We took not a single picture this month (ok two)
This whole weekend either
Unusual for both of us. Peaceful too.
I think the lack of picture taking was a reflection of
both our last few months..pure exhaustion. Time left in us for pleasure-but
pictures too over the top.
Between us since we saw each other last: a major heart
attack of one spouse, major major life changes of the other, a daughter with
scoliosis, a son with 24 stiches, a sister with scary test results and possible
surgery, a mom with a concussion and
life changing symptoms, a sprained ankle, a sopena ,and on and on and on this tragic list goes (very sad actually )
And that list does not even include any normal life of
having a combined 8 kids. The winners of school competitions and awards, the
complaining, the great test results and the failed ones, the tween years, the
teen years, the chauffeuring, the sports competitions. Life. Normal hectic crazy
life not even counted as it is just a fact.
Two women with big careers we are Sister Savvy and I. And
big roles of Moms. We balance it all. We try to have it all-and usually
succeed. The last few months have been a serious test for both of us.
And this weekend we got together and had a blast. The heavens
shined on us with I think our first time of gorgeous hot sunshine. We boated
and tubed, and ate and chatted, Fell asleep on the bail bed and at icecream.
Watched Dragons Den and ate spaghetti and sugar pie. Lots of fruit and whole wheat
bread.
We may not have a picture but we have good memories. My
favorite of this weekend was happy hour and the question Josh asked “What
quality do you admire most about each person around the table?”. There were a
lot of people around the table…it took long..but was so with it.
I loved the adjectives I got and what I heard about
others. It lifted my heart and won’t
forget about what all those kids said about me for a good long time-made me
feel that whatever I am doing-must be good. I felt as good for everybody as we
all praised each other’s individuality. I loved hearing the adjectives everyone
got-it was amazing.
Bear was not hereL that was sad for me….hard.
He had a regional flag football game in Quebec and coincided with this special
event. At least he was with us Friday night at our pool for pizzas and sushi.
But I missed him-I think we all did. It was great to have this weekend with our
buddies though. It started off the summer in just the right way for me. This
family feels like family to us in many ways and on so many levels. We have all been through so much....and felt right to be with each other to celebrate that we are all still here on this earth!!!! They are a very special family to us and we intend to live all our good an bad moments together-that is for sure.
The fun continued as Beauty had ped day Monday so I had a
second set of friends come up Sunday night and my mom two while they boys all
went home. Childhood Wonder and her daughter and Soulkeeper and her two
daughters-and my Mom. It was fun to spend time with these little kiddies all
under 6 yrs old and to spend some time as adults the night before late into the
evening. It made me realize too how exhausting it is to have little
kids-sometimes I can’t believe I did this three times!!!
It was a gorgeous and hot day Monday and we swan in the
lake a few times-ate a delicious and healthy lunch and lots of jumps and dances
on the trampoline. I cheated and took two pictures this time around as could
not resist these little cuties but I was very happy to be pictureless most the times and continue on the tradition. By
the end of the day I felt myself happily spent from all our weekend guests and
tons of fun. I loved having my childhood friends at my cottage with me with our
own children and my mom. It was really really special. I may have been a bit
quiet as I find myself lately very introspective after the 6 months I have had–but I soaked all the happiness in nevertheless. These special girls......are my girls forever -and so are their beautiful children.
The fun continued at our annual Sweetheart and Holiday
pool party in the city. This year I had not planned it-but Sweetheart happily reminded me
it is a summer must-so I listened to her. The whole gang of us with kids is 15
people and did this last week after work from 6:30-9:30 pm and was a great night.
It felt like home is the only way I can express it. These are our gang. They
always have been and always have been. Through thick and thin-through martinis,
magrharitas and ginger ale and rootbeer.
Having three couples together and a bunch of kids who have never missed a
single event in 12 yrs. says a lot. A whole lot. It’s actually short of a
miracle our commitment to our time spent as friends. We never ever miss a beat.
These people love us from the bottom of their hearts. Our kids are as close as
cousins.They are not the girls I call daily or weekly (and sometimes I do but not always!) as with my other BFF's...but they are our gang and we get together without fault at least 6 times a year for big special events as a whole group. There are constant books and shoes that we trade throughout the year hanging at our front doors, notes of encouragements when things are going wrong or right, and Mr sweetheart even loves us enough he s letting us use his boat or a night this week. They are as constant as milk in the fridge..year after year. I never thought I would have a group like this of three couples and all the kids in my life...it is a true true blessing.
I can’t believe I almost did not plan our annual pool
party. Because of silly things. I am so happy Sweetheart feels comfortable
enough to tell us off. We had the same time we always do: Fun and Carefree.
Nothing ever changes that. Our relationship with them is nothing short of a
“Friends episode” Truly. We are so blessed. Still not a single picture
To
show her Beauty’s video. Her scoliosis journey so far that was
made into a short documentary of sorts. It did not feel real until I knew she
watched it.
We sent it out a week earlier to many of our friends and families
and the responses were all so heartwarming-we have honestly never felt so loved
in our lives. It’s amazing the reaction such a short clip can provoke in
people. I saved all of these beautiful responses. But I did not send it to
SoulKeeper because I wanted to show her at lunch.
So after the resto we went to my minivan and pressed
play. And it was silent…and silent as she watched. And for some reason even
though I have not cried watching it the other 25 times I saw it-I cried this time.
With her. Behind my sunglasses. At the end she cried and cried and cried. I was
not sure if it was from sadness or happiness-but it was for me and from her
heart. And we talked and cried about it. Mostly because she shares my life with
me in so many ways and I share hers. She saw the strength and the pain, and the
courage that this ordeal is..and how as much as I try to keep it under
wraps..it is there. There is just nothing like having no control over what is
happening to your child. I am not even sure there are adequate words to
describe it. It is a heavy feeling that never leaves us. It is hard to watch your child have to struggle in this way and I am not sure I will ever get used to watching.
She got me.
Like always.
She made space for me.
Like always
And that is how I will remember June 2014. A month of
beautiful friendships. Blessed we are to have all these good people in our
lives. June 2014 has been a hard one for me too-but I am happy that I spent this tie with all our friends. Accepting us for where we are at. Patiently waiting for as long as it takes.
Through good times and bad
With our without pictures.
