My elementary school graduate! So many feelings today—gratitude for all the teachers and staff who have mentored and loved Rushton (and all my kids) over the years, relief that distance learning is done for this year, sadness at the celebrations and hugs and last memories that we can’t have due to SIP, grief at the turmoil and suffering so rampant in our country at this moment, awe for the good people who just keep giving, hope that brighter days come sooner than we expect, and love for my family and village. I didn’t expect all these tears from a 5-minute school drive-thru! Congrats to all the 2020 graduates out there!

We placed flags at the graves of servicemen and women with the Boy Scouts early Saturday morning. I remember my dad and brother doing similar flag-related service on patriotic holidays growing up. We have so much to be grateful for.

Good thing our face masks covered up our cherry-stained faces on the way out of the orchard!

Rush has a knack for finding the most juicy, perfectly ripe fruit, but he wants nothing to do with eating it. At least Hailey and Logan like the good stuff! We went to the far corner of the field and struck strawberry gold.

Thanks for all the birthday love yesterday! It was kind of a regular quarantine homeschooling Monday, but my family made it fun with gifts and extra love, I took a long walk in the hills by myself, and I got to see some friends from 6 feet away. 38 is off to a weird start, but I’m grateful for the good people in my life, my health, my home, and just so much. I feel so lucky for the life I have.

As I read tributes to mothers yesterday and thought about my own mom, the thing that stuck out the most was that she never made me feel like I was in the way. I don’t remember being shooed away as a kid—from cooking, cleaning, garage work, crafting, dishes, sewing, gardening, baking… I learned so much by doing it with her. And I don’t remember her being exasperated at the endless spills and kid hands messing things up! I need to be more mindful of that with my own kids. My mother took us on adventures big and small, she expected us to do our best and encouraged us along the way (still does!), and treats each of her children as the unique individuals that we are. She is generous to the core—with her love, effort, sincerity, resources, hard work, and devotion. I am so grateful that my kids know her! Mom, I love you so much. ️ ( from mid 1980s?)

I don’t know how I got so lucky to be able to call these kids mine, but being their mother truly is my life’s greatest joy. Crepes for breakfast, sweet cards and gifts of Sodastreamflavors, a clean house, virtual chats with family, playing (and loving!) a new game (Cover Your Assets), al pastor tacos for dinner, evening walk with some geocache finds. (And of course the normal fights and threats and exasperation of daily family life.) Logan told me it was the best Mother’s Day ever! He’s not wrong. ️

Congrats to Rushton on bridging to Boy Scouts tonight! They held a virtual Arrow of Light ceremony. He had such a great experience in Cub Scouts and looks forward to earning merit badges with his new troop. Thanks to the many great scout leaders and examples along the way!

Our motto was “No cherry left behind.” We did our best, but the trees were still loaded with fruit when we left! Logan insisted on making pie right away, but when I finally finished it in time for breakfast today, he discovered that he doesn’t really like cherry pie. More for me.

I’ve been babying some sourdough start from a friend since the beginning of shelter in place, and I finally got brave enough to make bread with it this week! It’s perfectly crusty and bouncy and absolutely delicious with jam and Nutella and cheese and butter and I can’t believe I made sourdough bread!