Although we officially welcomed fall this week, today we are reflecting on the summer. We’re so happy that my family was able to squeeze in a beach getaway with the whole crew. Families with children that are in their late teens and early twenties, can appreciate that the ability to plan family vacations, where everyone can attend, is somewhat of a challenge. My sister and I spent hours trying to find a week that would both fit everyone’s schedule and a house that would meet the needs of our entire group. We had to navigate around our work schedules, internships, summer classes and many commitments. Miraculously, we were able to find a single week that would fit in with everyone’s schedule. We rented a beautiful house on Hilton Head Island that could accommodate all of us and we piled in for a week of R & R. The beach was a wonderful change of scenery. We thoroughly enjoyed being by the ocean, riding bikes, spending time together in our pool/hot tub, seeing Greg Russell in Harbor Town, taking turtle walks and enjoying sunset dining at the beach. Because of the pandemic, we were reluctant to participate in some of our “normal” activities. As an alternative, my sister had the brilliant idea to have a casino night (with play money and chips) at the house. We had a great time getting dressed up and playing together. The kids enjoyed it so much, that they have suggested we host another casino night when they are home over the holidays. We are so thankful to have had this time together, while being mindful that we continue to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. It was another arduous season battling this virus, but we are grateful that everyone in our family is now is vaccinated. We are once again able to spend time together safely. It is our sincerest hope that everyone able to, will get vaccinated. It’s the best way to put this isolating deadly disease behind us and plan future beach getaways.
Adventures/Travel
Celebrate…
Each day is a gift! Some days are certainly more wonderful than others, but we should still cherish each day and celebrate every twirl around the sun. Even though the past year and a half have been grueling, We still believe there is much to be thankful for and plenty to celebrate. We’re not under the delusion that every day is going to be spectacular. However, it is important to us that we make the most of every day. We do acknowledge that some days it’s a challenge to remain outwardly happy, but we do try. When confronted with difficult situations, we try to find something positive to focus on. A confident self-esteem and grateful mentality help us navigate difficult times. This glass-half-full approach to the day, always gives us something to smile about. A cancer diagnosis and the Covid-19 pandemic certainly put a strain on this philosophy. Some days felt more like an April Fools joke than a celebration. However, the most important piece of wisdom that we can share, is to treat each new day as a gift. Get creative, try one of our projects, and find ways to fill your bucket. No one can predict, with certainty, what the future will hold. Do the best you can to make each day memorable. The challenges and loss of life our world has experienced throughout this past year and a half are difficult to comprehend. The Covid-19 Pandemic has claimed the lives of friends and family, young and old. It has taken lives without warning and left us grieving in solitude. Still, we remain positive. We are so thankful for the vaccines that are available. We are humbled by the herculean effort that has gone into fighting this Coronavirus disease. We encourage everyone that is eligible to get their shot. This will help protect our loved ones, safely open our communities back up, and enable us to continue living our lives. With the arrival of summer and being fully vaccinated, we are able to visit friends and family. This brings many reasons to smile. We hold onto our belief that each day is a gift. Let go of the stress; you can’t have yesterday back, and there is no guarantee for tomorrow. The best you can do is try to make each day count! Celebrate the time we have with one another. Remind yourself, that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful!