Andrew moved back home on Saturday. He has been living in a house with friends for the summer, while he had a full time job and could actually pay rent. It was a small house, in a very interesting neighborhood. At least once a week while he was living there I would read in the newspaper of some crime, shooting, even a hostage incident where the local swat team was called in....just a block or two from his address. Andrew always seemed blissfully unaware of these happenings. I guess after a while you don't even hear the sirens anymore. School starts today so he's back.
Within 20 minute of his arrival home there was no doubt he lived there again. At least 6 pairs of ginormous skater shoes littered the front hallway, most right in front of the door...in case of an emergency maybe? The sink that had been free of dirty dishes for most of the summer was filling up fast and the laundry room was piled high with laundry, some of which was probably clean, but who knows so it all goes in the wash. There was a part of me , as I surveyed the path of destruction that sadly thought back to the summer when with just my husband and I home, we would wash the dinner dishes, go to bed with a clean kitchen and empty sink to wake up the next morning with...a clean kitchen and an empty sink. Those days are over....Andrew is a midnight eater. He loves to raid the fridge in the wee hours. He doesn't always pick up his clothes from the floor, he never makes his bed, and I don't even want to think about his bathroom. But he's home again and for that I am grateful. He's our youngest and I know one day he will leave home, not just for the summer, but for good. I have the rest of my life to gaze in wonder at a clean kitchen, and shoeless hallway. But I only have a year or two left of having my child at home. I remember one day years ago, after a particularly long day, my husband deployed and the kids really getting on my nerves and making a huge mess, thanking God... for my kids, for having kids healthy enough to make a mess, kids who knew that we loved them no matter what. I know I am blessed. They get into trouble, they do not always make me happy, but I always love them and I am glad I have a little while longer to enjoy the company of at least one of them.Welcome home Andrew...now move the dang shoes...

This was our summer of family weddings. One from my side of the family and two from my husbands side. We traveled to California, Idaho and Missouri. The weddings were all different. One was very simple, budget friendly, the other two were much more sophisticated and costly. We had fun at all of them. It didn't matter who did the flowers, or what was on the menu, or how much the gown cost. What mattered was the mingling of family and friends. Family we don't get to see very often as we are all spread out throughout the US. Neices and nephews who have become wonderful adults as well as the neices and nephews who are still young and full of energy. I have lots of neices and nephews..last count 25 in all, 9 nephews and 16 nieces, in addition to 3 kids of my own. My youngest son who is 20, drove with us to Misssouri for the most recent wedding. He had a blast with his youngest cousin who is 6. The 6 year old wants to be a "famous singer" when he grows up and has a song on his lips almost constantly and when the band started playing at the wedding reception he was the first on the floor and danced until the wee hours. He's good too, almost upstaged the bride and groom. He'll be the star of many a wedding photo and video for years to come. He attached himself to our son for much of the weekend and instead of the 20 yr old being annoyed, he was delighted to spend time with his young cousin. We even stayed an extra afternoon to go to the ST. Louis zoo with him and the rest of his family...he is the second youngest of 10. When we arrived home very late, or early the next morning, my son gave both his dad and I a hug and thanked us for taking him and told us he had kind of forgotten how important family is. That is a huge thing for anyone who has a 20 year old, or a teen for that matter. Sometimes it seems like family is last on the list of important things. Little words, little hugs, big payoff for mom and dad.

My 2 other kids were able to be at the last wedding as well. They live in other states so it is always wonderful to be able to get together for a special occasion...and any occasion becomes special when we are together. I got to see all my brothers and their kids this year and everyone from my husbands family except one of his sisters. She had a heart attack earlier this summer, at a very young age I might add....my age! She is doing well and although we were all sad she could not be with us at the weddings, we are thrilled she is still with us and will be for many years, with her repaired heart, now good as new.

What I am really impressed about is that even though we don't get to see our family members as often as we would like and miss them very much, when we do get together it is like we have never been apart. We talk, and laugh and love each other. We are very blessed to have supportive family members. I work with people who are not so lucky and have had no family support or guidance. On a daily basis I am reminded what a treasure good parents are, how important it is to have a loving, committed spouse to help love and raise children.I know that brothers and sisters can grow beyond the usual childhood tormenting to become real friends. That's really what its all about. We are only here for a short while and we are gifted with these people who share our lives. I am thankful for the oppurtunities we have to get together and enjoy each other.