Events, big and small, worth remembering

I spent this morning sitting in a 12-inch tall chair in my daughter’s new preschool classroom, and when I wasn’t thinking about how I was going to get back out of the chair, I was excited by the thought of how much Tilly was going to love coming back to school this year.

Not only is this classroom colorful and filled, floor to ceiling, with fun things for her to do, but along the walls are pictures of all the smiling children who have come through this exact classroom with this exact teacher in the past almost 30 years.

I know we have an incredible school experience laying out before us, but I can’t help but wonder where our summer has gone? When we run into parents and friends that we haven’t seen since last school year, and we exchange pleasantries about how our summers have been, I draw a blank and say something like, “Oh, good. Nothing special.”

Maybe the August heat wave has fried my brain. Or maybe I’m just in denial that summer could actually be over. But really, what did we do this summer?

Here are the things I can recall. There were weddings. In early June, my sweet friend, Caroline Frierson, married Brett Hernandez at First Presbyterian Church. Caroline’s store, Sweet Caroline Designs, can be credited for our meeting. Every enclosure card, piece of stationery and party invitation I’ve done has been creatively crafted by Caroline, and in the process, we’ve chatted, laughed and formed a friendship.

Caroline’s taste is perfection, so I knew her wedding would be, too – from the beautiful tent glistening with chandeliers, to the lively, energetic Atlanta-based band and the raw oysters being shucked all night by staffers from the legendary local eatery Herby K’s. We danced – and ate everything from filet mignon to Waffle House – at the Frierson Plantation in celebration of Caroline and Brett.

And while the party was great, the unplanned events of the evening resonated with me. Each detail was planned to perfection, but storms loomed in the area all day and threatened to dampen the evening. I never saw a raindrop fall that day, but it must have rained somewhere because as we arrived at the plantation, an enormous rainbow stretched out across the sky.

It was a beautiful reminder from the heavens that without the rain, there would be no rainbows. A sentiment that rings true in marriage, as well. The hard times only strengthen you as a couple, and make way for miracles and wonders to come.

There were activities. It feels like we did it all this summer – VBS, Dance Camp at Shreveport Dance Academy, the Hot Air Balloon Rally, a visit to the Sunflower Trail, Wheels in the Hills at Betty Virginia and even a parents’ night out at Garth Brooks – and these are just the events I can remember (Note: my fried brain mentioned in paragraph four).

But my favorite parts of this summer have been the impromptu events and gatherings. The last-minute invite to the lake. The casual all-day gathering with friends for the Fourth of July. Stopping to get an ICEE and meeting friends at the park. Late afternoon swims that start after the kids wake up from naps and stretch into the evening. Binge-watching “Big Brother” with my husband after the kids have gone to bed.

I love the casualness of summer and how the extended daylight hours invite us to socialize longer, stay up later, relax and take in good company.

There was a garage sale. I thought about leaving this one off. It is certainly something I would be fine leaving in the past and never looking back. A weekend of hard work. An early Saturday morning. An excessively hot and muggy garage. Having to do math on the spot. It’s hard to say if a garage sale is ever really worth it.

But to the contrary, there is something elevating about purging your home and life of the unnecessary things. And on a more personal, philosophical level, I hold on to too much. I said goodbye to a lot of things. While it was surprisingly difficult (Who cries at a garage sale?), my load felt lighter. It was an entirely different kind of hard work but a step forward in my life’s journey.

There was a party. There is nothing I love more than celebrating my kids, so their party is one of my favorite things to do all year. With Tilly turning 4 Aug. 7 and Grady turning 2 Aug. 18, we invite just about everyone we know and throw a huge party in both of their honor. A swimming pool filled with giant inflatables, a 20-foot double waterslide called “Fire and Ice,” a two-tier birthday cake (one layer funfetti and the other strawberry, of which Grady had a piece of both) and Sweetport there to provide everything from sno-cones, popsicles, push-ups and homemade ice cream. My kids loved it, and I loved watching them love it.

Thinking back on our summer, we actually did a lot of things. None of them may individually seem spectacular. There were no grandiose vacations. In fact, most days were spent at home, just going through everyday life.

But I think as a family, we can look back and see how we’ve all grown this summer. We’ve learned to celebrate the really good things that God gives us. A partner who isn’t afraid to walk through the rain because they know there’s a rainbow waiting on the other side. Fun times with the family we have and the family we make. Taking necessary steps to make our load a little lighter. And really enjoying the sweetest things life has to offer.