I can't believe a month has already gone by since Easter and my last post. Things have been stable for the most part with very little even worth writing about.
The boys finished up another year of school last week, and we're all already enjoying summer vacation. Austin left on the 21st for California and seems to be having a great time so far. Jack finished school on the 22nd and spent the first couple days just relaxing and not having a schedule to worry about. But now it's time to get moving. We're about to tackle some serious house cleaning.
I have mentioned many times how wonderful my Ravelry friends are, and I want to do it again. You guys ROCK!! I got a box in the mail a few days ago addressed to Austin and Jack. It came the day Austin left, so Jack and I opened it together. My Rav friends got together and knitted and crocheted squares all in the boys' favorite colors and made them into a blanket for each of them. Jack and I cried while reading the card together. It was very touching. It feels nice that there are so many good people out there in the world who actually care. Jack is in love with his blanket. He loves all the different textures in the different squares and loves the colors. Even though it's summer time, I rarely see him without that blanket if he's sitting down. Thank you all so much for thinking of my boys like that. It means a lot to them, and to me. I love you all so much.
Here's a picture of Jack with his new blanket. Ray really likes that squirrel square! LOL (I'll take a picture of Austins and will post it later).
The boys finished up another year of school last week, and we're all already enjoying summer vacation. Austin left on the 21st for California and seems to be having a great time so far. Jack finished school on the 22nd and spent the first couple days just relaxing and not having a schedule to worry about. But now it's time to get moving. We're about to tackle some serious house cleaning.
I have mentioned many times how wonderful my Ravelry friends are, and I want to do it again. You guys ROCK!! I got a box in the mail a few days ago addressed to Austin and Jack. It came the day Austin left, so Jack and I opened it together. My Rav friends got together and knitted and crocheted squares all in the boys' favorite colors and made them into a blanket for each of them. Jack and I cried while reading the card together. It was very touching. It feels nice that there are so many good people out there in the world who actually care. Jack is in love with his blanket. He loves all the different textures in the different squares and loves the colors. Even though it's summer time, I rarely see him without that blanket if he's sitting down. Thank you all so much for thinking of my boys like that. It means a lot to them, and to me. I love you all so much.
Here's a picture of Jack with his new blanket. Ray really likes that squirrel square! LOL (I'll take a picture of Austins and will post it later).
We're still trying to find our new normal. One thing I'm discovering is that we may not really have a new normal. Our lives are constantly changing and evolving. So we're mostly just along for the ride and making the best of each new situation. I think that's okay for now. I keep thinking each next step will be the one thing that helps stabilize everything and will mark the beginning of our new lives, but that just leaves us constantly chasing something or waiting for it to happen. The next marker for us is Mike's memorial service. That will definitely help close out that chapter and give us the closure I think we've so desperately been needing. I'm fully aware, however, that there will always be some invisible marker/goal/step that we wait for. I'm learning these just mark the passage of time and are not necessary in order to make changes in our lives. Passage of time is good. I no longer dread it or dwell too heavily on each new marker or milestone. I embrace those passages of time and the changes that come with it.
I have been going out occasionally. It's good to be around people, let loose a little bit, and just....breathe. I have been enjoying going to Karaoke and having a few drinks with my friend Dawn. Now it's time to find more kid-friendly activities and get out with Jack. I think we'll go to a movie this week to get that started.
I'll close this one out with a random collage of some of our shenanigans.
I have been going out occasionally. It's good to be around people, let loose a little bit, and just....breathe. I have been enjoying going to Karaoke and having a few drinks with my friend Dawn. Now it's time to find more kid-friendly activities and get out with Jack. I think we'll go to a movie this week to get that started.
I'll close this one out with a random collage of some of our shenanigans.