Good morning! How’s every little thing? Good I hope…GREAT, even.

It’s nice to be back home. It’s been quite the whirlwind of activity since I bid you all adieu a couple of weeks ago. Crazy fun activity, but busy, nonetheless. I was cracking open the ol’ computer this morning, thinking about all the things that have happened since we last chatted, and I realized that they’ve really stacked up without me telling you about them as they happen.

I’ve traveled to my favorite part of Texas with some of my favorite people in the world. We ate incredible food, sat surrounded by some of God’s greatest handiwork and had those types of conversations that stay with you for a long time. I’ve marveled over those rare and magical couple relationships where all four people like all four people, and I was filled with gratitude at the gift.

We’ve made a few important strides toward our move in careers, and, in the process, had some opportunities present themselves in that regard. It’s exciting, and a relief to have those decisions made, and a solid path on which to step out.

We celebrated our most cherished 4-year-old in cowgirl-style with a birthday party at the stables, kissed and cuddled the sweetest 15 month-old little boy you could ever meet, sent our 7-year-old grandgirl off to Italy to see her other grandparents, and – AND – finally met our 14-year-old grandson in person! He has lived out of the country with his mom most of his life, until recently, and our visits finally coincided for a long overdue meeting. He’s as sweet as I knew he would be, and was impressively tolerant and loving towards his brother and sisters. It was a wonderful thing to see, and I thought my heart would burst over it all.

In the midst of all my wonderful, however, there has been word of other people hurting. A good friend, for instance, found out that her estranged father is dying, and is reeling with the fact that words which should’ve been said long ago, now have a very short window to be spoken. Churning emotions are threatening to shut her down, yet she is choosing to do the hard thing that will set them both free.  Another acquaintance discovered that her daughter, five months in utero, will not live for more than a few hours after birth. Grief threatens to consume, but she and her husband are making the choice to love their baby girl during these last four months of pregnancy, and however long they have with her on the other side. They are doing what they can to give her the best possible life they can provide.

So, as I glance back at what has happened in between my posts, I see that it is just a lot of life. Real, honest life, with the highest peaks and the darkest depths and all the struggles and triumphs in the climb. Life is radical and messy and breathtaking and joyous and so worth the taking of time to revel in every exquisite moment.

I’m glad I took some time to pull away and do just that, and I hope that you’ll take some time to unplug this summer and do the same. But you know what?

As lovely as it was to be away, I’m happy to be back, right here, recounting it all with you.

“There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: