Summertime is my favorite time of the year. Nothing like a beautiful bright sun against a soft blue sky. No clouds in the sky. Well, here in Texas we haven't seen too many days like this so far. The sky has been full of voluminous white puffy clouds and sky covering dark clouds that hover above you. Waiting to drop on you. The rain has been plentiful, plentiful, plentiful...But oh so needed. My prayer has been that this rain will carry us through the next 80 years of not as much rain. The grass is lush. The flowers are blooming. And everything is green. Got to love that aspect of the extra water. How amazing our great God is!

Our son, Christopher, spent the last six weeks in Kansas City with his grandparents. What a time he had. He played with his cousins, played with his cousins, and oh, yea, played with his cousins. He certainly doesn't get to see them often enough, but loves it when he does. He came home the end of June. We were so excited to see him. I don't know who tackled him first - my husband or me. We then spent the next week on vacation. Although I'm not sure he thought it was much of a vacation as we pulled weeds, mulched, laid paver stones and trimmed shrubs. Five days of hot, back-breaking work. But oh it was worth it. I don't have the honor of earning "Yard of the Month" like one of my friends, but I appreciate our gardens nonetheless. There is something to be said for sitting amongs the roses and watching the butterflies land on the lilies.

Working hard never hurt anyone. Actually it was quite therapeutic. Great way to take your mind off the normal everyday stresses of life. It came at a perfect time considering I had just finished two graduate level classes as well as facing many new challenges at work. All worthwhile pursuits, yet stressful at times. A week of vacation is a gift from the Lord. What a time to stand back and appreciate the beauty in life and see things for what they are.

Well until next time.