All the Things

I'm not sure if it's Covid or if it's just the years flying by, but we are surely learning to appreciate "all the things" with our boys.  We're biased, obviously, but gosh these are pretty great kids we've got and man is this a fun time of life.  Infant years were tough (especially Warren)....toddler years, whew!  Kid years were fun.....and although we're still in middle school years, even that's been pretty good....at least better than I expected.  But right now....high school and middle school....wow are these fun times!  Exhausting.  Busy.  Difficult.  But, most definitely fun!  Don't let anyone tell you any differently.  

Neon!!

This summer, we took the "idle hands" phrase to a whole new level and scheduled a jam-packed summer!  Harper started his summer volunteering at Art Centric.  It's been fun to watch him give back to his first art studio.  After a couple of weeks of volunteering, he was ready to participate in an art camp, himself!  He created some super cool neon pieces that really come alive in his room, where we hung some fun new rope LED lights.  

WyldLife Disney Weekend

After art camp, he headed to Disney for a weekend with his WyldLife family.  Although he was super reluctant to go, he ended up having a blast!  They visited Animal Kingdom and Typhoon Lagoon.....and had club in the evenings, with other nearby WyldLife groups.  We continue to be forever grateful for those WyldLife leaders!  In fact, the leaders planned a Disney Family Reunion at our house, one evening.  And, although none of the kids were able to come, the leaders still showed up.....with pizza and chips and Throw, Throw Burrito.  Harp loved all the attention!

As if that wasn't enough for one summer, after Disney, he went straight to another full day art camp at the Polk Museum of Art...and even landed a "spot" in their local commercial!  While the Drawing class was easily his favorite last year, he didn't love it this year.  But, in his Digital Painting class, he learned how to use an iPad to create art....and he's hooked!!  In fact, since then, he used his saved money to buy his own iPad and Apple pencil and, now, easily spends hours a day drawing.  

Mission Team, Alaska

And Warren.....well, he's been quite the "jet setter" this summer.  He started his summer with our Connect Youth Ministries, doing mission work in Alaska.  And, although the travel wasn't as smooth as we had hoped, the group made the best of it and cashed in on a day in Chicago!  While in Alaska, they worked on different tasks around a community church, led Vacation Bible School, sled down glaciers, saw tons of wildlife, ate reindeer burgers and spent time together seeing such different parts of the country.  He had an amazing time and got to experience "all the things!"  The week after he got home, he participated in an Intensive Musical Theater camp at Lakeland Community Theater.  It was a good chance for him to "keep up his chops" for the school year...and he even had a little fun, playing around with different voices as Edna, from Hairspray.  

Young Life, Georgia

But, there is no rest for the weary!  He quickly went from his intensive week at LCT to volunteering during a music camp at church.  He spent the day helping with percussion and choreography, while the kids learned to put on a full blown musical in just one week!  

Shortly after that ended, he went on a trip with his YoungLife group.  They traveled to Lafayette, Georgia and had an amazing time!  They went hiking in a cave, swam to a waterfall, took turns cooking family style dinners for each other and just had fun being together.  We may never know what all really happened, but to say it bonded those kids together is an understatement.  From the minute we picked him up, all we have heard about is Georgia.  Like the WyldLife group, they quickly planned a "family reunion" at our house.  They ate pizza, swam, looked back at all their pictures and made S'Mores.  While you would think they were tired of being around one another, they've already planned their next reunion before school starts.  

Finally, we wrapped up the summer with our own Vacation Bible School!  One of our favorite times of the summer....normally.  However, this year ended a little differently than we had hoped.  After months of planning and excitement, I ended up positive with Covid and had to spend the last two days at home.  With Chris and Harper testing positive also, we quickly had to cancel our family vacation to Washington, DC.  

To say we are bummed is an understatement and makes me sound incredibly spoiled, after everything else I've just written.  Our change of plans has given me an even greater "opportunity" to appreciate "all the things."  

Bioluminescent Kayaking

• Every single part of our trip (hotel, flight, tour tickets, etc) was refunded.  We're hoping to reschedule to Spring Break (which will actually be nicer weather and allow us the chance to see the cherry blossoms).  

• Although I go back to work next week, we decided to capitalize on our time, locally.... heading to St. Pete to visit the Dali and Holocaust Museums.  Things we've wanted to do, just never made the time.  

• As a family, this summer we went bioluminescent kayaking!  What a super cool experience to see all the glowing wildlife!     

If I had to do it over again, I'm not sure I would jam pack our schedule so much, but I am grateful for the many opportunities we had this summer!  I'm grateful the boys got to experience everything they did!  Such opportunities for them!  Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to spend time taking them to and from their camps.  I will always be grateful for that time in the car with them!  

So, while the summer didn't necessarily end the way I would've wanted, I can't say I'm not grateful for "all the things"!