Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Late Summer Thoughts

This was a challenging summer.  The drought and heat took it's toll on all of us.  We were reminded that we are pretty much helpless without rain.  There is nothing we can do except pray and wait.  Thankfully, we got over an inch of rain this past weekend.  We are still many inches in deficit, unfortunately.  But, cooler weather and rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. 

Challenging is not always bad.  As my pastor says,"Life is hard, and hard is not bad. It's just hard."  I think part of the challenge was wanting to be carefree like the summers of my childhood.  That just isn't possible anymore.  I need to be OK with that.  Life is hard.  Hard is not bad.  It's hard. 

It wasn't a bad summer, really.  We got to do many things we enjoy.  We just didn't do as much as we planned.  All is not lost.  We have plenty of warm weather ahead of us.  Plenty of time to swim, camp, hike, grill outside, and general outside time.  Another great thing is that the bugs didn't bother us as much as usual, either, this summer. 

I suppose we are all a little wiser for this summer.  I certainly appreciate rain more than I ever imagined.  I recall being disappointed in rainy camping trips last summer. 

We learned how to keep plants alive, how to cool the house on a budget, how to rejoice over volunteer flowers when the seeds you carefully planted did not germinate.  We enjoyed a handful of green beans and a dozen cherry tomatoes!  We decided that farm markets were great, but not always in the budget. 

I think the best thing about this summer will turn out to be its end!  I am really looking forward to fall.  Perhaps healing rains will come.  Certainly the cooler air cannot stay away forever.  We hope to do a little fall camping, too.

7 comments:

  1. I am actually looking forward to the end of summer too. I usually dread it but I'm tired of being hot and would like a break from the garden work! Your sunnies are pretty!

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    1. Briana, I feel bad complaining about our heat when you get blasted every day in your area for so much longer! And I am sure it is harder in your condition. :-) I have found myself not as enthusiastic about the garden either. Especially since it is not really producing as I hoped. Next year, I am just doing sunflowers! They seem to do OK in drought and heat.

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  2. I think for many who have always counted on things to be just the same as always... learned alot this summer or I should say year.. We live in different times than we did as kids and in a way its a bit of a mourning period as we see our children are having to adjust to things that are even foreign to us... But I must say.. AMEN to that PREACHER... The LoRd never promised heaven on earth... and that days are tough but we rejoice in the LoRd always..

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    1. Yes, Jeannie, that's it. It is a different time. I am sure our kids don't feel it as much as we do, since we know the difference. All this makes us long for Heaven all the more! That is a good thing!

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  3. One thing I learned this summer: let go of the nostalgia for care free summer days. It is OK because our lives today are so much better: we have our best camping in the fall (including our anniversary celebration), the anticipation of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, and more. Life really is better now with all we have!

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    1. I know you've struggled with that more than me in the past. Yes, we are blessed, indeed.

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  4. Sounds like a nice summer, even without the rain. I like your focus on it all.

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