blessed beyond measure

So, middle age. It's as real a life stage as the terrible twos or the roaring twenties. Here wisdom has been multiplied for better and for worse. You've seen more than you ever wanted to, lived enough pain to know that everything is just not OK. But somehow through a hefty dose of humility, you're stronger, steadier. You wholeheartedly embrace tides of joy, knowing it ebbs and flows. Adversity no longer causes panic, but rather a deep breath and a digging in of the feet. I'm there, no longer the spring chicken I once was. While life is not the perfect fairy tale I had always envisioned, I wouldn't for one second go back. Well, maybe for one second. But only if I could pick which second. The wisdom part is a great thing. When I'm in my right mind, I can soak up the chaotic love inside our house. But the aging part ain't so great. My body has turned on me, y'all. I'll say up front that the weight I've put on is probably compounding t...

We celebrated our country and our twelve-year-old Trey by spending a day on the lake. An indoor picnic at Giga and Poppop's to beat the heat, followed by loading up the boat and joining thousands of vacationing crazies on the water. We swam in the quietest coves we could find, gazed at beautiful houses adorned with flags and bunting, and raced back to the dock several hours later in hopes of outrunning a summer thunderstorm. A great day full of good old American fun on our lake.

My Trey turned twelve today. I say it with every year and milestone, but it's so hard to believe we're here. We've been remembering, at various times of yesterday and today, what all was going on twelve years ago then. So precious to relive that time, a difficult and beautiful day that grew our family and changed all of our lives forever. This kiddo has matured by leaps and bounds over the last year. Emotional drama is the exception rather than the rule. His disposition is steady and upbeat. Smart and intuitive, Trey has started reading situations and considering others before deciding how to act. He still talks as much as ever, the long and winding and heavily detailed stories captivating all of us. He remembers things from years gone by that we have all forgotten, and always enjoys a tale of some of his younger antics. He is loud and expressive, and holds little back. Trey's sense of humor is unmatched. Mercy, he cracks us up every day. From a snide comm...