It was a beautiful time in Utah, but filled with mood swing ups and downs, if I’m being honest. Just so many signs that Summer has taken its toll on our crew.
Consistently early mornings, busy schedules, pushed bedtimes, hormones, heat…there are so many triggers for crankiness, even when we’re living our best June/July lives.
And, yet.
As we’ve returned to town and hit the ground running with an insanely busy week, I’ve had so many moments that have forced me to keep things in perspective.
It was so surreal to be away for the catastrophic weather, and return to the tragedy that blankets everything down here, at the moment. Such unimaginable loss.
Two nights ago, when I hauled myself upstairs, body weary and brain overloaded from a difficult day with my emotional kiddos, I was gifted an immediate reality check.
I rounded the counter to find my two youngest, passed out asleep in Chicklet’s room, and immediately flashed to other images circulating right now, of other bunks beds, in other places, with much different circumstances.
I thought of my mental strain that day, the really difficult moods I’d navigated within our household, the grueling hours (hours!) I’d spent hauling my children all over town for various activities, the mental and physical exhaustion that was weighing me down, and…
I thought of my mental strain that day, the really difficult moods I’d navigated within our household, the grueling hours (hours!) I’d spent hauling my children all over town for various activities, the mental and physical exhaustion that was weighing me down, and…
I immediately realized that none of that mattered.
My babies were safe. Asleep. In their beds. And the rest was unimportant.
Our incredibly gifted family photographer is also a lovely woman of faith, who shares her ministry with other Mamas in an uplifting newsletter.
Our incredibly gifted family photographer is also a lovely woman of faith, who shares her ministry with other Mamas in an uplifting newsletter.
She had the best e-mail, today, sharing God’s words on navigating life and tragedy. It was a gift for me to read, and I’ll be keeping the words close as I remind myself of what’s truly important.
Yes, Summers are intense. Yes, parents get overwhelmed and overstimulated and it’s easy to feel weighed down by responsibilities and poor moods. BUT, my children are a gift, and there’s always an opportunity to spin things in the positive and be grateful for every moment—good, bad and challenging!
More, soon, peeps.
Over and out.
No comments:
Post a Comment