Beach Umbrella Stored

Hey everyone! Hope all have had a pecan filled summer! I know I certainly have! Though it makes me sad to store my beach umbrella until next summer, I know that my relaxification mode is shifting back to work mode. As a teacher, it's hard to make the shift. Oh how I feel complete in the summer. I wrote in a journal a few years back that "Summer feels like I'm smiling on the inside." Every year as the end of the school year creeps closer, my soul begins to awaken. Just the same, as the beginning of the school year creeps closer, my soul gets sleepy- readying itself the the winter hibernation. I know this sounds crazy, but it's true for me. Probably for many teachers too. Pray for us. We need it.

As for my summer, it was one of the best of my life. I reconnected with old friends and visited and talked for hours with them. College roommate, BFF work buddy, best work friends ever- all in one summer. Great things happened for me this summer! Not only did I get the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, I helped both of my sons move out into the real world. The oldest moved out one week and the other one the next. July was an incredible month! Truly filled with pecans. So many that I know I missed some.

I think the thing that blessed me most this summer was knowing that God helped me shape my sons into young men that were prepared to be apart of this world. I couldn't have raised them alone without him. Being a single mom is not for the faint at heart. Knowing that God was always there to support me, was more than I could have ever hoped for. On the days that I didn't think I could, He did. He pushed me through doors that he opened for me even when I was digging my feet in deep to prevent walking through it.

Watching my sons prepare budgets and looking at their money to see how they were going to survive, secure housing without my help, gather furniture and belongings to move made me feel a new joy that I didn't know existed. I think it has to do with the fact that this moment is what it's all about as parents. We raise our children to become thriving adults. When they are ready, we send them out knowing that we did our best. Seeing our best in them is amazing. For all of you parents out there that have small kiddos at home, your day is coming! Lean on the Lord! Do your best and you will also see and feel this joy! I am thrilled at the possibilities for their lives.

Now for the reconnecting with old friends, that was another huge pecan. Especially after the last year and half. I cried when I got to hug them. I miss hugs. I read somewhere that humans need hugs daily. I don't get that in my life, so when I do get to hug someone it is like a home run for my heart. Being able to see them and talk to them face to face was a pecan of epic proportions! How I loved every moment of it!

My college roommate lives out of state and I was able to go see her for a week. We reconnected last spring after her brother had major surgery. She stayed with me every week Monday through Thursday for several months. I loved every minute of it. We had not seen each other in about fifteen years. The best thing was that it was like fifteen years had not passed. We fell right back into step with each other's lives. Truly another pecan. When I got ready to leave her house, she said "Maybe you could move here." I replied that wasn't possible for me, but I sure know where to go on vacation now. That's a whole other pecan for me. I now have friends and family that live in two different states from me. That gives me a place to escape to when I feel the walls closing in on me. I look forward to many new memories being made with these special people. Summer was just the beginning!

See why I didn't blog this summer? I was just too blessed and busy to bother! God scattered those pecans everywhere for me to see! Hope he keeps it up! May your day be filled with pecans!