Distracted

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE being a mom. I mean, how could I not love being a mom to my spunky 3.5 year old and my adorable 7 month old?

BUT...

You knew it was coming.

I miss having long, uninterrupted, deep conversations with friends whether on the phone or in person. I am always distracted by a child who needs something. I feel like I forget important details or events in people's lives, if I ever heard them to begin with. I miss the ease of leaving my house to go for a run or a hike or to meet up with a friend. I wish that staying out late didn't mean 8pm and sleeping in didn't mean 8am. Mostly I just don't ever feel fully present and I hate that.

I wouldn't give up this season of my life for anything, but I lament that I don't have the freedom and flexibility and attention span that I had pre-kids.

I know my friends understand, but I just want them to know that I know and I'm sad. Part of me is missing. But for now, this is where I am...distracted by my kids. And I know it won't last forever.

Our Jaunt to South Dakota: Part 3: Grandma's Celebration

We celebrated my Grandma's 80th Birthday while we were in So. Dak. The whole family was together. We had a little "program" to honor Grandma. My cousin played guitar and sang and my sister, brother and I even did our own little "number." The coolest thing the family did was each give Grandma a rose and tell her what we appreciated about her. It was really cool to hear everyone's feelings about this wonderful woman. Grandma is the most hospitable person I know. She makes a meal from nothing and serves people sacrificially. There are always people in her home and she makes everyone feel important. Buying locally, reducing, reusing and recycling were practically invented by her. She would fit right in here in Bellingham!! But most importantly, she has created a spiritual legacy by loving Jesus and leading her family toward Him. I love you, Grandma. Happy Birthday!

The whole family
(minus Bloom and Amos who were both exhausted)
taken by my friend, Alyssa!

Our Jaunt to South Dakota: Part 2: The Lake

Oh, Iron Creek Lake, how I love thee. I played in your waters as a kid. My parents were engaged there (officially - more to that story!). We went night fishing with my Grandpa Wayne. You bring in the most random mix of people, which makes for incredible people watching. And 4 years ago, my parents made the investment of a lifetime - a 1958 trailer with no running water right near your small, but timeless body of water! Now we can visit you every summer. Montana hasn't missed a summer of her life.

I love that my parents have memories at Iron Creek Lake, I have memories of the Lake and now my kids are making their own memories. Forgive me if I'm nostalgic, but there is something absolutely magical about that place.

Our Jaunt to South Dakota: Part 1: Yellowstone

We just returned from our annual summer trip to South Dakota and my parents' little "lakehouse" by Iron Creek Lake outside of Spearfish. The day after The Table's first anniversary (woot! woot!) we loaded up our trusty red Subaru with a roof rack (thanks, Cody!) and headed south and east. Our plan was to take our time getting to South Dakota, taking a few back roads and going through Yellowstone. I loved our short 5 hour drive through Yellowstone. We had to be escorted to our car after lunch because it was surrounded by elk. Then we saw a grizzly bear, tons of bison, and a wolf right along the road. Aaron and I were amazed by the animals...I think Montana was a bit young to fully appreciate it, although she did like the museum with the "fake" fox!

Herd of people...Yellowstone has an abundance. You see them everywhere.

This wolf was wandering in the road and then we drove right by him.
It was a little scary to be so close!

Grizzly Bear minding his own business while hundreds of people stopped to watch him.

Can anyone say traffic jam??

Montana and Mr. Fox

Family picture taken by an Asian teenager who was stoked to take our photo!

Teenagers

Nothing like attending a Christian High School graduation to take me back 15 years to my own high school graduation. A trip down memory lane and I was the one standing in my cap and gown instead of our friends' daughter. I assumed my graduation would feel like it was yesterday. It didn't. It felt like it was 15 years ago. By the way, did you know that I was valedictorian? Impressed? Don't be. There were 20 people in my class.

When I was in high school I was really worried that life would never get better than my life in high school. Really? Yes, in my teenage mind I figured high school would be the best years of my life. And although there were some really fun times in high school, thank God I was absolutely wrong.

Speaking of teenagers, I've been thinking about them alot lately. Partly probably because I just started seeing my first teenage client. I have to confess that I don't really "get" the teenage brain. Research actually proves that teenagers process very differently than adults and that their brains have more gray matter, much like toddlers. You should check out Inside the Teenage Brain on PBS. My mom always said that teenagers are just like toddlers and science can back her up!! But, seriously, I just don't know when I crossed the line of relating to teenagers over to relating more to their parents.

I know I am going to sound old, but teenagers these days have alot of different issues to deal with than I did. I got my first email address when I was a senior and my first cell phone when I was 29. Not these guys. They are always plugged in and connected. As parents, how and where do you draw the privacy line with technology? I am overwhelmed just thinking about it. And when I think about Montana becoming a teenager, all I can think is, "come quickly, Lord Jesus." Occasionally I get glimpses of what she may be like as a teenager when she pops an attitude or talks about make-up or is overly dramatic, and I brace myself. But for now, I will be grateful that she is an imaginative, playful 3 year old who constantly says, "you be the mama ____ (insert any creature here, such as dog or dragon) and I'll be the baby ____ (insert any creature here, such as dog or dragon)." Although it drives me positively crazy some days, at least she is not buried in her phone texting her friends.....yet. God help me.

Teenagers. They keep life interesting.

First Bite

First taste of bananas. He didn't seem too convinced.

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