On Friday, our community awoke to the news that four of our students and their grandfather were murdered while away at the family ranch for the weekend. The beautiful family members’ lives were taken by a convicted murderer that escaped from custody. The boys touched so many lives in so many positive ways. Our hearts are broken. I cannot fathom what the family is going through. I pray for them, and I cry for them.
On Saturday, I decided not to get out of bed to get work done as planned. Instead, I laid in bed and cuddled with the fur kids. Potatoe and Winter spent part of the snuggle time positioning to be the closest to me. Finally, Potatoe relented, and let Winter have the spot she wanted. I reflected on life, and I prayed for the family of the murder victims, and I prayed for their friends. I prayed for our community.
When I finally got out of bed, I heated up my cold brew coffee, and I sat on the swing in the yard. Potatoe and Winter joined me. Winter stole my lap before Potatoe could get up into the swing, so Potatoe settled on the spot next to me, while I cradled my purring baby in my arms.
I cannot remember the last time that I took time to reflect, and simply appreciate my life. The unthinkable events that unfolded in recent weeks remind us that life as we know it could change in an instant. Every day with our children is precious.
Around eleven in the morning, I heard Little Chirp’s shower turn on. He has been subtle in his complaints that all I do is work, but I am well aware that my work life balance is completely out of check. When he emerged from his room, showered and ready for the day, he found me sitting at my computer. I could see a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
His first words after sleeping in are normally, “What are we going to eat?”
This morning his first words were, “Do you really have to work?”
I closed my laptop, and I said, “No, this Saturday and every Saturday going forward this summer is going to be family day. How does TopGolf sound?”
Little Chirp went to get Brainy Bird out of bed, and he waited patiently while Brainy Bird and I got ready for the day. The three of us were then off to lunch at Olive Garden, followed by TopGolf. Little Chirp destroyed us at pretty much every TopGolf game we played. The kid is an athlete.
As hot as it was, I thought that they would want to pack it in early, not the case. We played for two full hours. I did not check my email; I did not try to fit a work task or two in while the boys hit golf balls. Instead, I gave them both my full attention.
Brainy Bird checked his bank account to find he received his first paycheck from his internship. I reminisced about the day three years ago when Brainy Bird received his first summer job offer. Three years ago, Little Chirp was super interested in how much money Brainy Bird would get from working. He viewed brother’s income as ice cream money. Brainy Bird plans to save most of his money for college next semester, but he does plan to buy more clothes for work, and I am sure he will be taking Little Chirp for ice cream.
After TopGolf, we made car shopping a family bonding event. None of us want to buy a car in today’s overpriced car market, but we only have Brainy Bird’s car right now, and we need another car so Brainy Bird can take his to college in the fall. I loved seeing how price conscious Little Chirp is. It amused me how he highlighted the sales tactics of the sales personnel. We found a car that we want, but we could not agree on a price, so we left without the car.
Nothing we can say or do can undo the devastating events that unfolded in the past few weeks. What we can do is pray and take the time to appreciate our lives and time with our families.