Playing Catch-up…

…is an apt title not only for this post, but for these past few weeks as well.

Case in point-#3 “graduated” from “Sharp Camp”-I’m not sure I knew this was happening though I’m certain I’d been told, so I’m glad I got there on time and not in sweaty running clothes.  He was terribly proud, sang all his songs, threw up a few spirit fingers unprompted, and then received his “diploma” with a smile.  He so desperately wants to be big that after seeing his brother graduate from kindergarten, I’m certain this event was epic in his mind.Thursday then rolled into Friday and now somehow it’s Tuesday.

Our friends came in town for the holiday weekend, and though we didn’t necessarily “do” much-it’s difficult to mobilize 6 kids, after all-just hanging out at home and at the pool is enough when I’m in their presence.

We did manage to find a brave sitter willing to watch said 6 so the adults could get out to dinner on Sunday night.  We  saw several pro cyclists and their entourages, which was exciting, and we also saw Alex and his team, who likely thought we were stalking him.

Monday was spent in the park and on Main Street cheering for Alex and Team Garmin-Barracuda.Some of us were more casual in our approach than others.

After the race, we spent late Monday watching the Cardinals get positively destroyed by the Pirates 12-2, so neither Team Garmin- Barracuda nor the Cardinals had the outcome I think we’d all desired, with Tim Duggan of Liquigas taking the title of the US Pro Cycling Championship rather than a member of Team Garmin-Barracuda.  The upside, of course, is that the Cards get to play for one more shot at Championship Saturday, and Alex and his team keep on rolling to other races in other places.

Though Alex only stayed with us for four nights, I think we were all sad to see him go-Lucy in particular-and it’s unlikely that he’ll be back in Greenville again since the race moves to Chattanooga next year.Having Alex here was fun for all of us, not only because he’s easy-going and interesting and funny and smart and plays whiffle ball and does the dishes and eats outrageous amounts of food, but also because he reminded me of being 24 and having my whole life in front of me, full of promise and choice and opportunity.

I remember being 21, traveling the world, anticipating a move to New York City to take over the art world when I graduated from UNC.  Then Jay came back into the picture and after seeing him for the first time in a long time, I knew I was going to marry him.  Bam.  That was it.  And I was not. happy. at. all.  I had plans, people.  Plans.  And they did not include getting married young.

My heart overtook my head, however, and I married him.  I made that choice.  I never looked back.  And I realized that life has seasons, times when we have to go with what our heart is telling us, even if our head has made other plans.

Seeing Alex in this season of his life, in this time where he’s traveling the world, working hard, meeting new people, acting on something that he is so clearly good at, was a reminder to me as a 36 year-old-and as a mom-that there are still seasons in front of me-for me-and that there are so many seasons, so many choices, in front of my kids.

My hope is that whatever they decide to pursue, whatever choice they make, that they’ll give it everything they have, and that they’ll do so with grace, humility, heart, and kindness.  And that they’ll always know that Jay and I are here, behind them, in every season.

And if Alex hasn’t figured it out yet, he has a fan club-and a room-here in Greenville, always, and we’re behind him, too.

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend and as always, thanks for checking in.