Cherishing the Season
I waddle behind my husband and our two boys, my bowling-ball-sized belly slowing me down. In less than 10 weeks, we will welcome a baby girl into our family. I find myself cherishing these last two months as a family of four.
We have traipsed from San Diego to Zion and onto Moab, Utah. From there, we met up with family in Colorado Springs, where my youngest brother-in-law was sworn in as an Officer in the Air Force by my husband. We visited Garden of the Gods and drove to the summit of Pikes Peak. Next, we headed further north and west, driving through the Grand Tetons, up to Yellowstone National Park, and then back down to Jenny Lake. We took a boat ride across the lake, and then walked along the trail and took a dip in the ocean. It was the most wild, free, and whole I have felt in a very long time.
All along the way, I found myself soaking in these moments. Realizing this time is precious as we prepare for a new baby later this summer and for my oldest to start preschool in the fall.
///
A year ago, we were anxiously awaiting board results and orders to leave our duty station at the time, Sasebo, Japan. It was bittersweet. I’d built a power house village for myself and my boys that I dreaded leaving. I spent the summer relishing water play in our backyard, daily playground time, hot summer runs with our best friends, and as many beach days as we could squeeze in. I relish the memories we made that summer — taking the boys to the movie theater for the first time, being locked inside with hand-foot-mouth, learning how to use my DSLR camera, and treasured moments spent with neighbors who felt like family.
///
The summer of 2021, I found myself in this same boat of relishing the season. I was in the third trimester with my first son. I remember plowing through a book a day, solo walks, and coffee dates, and soaking in the moments of being responsible for only myself. I didn’t know what to expect for motherhood, but I knew abundant changes were coming between entering parenthood and orders to move to Sasebo, Japan.
///
Through each of these seasons, including the one I’m currently living in, cherish is the word that holds the most true. When I reflect on these seasons of anticipated change, I know I want to hold onto the memories of this specific season. I want to give my kids memories to hold onto — to reflect back on their childhoods and be grateful for the adventures we took them on, the things we made them do — like skinny dipping in a glacier lake.
When I focus on cherishing the season I am in, I am able to release my worries about what is to come.
This post is part of a blog hop with author Lindsay Swoboda in support of her book Holding On and Letting Go: A Life in Motion.
Loved your vignettes, Amber! Sometimes the word cherish comes with too much pressure for me, but I love how you use the word to mean being present, being grateful, not feeling pressured to have things be a certain way, moving into a posture to receive the good right in front of you—even if it’s being trapped inside with hand foot mouth! Also, your national park hopping sounds so dreamy!
I truly love that the word "cherish" is what came to the surface of this reflection. I also have loved your vacay pics and have now added Jenny Lake to my must-see list. Love you friend, thank you for joining and being a champion for my work (and a champion friend!).