So Much Fun

Well, it's been almost 6 months since I've written publicly. There has been SO MUCH I've missed writing about. But life has been full - VERY FULL - and it's required every moment of living it. No time to write. Gosh, in the past 6 months we have had another busy, fun summer that is now only a collection of beautiful memories, had a 4th of July mishap that seriously injured several neighbors, started gardening, been fully engrossed in Pee Wee football, become fairly good friends with a recent Miss America and her amazing finance/hubby as of next Saturday, gotten involved enough with the wonderful people and ministries of our church to finally feel a regular part of things and not like the "new people" anymore, and most life-altering, I've been diagnosed with a major incurable, but treatable disease. Our time now is spent so differently, not so much because of any major lessons on the fragility of life. I learned that a long time ago through the death of our second child, then the death and life again of our third child, and through many other experiences since then, including the death of a good friend and homeless man found yesterday in an open field. And so I'm aware that this disease, while it's been a BOOGER to deal with, is not tragic. It is life altering (I cook every meal now and with only fresh, organic ingredients, which is beyond time-consuming) and it is a huge learning curve for me, but it is only life. It has taught me so much.

But I still regret, though it couldn't be helped, not having all these and a thousand more moments on record to revisit some day when things will inevitably slow down once more. Life cycles, right? Here are three I couldn't resist, all from my "little baby boy," who will be turning eight amazing years old in just two weeks.

Thursday, on the way home from school he said sweetly from the back seat of the car "Do you ever just feel like talking for no reason?" (That alone was funny, coming from my quietest child and addressed to a fully hormonal female.) Then this: "I just feel like I need to talk today and I don't know why. I really don't have anything specific in mind to talk about. I just want to talk."

So. Cute.

Last week while his dad was tucking him into bed, Greg was roped into performing Justice's favorite activity of scratching and tickling his back for him. Greg even made a game of it, naming each kind of stroke a various kind of critter. One was "the spider", one "the worm", one a bee and one a crab. After scratching long enough to get Justice good and relaxed, and fighting off sleep himself, my husband announced: "O.K. It's time to stop. The worm has said he needs to go to sleep now." Without any effort at humor, our son asked "what about the spider, he is still up, right?"

MELT.

And just because it's cute - Our family is looking forward next weekend to spending two nights with our friends who live in a very small town about 45 minutes from here. There is a matching child in their family for each one of mine to play with, and we have known this family for years. But what Justice is most anticipating is the neat farm/pumpkin patch/retreat center that beckons our visit just south of town. He remembers that the birthday party he attended there last Spring involved some game with all of the little boys yelling "Aye, Matey" and that other famous Pirate phrase "Tickle Me Tender!" (Shiver Me Timbers!) We don't have the heart to correct him. They just don't do this very long.

Have a great week - or few months. Not sure yet when I'll "be back."