Saying Goodbye to Summer...

I am now at the end of the Labor Day weekend!

Please don't mistake that comment as any kind of excitement. I do love a holiday... not so much for being off work because let's face it, in this house there is always work to be done! But I love a holiday because you can stay in your pjs and do your "work".

This has me thinking of the things I enjoyed most about the summer, which is an extended holiday for me. So, I thought I would share a few with you!

I always enjoy time at home in Texas with our family in the summer!! This summer our trip home  turned into trips to the doctor and pharmacy among other things. Brendan had pneumonia and who knew that could happen in the summer?! However, he was such a trooper and tried to make the best of it. Seeing my family is always the highlight of my summer and I was thankful for the time with them this year! It is never long enough, but the memories we make always last.

This picture is of our youth group! They took a mission trip to Cleveland, Ohio this summer and Koby Bailey enjoyed himself!! (that's him sporting the UAB shirt, our other favorite college) It was a long 10 days without his smiling face and clever humor around our house, but I know the eternal reward will be worth it. My prayer for Koby is that God uses that big personality in a mighty way and the mission trip is one way Koby can do that. He loves meeting new people and seeing the sights in a new place.

While Kamdyn and I were at cheerleader camp this summer, Brian took the boys on a much needed "MANcation". I was all for this because I love nothing more than our family making memories. I believe the boys will remember this time with Brian forever and I am so thankful for the kind of dad he is to them. They are growing up so fast and any time we can spend with them is a treasure. The picture of them above was after they came out of their "cave dive", or something like that. Let's just say this trip was best taken without me!! Dark, dirt and tight spaces are not something I would have enjoyed.

And what would summer be without Vacation Bible School? This is one of the things I look forward to the most each summer. I am thankful our kids are so good to help out at VBS. In this picture Brendan has one of our friends with him before worship rally starts. This year at VBS, we cooked breakfast for over 45 kids each morning so they could be at VBS with the Housing Authority. Kamdyn was such a help each morning, going in early to help me cook. The boys did their fair share too by helping serve and clean up each day. VBS is such an awesome ministry opportunity, and every year I am thankful for the chance to meet new kids, share the love of Christ and watch them learn about His Word.

So, these are just a few of the things I found myself thinking about as I officially realized it was time to say good bye to summer. I could have written lots more- about our new love of Fried Green Tomatoes fresh from our garden or about the many jars of pickles I helped Brian make this summer (of which only a few are left). Cheer camp deserves its very own post as does the list of all the things I intended to get done but never got around to. This season of the year holds a special place in my heart!

 I eagerly anticipate what fall will bring, especially the low humidity and cute closed-toe shoes! I am looking forward to what God has in store for our family in this next season. Soccer games, football season in the SEC and a fire in the backyard firepit will be the way our family spends fall. I hope your family will also find a way to make memories, making the most of each moment God grants you.