Reflections – August 2009
As you may recall, at the end of July, I was very hesitant to begin my August. To some degree those cold feet were justified, but for the most part August was OK. Now that this month is half over, it is hard to reflect back on August. It’s all a bit hazy, clouded by September. I will do my best to look back at August without allowing recent events to alter my memories too much.
August began, and I was still enjoying my first “real” vacation since beginning my current job over a year and a half ago. Sure, I’d had a few days off hear and there, but they were spent scurrying to get ready for a holiday or our wedding, or they were spent sick. This is the first time I had two weeks off uninterrupted – almost. I spent that time embracing the opportunity to rest, reflect and clean my home. I began crying days before I had to return to work. That is how much I enjoyed cooking, couponing, shopping and cleaning for my family. I was not ready to leave my stay-at-home fantasy and return to my corporate self.
Moanna spent the first few weeks of August in Maryland with Steve’s parents. She came home with longer hair, manners, no binki and doing a great job on the potty. I swear, we are going to send her up there when she is three or four and she is going to come home with a cellphone and training-bra. She changes so much in just a few weeks time.
With Mo gone, Steve and I were able to spend guiltless time together. We went on a couple of great dates, and conquered a few big projects at home. It was nice to do grownup things wihtout feeling guilty for not spending that free time with the munchkin.
On August 21, Steve and I went in opposite directions for the weekend. Steve headed to Maryland to pick up Mo, and to spend some time with his parents. He sent me a text message late that night that said, “Moanna has not stopped talking since I walked in the door.” I wonder where she got that from? STEVE. I headed South to Chapel Hill to attend Johanna’s wedding (I call her Jodi – it is lovingly short for Johanna Dits). My senior year of high school she took me on her family vacation to Hawaii. It is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and where Moanna’s name comes from. Moanna means ocean in Hawaiian. She is one of my best friends, and it was so great to spend the day celebrating with her and her family.
On a sad note. Mid August, Steve and I found out that I was pregnant. We were excited to know that our family was growing. However, just over a week later I had a miscarriage (the bad day I have referred to a few times in recent posts). Amazingly enough, we were not devastated in the way we both imagined we would be when put in this situation. We are sad, but accept it as part of God’s plan. I am still dealing with physical complications from the miscarriage, but I promise to share the whole story when things start to calm down.
Thankfully, a few days after the miscarriage, we were able to spend the last weekend of August with family. On Saturday, we went to the Lexington Community Festival where we met up with my Mom and youngest brother, Evan. It was nice to get out of the house for a few hours and be around people and sunshine. The next day, my very Greek Dad and his wife Janet came to visit. We had not seen them since December, just before Dad’s liver transplant. It was the first time Pappous and Yiayia (Grandpa and Grandma in Greek) really had the chance to spend time with Moanna. Pappous was very excited that he and Mo were able to play with dump trucks and race cars instead of dolls and makeup.
Despite our loss, we truly feel blessed that August allowed us to spend quality time with family and friends. We were given the opportunity to realize what is really important to us, and what this life is all about. It may seem like a set back, but ultimately August has pushed us forward and closer together.
Reflections – July 2009
The month of July blew by us so quickly that I am having a difficult time recalling what we did. I know that we had fun, and that a few major events happened in our world. Those thoughts and memories are sitting just behind a wall that I am struggling to climb over. It has taken a lot out of me to sit here and write my Reflections of July, 2009. I know that a big part of the wall comes from the fact that writing this post means July is really over.
Closing the door on July means August must begin. August means the return of the school year is here, and that our lives are about to get very hectic again. August also means that the evenings are going to start getting cooler, and that the first frost is quickly approaching. Those thoughts make me sad and anxious. But, enough about August (I am sure it will turn out to be a lovely time), it’s time to focus on the joy July brought to us.
We began the month by celebrating the Independence of our country. Even though Steve and I both had to work, we were lucky enough that both of our jobs assigned us to work at the BB&T Balloon Rally that is held each year on the VMI Parade Ground. We spent two days eating delicious fair food, browsing the vendor booths and watching the balloons launch. Did I mention that we got paid to have all of this fun?
We also had a lot of fun that we did not get paid to have including: helping friends with their wedding reception, a trip to the Virginia Safari Park, evening walks and a lot of laughter. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that Moanna was quite amused that her Daddy screamed like a little girl when the animals poked their heads into the car at the Virginia Safari Park . Nothing short of hilarious.
Moanna and I were able to spend more time together this month than we have in the recent past. We made several trips to the park, baked brownies, flew a kite, went to the movies and had a picnic. Having extra time with her allowed me to learn just how brilliant and mischievous she really is. I knew she was smart, but I quickly found that her intelligence was getting away from me. One day, I walked in on her stuffing money into her piggy bank that she took from my purse. In that same day, I also found her going potty, “all by herselfs.” She did pee in the potty; she had bad aim and got some on the floor too. We celebrated her success with ice cream. She is continuing the potty endeavor in Maryland with her Grandma Annette and Papa Bob.
While Steve’s job has kept him busy and on-the-go, my job has allowed me to slow down for just a bit. The first part of July rolled along smoothly, and the end of the month brought the start of my vacation. The school year will bring a busy schedule back to my calendar, but plans and strategies have been put into place in hopes of keeping the beast tame.
Steve and I have continued to discuss and pray about what is next for our family. Some of these have been light topics of discussion, such as how to make our home more like a temple, more like a retreat from the rest of the world. Other topics have been more intense, scary and exciting. We have been contemplating the big questions. What’s next? Where do we see ourselves in five years? Is what we are doing now going to get us to where we want to be in five years? What? Where? When? Why? How? Who’s on first?
August is here. August will bring Moanna home from her vacation in Maryland. It will bring us another wedding, more evening walks and I do not doubt that we will laugh a lot. I hope another adventure like the one we had at the Safari Park will kidnap us for a day.
I will sheepishly admit that I am not ready for August. I am not ready for the surprises and challenges that it will bring. I have not finished a lot of the projects that I told myself I would not end the summer without completing. I have not spent enough time with family and friends. I have yet to wear a bathing suit and go swimming. I’m really trying to figure out where where my summer went, and how to wring out what is left of it. There may only be a few drops left, but I am gosh-darn-determined not to let winter win that easily. Not this time. August, please be kind.
