We somehow survived our craziest week ever juggling Jamie’s parents and an insane schedule, exacerbated by tech week for Hadley’s play.
To add fuel to the fire, my 1-year-old laptop died. Not only did the hard drive crash but my backup drive did as well, losing a full year’s worth of photos and articles. I’m in mourning over their loss but when I see the problems the world is facing right now, I have perspective. Nepal’s earthquake has hit me particularly hard because that beautiful country has been at the top of my bucket list for years and it pains me to see the mass devastation. If I had the means, I’d be there in an instant.
I’m thrilled we only have a month left of school and I had an epiphany after publishing our plans: this will be my family’s final summer really together. Next year, Hadley will be 12 and will go to our church’s Girl’s Camp and a whole new world of overnight travels, babysitting and camps will be opening up to her, followed by Bode. Before we know it, they’ll both have summer jobs and then missions and college and…can you tell I’m prematurely freaking out? Many of my friends are already at this stage so I’m seeing second-hand how quickly it all slips away.
After a miserable/hazy few weeks, my allergies have subsided and I’m finally enjoying spring. Denver’s lilac bushes are currently in bloom everywhere. My parents have the most glorious, huge lilac bush so my sweet husband planted one in our backyard that is finally taking off. As I was mowing the lawn yesterday, I was shocked to discover ours was in bloom–I’ve been so busy admiring everyone else’s that I forget about the beauty in our backyard.
Though lilacs are a slice of my childhood, my only complaint is they don’t bloom nearly long enough and very quickly after they are cut off the bush, they whither and die. Maybe that’s why I’m trying to capitalize on today with my kids. I fully recognize these are the golden years for our family. The kids are happy, healthy and thriving and I couldn’t feel more blessed with the time we’ve been given.
(Speaking of which, be sure to read this amazing article Notes from the Child-full Life, written in response to a New York Times article about couples who forgo parenthood).
As I was driving Hadley home from school yesterday, I saw the biggest lilac bush ever. I had to jump out of my car and, for a moment, stop and smell the lilacs.
“Mom, what on earth are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? These lilacs are only in bloom this week! I just had to stop.”
[Insert tween eye-roll.]
“Hadley, you’re like a grumpy grownup.”
“And Mom, you’re like a crazy kid.”
Carpe Diem.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 