last week

of summer!

Like all last weeks it is filled with much preparation for the year to come.  So fun!  Nothing like fresh new school supplies, spiffed backpacks, crisp fall clothes to sweat profusely in don for the first day of school!

Personally, for me, I always look forward to getting our home really back in order after a summer of fun together.  I am longing and yearning (and yes, I know this is weird) to scour my cupboards, wash the floors the old fashioned way, and organize all the nooks and crannies of closets.  Away go the swim towels, out come the fall coats.

What is it with living up north and all the variations of fleece, down and gortex that we need.  Honestly!

I need a good system for mittens and hats.  And our boots need a better place to rest than the floor of the shoe closet in the mud room.  So I'm going to get organized that way this fall, too.  We have six shelves in there...and soon there will be seven of us.  Hmmm.  Time to get creative!  Jim, you just lost your shelf.  How's that?  Just kidding, honey.

We have one last weekend up at the cabin with my parents.  It will be special and bittersweet this year.  The cabin is for sale.  Anna is fervently praying it sells in ten or twenty years.  :)  So we are so grateful for this time to say goodbye together and play and a beloved place.  As we leave, I think we all need to say, "Next spring in Arizona", instead of goodbye!  We have many new places to make memories together.  The lake has been a blessed place, and now there are new locations for us to discover and enjoy together.  It's us, the people, more than a specific place.  That's what matters.  Mom and Dad, we love you!  Thank you so for the gift of Lake Tahkodah ALL these years!

We are in the process of weaning Luke off of one of his seizure meds and ramping up on the other one.  He is doing great.  The side effects as we switch are not horrible, but are a bit challenging.  Opportunities to speak truth and love on Him with grace and gentleness.  His stamina amazes me, and he is plowing such good ground.  We stand firm on the promise that God is with us and for Luke; in all of it!

At work, I am in my last two weeks.  I am done on the 15th.  Wow.  Can't quite believe it.  We are recruiting for fall teaching, and busy getting the rooms spiffed and in order, prepping curriculum and doing all the things that a new programming year brings.  What an incredible team I have worked with.  I am so grateful the Lord will keep us close and while I will not be there in a paid position, I will still work with them as part of our covenant community.  I'm already dreaming about Jesuralem Marketplace next volunteer opportunities.  :)  Embedded code.

It is now 8:11am.  Time to get the kids up.  In a week, Cooper and Jeb will have already been in school for half an hour.  Ouch!  The early mornings are always a rude awakening (pun intended) to the school year.

I wrote a friend this morning and said, "It will be a big school year this year".  Never were words more aptly written.  It will be a big school year this year.  The year of Emma Kate!  And other things, whatever they may be.  Thankfully, God knows!