The Good Life

Had to take a little break in the blog.  I went to California to visit my brother Seth.  He is in So Cal, training for deployment to Afghanistan. :(  Had a great 6 days off from mother-duty, soaked up some sun, hiked in the desert, drove through the mountains, did a little shopping and reading, all the good stuff.

Seth and I climbing rocks at Joshua Tree National Park in 29 Palms, CA.

It was right back to reality, however, as soon as my feet touched Illinois soil.

1. Lara had girl scouts.

2. We entertained friends.


3.Lara had dance.

4. We had a girls' day out: shopping, movie, and pizza lunch.
 

5. Claire had gymnastics.  We did some shopping for cherry blossoms, peach trees, and asiatic lilies.

Claire, standing next to our orange tree

6. Church, followed by a yummy lunch out with my sister and her husband.

All in the space of a few days.  

Today, we are getting back in the swing of things with school and warmer weather, followed by a nice dinner out with friends. 
 
Also, while gone on my trip, Claire suddenly had some sort of epiphany and is actually...dare I say it...fully potty-trained now?  If you have not potty-trained a child, you can never truly understand the joy one feels when a very stubborn child finally poops in the toilet, like 3 times in a row, without holding it for 10 days, without gross toilet paper on the floor and poop smeared all over the toilet.  We kept encouraging one another that one day she would just snap out of her issues, and apparently she did while I was away.  And, thus, my lovely friends who helped babysit the girls, are still my friends. Haha. :) 

I don't know why, but traveling across the continent, reflecting on my family, my life, all that I have done and experienced: I had the revelation that my life has been really adventurous and fulfilling.  Don't worry, I'm not dying, but sometimes it is easy to sit and wonder, "Is this all there is?"  Especially when you are deep in the trenches with work, parenthood, relationship problems, etc.  But I don't ask that question.  I have been to the other side of the world, I have graduated from college, I have worked numerous jobs, some horrible, some great, I have been a part of various ministries (some bad, some good), I've met amazing people, I have been blessed with a family, I've been through scary experiences, dealt with disability, and all of it goes together to bless me with a life of joy and love.  Thank you, God.