The sandwich generation

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Always watching. Now it's my turn.

Sometimes I wonder what my children are learning. One cried heart-broken because she wanted to go to the school carnival and sing karaoke with her friends, and I just didn't have it in me to go anywhere else or do anything else. I needed an evening at home to do laundry and be in my pajamas. Perhaps she learned that moms have limits, and as much as they would like to give their babies everything they want, sometimes they just run out of steam.

A weekend of a baseball championship game, a baseball season awards celebration, a baseball hitting practice session, a haircut, 3 piano lessons, 3 different concerts/recitals, teaching kids Sunday school at church, trying to arrange logistics for a few days we are spending away next week, A's work golf outing, the girls' middle school tie dye party, school orientations and corresponding forms and checks, shopping for the snacks kids need for end-of-school year celebrations, and swimwear that fits, and flip flops so our kids won't get foot fungus at mission camp, and binders that are blue, eggs for the physics Olympics and groceries for lunch, gas. I am sorry my sweet one. The school carnival didn't make the cut. I didn't even get to see Mom. I feel guilty. I feel sad. But the rational part of my brain recognizes that I can't handle anything else just now.

Beautiful music from beautiful children

These four friends are enjoying last moments together as they prepare to go to different high schools

Brennan's team wore pink belts in honor of those we know with cancer and other illnesses.

Two of my favorite Mother's Day gifts:

A jar full of reasons my kids love me from two of our daughters, and a second book of days. I am impressed with one of my daughters who noticed that I was trying to find a second copy. When they were out at Target, she filed the idea away and alerted her Dad to make a stop at Books-a-Million. It fills my heart to know that our children are growing up to think of others and to learn how to be good gift-givers. They are little care-givers in training.

I realize that by the time this book is also filled, two of our children will be in college. These days are busy. Sometimes too busy, but I understand that this is a season that won't be repeated. I pray that we will fill these pages well, not just with events, but with meaning. I pray that my children will have more happy memories than tears over the things that we did not get to do.

 

 

Surgery Weeks

Mom knew that it would be slow-going for a while after her lung surgery, so she planned a family picnic a few days before the big event.

When you find out that you have cancer, you can cry, or you can throw a party...or both.

This banana split sustained Mom for the week when she couldn't bring herself to nibble on more than half a cracker.

 

Van Gogh reminds me (in a letter to his brother) that "we also will have our share of tears and white hairs". This was Laurel's, Brennan's, and Mary Jayne's first trip to the hospital (besides visiting a newborn). Part of growing up.

 

The Davis kids visit with a bouquet of Mother's Day balloons. "Breakfast in bed" wasn't all it was cracked up to be fighting nausea, but Mom didn't complain.

 

Flowers and cards, gifts and visitors, messages of love and support

Michelle's medical knowledge has been a great help to the family in discerning the world of cancer

Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, all standing by Mom's side

Get well soon, Mimi. We love you!

 

In the Merry Month of May

I got to celebrate Mother's Day by going on a Family Retreat with my children. We really enjoyed the Young Life camp at Carolina Point near Greenville. Here are some highlights:

Family Olympics

Pretending that we can fly as we ziplined through the canopy

Paddle boarding and blob-launching into this lake

Singing "Firework" together camp-style, and watching a fireworks show later that night

Square dance and the Virginia Wheel. The kids say that they are scarred from watching me do the Wobble, but I think they'll look back on the barnyard dancing through the decades with fondness. I will, anyway.

Our tradition of striking a yoga pose at a scenic overlook

Just the right spot for a sweaty post-hike waltz

I love mountain meadows. No one in my family seems to like these as much as I do, but I am thankful for this middle season in life, where we can leave our kids for an hour to play in the pool under the supervision of a lifeguard, and hit the trails for a much-needed hour of couple-time.

 

 

 

Back to the ancient 1980's

So proud of Mary Jayne and the boys - great musical production of Back to the Cross- a play centered around a time travel theme.

MJ's dream-come-true = getting to wear a headset mic

Mom's dream-come-true = all that dramatic flair being put to a good purpose!

At the family retreat, we enjoyed many zany skits. Perhaps MJ may consider using her love of acting for ministry in the future like her favorite counselor.

 

Springing Through April

Thank you, Miss Mandi for helping our "Morgan" perfect the tricky S sound.

"Seriously, some stale cookies?" How many S sounds can one character's part have in a 45 minute play? Can't wait to see it all come together on Friday.

 Counting down the days. Trying to remember who we are to one another in the midst of crazy family life.

My first Zumba in the rain session. Leading the ladies of FIA at North Springs park on a rainy Saturday morning.

Enjoying the Children's Book Festival at the Southeastern branch of the Richland Library. The girls and I got henna "tattoos" as part of the international festival.

Happy to see the kids in a moment of quiet. Washing a bike together. Who would have thought this would be fun?

Picnic in the Park with our Sunday School friends .... no rain!

A visit to the Columbia Museum of Art with Mom

a barrel of Mary Janes

Four kids in a candy store......

So proud of our Junior Scholars.... I felt salty tears well up in gratitude seeing so many of the kids that we have known since they were babies, doing so well.

These girls keep Laurel on her toes!