Almost Here

One of my very favorite seasons is almost here...summer!  Our kids have one more day of school and then it's summer break for them and for ME.  Yippee...no more 5:30 alarm clock, no more morning fire drill as all 6 of us scamper about getting put together for day, no more living in my car, packing lunches, no more tests, homework and no more schedules.  

As a huge proponent of unscheduled time for kids, I'm almost embarrassed to admit how scheduled we become during the school year. Football practice, tennis lessons, soccer practice, softball practice, basketball, volleyball, weekend tournaments, piano lessons...all times four!  After a long high school season coaching softball, which was 5 days a week for 3+ months, I'm desperately in need of a break myself and Audra, who has been playing softball since August, definitely needs a break.  Although Audra has been asked to play in several different tournaments over the next two months, we are saying (thus far), "No thank you."  All of our kids want to spend time at the gym this summer and although we are saying no to team sports, we will definitely be saying yes to exercise and activity - but, on our terms.

We haven't yet mapped out our travel plans for the summer, but would like to visit family in Texas (the kids have never been there) while catching a couple baseball games, sightseeing and visiting ranches that we send our horses to. We'd like to spend a long weekend in Colorado and most likely squeeze in a visit to our old favorite destination, Coronado, CA. I'd also like to see if our church has a short-term mission trip we could go on as a family. With an unscheduled summer, the options are endless!

Our lives are very blessed and we are grateful to be able to spend the summers together. Lately, I've been catching myself wearing a big smile as I talk to God about how undeserving I am to be this fortunate, thanking Him for this spectacular life.  There are certainly challenges and disappointments, but even in those He showers His amazing grace on us and reminds us that He is enough.  So, as we anticipate the lazy summer days, I look forward to the blessings of a slower pace, time I'll get to spend cuddled up with my kids listening to them read, sitting by the pool with my own book listening to the kids giggle as they splash, and trips to visit friends and family. Woohoo...it's almost here!