As I sit here drinking my coffee, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that once again, on a gorgeous Monday, I have nowhere that I have to be.

It’s still a very odd thing to me – even several months into this temporary retirement – and every night that I go to bed and don’t have to set an alarm I breathe a quick prayer of thanks. Because it’s a blessing and I’m trying to embrace each day of freedom!

The reality is I am working some – the YouTube channel, although so much fun, is work and is actually starting to generate a small amount of income. Not enough to fund anything, but enough to make me feel validated that I’m doing good work there. It’s challenging and exciting and a total joy. Here’s the video I did last week as a trailer for our Disney trip. I loved creating it and honestly had no idea this was something I could do well.

I think so many of us walk through the years of our lives and never have time to uncover passions we didn’t even know we had. But here I am and I love it.

The next big trip is Paris and I have shifted gears slightly there and will be spending 2 full days in Paris itself. I purchased the City Pass and will have front of the line access to the museums and monuments as well as the ever amazing double decker bus tour;). Yes, I will be a tourist, and I will love every minute! I’m also practicing my French, which is weak at best. But I can say Je suis vegatrian . . .which means I am a vegetarian so that’s a start;).

I’ll also be running the half marathon at Disneyland Paris and that training continues to go well. I think this will be my 30th half marathon but I NEVER take the training for granted. I have to put in the miles, that’s all there is to it. Thankfully I still enjoy the process!

Add to that we’re getting William ready for Georgia State (he’ll be living on campus but still close to home!) and Matt ready to move to Lubbock to go to South Plains College (which is too far but I’m excited for him!). There are so many details to take care of and I’m just taking it a day at a time. But there will come a morning in the next few weeks when both of my twins will be living somewhere else and that feels surreal. But I am beyond thrilled for them both!

My oldest is off to do a lot of traveling this semester – doing online classes so he can wonder the world – and I’m super proud to say that Scott and I passed down our love of travel to that kid. So many adventures ahead for him!

Our home has moved from life support to a re-charging station.

I like that. I have always embraced new seasons and this one is no exception. I can feel my relationship with them changing in the best of ways – as I’ve said before, moving from managing to consulting is a struggle, but it’s also a joy.

They seem more sure of themselves and of their own choices and more open to our suggestions. As long as they are just that. Because the choices are no longer ours, they are up to them. And I’m so proud of all of it – even the mistakes – because it’s forming them into who their meant to be.

Parenting is so much harder then they told us.

But it’s also much more rewarding. Scott and I have a date day today – exciting things like returning things at the mall and maybe an exotic lunch at Cheesecake Factory. I love the big dramatic things but the simple things are where my joy really lies.

I hope today you are finding joy in your own grand adventure! And I’m hoping to update the blog more often so thank you if you’re still hanging in here with me! I am very grateful for all of you.