A Look Back On Our Summer (Yes I realize it's November tomorrow!)

A 36 degree, cool, brisk, October day seems like a perfectly reasonably time to talk about our past summer, right? Perhaps it will warm me up! :)

I live for summer every year. Maybe it's because summer around here is so short, or maybe it's because I truly love sunshine and warmth. Whatever the reason, I look forward to it each year.

This year however, was one of the strangest summers I can ever remember. After the longest and coldest winter I can ever remember, we were looking forward to summer more than normal. Sadly though, summer took the longest time ever to come and it didn't seem to last long enough.

Xiomara, Zoelle, & India (cousin)

We did however try and enjoy it to the full. In June, we had our annual parade that I love and look forward to each year. However most of June was rather cold, so that was a bit of a bummer.



In July, the heat finally came and we enjoyed the 4th, we celebrated Xiomara's third birthday, we went camping (and met new friends), we attended our county fair, and we swam as much as we could!

August brought about Chris' 30th birthday. Since I can never surprise him as he will find out, we decided to have a joint birthday party together (I'm not turning the big 3-0 until December, but shh, we aren't talking about that yet). The guys did their thing (which meant shooting at clay targets), the girls did our thing (which meant floating down the river on our tubes) and then we all met up for dinner at a local restaurant. Followed with ice cream at a local candy shop and lastly a big bonfire in our backyard. It was one of the best times I can remember with some of our greatest friends and family joining us for the whole day! Chris & I also celebrated our 10 year anniversary with a Bed & Breakfast getaway for a few days. I wrote more about 10 years of marriage, here.

This summer however also brought some challenges to our life. I'm not sure I'll ever fully blog about it, but there were some new stresses that were completely unexpected that came to us this year. Ones that took me by surprise and challenged my faith and trust in God more than I can remember in a long time. To be honest, some of these stresses are still here. I can't say I really like that, but then again, it's making me look at God differently and I literally have to wake up each morning knowing that He has everything in His hands and that I can't control it, no matter how much I want to. There is comfort in knowing that I'm not in charge, but also a bit of fear because somehow I feel like if I can control it, all will go well.

So combined with the weather of summer and these stresses, I can say I didn't enjoy it like I should have. Looking back, I'm really regretting that as I do love summer and it only lasts so long.

I suppose since I'm finishing writing this on the last day of October, I can catch you up on our Fall thus far. The highlight of my September was going to a Taylor Swift concert. I've loved Taylor for years and honestly feel like we could be best friends (you know if she wasn't famous). ;) She did not disappoint and bless my husband for putting up with 13 year old me once again!

October has been full of state park visits, pumpkin patch visits, and getting ready for winter. While I feel like fall hit way too soon, we did have a beautiful one.

Now, as I gear up for winter a sadness does come over me. I think part of the reason I don't like cold and winter is that for my life, it's always come with loss. I've lost some of the closest people in my life always in the fall or winter of my life. Both physically through death, and also emotionally through life changes. It brings a sadness over me each year as I think about it. I've also mentioned before that no sun, lots of snow, and cold, do not mix with me. I still don't know why I live where I live and if it wasn't for my husband, I would not be here. So as we all go into the winter season, would you mind saying a prayer for me or thinking good thoughts? I'd really appreciate it!

I hope you all enjoyed your summer and are currently enjoying fall! Catch me up on your lives in the comments below!