Today was a fairy tale. Not in the unreal, take-your-breath-away-no-imagination-kinda way, but in the comfy, walk-into-the-sunset-happily-ever-after-imperfect-gonna-remember-this-forever kinda way.
We have had a rough summer. And it’s only the middle of July. The kind of summer that laughs at you as it rips out your guts and parades around, and all the while you’re wondering, “what happened?!” Nothing as gone as it should. And for a while we were still rolling with it, then we were no longer rolling. So we took a family day today. We never do this. Normally we skip along flying from task to task or person to person. Suffice it to say, through various situations, and events, we were left bleeding along the side of the road. We needed some US time. before we forgot who WE were.
Personally, the thought of all the setbacks we would incur on this day trip out of town was almost more than I wanted to do. I am in survival mode; doing the very least to get by and survive intact until the end of the day. (If you don’t believe me you should come over and see the amount of laundry that is NOT folded and put away.)
So we actually said “NO” to some other things, and we took a road trip about an hour and a half north to the beach. It wasnt perfect, and it was alot of work, not necessarily relaxing when you have a 5, almost 4 and just 2 yr old.
But, seeing how brave my kids are in the deep water, how cute they are with floaties, teaching them to jump in the waves, building fireplaces, (don’t ask) and sand castles, cuddling a very sandy and shivering AidenBear, drinking CapriSun, and eating animal crackers by the sandy mouthful. Talking about the sparkly water, and laughing everytime Evan asked if we were going out to where the “Ugly Fish” lived…Even though there was crying, and sand everywhere it didn’t belong, a broken banana, a cranky Bear, clouds, and wind, my husband had enough sense to whisk us away for the day to just BE, and breathe, and reconnect as a crazy OCD/ADD family that we are……and when you’re 5, almost 4 and just 2, reconnecting is playing. And until today, I hadn’t realised I lost my fun side….I’d been so busy being a grown up I forgot how to PLAY. No wonder I didn’t like me. And even though we don’t feel quite whole, this is not the end of this real-life fairytale adventure. Stay tuned.
So glad that you guys were able to get away with your family for the day and just enjoy each other. I imagine it helped tremendously. You two are always giving and loving regardless of what comes back to you in return. This is wonderful, and certainly what is commanded of us; but sometimes it is important to take a break. Know that I am praying you will continue to be restored as the summer drags on. We love you both and are so thankful that we have you in our lives. And I am hoping that as the future unfolds we will have more chances to love and give to YOU.
Betsy, you and Kenny have given us the thing we desire the most, friendship
We love you and enjoy your new adventure; we are crying here, but excited to see you guys advance in your new life. And thank you, as silly as it seems, for the permission to take a break. I needed that 
Love you!!