Because I Don't Want to Forget (or What I'm Into, Summer 2013)

I can sense it already.  I'm not remembering the little moments quite like I always imagined I would be able to, or like I want to.  Maybe it's the sheer pace of life, or maybe it's the constant sleep deprivation and exhaustion, but there are days I literally can't figure out if my son is 19 or 20 months old.  I can't remember when he took those first steps (I think I wrote in his baby book that it was in March, but maybe that's wrong?)  I always imagined that those key moments in my child's life would be so significant that they'd be forever etched into my mind--this mind that loves details and can recite all kinds of useless information for you.  But that is apparently not the case, much to my dismay.  That's one of the reasons I adore this monthly series that Leigh Kramer hosts on her blog--I love the chance to sit down and think at least once a month about the things that have happened, the little things that have helped define that season.  It seems to be the only writing I can muster these days.  Many of the blogs I read are written by moms of little ones and their philosophy is that if you want to be a writer you just have to do it.  You have to make time.  So they get up at 4 AM and write before their kids wake.  I'd love to do that.  Except I really love sleep, so I don't anticipate that happening anytime soon.  So instead I jot notes in my phone of things I'd love to write about, and I manage to eek out this post once a month (except for July--somehow I haven't written since June...whoops).

Moving...It's been a month of what has felt like chaos to me, which is not my favorite feeling that's for sure.  But anytime you move to a new home you're bound to feel a bit disoriented and chaotic for awhile.  We only moved a couple of miles, from an apartment to a town home with twice as much space, which we LOVE! We were supposed to close on August 8th, but at the last minute closing was pushed back a week, which in the end was fine but led to us doing some reconfiguring of our logistics, move out dates, and family coming into town to help us.  We had an amazing team of helpers, and moving weekend went as smoothly as a move can go.  Our entire house is a stark white color which is completely unacceptable in my mind, so we've already been hard at work painting each room.  Aidan's room was first completed, and we now have the laundry room, kitchen, and master bedroom also painted.  I think I have finalized my color choices for the main neutral tones that will be carried throughout the living spaces and stairwells, so it's just a matter of getting someone to come in and paint those spaces for us (we have HUGE tall walls in our living room that no ladder we own could ever reach). It's slowly starting to feel like home, and in another couple weeks I think we'll be mostly done with feeling like we have to be doing something house-related each evening. We feel SO beyond blessed to have this space--and our prayer is that we can be hospitable and use it to serve others out of.  We've already made a long list of folks we'd love to have over for a meal (something that was so hard in our tiny apartment), and we also hope to host high school small groups here at some point.

Traveling...Other than moving, August was a month of going nowhere.  I know, that is so unlike me!  (But don't worry, I'm in the process of booking plane tickets for a September trip!)  July found Aidan and I taking a quick 4 night trip up to Santa Cruz while Charles was house boating with the youth.  My sister's in laws have a home in the mountains of Santa Cruz and invited us up since my sister and her girls were going to be there visiting.  It was so fun letting the cousins play together, being in a much cooler climate, and enjoying some family time.  We also got to see our aunt and uncle and cousins which was a lovely surprise! The kids played and played and ran around shrieking together--and spent HOURS pushing strollers around--for some reason that was the huge activity for the week, pushing the doll strollers around the block. (And someday I am going to have a porch swing in the redwoods to read on.  I've just decided this).

Sermon Writing--and Re-writing...I had the incredible privilege of preaching at our church in August, as part of a summer series on the Psalms.  It had been a long time since I have been given that opportunity and it was so much fun to get to tap back into the seminary side of me that isn't always utilized on a daily basis in my child-raising life.  I will be honest, this was probably the toughest passage of scripture I've ever preached on, and I spent more time and worked harder on this sermon than any I've ever done before.  I re-wrote this several times, and wrestled hard with what God wanted to communicate to our congregation through Psalm 88 this time around.  It was such an honor, I absolutely loved working with scripture like this again and writing (and re-writing...) so much.   It has been an amazing sermon series, and if you're looking for a few week series to listen to, I'd highly recommend this one.  You can find them all here beginning on July 28. 

Books, Movies, and Netflix...Surprise surprise, in a month when I moved, had both sets of parents visit, preached a sermon and prepped for a fall of MOPS I haven't read much.  Our book club selection this summer was The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer which I have to be honest, I didn't like much.  In fact I only finished half of it.  The reviews in our group were pretty mixed, and I don't think any of us put it on our new list of favorites.  I'm just starting And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini which I'm hoping will be wonderful--he is such a fantastic writer.  I have several books to read before the end of September about adolescent faith longevity for a class I'm going to TA at Fuller this fall.  It's all about how to help students develop a faith that "sticks" beyond high school, and the reading list looks awesome so hopefully by the time I write this post in September I'll have something more exciting to say about books! 

We have watched pretty much nothing but The West Wing this summer, working our way through the seasons--up through the middle of season 3--and we are both obsessed.  It is such a good show, and has prompted some fun conversations between us.  And I am not sure we've seen a movie this summer...that is pathetic, I realize, but baby sitters are expensive! 

The Little Man...Oh there are not enough words to describe how amazing this kid is to me!  He has learned so much, and is so incredible to watch as he explores his world.  Aidan is super verbal, always talking, trying so hard to speak.  The pediatrician asked me if he had at least 5 words I recognized and I told her that I think he has at least 40.  He is 100% all boy--fascinated by anything with wheels that moves--lawn mowers, trucks, planes, trains, cars, "bigguks" (big trucks), mail trucks, shopping carts and baby strollers.  Trains are his current favorite thing, he's obsessed.  He loves going to his baby gym classes, loves any indoor play place I can find, and is happy as a clam at any park or other place to explore.  Aidan's other big obsession are books and the letters of the alphabet.  As active as he is, he will sit for an hour straight bringing me books to read to him, and he can now recognize about half of the letters of the alphabet completely out of context.  He can tell me all the letters in his name and some days we'll be driving down the road and from the back seat I'll hear "M!" or "W!" as we drive past McDonalds or Walgreens.  He is my little snuggle bug who will come give mommy hugs and kisses randomly throughout the day, and absolutely cracks himself (and us!) up with the most random things.  He pushes all my buttons every day and is incredibly strong willed and is doing his best to live into the meaning of his name "little fiery one!"  We've started going on more and more play dates with friends, and he loves his buddies Joshua, Luke and Sienna--and has started asking for them by name.  We adore this little guy and can't wait to see what else he'll surprise us with in the next month!

Deliciousness I've discovered this month....
Dinner a Love Story's Salsa Fresca My husband said this is the best salsa he has ever had.  It's amazing!
Hot dogs on the grill with a side of watermelon--nothing beats this simple meal for a summer weekend evening! 
Oven Baked Tacos SO delicious--mix the filling together ahead of time, fill hard taco shells, and bake in the oven to soften the crunchy shells--they are awesome. 

In the blogging world...favorite posts by others
Hope for Spicy Families by Jen Hatmaker
This is my Body, Sacred, and Scarred by Beth at Five Kids is a Lot of Kids
Story Formed: An Interview with Sarah Clarkson (part one) (an author who wrote a book all about what to be reading to our kids--how the quality of books we read to them really is important, and she has a book of huge suggestions of books to be reading to kids--LOVE her perspective!)
Story Formed: An Interview with Sarah Clarkson (part two)
You Are Not Too Much of Anything by Beth at Five Kids is a Lot of Kids