Summer has been quite a roller coaster. I'm sure everyone can relate in their own way. Remember that silly, naive post several weeks ago about taking it easy, smooth sailing on the horizon? Whatever. We had about two peaceful weeks. Then the 5 year old check up that sent everything into a spiral. We rushed the kids to Florida to maximize their vacation time before Luke had surgery, then we went for a week, then we came home and brought my mom along, then Luke had surgery, now Luke's recovering wonderfully, and Grandma June has returned home. But then the fish died. In the past few weeks, if I've said it once, I've said it 100 times: when things get back to normal...

We'll get the kids back on track with a regular bedtime, when things get back to normal. Their behavior will improve, when things get back to normal. My patience will be renewed, when things get back to normal. I'll get caught up on my Bible study, have more regular quiet times, reconnect with David, catch up with friends, get those "to do list" items checked off, be more consistent in my leadership roles, cook dinner more often...when things get back to normal.

I think I've figured out, if I keep waiting for "normal," we're in trouble.

Tuesday, after dropping my mom off at the airport, Luke and I stopped by David's office on our drive home. As we were leaving, I said something like, Well, with vacation over, surgery behind us, and Mom gone, I guess life will just go back to normal.

What's that? he said back to me.

Hmmmm. Good question. What is that? And if I don't even know what it looks like, why am I waiting for it, and how will I know when it's happened?