Long Gone Summer

Summer used to be my favorite season.... I LOVE the hot weather, the sunshine, all of the water actives associated with it, but I have decided I now will enjoy the Fall more. I don't think I can ever think of the summer again without remembering that it was summer when I spent my last few days with Mee Maw. I lost her on 8/3 and I still feel like she is here..... angels among us I guess.
This summer WAS full of wonderful times.... Luke turning 2, a dear friend getting married in a the beautiful wine country, July 4th on the lake, Chris turning 40 and skydiving and a week long vacation at the beach, Chris changing jobs and hitting the road again, and more challenges as parents.
But Fall will bring about the smell and look of pumpkins and cooler air which will offer more ideal patio time. :-) I will also be adding more JOY to my life upping my fitness routine and overall activity. I will guiltily admit that our weeks have been filled with "just making it through" moments and I am tired of it. We have so much to be thankful for in this life and I have been neglectful of a few of those things:

• 2 happy/healthy dogs who feel "put aside" with the arrival of Luke and don't get as much attention as they deserve
• a thriving marriage that gets better everyday but sometimes we are too busy to notice
• a relationship with God that needs more nurturing instead of being "checked off a list"
• a close by mom who is ever present in our lives and we need to show appreciation more
• my body that carries me around every day (my worries, my weight, my muscle and my heavy heart sometimes)
• opportunities to smile and brighten someone else's day even when I don't feel like it

Maybe I am being too hard of myself, but knowing who I am, I have to be in order to make changes. My world is different now without Mee Maw in it and even though I didn't see or talk to her everyday, it FEELS different and have to make the most of it as I know she would want us to.