What is NORMAL, anyway?

For the last month, I have been waiting for the clouds to part, the sun to come out and our lives to return to “normal.” But, instead of sunny rocks and climbing, each weekend seemed to bring a new illness and new snow.

Poor sick kiddo

Rather than adventures in the mountains, we’ve had adventures with sinus infections, stomach flu, trips to the emergency room and pink eye! Rather than starry desert nights in the trailer, we’ve been snuggled up on the couch watching movies while the snow blows deep drifts outside.

About 5 minutes after I took this picture, Mark started throwing up

After the stress and seclusion created by the end of my degree, I was really hoping for a spring full of friends and fun. And we certainly have had some of each. I got out for an afternoon hike through the flatirons with a friend from work one day.

Mesa Trail behind NCAR

We visited friends with new babies, and friends with birthday parties. The Go-kid rode his strider around the neighborhood and played in the mud. We made the trip back to Fort Collins a few times this month, and it’s always worth the easy hour drive.

G loves playing in the mud!

This morning, we all dressed up nicely for the fun of it, drove up to Fort Collins, and went to church with families and friends that we love. It felt kind of foreign to me, wearing nice shoes and putting a tiny tie on my son. On such a sunny, beautiful day, we might “normally” be out hiking, climbing or biking. But this year, we did what most people do on Easter, and it was wonderful.

My Boys in their Easter Best

After a month of “abnormal” for us, that looks so “normal” to the rest of the world, I have decided it is time to stop trying to categorize, label, and describe where we are. What is “normal”, anyway? In our lives, we have done some awesome things. Sometimes those are as big as climbing mountains, sometimes they are as small as sleeping through the night. What ever challenge we tackle, “normal” for us is to roll with the punches, make the best out of every situation, and enjoy the journey as we stumble along the paths of our lives.