Squeakin' Out the Last Bits of Summer

There's no denying it. No matter how I look at it, how much I try to pretend it isn't true, summer is hurtling toward an abrupt end. The meetings and committees are reconvening, the "firsts" are kicking-off, and the pace is accelerating. While there is a whole lot to be excited about regarding the fall, we're still trying to squeeze out the last remnants of these lazy, carefree days of summer. Here are a few of the ordinary...and extraordinary...moments we lived over the past week:

Tuesday

I found Son #3 reading on the porch swing on a lazy afternoon. Notice the glass of lemonade at right. He'd prepared it and poured it himself. Looks like he'd seen this done before, doesn't it?

Wednesday
My husband and our oldest son joined some friends on a charter fishing trip. Our son had the biggest catch of the day...a 14 pound King Salmon which now resides in my freezer.

That evening I was asked to share Five In a Row, Reading Made Easy, and general encouragement for new homeschoolers at a Homeschool Moms' Night of Encouragement. I had a lovely time interacting with the moms there, though I received somewhat of a rude awakening as I observed that I am now one of the "older" moms. Now when did that happen??? Yikes! The best part of that was that I got to snuggle with and inhale the sweetness of a newborn baby girl. I think I like hangin' out with those young folks...

Thursday
In celebration of the Olympics, we enjoyed our own Greek Fest on Thursday evening. In addition to some other Greek specialties, I made Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) and Baklava (pictured above). For many years I had desired to try my hand at baklava, so I was pretty excited. I have to tell you, we weren't disappointed. It was incredibly easy and delicious!

Friday


Our family baseball season is officially over...I mean it this time! We ended with a party for my husband and middle son's team on Friday night. It was great to connect with the other families on a more personal level; to talk with them and hear their stories. One of the moms made this amazing cake (complete with a toddler's finger run through the frosting). The highlight was the Dads vs. Sons baseball game. There was a whole lotta laughter...and pulled muscles!

Saturday

Our nature-loving middle son was somewhat enamored with a couple of mammoth caterpillars in our friends' yard. We were unfamiliar with this kind of caterpillar, but our friends had researched it and learned it was some sort of large, colorful moth. Very cool!

My men got to see Clone Wars and eat buckets of popcorn while I went shopping. It was a win-win situation for everyone! We also got to spend time with sweet friends and encourage one another in the Lord.

Looking back, it was an incredibly full week...not necessarily in the form of busyness...though we were busy. I guess I'm referring to the fact that it was full of relationships...of people. And as we savor these final days of summer, I find myself savoring and treasuring the God-given friends and relationships that made so many of the ordinary moments extraordinary.