I DIDN’T BLOG YESTERDAY!!!! Not because I didn’t think about it, but because I was running around like a crazy woman getting everything ready to go out of town for a few days with our oldest daughter to tour colleges, in Florida! We ran, well drove 7 hours south into sunshine and warmer temperatures. We have 3 colleges to tour while we are here, and a little visit with the boyfriend to see him play lacrosse. They haven’t seen one another since he left for college after Christmas break. Young love, it is such a sweet thing. The eagerness and anticipation of them seeing one another brought me joy to see them reunite tonight. That is something that we all forget as we age and are together for long periods of time, we forget to get excited to see one another. Especially during Covid times. We are all together a lot. Matt typically travels for work but he has been officially grounded for almost a whole year, with no future travel in site, work wise. He is getting antsy. He thrives in his job when he is going on trips and visiting clients. I have a love/hate relationship of his work travel. I hate to see him leave, I love having him return. But over the duration of our marriage it kept that spark of that new or young love feeling that you got in high school and college. Whenever you were away for any amount of time, it made coming back to one another so much sweeter. Remember that spark, be happy to see them just come back into the room!
This is my 3rd trip during Covid. My first trip back in August was for total self love! Matt sent me off to recharge my batteries, 4 days of alone time, at the beach for this introvert was pure bliss! My trip last month was to Orlando to help entertain my 91 year old grandfather who went to Disney with my cousins, aunt and uncle. He just needed someone to hang out with during the day while they were in the parks. I volunteered as tribute to go swap places with my mom who needed to come back sooner than originally planned. Now we are in Tampa and tomorrow after our morning college tour, we are going to be soaking up some 80 degree weather and some serious sunshine! I cannot wait!!! (Sorry for those of you in freezing temps and snow and ice! Be safe and stay warm!) Self love is a real need. I will be experiencing lots of it in the sun while we are in Florida. I will also be focusing some much needed and long overdue 1 on 1 time with the eldest daughter. I know her time at home is fleeting and she will soon be off into the world on her own. I’m not sure I am really ready for that, but ready or not it’s coming. God has reminded me a lot lately that they are only mine for a season. This season is hard, beautiful, sweet and salty! The teenage years are a challenge in many ways. But my prayer is that each one of our 5 teens grow into outstanding men and women, who love Jesus, and can take care of themselves! It is what I have spent their entire lives preparing them for. Just ask them about the chore chart, they will gladly tell you all the life skills we work on at home!
I am very thankful that Matt see’s these moments of self love and time away with just 1 child as important. I am also very thankful for his hotel points and rewards! They are very useful in my little run aways. They are also extra fun when we get to run away together. I am looking forward to full on travel mode again one day, hopefully sooner rather than later. Family vacations and time with Matt are my favorite memories. It’s time to create some more before they all grow up and move away!
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Sowing tears and reaping joy 