We are having a fantastic summer so far! We were able to take our first family vacation together as just our little family and I have to say it was worth all the packing and driving hassle and more. We drove to the Outer Banks town of Buxton, NC where the Cape Hatteras lighthouse is located. It's a quieter area and we were able to camp in a cabin for the week. The kids had a blast, especially Isabelle. We went sightseeing during the weekdays by going to the lighthouse and taking a day trip to Ocracoke Island. Then, relaxed on the weekend by going to the beach and the pier. We were able to grill and cook our own meals but also enjoyed going out for seafood a few times. The whole trip was relaxed and we went at our own pace. We were unplugged from all our computers, phones and TV and just enjoyed each other as a family and creatively had fun. It was a priceless experience just to relax as a family without any outside "noise."
Two weeks ago tomorrow, I had one of those days "making memories" days that as a mom just warms you from the inside out. If someone asks me to go to my happy place, it will be the memory of that day that I try to relive or escape back to in my mind. The funny thing is that it was an absolutely simple day. We had a beach practically to ourselves. The weather was perfect. Isabelle and John spent hours building sand castles. We were in and out of the ocean, discovering and playing and laughing and swimming. We had a picnic lunch in our little beach tent, fed the seagulls the kids' leftovers, Ryan took a nap in the tent and I took some time to soak it all in. Everyone was happy and we were in our own little world. It was one of those quiet yet profound moments when I could see my blessings around me and all was well in our little corner of the world.
So, now we are home and I was sad, at first, for our vacation to be over. Moms know when you come home from vacation everyone drops their bags and moves on to the next thing while you unpack and do laundry. In our case, it was also my deadline for getting my daughter potty-trained. Ugh. I let myself feel sorry for myself for about a minute and then I thought about how fortunate we were to have our vacation at all. Plus, potty training may be a pain but it is nothing compared to what others are going through right now.
Then, I heard a story of a family. A friend of a friend recently received a diagnosis for their 3 month old baby for a condition that is incurable and the baby will be lucky to survive past its 6 month birthday. I don't personally know these people and I won't elaborate too much because I don't believe it's my story to tell. I just know pieces of their story and truly can't imagine holding my baby knowing that I won't see the child grow and dream of its future. I remember very well the feeling of not knowing whether your child will survive. I remember sitting outside the birthing center in a daze watching new moms and dads take their healthy babies home while mine was upstairs connected to machines. I remember thinking it was unfair and that I had done everything right in my pregnancy. I remember being angry that God believed I was strong enough for that challenge. However, my family was blessed and our prayers were answered so loudly and clearly that I now have a healthy, happy little boy. When I heard the story of this family and even now thinking about it, my heart is breaking open for them. For God to give them such an angel, they must have the inner strength capable of moving mountains. My prayer for them is that in this short time, they have many "making memories" days where they can concentrate of each other and just be there to love and laugh together as a family with a support system that can carry them through what will be unimaginable to so many of us.
I wish you all a summer filled of peaceful, fun days with your loved ones and many "making memories" days!
