A summer at home

This was by far one of the most uneventful summers I've had in a long while.

But after traveling the country and the world in 2017, I welcomed a quiet summer at home.

Mike got to go to Indiana for five days to celebrate his younger brother's 40th birthday and to help his parents get much further along on a big construction project at their home.

Juan has enjoyed spending a summer away from home with many other college students from Texas and other states while working hard at Pine Cove in Columbus, Texas. His weeks have been hard, but his weekends have been a lot of fun for him.

David got to go to camp in Winter Park, Colorado, he served on a mission trip to the Rio Grande Valley down by Mexico (in one of the hottest weeks of the year), he bought an old pick-up to work on with Mike as a fun project so he will have it to drive to school this year, and he's been working at Chick Fil-a several evenings each week.

 Winter Park, CO trip--JOURNEY HS CAMP

Church camp--Where deep spiritual transformation takes place and great friendships are born

Off to the Rio Grande Valley

Mission trips--Where students learn about putting others' needs before their own, while also building life-long friendships with those serving alongside them

 Out to the driveway

 Fun times working with Dad, learning new things, taking pride and ownership in his first vehicle

The only trip I took was an overnight stay near Pine Cove to visit with Juan, the only time our entire family was together. The rest of the summer, I just stayed home. And I loved it.

I cleaned parts of my home that I haven't touched in a long time. I organized closets, drawers, pantries, and purged a ton of stuff I just didn't need, either to the trash or to Goodwill. We repainted David's room from the deep purple he chose as a 12 year old to the patriotic colors he now loves as a 16 year old. I repainted my bathroom with the extra white paint from David's room and the gray paint from his trim. (I had aspirations of painting more of the house, but everyone else's schedules were a little too scattered for us to all work together on that, so those aspirations will wait for another opportunity.)

I re-organized my school files to get them ready to tackle second grade again--a year that I am truly looking forward to and am ready to jump back into very soon. I am eager to see the surprised look on the kids' faces when they see that I get to be their teacher for the second time now two years later, in a grade I feel much more confident in and prepared to teach than I ever did Pre-K. I see a very fun, rewarding year ahead.

I spent time with my parents, now that they're in town. Not as much as expected, but definitely more than if they were still living ten hours away. We dressed up like cows together so we could get free sandwiches at Chick Fil-a. I got to celebrate my dad's birthday with him, make a neat craft with my mom, and find some thrifty places to shop together.

Mike and I went on lots of dinner dates, and David and I watched a lot of movies at home and played tons of games together. Plus we watched the Fireworks twice!

I watched the World Cup very faithfully, right alongside of Laura, as we texted each other between two continents throughout the games, sharing tears together when Colombia lost their final match. I didn't get to visit her this year, but I felt like we still got to spend time together--something I will never take for granted.

I caught up on some long, overdue coffee dates with one of my dearest friends walking through a very similar stage of life with me right now. And we now have a new favorite coffee shop, thanks to Juan for introducing me to it right before he left for the summer.

I enjoyed Spain this year by watching pictures on Facebook from two of my friends who visited there this summer. I enjoyed Guatemala by following the Facebook and Instagram posts of the team that went, by supporting one of the students, and by praying for all of them. Watching their pictures and posts made me cherish my own memories in both places all the more. Thankful for the opportunities gifted to me a year ago.

And on Wednesday nights, I had the opportunity to lead five weeks of a women's Bible study at church called Fear and Anxiety. That alone brought me absolute joy, especially the first night. When you pray for months for God to bring just the right women to a study, and then they come pouring into the room on the first night from literally all over the metroplex--many of whom had absolutely no connection to our church, it's incredibly humbling. Women ranging from 12 years old to 80 years old. College girls craving the Word of God who googled nearby churches and just came, not even knowing we had a Bible study going on. A friend from my son's soccer team four years ago who just happened to want to get involved in a Bible study and saw a post on Facebook. A woman (a stranger) who heard me give my testimony at the Unveiled Event in May after seeing it advertised on Facebook, who left that night saying God brought her to speak directly to her through my message, and then she came back for a summer of Bible study. In May, a stranger, now, a dear friend. Another friend who unexpectedly moved back from Mexico for at least the summer and immediately joined the study. Several moms and daughters of all ages who wanted to do the study together, including my own mom. Many even invited friends and family members to come after the first night.

As of my last e-mail yesterday, we had 50 women on the roster, plus a name that was missing, along with a friend doing the study on her own because her schedule didn't allow her to come. Just like any summer Bible study, it's hard to compete with vacations, mission trips, holidays, and other summer activities and meetings. We never had all 50 women at once. Some signed up, couldn't make the first meeting, and never ended up coming. But they still got the e-mails and many even got the book. God will lead them through it on His own time. Others started out strong but fell behind, so they didn't make more than one or two sessions. I told them--go at your own pace. Let God guide you. A few others have dealt with sickness or family illness, while others had to work. We've ranged from 15-39 women on a given night, but I am praying for all 50 of them, and I know God will do something in each one of them through the study in His time.

Now for one last week to hang out with David, catch another cup of coffee/long conversation with a friend, finish up the last of our summer doctor/dental appointments, bring our Bible study to a close, perhaps visit with my parents, and continue to rest up before I head back to school in a little over a week.

All in all, for a summer spent at home, I found it quite rewarding and restful.