Full Circle

Last weekend we celebrated Memorial Day. The kids wrapped up yet another school year, and summer officially began. For most people Memorial Day represents celebrating those who sacrificed their lives for our country, sandwiched between backyard barbeques, a marathon of pool, lake or beach time, and the first sunburn of the season.

For me, Memorial Day weekend reminds me of the beginning of this crazy dream my newfound friend Valerie and I had...one of writing a book, sharing our stories, and helping the women of this world navigate and survive the process of divorce. Exactly 4 years ago this Memorial Day weekend we packed up our kids, stuffed Valerie's car to the brim, and headed to Destin for a trip to the beach. Our ex husband even let us borrow his portable DVD player so the kids could watch movies (I swear, I couldn't make this up if I tried!) The ex-wives were going on vacation and nothing was going to stop us!

So off we went...my first trip as a single mom. But I wasn't alone. Valerie and I channeled our inner Thelma and Louise (minus the convertible and bar hopping scandals) and the adventures began. I made fun of her granny-like driving...she made fun of me and my neurotic tendencies when my 2 year old had a full blown melt down in the sand. We laughed, we bonded, and best of all, our hearts joined together in this mission as we began the sketches of what would be our book, The Ex Wives' Guide to Divorce.

I will never forget this trip, in fact I reflect on those few days we spent together and smile. We had no idea where this little dream would lead us, but in that moment we became a team. I held down the fort with the kids (while they were dripping in popsicle juice and tracking sand through the condo), while Valerie ventured to Target. She returned with color coordinating binders (hers shades of green, mine shades of pink), fancy pencils, paper, highlighters, and of course, color coded divider tabs for what would be the beginnings of the chapters of our book.

When I checked TimeHop (I have a serious love/hate relationship with this app), this picture popped up. It brought tears to my eyes. How could it possibly have been 4 years ago when it seems like just a few weeks ago? I remember this trip, and this picture in particular, so clearly...then all of a sudden I felt old. Where had these 4 years gone? An entire range of emotions overcame me, almost like a tidal wave.

Later that night as I was opening my mail, I noticed a package on my front doorstep. I opened it up and couldn't believe my eyes. Our dream,our mission, our vision, our BOOK...everything we had worked so hard for for 4 years was finally IN. MY. HANDS.

And all of a sudden I realized exactly where those 4 years had gone. This particular moment is by far one of those "a-ha" moments I will remember forever. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I held our book in my hands...the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Exactly 4 years after our adventure began, we now prepare to start a new chapter of sharing our dream with the world.

I took this picture just minutes after opening the package because I couldn't contain my excitement. This moment was full-circle at its finest.