Here we are, mid-July. Summer half over. Time goes by way too fast. Yet at the same time I wouldn't change where we are. The summer has been filled with carefree days, swimming, playing, friends, family and the outdoors. There is just something miraculous about kids and nature as summer thrives. Bare feet, dirt, sand, water ... joy.

Yet summer has also been filled with new experiences too.

Bub spent a few days going through a hunter safety/gun safety course. He has his first hunting trip planned with his grandpa. And this is the first step. I am neither a hunter nor a gun person. But as a boy he is enthralled and excited about the idea of it all. Day one was challenging for him. The information, the intensity, the military like-ness of the instructor. He came home in tears ... But after time and reflection, he decided it was important to finish what he started and the reason he was doing it in the first place. I am proud of him. As I write he is finishing up the course with the practical hands-on.
Ten rounds to shoot, pass or fail. My heart aches with nerves! I can only imagine his. Oh Lord, he is yours. I pray for a peace to overcome him.

Bub passed!

Some summer photos so far ... friends, family, sleepovers, play ...

A quiet afternoon at home, catching up on a few chores. Kiddos playing. Then an evening of swimming, bbqing and playing in the field. Love that time. Friends stopped by for a late evening bike ride and black berry picking. Kids played in the neighborhood. My own little world ...

A woman drove down our street asking my neighbor/friend if we had seen her son. She showed us a picture. He is 13. Good kid, wrong crowd, bad choices, led him to run away. She cried. Heartbroken.  While she searched for her son ours were laughing. We are all just a bad decision away ... we cannot do it alone. That is why Jesus said come to Him, cast your burdens upon Him, in everything give prayer and supplication. He is the the way, the truth, the light. I can get so caught up in my little world that at the same time others are desperate and broken. Sometimes I am too blind to see ... unless it comes right to me.

Back in our own little house, cleaned up, snuggled in for the night, Bub told me he knew the boy from school. Not well, but he knew him. Said he was a nice boy. We prayed ... I suppose all of our lives intersect in ways and times that we may not understand. We impact one another with a simple word. We may not even realize at the time ...

In all we do, do it for the Lord. We have right now, the present. Be present ... in every moment. Live life to the fullest.

A summer storm rolled in.  It's refreshing ...