Summer Weekend Highs And Lows

Hello friends and hello Monday. I have blood work this morning so am operating on no coffee. Not my favorite way to begin the week, but here we go. 

The weekend. It was up and down up and down. Let's recap with Holly(PinkLadyBlog) and Sarah(Sunshine and Books) who are hosting their regular Monday morning link party. 

Friday hubs brother and sister-in-law, along with two college friends of ours who also know the brother and sister-in-law, drove from Knoxville to hang out on the lake. They arrived mid-afternoon and we spent a few hours sitting on the patio catching up, chatting, and snacking on a Greek dip I'd prepared, which is always yummy. 

The Aperol Spritz has been our summer beverage. Pretty and delicious. 

Drone shot-

Ha. Not really. Hubs snapped it from the upper deck. 

Our friend works in the food business and he brought ribs that just needed to be heated and sauced on the grill. They're so good, but are not available in supermarkets so always a treat when they share. I'd made a pasta salad, cole slaw, and baked beans to have as sides and dinner was really good. 

After dinner we opted for a boat ride, and while it was initially a bit cloudy it cleared enough for an absolutely stunning sunset. 

Perfect temperature and a watercolored painted sky. 

Now for the down side...my mom ended up in the hospital Friday night and then had surgery on Saturday. Family and friends who've known you for ever and a day are the first to understand, so Saturday morning after breakfast I headed to the hospital and hubs manned the fort boat at home. I arrived just as she was getting back to her room so perfect timing. My sister, niece, and my nephew-in-law were there too, so she had quite the welcome. We stayed for a while, then left so she could rest. 

I got back to the house about two and did some dinner prep while I waited on the boaters to return. They picked me up at the dock and we rode for a bit, then came back to swim for a while before thunder rolled in. We moved up to the patio and the guys cooked dinner-

Hubs brother and sister-in-law brought steaks for dinner so hubs grilled those and we had baked potatoes and a yummy Caprese salad. 

Somebody is hoping for a taste. 

Question-how many non-lettuce salads can one make in a summer where lettuce is questionable?Apparently quite a few. We've slowly started back eating lettuce, but I buy the whole head, remove the outer leaves, and rinse the rest well. 

After dinner we sat outside and played cards and listened to music for hours. Such a fun night. 

Sunday morning everyone left after breakfast and hubs and I went back to the hospital to see my mom. We visited for a bit, then my sister and niece arrived to take the next shift so to speak. 

I find writing therapeutic. I find putting my thoughts into words brings clarity and helps me give voice to what I'm feeling. Life is rarely just one thing. It's highs and lows, joy and hardship, love and sacrifice and people who walk beside you through it all. 

A little Monday gratitude list because every life needs one: 

~the gift of a mother in every season 

~siblings who love each other through life's easy moments and the hardest ones too

~friends and family who raise a glass to all the years that came before and all that lies ahead

~the beauty of creation reminding me He cares about the details of our lives 

To add your link or read more weekend recap posts, hop on over to our hostesses with the mostest-eses and join the fun. 

Energized By The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for your neighbor there. That's how the blog world rolls. Here we go-

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

What gives me energy? Sunshine. Ticking to-do's off a list. A good night's sleep. Time spent in nature. 

What takes it away? Complainers and negativity in general.  

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

We live in a small town, so I mainly shop online these days. It can be done at my leisure, and most places have made returns easy. I will shop for specific events I know are on the calendar, and I generally add a few things each season as needed too. I just did a pass through my closet last week and have three bags to donate. I didn't get to the drawers but that's coming. 

Accessories I always wear? My wedding and engagement rings on my left hand and a ring hubs gave me for our 15th anniversary on my right. I wear earrings every day, and my iWatch too. And glasses. Are glasses an accessory?  

3. What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

God's grace if we're going deep. Something less deep? the sunrise, music, a starry night sky, and library books. 

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food?

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I mean a real breakfast, not a grab and go meal. I love to have breakfast out, love brunch which is always breakfast for me, love sharing it with someone, love lingering over coffee, love the beginning of a new day and the meal that marks it.  

My go-to comfort food? Homemade chicken soup... it's good for what ails you, mind and body both. 

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges?

It seems like it shouldn't still feel fresh, yet somehow it does. I don't know if it's because we lived outside D.C. on the day and knew people whose lives were directly impacted, or because we've lived outside NYC a couple of times and the city is a part of the landscape of our lives. 

Sometimes I think it's just that bright blue September sky, so achingly beautiful, that gives me pause. We will remember the day. We'll listen to the names read and will say a prayer for the families who lost so much, for the bravery of so many on that awful day, and for our nation which has been in turmoil of one kind or another ever since. 

I think if you're of a certain age you remember where you were on the day,  and you can't help but think about it when the date comes around each year. 

As far as how historical events shape my perspective when I face personal challenges? Well I suppose they make so many of my own problems feel small in comparison. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Happy birthday today to this little sweetheart...

This picture y'all! 

She was a baby and so was I. She's a momma now, but still and always my baby girl. 

Time is a thief but also a gift. 

I wrote a post yesterday in honor of her special day because that's what I do every year on her birthday. (you can read it here if you're so inclined-The Carousel of Time)

Happy birthday Daughter2...what an absolute joy and privilege it is to be your momma xo