Saying Good-bye!

Tonight we bid farewell to summer. A little saddened and hesitant to let it all go but, great things are in store just around these next few corners. Things of vibrant fall colors. Trips to the mountains. College football games and excursions. Report cards. Pumpkin carving. Our annual fall family clean-up day outside our house. Halloween costumes. Crisp fall air. Sipping hot-chocolate and anticipating a wonderful Christmas seen through wide, sparkling eyes. Ahhh, yes. Great things are in store.

But first, a recap of all the delicious things our summer graciously bestowed upon us:

A trip to the "Land of Enchantment" or more commonly known as New Mexico. Seven passengers crammed into one mini van packed with luggage for eight days! Talk about closeness!

But New Mexico, you were so totally worth it. Beautiful landscape. Wide open sky, and mountainous backdrop. Sunsets that looked as if the sky was on fire just over the hill. The beauty of our creator every direction we looked.





Fabulous reunions with family we rarely get to see. And my grandparents getting to meet their great-grandsons (at least the younger two) for the first time. Such beautiful moments.



We celebrated the birthdays of two of the most spirited little blessings God has ever placed on the earth. The oldest one got to experience his first real sleep over. A house full of giggling little boys (and even the occasional "big boy" too!) has never sounded more sweet.




We enjoyed many a late afternoon in our own Utopian back yard while the sun sank below our favorite tree and beamed lazily through it's perfect shady branches. We colored with chalk and blew countless bubbles and laughed at the many layers of dirt that were later peeled away from faces at bath time.












We enjoyed late night movies and no set bedtimes and curling up on the couch late at night together because we wanted "just a few more minutes, mom!" :) Even Jag, my cuddle bug came up with only the best excuse ever to NOT go to bed. And I quote: "But mom...I just don't want to be away from you when I sleep...I'll miss you!" I say if you could say no to that you have no heart. Ha.


We didn't worry with dressing all cute-sy and just allowed little boys to be little boys. They pretty much picked their own clothes every day of the summer. And whether they chose a green shirt with red pants and looked like a Christmas tree mattered not. I didn't even argue when they requested to wear Sponge Bob slippers to the grocery store. We paraded those things like it was nobody's business. :)


The late summer allowed a trip to our beloved Neyland for the season opener. My happy place. I mean, where else on earth can you go and sit beside 102,000 of your closest friends and sing Rocky Top in unison as your heart pounds in your chest with great pride?




This summer gave the promise of a new sister and nephew. Yes, my brother is engaged and I'll add one more fabulous sister to the one fabulous one I've already got. And check it! Chick looks good in orange, too!! ;)




This summer showered down on us the most perfect little rain storms where we traded in our tennis shoes for rain boots and pulled out the umbrellas and danced in the rain until we were forced to come in. And those perfect little showers left behind perfect little rainbows. Has God smiled on us? I think so!






One last thing I'll mention about the summer is this man's dedication to making a better life for his family. He works so hard and this summer decided to go back to school. He studied so hard and EARNED his first college "A". I'm so proud of him!


So, what's next? We say good-bye to a fabulous summer. We carry it's warm memories through the cold months ahead. We soak up every ounce of what the next season has to offer. Because, although different, what's ahead is sure to be amazing, too!