Summer, Our Season of Change

Summer is here and even though I am always glad that all the stuff that goes on all year long wraps up for a short season so we can take a breath and relax... it never really ever happens. The only thing that is ever different is the activities and the times of them. This summer is going to be really crazy... and emotional. I am entering a new season in life, but remaining in the same one as well. As I am expecting a new little one again, I am also diving into letting go of my eldest one.

I knew that letting go was going to be hard. I wanted to ease into that process but I should have started about a year ago. Now Angelina is preparing to go on a missions trip to Mexico (just for a little over a week and with my mom) at the end of July, 2 days after she turns 16yrs old. The farthest and longest she has ever been gone from the family is for church camps for about 5 days, and still in Oregon, within a 4 hour drive. In a way I feel a little silly. But I am letting go of something that I have invested over 16years of my life into. I am glad that I am releasing her to JESUS and HIS work, but I know (a bit) better how my mom felt. I was not headed in a good direction, BUT thankfully GOD intervened.

With all the rest of us, we have all kinds of fun and changes in store for the summer. We will be rearranging rooms our house, mostly because I am ready for the little boys to be out of my room! But also so that we are not trying to move out bedroom downstairs a month before baby comes like we did last time.  We are also dumping SO much of our stuff. I am determined to get us all out of being pack-rats and be clutter-free (at least junk-free)! I am SO ready to have a simpler life and I am sure that when we are there they will enjoy it too.

We have a couple of camping trips, short and long. And lots of play dates with some of our wonderful new friends and some great old ones. The LORD has really opened up a season to really connect with some people in ways that we have not been able to before. It is a real sweet time and blessing for us all.

All that being said the overall pace of summer will be slower, but will also be full of adventure, challenges and a whole bunch of memory making.... I hope someone remembers to grab my camera this summer. I know that I will forget.