A photo of my mom

My mom sent me this photo of herself when she was a little girl. 

I don't have many photos of her as a little girl. 

I love that I see both myself AND London in her photo. My mom had no idea that just a few short years later she would become a teen mom and would suffer through 10 years of an abusive marriage. 

Or that she would migrate to a totally new country, learn a new language and raise 4 kids on her own. And yet, she is one of the most cheerful people I know. She has her deep wounds and they show up in unexpected ways. And yet, she tries really hard and has done some amazing things. 

Many times I wished for a more "soft mom" but my mom never had the opportunity to be that - she always had to be strong. There have been many times in the last few years where my mom has apologized for how rough things were for us when we were growing up - and they were. But I  know it was not because of effort or trying their absolute best. 

I respect my mom. I understand her so much more now that I am an adult and mother myself. I see her and I see so much strength and love and so much innocence. 

Fun outdoor times

Some Fun June Memories

Decorating cookies 

Finding more fun walks

Loving my new sun hat

First day back that parks were open in Aurora

Costco date night 

Getting their haircuts

The first day revisiting the office 

First Body Pump Class on Monday night

Doing her online summer school

We are at the end of June.  June has felt better than a lot of months this year. The weather has been great. The girls can play with friends and both Tyson and I are still working from home. London participated in her JSEL program and did 3 weeks of that. Sydney has kept up with her school work. 

I got a new client 2 weeks ago and the girls have started attending some play dates with the Mile High Adventure club kids. Some first we have experienced this month

1. Parks are open again. We have been in parks in Broomfield, Arvada and Westminster

2. The girls got a short haircut

3. Tyson visited the office for the first time and brought home his stand up desk

4. We have gone tubing twice - which is so fun!

5.  I attended my first Body Pump Class. Man I was in pain the week after - but it felt good to get back on there. 

Tubing In Longmont

We spent  4 hours in the Dickens Farms Nature Area - we took 3 tubes. The water was cold - but we got use to it and we were laughing too hard to care. We are going back this next weekend with he Ashby family. Can't wait. 

Gerber Family Update #2 - June 2020

Well despite all the craziness happening around the death of George Floyd on May 25th. some good things DID happen to us.

Here is a list. 

1. We did our foundation work and new fence on May 23rd. It cost $7000 total with the fence materials. We slept in the toyroom for 1 week. 

2. My parents visited May 24th - May 29th. We did hiking, walking, ate at the FIRST restaurant after the Quarantine. 

3. We have been riding bikes. 

4. We finished the school year

5. We helped our neighbor water his garden

6. We have been trying to explore new trails every week 

7. We have been maintaining CFM And church at home.

8. We have done 3 Birthday Bike Parades

9. The girls have been playing Rodblox and love it.

Here we are - entering 100 days of the Corona Virus. All the issues and riots have made it see like life "should be" more normal - but things are still really limited. No gyms, no pools, no playgrounds ... its all still hard. 

We hope to go to Utah in July and hopefully things will feel better then. 

2020 has been ROUGH! It's just like we can't get a break as a nation.