It is not a moment, the time I wish I could freeze was a summer,  the summer of 2018. It was my happiest of times and a summer that sneaks from the corner of my mind and spreads a smile across my face, a lightness and joy to my heart and soul.

I had a ortho surgery on my ankle, had to rebuild my ole broken part. I had to be non weight bearing, foot in a cast in the air for about 3 months. My three youngest grandkids were here living a kids dream life in my office. They were in and out, the screen door slamming constantly.  Their laughter and voices filling the air with smiles and warm memories.  The tire swing outside my bedroom window in constant motion most days. My son’s were in and out cooking cleaning, caring for us all. We painted rocks, it was the height of the rock hiding and painting era. We had a ball. From my bed we painted, we watched movies gathered in the floor and bed.

We went to doctor appointments and hunted rocks at parks and in the county we live in along our way. I never ate alone, they would take turns sitting with me. It was the most wonderful time.. I would not trade anything for the memories I have… they are all about grown now, two of them have babies of their own. What could have been a lonely, sad and painful time was instead a happy, family pulling it all together memorable summer. We fed not only our bellies but our hearts and souls…  if I could, I would relive it but time does not stand still nor wait for anyone… it was a gift, a God Whisper to my soul, my heart… yes the summer of 2018, it is always with me.