After a long chat while the kids were still asleep on Saturday morning (miracle of miracles), Jason and I agreed that last week was by far THE toughest week we’ve had in a long, long time. We even dared to say that it was more difficult than the two weeks following Mikail’s birth, or the months of our very colicky Olivia. Those were tough times. REALLY tough times, but through those times we were there for each other, holding each other up. This past week was different in that we weren’t there for each other. That puts a whole new twist on things, doesn’t it? When the person you love the most in the world is physically present, but not truly there. When the dream of moving closer to family, closer to warmer weather, closer to water. closer to a slower lifestyle, closer to a huge dream, just hasn’t turned out how you thought it would. Not that it’s bad. It’s just filled with more of the ‘waiting’ you thought was over.

Thankfully this tough week remained just that. A tough week. I know so many marriages where tough weeks turn into tough months and tough years and the tough becomes the norm. Oh how my heart aches for those marriages. How my heart prays for reconciliation, a love renewed and deeper than ever imagined possible.

After such a tough week, we decided to spend the weekend having picnics, exploring the beaches, the antique stores, purchasing a few pieces to help make storage in our apartment more functional. Hoping that these pieces will look fantastic in our forever home, once that becomes a reality. Here are a few photos of our time of building each other up, dreaming, laughing, loving, and just enjoying being together. Sometimes time spent together in each others company heals in the best way possible.

And today is the start of a new week. A week where we are both going to be present. A week where we will probably both fail each other again, but a week where we will pick each other up with the grace that was lacking last week. It’s going to be a good one.