And we’re off…

Just like that, summer is over and another school year begins. It’s such a cliché but it really is wild how fast they seem to go, the summers especially. We were able to pack a lot into this one, but by the end it was time. Lauren bears the brunt of the “summer days,” the ones that don’t have a lot planned and leave four kids wandering about the house, following her around, asking what’s next, fully convinced that life is supposed to be one big fun session. She refers to herself as “The Cruise Director.”

I feel for her…she puts so much effort into making their summers special and full of memories made. The majority of the days where it’s just a normal summer day, no vacations or camps and not a weekend, she has something planned for them. But they’re kids, and as soon as the trip to the pool or the visit to Carowinds is over, they are looking for the next thing.

Plus, she works. She does it part time and she is her own boss, but that flexibility can make it more difficult to actually get work done. I’m able to be around evenings and weekends, but those are the easier times. Needless to say, by late August, after all of the things that have been “looked forward to” are over, the dog days set in. The new school year always seems to just barely save the day.

Having late elementary kids and a teenager also contributed to the dilemma this year. Entertaining them looks different at these ages, what satisfies one is boring to another, but none of them are so self sufficient that she can leave two at home to take two others to go and do.

Yes, this is a great topic to add to our next annual planning sesh. I don’t think we can keep doing summers the way we’ve always done them. At least if we want to come out of them with our sanity.

Speaking of sanity, we did get a respite from the chickens in the middle of the month. All four of them got to go to Camp Care this year! The twins were finally old enough to qualify and, with SC schools starting back so early now, the camp has more spots available for siblings. It used to be limited to one sibling, which was ok as only C was ever old enough. But, providentially, the year we would have had to draw straws to see who got to go, more spots opened up. What a blessing!

We enjoyed a few days at home alone together, though I had a fairly intense work days, and then we snuck down to Charleston for a couple of nights. That’s us on one of our morning walks along the battery. We had just been there in April, but we won another 2-night stay at the same hotel at the St. Jude gala so we figured this was a good time to get down there without having to solve for the kids. Before Charleston, we got to see a throwback concert from our college days - Dashboard Confessional and The Fray. It was at the small uptown amphitheater, which is one of my favorite places to see a show. Bottom row, that’s us tearing up some Kings Street shopping. Next is celebrating our last quiet, kid-free night with a little Ted Lasso, bubbly, and our doggy. Hard to beat that.

The rest of the month looked mostly like 👇

Left-to-right, top-to-bottom: That’s L smiling big at Camp Care drop off…along with some very excited and slightly timid kids. We took each kid out for a one-on-one date with mom & dad in August…Henry wanted all-you-can-eat sushi. My man! C is getting into a new sport this year…field hockey. Proud of her for getting out there and trying something new. Arlie and her new favorite toy…we tell her all the time but she really is the best dog. We tried Whattaburger for the first time…Henry and C say “10 out of 10.” Next, what happens when boys get bored in the summer 🤣 L took the kids to this newer place in Charlotte called Slick City…Henry is a fan. Another outing by The Cruise Director…that’s everyone at the local library.

Despite some days filled with fighting and boredom, the kids had a great summer. We all did. We are thankful to have that rhythm of being able to take extended, less scheduled time as a family and enjoy it for a season. The blessing of being able to spend time as a family, go on vacation, welcome a 7th mouth into the family - we are in a sweet season. I try to not let that be lost on me. I’m not the best at being present, often caught up in doing and striving.

We had a sermon on identify a couple of weeks ago. We were challenged to ask ourselves: “are you working for your identity? Or are you working from your identity?” I’m wired to strive and to work for it. I need reminding that God loves me and that He likes me…and He is that way towards me and was that way towards me while I was still rebelling against Him. It’s not about what I have done or can do for Him. It’s about who He is and what He has done for me. Our church passed out stickers during the sermon series on the components of the “discipleship journey”: belonging, identity, truth, purpose. I have the Identity sticker on the front cover of my journal as a daily reminder.

Here’s to carrying that into another school year. The kids are still willing to hold the signs and smile for the pictures. Love that we have all of these to look back on ❤️…and yes, this next year will be a big one of transitions for the Palmer family. We have one wrapping up middle school this year and one wrapping up elementary. Next year, we’ll have all three levels of school covered 🤣

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people chosen for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9