Summer Upon Us

 The sun has risen and faint sounds of robins chirping are ushered through the open window along with a cool morning breeze.  The neighborhood is slowly beginning to stir on this Memorial Day, and the possibility of a doughnut run grows ever-larger in my mind.  More importantly, however, is the fact that this is the first Monday of our summer.  For the foreseeable future, there is no more school....lesson plans....anxiety....grades...homework....

Just summer.

The days are endless with possibility, and they will be what we make of them.  Trips to the zoo, baseball games, bike rides, night walks, running, playing, sleeping...adventures to Indiana, Minnesota, Alaska...it is all in front of us...and there is the thrill of it all.  Periods of time that are not yet determined for us...that is the adventure.  Where choice is what we have, the power we wield.  All too often, our time is already accounted for and spent.  It is considered wise to know where you will be in life at certain pints in time, but we often feel that time is moving too quickly in an effort to reach those certain points.  Now, though, we have time that is yet spent...time that has not been assigned a post...time that is ours to distribute.  

So I savor the cool breeze and the serenade of the robins, and I can hear Sam stirring upstairs.  The coffee is good and the calendar is empty for now...and I am doing my best to enjoy this time that is mine.

-a

The Quiet Morn

 It is a quiet Sunday morning, as the rest of the family is still in their weekend slumber.  We now find ourselves at the very edge of the school year, just a few days away from summer break.  Audrey will be promoted to high school in three days, and Violet to middle school in 5.  Three children in three schools next year for the next three years!....but those are concerns for another time.  For now, we remained focused on finishing the school year and beginning the transition into summer.

The windows are open and fresh, cool air flows freely into the main level of the house.  My coffee cools and I listen to the sounds of the robins outside and the dishwasher humming quietly in the kitchen a few feet away.  Sam is asleep on the couch, as we watched a movie and stayed-up late, and he welcomed the chance to be a big kid and sleep downstairs.  Sigh...it is all moving too quickly.

The prospect of summer is wonderful, but it still feels like an eternity of a week ahead of us.  Finishing a school year requires a different kind of energy and effort.  Looking forward to the summer, we will try to plan lots of small adventures and time with family.  For now, though, I am content to sip my coffee, enjoy some fresh bagels, and wait quietly until the rest of the family is awake and active...for the moment we are in is what we have..and the moments ahead are never promised. 

-a

Sam and his Easter Egg

Audrey and her Easter Egg

Dad and Violet enjoying ice cream in downtown Plainfield

A chilly night out by the fire

Celebrating Uncle Michael the best way we know how

A fun night at the Slammers Game!

Enjoying the Solo Stove and a nice evening!

Got to do some Ghost busting at the Cougars game!

Fresh bread and bagels this morning!  Yum!