It’s been a busy few weeks for us between job searching for Jake and writing research/work for me. I’m writing some articles for local magazines and have a few short stories being prepped for submission, and Jake has done almost 40 job applications.

Keeping so busy has helped us maintain a relatively normal routine, but for Memorial Day we escaped the routine and drove up north to the coast with some dear friends of ours.

Having two nature-focused vacations in May was a great blessing. The sea air was a balm to our souls, the company bolstered our spirits, and there’s not many things cuter than watching kids run and play so hard they collapse every night.

It was a quiet vacation. We went for delightful walks to the beach, watched the sunset on the ocean, explored the town, visited thrift stores, read books, and did numerous puzzles. Both my mom and I got very excited over thrift store book hauls, and I got to visit a local yarn store (which is always a highlight for me). I got a sock yarn to commemorate this vacation — my favorite type of souvenir.

I cast on a hat for Bea with a skein of my handspun on the drive up, and I finished it over the weekend. It’s the Traveler Hat by Andrea Mowry, and I really enjoyed knitting it. Michael even helped me do a few stitches! Every time Bea wears it, I’ll remember this lovely vacation.

We also got to visit Glass Beach, which was a bucket list item for my mom. The main beach was quite disappointing: so many people were (illegally) gathering glass from the sand, and it was so combed over it looked like a regular beach. We found a side beach nearby that had been treated more respectfully, and it was beautiful. The sound of the waves crashing over the glass pebbles was like music — a rushing swell, crescendoing and fading.

Watching Michael run and play with the other kids on the trip really opened my eyes to how much he’s grown and matured this year. He’s so big, and so inquisitive, and so kind hearted. Yes, he’s also impulsive and active and three years old — but when we’re cuddling or talking together, sometimes I catch glimpses of him as a teenager or an adult, and I realize how quickly this sweet time is going by.

Beatrice has also had a growth spurt: she’s started to run whenever she can, despite not being fully steady on her feet. She delights in wearing shoes (especially her sparkly Crocs) and tries on anyone’s shoes that are left unattended. She loves singing, playing with water, and stealing her brother’s snacks and toys at any given opportunity.

The Northern California coast is one of my favorite places in the whole world. It’s where Jake and I spent both our honeymoon and several vacations pre-kids, and it was so sweet to bring them to the rocky beaches and foggy forests we love.

And now we’re back home, continuing on with the day-to-day. We’re weathering a heatwave of 100+ degree temperatures this weekend, but the rest of June is looking less oppressive. All around us the cherry orchards are ripening, and due to the kindness of our neighbors we’ve been able to glean from some of the trees. My children have turned into little cherry fairies, fingers and mouths constantly stained, spitting pits joyfully into the bushes.

We’ve been playing outdoors in the mornings, sitting in the shade and coloring together with crayons on the large drawing pad. The garden is flourishing, and I’ve already harvested three zucchini from my one plant. My tomatoes, yellow squash, and peppers seem to be thriving as well.

As I’ve said before, making is one of the ways I deal with stress…so my hands have been quite busy lately. I finished a row of my quilt top (sewn together while Jake did bathtimes), added some inches to my Ranunculus sweater and finished a few baby bonnets (knitted during Bea’s naps/quiet times), and began plying a vibrant worsted weight handspun (spun in the evenings after bedtime).

We continue to ask for your prayers as we navigate the unknown and the job search in a pretty crazy market. I’ve been learning the lesson that asking for help isn’t a weakness: it’s a strength. We’ve been leaning on our family and church community. I’ve had phone calls and dinners with friends where they generously listen to me vent my anxieties. I’ve increased my medication dosage to help me better cope with some of the stresses. And I’ve had to learn none of that is a sign of weakness. I think it will be a constant lesson I will revisit throughout my life.

The last few weeks haven’t been easy, but they’ve still been full of little glimmers of joy. And I’m so grateful for the support and help we’ve received which makes those glimmers easier to see.