A dear FB friend asked me how I was today. Often, people say, "How are you?" but they are just being polite, not actually inquiring as to your wellbeing. And to those people, the only correct answer is, "Fine, thank you. How are you?" However, this is a friend who really wants to hear a truthful, specific answer. Like, how I *really* am right now. And after a moment of reflection, here was my response.
How's life?
~Overall, pretty good. We've got our heads above water financially for the first time in years. Dan has largely settled down and when he isn't working, he's hanging out with the family. Derek is emerging from the sulky early teen years and is spending more time with us, has rediscovered his sense of humor, and has even left the house a few times in the last few weeks. In fact, Dan and Derek are currently sitting in the LR playing Minecraft together, and we already have an expansion of Dominion on the table for board-game playing later tonight. I'm loving my job at Acton, even on the days that drive me crazy. It is good to be needed and feel like what you are doing is making a difference. And frankly, making decent money doesn't really hurt my feelings either. 😉
I've been really enjoying this season of 'non-active parenting' with The BIGS and their ladies. We have breakfast together once a week, plus pizza and movie nights on Sundays, we all ride motorcycles together whenever the weather and schedules allow, and each of the boys pop in and out of the house in the evenings a few times a week. It just feels like everything is right with the world when your grown children want to hang out with you, while still being mature and independent adults. Sometimes, you just KNOW that a particular season of your life is fleeting, and you want to cherish every moment. And that's where we are currently. It's pretty great. 
