free
Mamo & Papo's 63rd anniversary....with all eight great grandchildren!
Pacific Crest Weekend...Daddy Duathalon
Mommy Marathon
Game night
Coffin Mountain...Oregon bliss
Our place in Seattle
Ben the Man
Our Sunshine
Flower Child
These two turned 16 & 12!
Off to Summer Camp
Canyonview!
Our third Cascade Lakes Relay
Backpacking Adventure with our favorites
Smiles before 34 miles, blisters, and being attacked by wild bees...can't wait to do it again!
Royalty
Cousins!
And school begins again.
From June through September....
That equates to only three months on our calendar.
How can that be?
I'm forcing my fingers to tap away at these little black buttons, trying to form words from all these letters that might bring to light the way our family is growing and learning together.
Summertime was here....right?
I remember long light...and starry night.
I know that there were sunburns and sand castles,
Swimming holes and crawdad hunts,
endless berries and bee stings,
bare feet and summer camp,
birthday candles and barbecues.
I know that everything promised and hoped for in summertime happened here,
everything and more.
But, I want our kids to read this when they are older and remember something else;
This was not a "normal" summertime and my heart has struggled through the trials He has walked us through.
Abigail, Benjamin, and Elizabeth....We are so proud of you.
You have welcomed change with open arms and taught us how to love, how to forgive, and how to share with a smile.
I know that having another family in our home has been a treasure to each of you, but I can also see that it has taken it's toll on your little hearts.
We want to shield you from the realities of life....but the fact of the matter is...
real life is not pretty.
Real life is painful and even (at times) ugly.
We could've chosen to keep you safe from seeing this for the 18 years that we have you under our wings...but when the time comes for you to spread your wings we want you soaring strong and wise not just pure and sweet.
You three have made our hearts take flight.
I hope that you will look back at this summertime and think of it as a kind of crossroads....
when our family decided to be uncomfortable for the sake of Love.
I love your heart
ReplyDeleteDes
I was thinking the same thing as Des. You are a treasure.
ReplyDelete