Summer reflections...

I've thought about blogging daily. Seriously...everyday I compose a post in my mind. I promise myself that, "today I'm actually going to write it out on the blog and not just mentally in my head!" But then, the day goes on, our adventures, and routines, and practices, and camps happen, and living life becomes more important than recording life.

Social networks like Facebook and Instagram almost remove the need to blog for memory keeping sake. That was sort of my original intent with blogging...a journal with photos of my life...my extraordinary life. I can quickly add moments in photos and words, to FB and the like. Blogging requires more thought, insightfulness, and reflection. Something I'm not always mentally up for. You see for me, writing is like opening a window into my heart and spirit. I'm not always as happy or together as FB and Instagram show. Those moments are small parts of the big picture. Don't get me wrong, my life is really quite fabulous, but certainly not perfect. Writing in my blog means I have to be in a certain frame of mind...and lately I just haven't been there. I felt my blog, although pretty good in my mind, wasn't exactly going in the direction I had hoped. It hasn't always been insightful and reflective.

Tonight, at this moment I was inspired to write. This evening is nearly perfect (amazing weather for July in Texas!). I'm sitting on my favorite quilt in our wonderful neighborhood park. The kids have been begging to come. Last night they held a movie at the park here. It was simple and wonderful. A great summer memory. They wanted to come back tonight to play. So I blew off cooking dinner, grabbed the blanket, a ball, some drinks and snacks, and headed here. We have the whole place to ourselves. I played for a while with kids... at the putting green and a bit of sand volleyball. Now they are content just being goofy, hanging out, playing basketball (with a volleyball!) and enjoying each other's company. Everyone getting along and playing together, while I write on my quilt, in the cool breeze, watching the sun go down on another summer's day.

Here are some moments from Saturday night's movie night and from tonight.

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Ziplining!

Helotes Hill Country Zipline ...did you even know this place existed? I know I have driven past the sign on Bandera Road, but honestly never paid much attention. Because really, how awesome of a place can it be just two miles from my house? I realize my house is on a hill and I know there are several large hills in our area, but I didn't realize what was literally in my own back yard. A sweet boy from Savannah's 8th grade Science class has been persistently pestering her to go ziplining with him. She tried to say no a dozen times, in a dozen different ways. She finally agreed last minute when she asked if she could bring someone. After a few tries of different friends, she settled on her daddy! He's an adventure junky, and honestly in the last 10 years, hasn't had a whole lot of adventure. Lorelei and I went along to take pictures and watch. It looked exhilarating and breathtaking, but with my fear of heights, I said a polite, ...

Nothing can bring you peace...

...but yourself. I read the most amazing quote last night in a book I've been reading by Lori Gottlieb, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. "Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." I wrote the following paragraph two weeks ago, before ever reading the quote above. In 2026, my 53rd year, I'm focusing on peace. I want to find my peace, protect my peace, cultivate my peace. This year's word of the year has strong ties to last year's word, relax. Relax is more of a temporary state of being or an activity that reduces stress. I did an okay job of being more relaxed last year, but I still found myself feeling anxious and worried about the little and big things, more than I liked. Peace, on the other hand, is more of a state of being. I hope to embrace peace in my heart and mind. Peace can be deep, stable, and persistent. That even if th...

"Spring" into Summer

I've officially been on summer vacation for a week now, even though technically, according to the calendar, it's still spring. It's the earliest I've ever gotten out of school as a teacher. Can't decide if I like it or not! The kids have been done with their semester since the beginning of May, although Savannah's graduate program never really ends, so she's still knee-deep in classes, exams, and labs. We are inching our way into summer, more than "springing" into it. The usual "mayhem" of Maycember seemed more "peace"ful this year (see what I did there?), although we did squeeze a lot into April and May. March wrapped up with my second Spring Break with Jonas and Lorelei. Lorelei met with a specialist in Houston, so we had a mini trip just the two of us. When we got home, Jonas was able to get a ride back to spend some time at home. We had a fun day in San Antonio doing some of our favorite things. Nowhere Bookshop... Train r...

The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Mother

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