Never long enough, every second a gift!

Life really gets in the way of blogging, doesn’t it? It’s ok, though, we are just over here living our #BestNHlife. Although, currently in a “heat wave” (high of 88), we are making it through. Somehow, someway! It sounds comical coming from FL where they are solidly in the depths of heat and humidity sweat season (through September and/or October), it just hits differently up here. Anyway……we’ll live but hard to believe I’ve acclimated so quickly. <insert all the LOLZ>

In May I took a little week long birthday vacation to FL to see our kids, our baby girl graduate from Radiology school, my family and as many friends as I could squeeze in over the 6 days I was there. While it did involve traversing the state a couple of times, it was well worth every mile! Fortunately, the rental car was big and bougie and made the driving bearable.

There is something about spending time with friends who know your heart, have watched you grow up and grow through life. The familiarity, honesty, and genuine love is priceless. 3 months later and my heart is still so content with the time I was able to spend with my people!

My girlfriend who I’ve known since middle school (and her hubby) housed me for my trip to the panhandle, kicked my rear end at her gym, took me to dinner and just let me be comfortable catching up with her and her family. Bonus: I was able to catch the Aurora Borealis with her hubby and son after a super crazy weather day. Never long enough, but every second a gift!

Almost my entire prayer group who I’ve known and loved for almost 25 years showed up to lunch to catch up, kiss the newest babe and just BE together. Never long enough, but every second a gift.!

My beloved neighbor (and future neighbor in heaven, we have already made a decision on that—hopefully Jesus works that out for us) showed up for some coffee, chatting, laughing, and sharing parenting tips for young adults (spoiler alert: we have none— its all hard), and it was amazing! Never long enough, but every second a gift!

A second coffee stop to spend with my dear friend and her kids (I skipped coffee and just went for the company) found us in a beautiful new Starby’s filled with displaced remote workers looking for electric, wifi and AC since 1/4 of the city was without power due to wild weather and tornadoes in the a.m. A quick visit, but time together! Never long enough, but every second a gift!

Time with my sis and her family garnered hugs from my nephews, laughs with my brother in law and a good walk and breakfast with my sis. We will of course, follow up with our annual girl’s trip later this fall but always time well spent! Never long enough, but every second a gift!

At “home” with my mom (both our guys were not there so bonus one-on-one time!), we also spent time with my kids…. ALL 4 OF THEM!!!! An early Mother’s Day and birthday lunch with my babies, a graduation celebration, visits with my grandfather, aunt and uncle and quality time to just love on everyone. Never long enough, but every second a gift!

Breakfast with a sweet friend, (my spirit animal), and catching up on her family, delicious business, new job opportunities and checking out the newest Costco! A treat of sample cakes to finish our date was a tasty and amazing surprise! Never long enough, but every second a gift!

A long-missed beach walk and coffee with Mon Amie from France was so amazing. If you ever feel sad, mad, confused or just need to work stuff out, hit the beach—-it is forever healing. Of course, walking, talking, laughing and finishing with coffee is also healing. Never long enough, but every second a gift!

Time with ANOTHER dear, middle school forever friend, was filled with laughs, a visit from my baby girl to join us for dinner, champs, tale telling and an AMAZING air boat ride for early a.m. counting alligators, owls and birds. Never long enough, but every second a gift!

Finished up the trip with a night at our dear friend’s (fraternity brother to hubs) and his wife (my sweet, sweet mid-western friend). Always, delicious food, great conversation and all the warm and fuzzies. Never long enough, but every second a gift!