How YOU Doin'?

And by "you," I of course mean "me." I was so nervous to go on such an amazing trip and then have to return. To go from Chuck and me in a beautiful western setting doing fun, adult things...to come back to being a mom in the humid, flat east just seemed unbearable. But to the surprise of everyone, I'm actually doing okay! And even without a therapist!

How could this be? I don't know. It's not as if I returned with a brand new outlook on motherhood or Maryland. I didn't. (However, Maryland has been very kind to me. Tuesday's high was in the 70s. In July.) It's not as if I returned to now-obedient children. I didn't. But at my first run with friends upon my return, I was chatting with a fellow westerner who said this: she was at peace with Maryland and the east coast. Sure, being in the west would be optimal. But she's at peace with her choices to live and raise a family here. And I think this is where I am. I am happy to have such a wonderful place to visit, and wonderful family there to enjoy. For the most part, I am at peace with Maryland.

P.S. I won't lie. If I had returned to a flooded basement, I'm not sure this post would be so positive. Just sayin'.

P.P.S. One last thing trip-related. We had the coolest plane flights! We flew over: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Olympic mountains, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and the Grand Canyon. How cool is that?! Almost as cool as when we flew on the 4th of July and saw tons of fireworks shows in the sky.

P.P.P.S. It's a birthday weekend over here! Hooray!

P.P.P.P.S. I needed a picture for the cover of our latest "scrapbook" so I dragged the family to a park before church on Sunday. My boys do NOT cooperate for pictures.