Where Did Summer Go?

Posted on August 30, 2009 
Filed Under Parenting, Personal, Physical Health, Spiritual Life

As the month of August wraps up, a season ends and another begins. The summer was a blur of activity, as was the month. Pardon me while I process what took place during the last 90 days. I’ll surely forget some major milestones, but here are some of the summer’s memories:

May:  School wrapped up for the kids, with another successful year for all. Second son Seth and I were in Australia for 10 days. Oldest son Dakota went directly from Hillsdale College to DC, where he interned for the summer. Oldest daughter Allie turned 15 (15? 15!). We cut a tree in our backyard down. I had some problems with vertigo.

June: I took the kids camping near Durango, and we dropped Allie off at Kanankuk Colorado (now Camp Kivu). Dakota turned 21 (wow, that was a fast 21 years!), celebrating in DC with friends and a favorite professor. Zane turned 6, and he promptly started thinking about next year, when he turns 7! Dena took a few days away planning for the coming school year. Seth got his braces off.

July: Camped near Lake City, CO and celebrated Dena’s birthday with some Texas friends. Spent a wonderful week at Redcloud Ranch, where I spoke about intentional parenting at Family Camp and we enjoyed lots of food, fellowship and outdoor fun. From there Dena drove straight to Texas with the four youngest kids for a week to visit her parents and help out with a variety of their needs. Meanwhile, I learned how to tile the bathroom floor.

Family Camping In The Rockies!

Family Camping In The Rockies!

August: Seth turned 18 (18? 18!). Dena went away for a few days, for more home school planning. Two of our aging vehicles had some issues which took them out of commission for a week each, fortunately neither was expensive to repair. Neighbor Harry passed away, which saddened us greatly. We started with a new pediatrician for Zane – with all the attendant paperwork – and she ordered a bunch of labs for him (nine vials of blood!). Dakota wrapped up in D.C. and came home for two weeks – and what a couple of weeks it was! He saw the orthodontist, the dentist, and had a check up with his primary physician. We had a “guys night out” to mark Seth’s birthday, playing laser tag and eating pizza. We camped at Weston Pass. Zane started at a new school – with some major bumps in his transition to kindergarten. Seth started his senior year at a local high school, but is dual-enrolled and taking all his classes at Pikes Peak Community College. Dakota and I went to a Rockies game (beat the Dodgers in extra innings!).

Hmmm. Looking back it sure seems that things intensified as the summer progressed. That’s how it feels, and as we head into autumn I suspect there will be plenty of activity and drama to come. Of course, we still have five kids at home, so that is to be expected! All of this keeps us holding tightly to God’s grace each day, and to hold loosely each day’s plans and events.

Facing what is sure to be a busy fall, I will choose to not be overwhelmed. ‘Tho there are things that will stretch and pull, we’ll grow and God will give grace each day. I will rest in the knowledge that each minute is our God’s, not ours, and He will work His plan for His Kingdom and His glory. May I have faith in His sovereignty, may I rest in His goodness, may I experience His presence…every step of the coming season of life.

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