It rubs me wrong if I come across that life is perfect in my neck of the woods.
Because it's not.
So I try to include the nitty gritties of craziness in this blog, because I want to remember that stuff just as much as I want to remember the beauty of the moments.
And I just plain and simple haven't had a chance to write about the tantrums and huffiness and melt-downs caused by severe sleep deprivation and bug bites and scrapes and slivers.
So just know we've sure as heck had our share of them.
Yes, we've been in gorgeous places with people we adore so much this summer, but my two-year-old still gets really bad diaper rashes. My kids still squabble. Claire still whines when her cousins or friends leave her out. Max still can't seem to kick the habit of wiping his dirty hands on his shirt.
And we had to go without Dave for 16 days. I'll be honest and say that no one cares for that much. Man oh man we missed that guy.
But I'm a huge believer in the fact that thankfulness equals happiness.
And this month I am more thankful than I could ever express...I know I'm spoiled, but I really am SO thankful.
Dave laughs that I love Bear Lake so much, but I challenge anyone to grow up living there in the summers with parents who drink in beauty like it's an elixir to not let that rub off on them.
I love that the lake can turn from emerald green with perfectly patterned white ripples on a windy day to a slate gray mirror reflection of the clouds the next.
I'm thankful that my kids love it as much as I do.
I'm so thankful for my Mom's summer "Grammie Camps" with the grandkids each year...and that she listens with her heart wide open.
I'm so thankful for my Dad's tennis lessons and "hot-tub-talks."
I'm so thankful for all I learn from my sisters...and brothers...and in-laws.
And I'm extra thankful for my sweet husband because being away from him makes me realize even more how much I hit the jackpot when I married him.
I'm just thankful. And lucky. And blessed.
Life is beautiful.
And the soundtrack in my life of the whining and ignoring and craziness alongside the beauty just makes it real.
Maybe the imperfection of it all actually makes it perfect.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
photo courtesy of my brother Eli...isn't it gorgeous??Labels: thoughts
photo courtesy of my brother Eli...isn't it gorgeous??