Diving headlong into another school year. As we do, we chalk up another medical-update-free month, putting us firmly into streak territory.

I’ve mentioned before, but I have a love-hate relationship with this blog. The “hate” side comes from the to-do that it is. This time of month I feel a pressure to get it done and then it takes effort to carve out the quiet time to actually do it. Now that medical updates are few and far between (praise!), sometimes I have an idea for what to write, but more often than not I just have to sit down and see what comes. That dilemma then makes me question whether it is worthwhile to keep up. Is our “normal” life, increasingly distanced from pediatric cancer, worth blogging about? I can usually quash those thoughts fairly quickly. I committed to myself to do this until he is at least 5 years out and statistically cured…and so I will.

The love part comes when I do finally find a moment to sit down and get started. I start by looking back at the last one I posted. Often times that leads me down a rabbit hole looking back at other points in the journey. And then I am overcome with gratitude that I have this. With only an internet connection and a browser I can look up regular and specific moments in our lives. I can recall what we were doing, what I was thinking, what we may have been struggling with, what we were hoping for or looking forward to at the time.

This month, I looked back at all the back-to-school seasons. We have had four since returning from Memphis after transplant #2! Looking back even farther, into the Caring Bridge days, it wasn’t a “back” to school time but the start of a school career. Caroline went to Kindergarten the fall after we returned from Memphis after transplant #1.

Looking at the last four, though, it’s just amazing to consider what God has led us through. That first one we had Caroline going into 3rd grade, the twins still in preschool, and Jennings was having to repeat Kindergarten and do school at home because of his immune system status. At the time, we were anxiously anticipating him receiving the cells associated with the RESOLVE trial. Now, we have a middle schooler, and Jennings is on the verge of not being followed by the transplant team after his next annual appointment.

It’s just special to be able to look back and remember these specific points in time. It helps me have a positive, steady outlook as we enter this season. Much easier to not get too high on the good and, more importantly, not too low on the hard of everyday life. Speaking of everyday life, we have kids on two different school schedules, after school activities / sports are starting back and are more intense for Caroline. It’s never been “relaxed” schedule-wise with four kiddos, but both L and I feel that we are entering a new stage of intensity as we start to transition out of elementary school. So, here we go…

But before we do, here are a few pictures as we rounded out the summer. Plus they’ll help me remember this without having to read all these words when I, Lord willing, look back in the future.

We snuck in one last trip to Manteo, where we have been blessed to go for several summers.

It is a week of relaxing. Some beach. Lots of pool. And sunsets over the sound. This year, tons of fishing…lots of smaller stuff in the sound, manageable for the kids to catch…and two slightly more interesting catches, both pictured. No trip is complete without at least one lunch in downtown on the waterfront. We always try to do one outing where we experience something new. This year was the Lost Colony Outdoor Drama…about, well, the lost colony. It was great and engaging enough to keep the kids’ attention for over 2.5 hours starting at 8p.

And the best part about going on a road trip right after Camp Care? We get to hear endless renditions of camp songs. Something about the wheels on a big rig, hot dog wieners and a play on buns.

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.” Psalm 66:16

#allinforjennings