Our family had an unbelievably busy summer. Our end of June to July, however, was over the top. Alex, Teal, me, my dad, and step-mom met in Montana for an incredible (and extremely exhausting) 5 days at The Ranch at Rock Creek Dude Ranch. It was incredible. So many outstanding memories to fill our future.
When we arrived home, June 29th, there was a friend of ours at the house. We knew he was coming for the 4th of July weekend…he just arrived before we did. Mark this as Day 1.
Davio stayed until July 5th. I like to tell him that he doesn’t count…because he doesn’t. You know those house guests that don’t require a major clean-up or prepared breakfasts? They don’t care what you look like…ever. They know you get testy about things. They know you argue with your husband and then 2 seconds later you’re over it. The type who knows your kitchen so well that they can unload your dishwasher? Yeah…Davio is one of those guests. However, he was still at our space and having another person means more dishes, more food, more discussion, more planning, etc.
July 5th – July 7th Teal had camp which allowed me to clean house and get laundry done before the next 3 people arrived. These were not the “you don’t count” type of people. These 3 arrived July 8 and didn’t leave till July 16th. By July 16th, I was starting to feel a bit “over-it”. I was already tired of having people in my house. Sigh.
July 17 – 21, my niece arrives with a friend.
July 19 Candela, our Spanish exchange student arrives. She stays till July 29th.
July 23 Candela’s family from Spain arrives.
Yes…at this point, all 5 bedrooms of my house are full. I am making meals for 7 people for more than a week. Trying to stay on top of laundry, Teal’s schedule, our guests’ entertainment schedule, grocery buying, meal prepping, meal making, clean up, and the list continues.
I AM EXHAUSTED at this point! Kind of beyond exhausted actually.
Our house was finally empty and quiet on June 30th.
But during that entire time, well most of that time if I’m being really honest here, I kept reminding myself to never wish a day away.
It is so easy to just get by, to just make it through the day. We all have those times when we think to ourselves, just make it to 5 pm or 8 pm or bedtime or tomorrow morning. And, I will probably have one of those moments in the near future again. But I hope when I’m in the moment, I can remember that this moment will never ever ever be here again. This exact moment, right now as you’re reading, will never be here again. Ever. You can’t get it back. Time keeps ticking.
My mom told me when I was starting my working career that if I wished Mondays away, then I would be wishing 1/7 of my life away. Take that in for a moment. If you dread Mondays because you don’t like your career…you are dreading 1/7 of your entire life away or at least until you find another job to dread.
When I take time to consider the 1/7 statistic, I am reminded that our time here on this Earth is fleeting. Our time here is a drop in the ocean, a whisp of air, one grand of sand on a beach. You get it! We just aren’t here very long and I am going to try and not wish any of this time away.
Looking back, I could have wished an entire month away. An entire month! Saying to myself, “Just make it to July 30th! Just make it to July 30th.” But, I tried not to. I tried to feel each day, to savor each moment, to stretch out each meal. Because I don’t know if any of those people will ever be in my house again. We don’t know what life holds. Many of you have received phones calls that confirmed the vanishing of future memories on this Earth plain with someone who one day was here and who one day wasn’t.
So the next time you feel a bit overwhelmed with the day, the child, the space, the moment…take a deep cleansing breathe, put a small grin on your face, and say, “This too shall pass but I’m not wishing it away!”
XOXOXO
A WooWoo Life 