Bits & Pieces

"So," my mom asked this morning, "haven't you been inspired lately?  I keep checking your blog." Unfortunately, busyness does not breed inspiration.  There simply has not been much time lately to sit and reflect on life.  Maybe that is why I feel like the summer is passing by too quickly, with momentous occasions like Joshua's first sentence ("Lukey cry") and his first haircut and Drew learning to ride bike all muddled together with the mundane things like grocery shopping and dealing with sibling squabbles and bandaging scraped knees.  Some days I can't even think in complete sentences.  One day, probably in retrospect many years from now, the fragments will join together to make a complete picture of what may quite possibly be a life-changing summer.  In the meantime, here are the bits and pieces from ground zero.

Swim lessons, which involve coaxing a reluctant 5-year-old to participate.  These are offered free to borough residents, so we jolly well are going to take advantage of these......

Coming to the realization that Joshua's Ponsetti boots are definitely not going to last until his regular orthopedic appointment in September, which meant two trips to Hershey to get measured and then fitted with bigger ones.....

Paperwork for the next school year already trickling in, like the Pre-K application for Drew, notice of a missing chickenpox vaccine for Kate, tuition payment schedule, and so on.....

Watching Kate find enjoyment in her weekly drama class, gearing up for the production of "Are You My Mother?" at the end.....

Dentist appointments, which seem to be ridiculously expensive even without fillings or repairs....

An exhausting yet fun stretch of back-to-back VBS (at our home church and also at another local one).  Now we are continually regaled with "SonSurf Beach Bash" music and dancing....

An impromptu yard sale, complete with lemonade stand, since the kids were sorely disappointed they missed my mom's annual sale due to Luke's hospitalization in May.....

Mohawks (I guess this kind are popularly called "faux-hawks") for Luke and Drew and a buzz for Joshua.  It was his very first haircut, so I saved those long blond locks.....

Enjoying our wild jungle of a backyard garden.  Every one of our 8 heirloom tomato varieties are delicious.  And I wonder why we never grew cucumbers on a trellis before.....

Exercising extreme caution at dusk, since a family of skunks live in the neighborhood and the babies come strolling through our yard regularly.  Nothing like a skunk to ruin the romance of a tiki-torch-lit evening......

Then there's the decision that has turned my summer upside-down---that I will accompany Keith and others from our church on a 10-day trip to Thailand in August.  The last time the two of us travelled internationally was from Cameroon to the U.S. in June 1999 and, like most of our travels, had elements of suspense and stress.  We are very excited about this fresh adventure, yet a bit apprehensive, too, about leaving the children behind.  Updating our vaccines, arranging everything for the kids, trying to read up on the basics of Thai culture and religion so we aren't "ugly Americans," preparing ourselves spiritually to hear what God wants to say to us, general trip preparations----is it any wonder I haven't even had time to journal, much less posting blogs?

Life will slow down again and we will settle into a steady routine.  The kids will begin school.  Josh will give up his bottle and start potty-training.  Drew will learn the letters of the alphabet.  But don't worry, Mom, I won't wait till then to write more!