So it’s been awhile since I’ve done a proper update on how the whole family is doing. Truthfully, we’ve been so busy and life has been so full lately, there just haven’t been many moments. But the whole house is napping, so I thought I’d take some of the quiet time to write.
A New Home
The biggest change around here has been our address. We’re still in Michigan, and only a mile away from where we were. God blessed us tremendously in this new house- it is perfect for us in the short term (no super immediate renovation needs) and in the long term (lots of room to grow). I’m not sure if I can do justice to the many, many ways this house fits our family. The layout is ideal for Gram; the bedrooms are big enough for kids to share; it has Japanese maples around the patio (Mark’s favorite); the yard is spacious and fully fenced in; and my absolute favorite- it’s across the street from a Catholic Church! We all feel very spoiled.
A Vacation
A few months ago Frontier Airlines ran a promotion where kids flew free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Suddenly flying was reasonable for our family, so we took my aunt and uncle up on their offer of a visit to their condo in Florida. Because Mark is on vacation currently, we were able to fly mid-week and score inexpensive flights, and my mom was able to come with us. We had the most wonderful vacation. The kids got spoiled by their great-aunt and uncle, who swam with them, played with them, and loved on them constantly. We relaxed on the beach or at the pool, and spent our evenings reading and talking and enjoying lots and lots of quality time. It was very hard to come home.
ISR Swimming
My in-laws recently moved into a gorgeous house that has both an indoor and outdoor pool (my father-in-law being an ironman swims regularly). With the addition of so many water features into their lives, we decided to enroll the kiddos into ISR. It’s really quite incredible to see the children progress so quickly. As a former teacher, I’ve been impressed by the way our instructor, Jen, is able to tailor the lesson to each individual child and to modify effortlessly to fit their needs. It’s definitely an investment in time and money, but for us, so worth it.
The End of Medical School
As I already spent time musing on what the journey through medical school has meant for me, I won’t bore you again. But we are now just a short week away from Mark’s graduation, and it’s beginning to feel very real. I am beyond proud of all that he has accomplished, and prouder still of the way that he has always balanced family and work, the way that he has prioritized the kids and I. He is going to make an amazing physician.