13 "S" Do I Say?

23 hours and 50 minutes till I go back to work. And what do I say as that time is coming?

Do I say that I learned how to be present with my kids and play more than ever this summer?

Do I say that I love jumping on the trampoline and having them spray me with water because it is just so STINKING FUN?!

Do I say that taking Micah to the track and working out with him has given me more joy than I could have ever imagined?

Do I say that I need to be intentional about creating space in my head and be so much more discerning about how I fill my in-between times (because let's admit it...we all have them)?

Do I say that we traveled 5,200 miles and slept in the camper for 29 nights and I could do it every night?

Do I say that we learned that even vacations have downpours where water gets in your camper and how you respond in those moments continue to shape you to who you are?

Do I say that there were shark attacks 20 miles from where we were in in the water and boogie boarding and we went in anyway?

Do I say that we really want to be on water all summer and being in Colorado is really hard?

Do I say that if I am in my house too long I get restless and discontent and want to have the light fixtures changed and blinds done and all the things that I can let go of when I am traveling but don't know why when I return back home it just pulls at me?

Do I say that I am ready to pursue PE and see what that next step holds for me?

Do I say that I love being at Fort and I am excited for serving there and having my kids build a life there?

Do I say that my grandma passed away and I read her Isaiah and that it was ok that I wasn't grieving her now but instead all that we missed when I was younger?

Do I say that I love being in my studio and painting and cutting up pictures and looking back on life and that it fills me in a way that nothing else does?

Do I say that yesterday Jeremy and I fought about cleaning the bathrooms and having better balance on fun and work in life?

Do I say that I love eating breakfast on the porch and that the more I am outside the happier I am? (Especially starting my day that way.)

Do I say that going to Washington DC humbles me and makes me feel like a big selfish spoiled American and that the more I learn about history the more I am reminded of the stories that everyone lived and fought through?

Do I say that one of my favorite memories of summer was watching the Jackie Robinson movie with Aidan late at night and realizing how grown up he is?

Do I say that my boys have had more sleepovers together this summer than I can count and that I love that they love to be together as best buddies (even if Micah is on his I-pod and Aidan is playing X-box)?

Do I say that my heart hurts for Nate and Amber right now and all that they are facing and I have committed to pray and send them notes of hope for 30 days because doing something tangible is always what God calls us to do instead of nothing?

Do I say that I get excited for the beginning of the school year and setting up more than the rest of the year because I love creating and trying new ideas (like board games and coloring)?

Do I say that I sailed this summer and dumped the sailboat in the process but that I feel like I might just be able to get it?

Do I say that I love swimming in open water and that someday I want that to be my morning workout wherever we live?

Do I say that reading "Pray, Write, Grow" was one of the best accidental readings of this summer and I hope that it can continue into the year?

Do I say that I hate shipping stuff and spending money on it but I am going to suck it up and do it anyway?

Do I say that spending time with my cousins and Shelley was so obvious that being obedient to God can change people's lives?

Do I say that going mountain biking in Steamboat Springs both was awesome and scared the heck out of me?

Do I say that I know I am spoiled to go camping with just Jeremy and I and that we have been given so many blessings?

Do I say that I really want to go to "Cowboy Church" and have a real relationship more than these inspirational messages that we get right now?

Do I say that swimming though fish eggs with Carely while Micah and Ashley sang songs will always make me smile and that memory is one of my favorites?

Do I say that silence is better than I ever knew?

Do I say that shopping for school shirts with Micah is crazy fun and he will always be my style boy?

Do I say that when we are going for family walks and Aidan comes up and just slips his hand in mine I know that as a mama we are doing good?

Do I say that yesterday Micah styled his hair more times than I can count (so he can look like Chris Pratt)?


Do I say that I woke up earlier today on my own than most summer mornings?

Do I say that I have learned that you can get a heck of a workout on a stair stepper in 15 minutes?

Do I say that I wish I didn't like wine and chips and hummus so much?

Do I say that I am less afraid to risk than ever?

Or do I just say...

I am blessed.
God is faithful.
Rest is good for the soul.

Happy Summer 2015
Selah