the grass is always greener

Emily and I have read a few of the same books recently, and one line jumped out at me,"She craved solitude but hated loneliness." Kate Atkinson.

Our house has been Grand Central this past weekend. I do love it, yet...this morning it's just me and the dogs, in the quiet of the morning and it's soothing and relaxing. I swept up and tidied up, brewed a big pot of coffee and here I sit. I am all showered and ready for my trip: we're leaving for California in a few hours.

I am the traveling mom this year! Within the past year, I've been to Washington state, drove to California and flew back, Norway, (with a day in London), Washington D.C., France, now California, and next week...I'm flying to D.C. With Abigail to get her car, and of course visiting Soldier Sam.

As far as flying to visit my far-away kids, I am so thankful that I have been able to do this. I would rather they just stayed close by and saved the trouble, ha, but I'm still glad to be able to visit them.

In a few weeks, baby Lydia will be turning one year old and her mama is having a birthday party for her. When my own kids were little, turning one meant they got a cupcake on their highchair tray and smushed it all up. Nowadays birthdays are out of control. I have been guilty of Birthday Snark, wondering why people have nothing better do. But somewhere in the midst of that criticism, I realized that the world changes. I remember my own mother's way of parenting seemed so dated to me, yet here I am, so unwilling to embrace new ideas of fun.

So Lydia will have a whole slew of us singing to her and bestowing her with gifts. For me, it will be to say how much sunshine she has brought to my life. And my daughter Mali, who has made her own choices in life, has worked so hard to get on her own two feet and be independent...she's only 22, she graduated a year early from high school, went through nursing school, and is working her butt off to pay off college loans, car payment, ect. Grownup life happened fast for her, but she's taken her responsibilities seriously and gracefully, she's such a good momma. So I want to celebrate with her because this is what families do these days:)

Anyway. Time to get ready to leave!!!