looks perfect in those tiny squares. Or the girl at work who always is on time. Or the couple in your community group who has the perfect marriage. Or the friend who always remembers your birthday AND buys you a present. Or the girl at church with the cutest clothes. Or the friend who gets pregnant when her husband looks at her. Or the family at the restaurant with the most obedient children. Or the couple who never worries about money. Or the friend with the best family.
I’m through believing the lie that they all have it together.
I had the best time chatting with my new friend, Katy, over at the Happy Playces Podcast! I love meeting new friends, and I just knew after several emails back and forth, that Katy was my kind of girl. If you’re new around here, I tell our story from the very beginning. I share how Brandon and I met, our journey through infertility, the story of Selah’s adoption, and I talk about what it’s like being a mama to a child with special needs.
I always talk about how fun it would be to have you, my blog friends, in my house, chatting with me on my couches. Well, this is exactly what Katy and I did. (Except does anyone like the way they sound when they listen to themselves? Because, um, I totally sound like a country bumpkin.) Although she’s across the country in Colorado, I put my kids to bed and had the best convo with her on my couch! Truly, it was so fun!
But often, you get the last of me.
I remember you picking me up for our first date. I spent a whole hour getting ready for you. Making sure every hair was in place and my make-up was perfect. When you see me now, at the end of the day, the make-up that is left on my face is smeared. My hair is more than likely in a pony tail or some rat’s nest on the top of my head. And my outfit, 100% has someone’s bodily fluids smeared somewhere.
But there were days when we would lay in bed and binge watch Netflix. They were my favorite. The thought of being with you for the whole weekend, got me through the week. We’d run down the street to our favorite Mexican place, eat until we were stuffed, grab some ice cream, and watch Chuck until we fell asleep. We’d laugh until we cried. And we wouldn’t wake up the next morning until we felt like it.
Remember all those Saturday’s we’d hop in the car and drive? Anywhere. Or we’d call up a few friends and ask them to meet us downtown in like thirty minutes? We didn’t have to be home at a certain time. If we stayed out late, it was fine because we could take a nap the next day. We went on lots of adventures, didn’t we?
And you got all of me. The very best parts.
The kids are napping. My house is quiet, except for the steady hum of the dish washer. And I felt these keys calling to me. So here I am, filling you in with our summer days. I can't believe it's already half way through the summer. I walked into Hobby Lobby...