I usually write late at night after everyone is asleep.
But after a very full weekend, I collapsed into bed and watched TV with Marshall.
We went to two birthday parties this weekend, which were super fun!
One was a Christmas in August complete with stockings and lights and (paper) snowball fight!
The other was a backyard camp out with s’mores and tents and a hay ride.
I think maybe I had as much fun as the kids did!
Sunday, nestled between church and meetings, we re-watched “Despicable Me” (which, if you’ve never seen it, is pretty funny) with my parents.
I won’t lie; I caught a little snooze while we watched it.
There’s something extra special about Sunday afternoon naps.

There are times I feel quite silly for blogging.
There are times I write words like the ones above and think “who in the world cares”?
And there are times that I just write what I’m thinking and find that a lot of you are thinking it, too.
And there are times when pictures really do have more to say than words and so I share my view of our days that way.

I post here and on Instagram and Facebook and sometimes I wonder why I do it.
Part of it is that I love going back and looking at our days.
I love remembering tiny details I’d otherwise forget.
I love rediscovering emotions that were wrapped up in moments long ago.
I love looking back and seeing how some things have changed but other things never, ever change.

But lately, I started to contemplate how long I’d do this blogging thing.
I started a photo website to share pictures with our family back in 2005.
In 2007, it morphed into a blog called QueenOfHaddock.
And in 2008 I changed everything over to The Ivey League moniker.
And in 2010, I finally moved over to my own domain.
I love this little space, even if it does need a makeover!
I love this space because it’s a place where I can write and I can think and I can process.
But I also love this space because it has connected me with so many of you!
And it seems that whenever I think about closing up shop around here, like I did this summer,
I get an influx of kind words from you!
You are such wonderful encouragers!
When I am down, you lift me up with your words and prayers.
When I need help, you ask what you can do.
When I need guidance, you offer advice.
When I just need to know that I’m not alone in this journey, there you are.
And I really, really appreciate it.
More than you’ll ever know.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for your words.