Good Things

Like the saying all good things must come to an end, so it is that our summer torch officially burns out tonight.

Gone are those wonderful lazy mornings, the unscheduled, unhurried days, the splashing laughter of kids in the pool, late nights watching movies together, cuddling up with sweet children so quickly growing up, Wed. morning movies and pop corn at the theater, reading, baseball games...summer wonder. Gone.

As this last day of summer break began, I found myself a little hard to be around, even for me. I was cranky, edgy, irritable and may I say most unlike my normal, sunny self. At one point, while walking with the kids through the store this morning, certainly recognizing my unusual irritability but still perplexed about my own odd state of being, I murmured out loud, "I'm really on the edge today. Why am I so crabby and impatient?" After a short pause and with the kids all staring with full-moon eyes waiting expectantly for me to answer myself, I said it. "I know what it is. Summer is over and I'm just not happy about it."  There it was. I was frustrated and it actually manifested itself into a small fit of discontent. The kids all shook their heads in relief and chimed in about how edgy I'd been. With that I gave them all a hug and an apology. I admitted that I wished our summer time together could continue and although I'm thrilled with their school and happy they are headed back, I will so very much miss them.

I can't explain how much I love summers with our kids. Wade is usually able to tweak his work a little to allow him more family time and I just love having them all close.  I hear lots of parents say things about how they can't wait for school to start and they can't wait for their kids to go back, but I have NEVER felt that way. Sure, there are moments that are overwhelming and there are disagreements that have me yanking at my scalp, but I just can never get to that place where I wish we weren't all together.

We did have a rough start to summer, from a relational stand point.  With four kids, all close in age and all ultra competitive, situations like this occasionally...alright....frequently arise. But for some reason and maybe it's just because the kids are older and more vocal, the discord felt more tangible this year. Wade and I noticed early in June that the kids were quite short with one another, bickering, arguing and just being ugly with one another. Immediately, I gave them my best pep talk and explained that I would not allow our summer to be spent in such a state. In other words, they better get along.

Another week went by and nothing changed. So, I lowered the boom. There would be no TV, no movies, no Playstation, no iPads, no ipods, no lap tops, no electronics until peace prevailed. Let's just say that there were desperate pleas not to be so harsh, there were tears and there was begging. But, I stood firm and never did I cave. 

I'm not going to say that there was an overnight transformation or an immediate glorious revival among the young people. Actually, and I found this interesting, there was almost a revolt. They got worse, pointing fingers and blaming one anther. Patiently, I worked through Biblical reasons we were to live in love while spending great amounts of time talking about obedience and being peacemakers. 

Slowly, over the course of weeks and probably because they had a LOT of extra time on their hands, they began to mend fences and care for one another well. I noticed first that Buck stepped up and did Sierra's chores for her and visa versa. The kids were starting to bear each other's burdens without wanting anything in return. They were actually living in loving communion with one another. Love became the verb it is intended and peace, once again, returned.

Only after our trip to Durango did I return their electronics. I was so proud of their efforts and grateful for the kindness they showed to one another, they deserved to have their "toys" back. This journey also brought them (us) all closer this summer and made us again realize the pricelessness of genuine love. Sadly, so often in families, we take each other for granted, we forget our manners and we treat each other poorly. 

Tomorrow the alarm clock will ring early and our kids will be off to school, a great new adventure awaits. I know that the four of them will be looking out for one another and that our family is blessed beyond anything we deserve.

It's all grace!