Hit the big 3-3 last Friday. As panicky as I felt three years ago about entering into the 30's, I'm finding it quite nice here. More comfortable in my own skin; content with the life God has given me; excited for the future but enjoying the moment; blessed by an amazing family. The year ahead is just ripe with possibility.
A few thoughts on growing older that I enjoy:
"Everything I know I learned after 30." - Georges Clemenceau
"It takes a long time to become young." - Pablo Picasso
"Pleas'd to look forward,
Pleas'd to look behind,
And count each day
with a grateful mind."
- Alexander Pope
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12
Monday, July 12, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
You've Been Warned
It is high time we shed our inept web address. Therefore, one of these days you will find yourself denied access to the Party. No worries. You will be able to find us here:
www.louwersefam.blogspot.com
Just wanted to give you fair warning so those of you who enjoy stopping in from time to time will know where to find us.
www.louwersefam.blogspot.com
Just wanted to give you fair warning so those of you who enjoy stopping in from time to time will know where to find us.
Vacation Rules
This was pretty much my mantra for the last two weeks. After loading down Minnie the Van with what seemed to me like all of our worldly belongings (sans the proverbial kitchen sink) the boys and I took off for Michigan. We headed up before James as he was going to ditch us for a golfing excursion over the weekend first, so our first week of vaca was without him, and I’ll be honest that a vacation from my hubby is no vacation. But we filled up our time with fun excursions, hanging with family and catching up with friends we do not often get to see during our whirlwind stops in the Hometown. We playdated, ate donuts, fed carrots to horses, watched TV (more than 10 channels- worth!!), frolicked on the beach, drank fruity drinks (OJ for the boys, other fun stuff in the evening for Mom with friends), ate lots of great food, celebrated an earned degree of higher learning (way to go, Meliss!), etc. etc.
Upon James’s return to us we promptly ditched the children (with heavy hearts, of COURSE) and enjoyed three blissful days of adults-only time at a cottage near the lake (thanks to Mom L. for hooking us up with that one!). Here is why adult vacation R-U-L-E-S:
- I did not watch anything of any redeeming value (ok, that’s not totally true. There was a LOT of Food Network). My newly discovered favorite show is VH-1′s “You’re Cut Off”. Hilarious! And slightly troubling.
- I read an entire magazine (again, with little redeeming value) in one sitting.
- Every single meal was eaten at my pace, at an enjoyable and appropriate temperature, without interruption.
- I went to the beach twice and only got up to swim.
- I arose out of bed after 9 a.m.
- I had no schedule or agenda of any kind. I only checked the time out of sheer habit.
- I actually had the chance to miss my kids.
- I interacted with my husband beyond, “What time will you be home?” “Can you get (insert child’s name here) more (insert edible item here)?” “Your turn for baths.”
- There was mental energy to spare! I was able to reflect on more than just what the next meal, disciplinary action, or necessary chore would be.
I really don’t mean to give off the impression that I dislike being with my children. It’s just that they are so ALL-consuming, and I didn’t even fully realize how much so until all of that came to a complete stop. It was a much-needed and much-appreciated time with just my hubs.
The remainder of the week was spent having loads of fun with the kids, first at Auntie Rach’s house in GR where we visited the zoo, Millenium Park (a playground/beach/splash pad extravaganza on the outskirts of the city), and the children’s museum. The rest of the weekend was spent boating and beaching it with friends, hanging with the girls-only (as well as Anthony the flirtatious waiter, Edward, and Jacob), attending a fireworks display with a few of our VERY favorite people (followed by a really hard good-bye), and several fantastic hours spent with friends over a delicious dinner followed by a backyard fireworks show. The only downside to this vacation was the following list of things we missed: Robyn and Russ’, my BFF from the ‘hood and one of my favorite comfort-food joints.
It was harsh coming home, I gotta tell ya, but at the same time I think it’s these amazing times away that make you feel like your real life is pretty amazing too.
Upon James’s return to us we promptly ditched the children (with heavy hearts, of COURSE) and enjoyed three blissful days of adults-only time at a cottage near the lake (thanks to Mom L. for hooking us up with that one!). Here is why adult vacation R-U-L-E-S:
- I did not watch anything of any redeeming value (ok, that’s not totally true. There was a LOT of Food Network). My newly discovered favorite show is VH-1′s “You’re Cut Off”. Hilarious! And slightly troubling.
- I read an entire magazine (again, with little redeeming value) in one sitting.
- Every single meal was eaten at my pace, at an enjoyable and appropriate temperature, without interruption.
- I went to the beach twice and only got up to swim.
- I arose out of bed after 9 a.m.
- I had no schedule or agenda of any kind. I only checked the time out of sheer habit.
- I actually had the chance to miss my kids.
- I interacted with my husband beyond, “What time will you be home?” “Can you get (insert child’s name here) more (insert edible item here)?” “Your turn for baths.”
- There was mental energy to spare! I was able to reflect on more than just what the next meal, disciplinary action, or necessary chore would be.
I really don’t mean to give off the impression that I dislike being with my children. It’s just that they are so ALL-consuming, and I didn’t even fully realize how much so until all of that came to a complete stop. It was a much-needed and much-appreciated time with just my hubs.
The remainder of the week was spent having loads of fun with the kids, first at Auntie Rach’s house in GR where we visited the zoo, Millenium Park (a playground/beach/splash pad extravaganza on the outskirts of the city), and the children’s museum. The rest of the weekend was spent boating and beaching it with friends, hanging with the girls-only (as well as Anthony the flirtatious waiter, Edward, and Jacob), attending a fireworks display with a few of our VERY favorite people (followed by a really hard good-bye), and several fantastic hours spent with friends over a delicious dinner followed by a backyard fireworks show. The only downside to this vacation was the following list of things we missed: Robyn and Russ’, my BFF from the ‘hood and one of my favorite comfort-food joints.
It was harsh coming home, I gotta tell ya, but at the same time I think it’s these amazing times away that make you feel like your real life is pretty amazing too.
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