Too Much to Write About...

OK.  So I know I have neglected this thing something fierce.  I apologize.  There is lots to tell you, and I'm not going to be able to do everything justice in one post.  I think that's part of the problem.  If I don't get things recorded right away, they start stockpiling in my mind and it gets overwhelming thinking of all the things I need to write about.  I really haven't forgotten about writing, you see.  I am constantly composing posts in my head.  Unfortunately, most of those posts never happen because I am not in a position to actually write them in the moment.  So what you read on the blog is only a fraction of what gets composed in my head.  Then, if it piles up in my head, you don't get to read any of it because I get shut down by thinking of how much catching up I have to do.  And, the "catch up" posts are never as vivid and detail rich as the original composition in my head.  So, again, sorry about that!

What have you missed?

• Bill and I traveled to Oahu for a week to celebrate our 20th anniversary.  Lots of stories to tell you.  Awesome pictures will be posted to Facebook at some point... probably.

• As soon as we got back, Helena moved out and is now living with her best friend in a basement apartment two towns over.  I am super sad she is no longer my little girl and I miss her something fierce!

• On the same weekend Helena moved out, one of Will's classmates (and friend) committed suicide.  I did not know the boy, but man!  It made me so sad for his family and worried about my own son and his mental health.  I am exhausted from the roller coaster of emotions between joy on my anniversary trip, and grief the following week for the senseless loss of this young man.

• Will took the ACT for the first time back in March and got a FANTASTIC score!  We're super proud of his brains.

• We refinanced the house to a 10 year term with a rockstar interest rate.  It will save us tens of thousands of dollars without changing our monthly payment!  Yeah, baby!

• I am still training for the marathon, though it is painful and difficult.  Today's run was 16.5 miles.  I doubt I will ever do another marathon after crossing this one off my bucket list.  I am even considering removing the full Ironman from the bucket list simply because 26.2 miles of running is super hard on my knees.

• Will is off on another National Guard drill weekend.  He still plans to enlist on his 17th birthday.  I can feel how very little time I have left with him before he, too, moves out.  With Helena and Will both gone, the house feels WAY too quiet and empty.  I find myself wandering into their rooms and just standing there, feeling sad.

Each one of these things deserves its own post.  I will try to work my way through them tomorrow.  That should be a good Sunday activity, right?