But whether I "feel like" writing or not, I can't let this month slip me by without documenting the memories that we've made so I can look back on them later.
We ended October celebrating Mike's birthday over dinner as a family at Spring Creek Barbecue. Juan wanted to buy brisket for Mike to smoke on the smoker, but then we settled for already smoked brisket instead that left a lot less work. We also took him on a shopping spree at his favorite store, Boot Barn, so he could get whatever he wanted. That was totally the boys' idea, and he loved it!
The following week, we celebrated Juan's 22nd birthday with cinnamon rolls for breakfast and a jello cake that we didn't even get to try until the following day. His coworkers showered him with celebration all day long and an old classmate made him a cake. We all headed to church events that evening, so we celebrated with a family dinner out at Chili's the next night, grandparents included. :)
The following week, we went out as a family again to celebrate David's 18th birthday a couple days early. As intentional as I've always tried to be with this child, somehow I clearly see his childhood slipping right through my fingers. I'm so incredibly proud of the young man he has become. I find myself holding on tight to every moment I have left with him still living at home and living on the same school calendar as me. I wait up on the couch for him when he works late, I take him out for coffee on the weekends whenever he's not working, I actually buy all the extra things he throws in the cart at the grocery store just because I'm thrilled that he went to the store with me. The deck of Skipbo cards is never far from reach so we can always play a quick game or two whenever we find a few moments where we're not all headed in different directions.
Two days later, he left us to go serve as a leader at the Middle School Retreat. When I jokingly bugged the youth pastor about stealing my son from me on his 18th birthday, he said, "Hey, you're sending out arrows to make a spiritual impact on a future generation." Who am I to argue with that one? Sigh.
As much as my mama heart keeps thinking how much I'm gonna miss this kid, I am intentionally cherishing every moment I have with him close by. And I love that he still draws close, rather than pushing me away. (Except when I try to get him out of bed before noon on his day off!)
We volunteer at the food panty together whenever we're all free, and then enjoy a big dinner out together. We seized this last Wednesday evening when all church activities were cancelled for the holiday and found another favorite restaurant to eat out together. Perhaps its a few more calories and dollars than we would spend by eating at home, but we're creating memories that I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm very keenly aware that life is about to transition in big ways in just a few months, and I don't want to be left wishing that I'd embraced the time in front of me.
November has always been one of our most sentimental months with Mike and the boys' birthdays coming together within 17 days. This month has left us feeling blessed, and I am grateful. We've all four experienced deep, significant losses this year in different ways, but God has very tenderly showed me that newness of life can come out of loss, and I can thank him even for the losses because of the gains they eventually produce.
We ended the month with Thanksgiving at my parents' house (another blessing), but I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of our feast. It was good, though! Then my mom and I went shopping for our annual Black Friday morning out together to one little shopping strip, and rather than lunch at Chick Fil-A, we enjoyed an earlier brunch there, served by none other than my favorite worker, David. :)
