Hello! Happy Friday!

I took a little break from the blog because we were on VACATION! Woohoo! It was great. We went to Southern California to visit family. We skipped Disney this round, but we hit Legoland, which was a blast. This is the first time we’ve traveled with kids where it really felt like a vacation (thank you, grandparents!). We went to the beach, went swimming at the pool, and just generally relaxed. We even got to see an old friend (Hi Dan!) – it was a great trip.

Then we flew back on Sunday and hit the ground running Monday morning with our church’s vacation bible school. It’s been a CRAZY week, full of fun and adventure. (BB, who effectively dropped naps on vacation BEGGED for naps daily this week. So, yeah, it’s been wild!)

So with all of this, I’ve been a little preoccupied lately, but here are a few things on my mind:

1. This book. I read this entire book on our vacation. It was eye-opening yet reassuring at the same time. It gave a bigger perspective of what it’s like to be a parent, especially since my only experience so far  is with the preschool set. I couldn’t put it down. I actually took snapshots of some of the text on my phone because it was so good. Here’s one of the quotes I saved about a mother who is dealing with an anxious child:

“[The mother] does not blame herself for this, as perhaps another parent might. She has as much compassion for herself as any mother can expect to have, knowing she’s done all she can humanly do for her daughter. ‘It’s not that I feel inadequate as a mother,’ she tells me. ‘I feel the inadequacy as a human to solve any other human’s problems. You can only help another person so much.’ But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.”

Isn’t that freeing, to know that you do all you can but that you can’t solve another person’s problem? I think about this a lot when it comes to my kids, about how we support them and love them, but that they have to figure out the world for themselves. It resonated so much.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

2. This podcast. I just listened to it yesterday, and I took all kinds of notes. Very inspiring if you’re thinking about starting something new.

3. Favorite colors. I know, kind of random, but I’m curious: does your favorite color change? I mean, sure, we love different colors at different times, but is your deep down favorite the same one it’s been for years, or does it change? I’ve been on a red kick lately, drawn to various shades and patterns of it, more than ever before, but if you asked me about my favorite color, the answer would be green. But is it really? Maybe it’s red now. But when I looked up what favorite colors mean, I didn’t like the description. Hmm. (I know, deep stuff here, gang!)

4. This quote. This is how I feel every day. My lists grow exponentially – books to read, films to see, recipes to try, things to explore, ways to connect. There is so much potential around that it is sometimes overwhelming. Feeling grateful for beautiful opportunities!

5. Journaling. I have kept a journal since I was 6, and this summer, BB and I are working together on his first journal. We missed some days while we were on vacation, and now he wants to go back to make sure we record EVERY day in it – no skipping. Yes, he is definitely my boy. It’s so fun to see what he draws and what moments he wants to capture. I try to write down every word he dictates, but it can be hard to keep up! It’s made me want to work in my journal more than ever. I love this little part of our day!

What are you up to this weekend? I think we’re going to tackle some more house projects – can’t wait! Have a good one, and thanks for reading!