Summertime, Socially Distanced of Course

Our summer is quickly coming to an end with schools starting soon.  Our oldest goes back to college in two weeks!  The youngest goes in three weeks and our middle goes in 4.  Three kids at 3 different schools is fun, really.  I am thankful they are all in-state.  We are 1 hour and 15 minutes from two of the schools and 1 hour 30 minutes from the other.  They are just far enough away that coming home is possible but not likely to happen too often.  For the first month, they will stay put and we will come to them if they need anything.  The semester will go quickly as they will all be home for 8 weeks the end of  November.  Already looking forward to it! 

Monday our state becomes a masked state.  I know it is a controversy, especially if you have clinical reasons not to wear a mask.  I just wear mine and go about my life.  Hopefully, this trial will ease some soon. 

We did manage to get up to Lake Michigan for a day trip on Jeff's staycation week.  We were able to avoid the crowded beach.  We had a yummy lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.  We walked up a dune trail.  We sat on the beach and read books while Grace produced a lovely watercolor.  I never want to take for granted again these times with my kids at the beach.  I was tempted to despair a little.  I wanted a week at the beach, not 3 hours!  But I realized that 3 hours was more than some get so I needed to be thankful for them.  

We have been riding our bikes, playing disc golf, walking to the little park when the weather is not unbearable. We were going to go camping but the weather turned super hot and humid so we have put that on hold for September and October.  I am looking forward to camping this fall, something Jeff and I can do together without children.  

Speaking of the empty nest, since the kids have been home since March, I am ready to send them off!  It is time for them to be working towards something productive. Yes, I will miss the daily interactions.  I will probably not hear from the oldest very often.  I will eagerly await any and all text messages.  Thankfully, I have been down this road a couple times now and I am prepared for the emotional toll.  I am actually looking forward to a few of the perks of the empty nest, especially, less food to buy and fewer dishes to wash.  It has been 22 years since Jeff and I lived alone.  

Summertime freedom is almost over but there is still a lot of summer left to enjoy! 

September Favorites

September has always been one of my favorite months.  The weather is still summery.  The family celebrations flow, and the natural beauty of late summer is a sight to behold.

In Indiana, September is still warm, maybe too warm at times, but it is usually less humid, so I can deal with it.  For instance, it is going to be in the 80's today, but right now as I write, I have the windows open and there is a lovely breeze flowing through the house.  I am thankful for a lower electric bill, too!

September is the month of celebrations.  It is so special that my parents and Jeff's parents celebrate their birthdays this month.  Besides birthdays, my family has our family reunion in September. I have such a fun time with my cousins.  As I get older, this gathering becomes even more important.  I appreciate my family all the more, too.

 Finally, late summer is just a beautiful time of the year here.  This year, we have had plenty of rain so plants are still blooming and the grass is bright green.  There is the bountiful harvest, too.  Gardens are bursting.  Well, not mine, I kind of lost interest during the heat and humidity of August.  But, the farm markets will be awesome this month, another thing to be thankful for.

What is September like in your corner of the world?

Our State Fair in Pictures

Oh, my.  Time certainly flies when school is back in session.  We went to the state fair just before we started back to our lessons.  We had a wonderful time.  I really love our fair.  It is too bad that schools start back so early now.  Most people have to go on the weekends.  I do not know how the 4H kids do the fair at all.  We were very fortunate to be able to go early on the first Saturday.  The weather was warm, but not terrible, which was another mercy.  We also basically ate our way around the fair.  I am glad we also walked over 4 miles.  :)

A Walk Through My Favorite Little City Park

In our old town, where we still go to church and now my husband works, there is my favorite little city park near our church.  The past two weeks before youth group, we have stopped to take a walk.  I miss being just down the road, but these little visits are just the thing until we move back north next year, LORD willing.