Where Would We Be Without the Ones We Love Most?

This past week has been filled with so much time spent with family that it’s starting to feel like a normal, every day occurrence. PJ’s older sister Meagan is in town with her four kids and we’ve spent just about every day with them. Yesterday we went out to the farm and the kids (all seven of them) disappeared for a while to play and explore and roam the land, and we agreed how good that felt for all parties. We didn’t have to worry where they were or what they were doing, they were free to just have fun, exactly like PJ and Meagan did on their family’s farm growing up, while we were free to relax and chat for a bit, just us adults (which so rarely happens these days!).

It was extremely hot, so we took shelter on the pavilion and chatted for a bit and I found myself wishing she lived closer so our kids could play like this more. It’s the same longing feeling I get when we hang out with my older sister and her six kids. Why can’t life be as perfect as short trips are all the time? We all agree that having our kids grow up together would be just about the best thing for everyone, but alas, we have to settle for short trips a few times a year instead.

After the farm we all went to a fast food restaurant Meagan and the kids eat at every time they come into town because they don’t have it back in Virginia Beach, and then promptly went out for ice cream afterwards. I was full the rest of the night.

And then we made our way back to PJ’s mom’s house to let the kids run around more outside while we all sat around the table inside catching up. PJ gave Meagan’s boys a few haircuts and I am convinced that if the social media thing ever dies down and PJ doesn’t want to become a realtor again, he could have a serious career as a barber. The man has talent! Their haircuts turned out so cute and looked like they went to a professional.

Just the day before all of this, we went out on my brother’s new boat with my side of the family and Matt and Beau and their best friend Camille who is visiting from D.C. It was scorching hot outside, so I can’t think of a more perfect afternoon than spending the day on the river with my favorite people.

Taylor even let me drive his new boat. His last one was kind of tricky and not the most user-friendly thing to drive, but this new one is so good, y’all. It drives almost like a car and is so much bigger than his last one. Everyone fit comfortably and we all had space to stretch out. Looking forward to more boat rides in the future!

When we got in from the river, we made cheeseburgers and hot dogs and ate PJ’s potato salad he made the night before that was so so so good and my mom made this yummy charcuterie pasta salad that I’m still snacking on two days later, and life felt wonderful, maybe even pretty close to perfect in those moments.

After the week we had last week, I can’t tell you how good it felt to end on a high note like this, especially surrounded by the people we love most, because there is nothing and no one saying it had to end like that. It could have easily been the worst week of everyone’s lives, one that none of us would have ever recovered from.

But instead, it ended with family and friends and food and future plans being made for more times spent like this. And I think I’ve come to realize, this is the meaning of life, well, for me at least. Family and friends, two very real things that we can see and hold and love and help and care for and make memories with, right in front of us. Time spent with them, even when we’re doing nothing, is time well spent.

Where would we be without the ones we love most?