Story Threads | June 20th
Little bits of life from around here.
I’m currently working on scrapbooking my stories from February and going back in to my photo archives and re-reading my Story Threads from that month is such good motivation to keep going! Sometimes we need to see what we’ve already done in order to remember, once again, how worth it is to keep writing things down (and yes, even I need that reminder).
Last week Anna asked if she could have a BBQ here at the house after her last final for about 40 kids from her class. I immediately said yes - even with everything else going on I’m over here saying yes. The night before the party I experienced a big wave of anxiety - I helped myself by simply naming the feeling (if you are in One Little Word® and watched our community zoom you might have heard me talk about this). I also simply said to myself over and over “It will all work out.” Whatever was going to happen was going to happen and I might as well enjoy the ride and help create some joy for others. Aaron was the grill master. I set up a bunch of chatting stations around the yard (the kids spent the vast majority of their time in the grass playing lawn games). Watching 40 kids all playing games like corn hole, spike ball, hackysack (it’s back people!), badminton. There were some phones here and there but these kids were PLAYING and it was glorious. I definitely woke up exhausted after the party, but it was the good kind of tired.
I’ve been working on my Week In The Life™ album and working on getting projects together for the Storyteller Classroom (working on my stories from February).
The temperatures are going up here and my yard is taking a mini break after the peonies and cottage roses. Right now the sweet peas are stealing the show. I also grew some poppies this year in order to try harvesting the seeds and the seed pods are such a fun shape.
Ordering fall bulbs from Farmhouse Flower Farm. Planning tulip, daffodil and other bulbs in the fall is a gift I give myself when they explode in the spring.
Simon’s in the process of finding a new housing situation. It’s a long story but in the end it signals a new round of independence for him on his own journey. His support workers have been helping him tour apartments and learn more about that whole process. A lot of things in my life seem to be colliding related to the concepts of home and independence and autonomy.
My sister is visiting from North Carolina this week to spend time with my parents and support me in developing a new normal for us as we move forward. Having her here is so, so great. She is a true helper (learned from the best - our Mama) and brings joy and empathy and wholehearted reminders that feel like fresh air on my face.
Because my sister was here it freed me up (mentally, emotionally) to say yes to an overnight in our camper with Aaron over to the coast which helped me reset. I touched trees. I sat in a river. I listened to the wind and the waves and remembered once again that the tide goes in and the tide goes out.
Anna and Chris are in Tokyo right now on an adventure just the two of them. I am so happy for them both to get to do this together! I’ve been to Tokyo a couple times in my life - once with my Dad who was a timber exporter and traveled there regularly for a number of years and once to attend and teach at a scrapbooking event. I love that Anna is getting to see and experience a new culture and have some one-to-one time with Chris.
I started writing morning pages again while Aaron and I were camping. I had started a notebook in March 2025 (for a One Little Word® prompt) for morning pages so I picked that one back up and just started writing and found myself writing for an extended period in the bed in the back of the camper. Man it is such a much needed practice for me as another way to let things out vs. holding them all inside and letting things consume me alive.
Thinking a lot about brain health which is probably something I should have been thinking about for years already. My Dad’s Dad had Alzheimer’s. My Mom’s Mom had Alzheimer’s. My Mom has Alzheimer’s. My Dad’s brother had Alzheimer’s. My Dad has an unspecific form of dementia (at this time). The odds seem in my favor so that’s on my mind and heart too.