Summer at Last!

We had to wait a very, very long time for the weather and the school calendar to bring summer to us.  We had an unusually wet June this year which resulted in some minor flooding in our basement on more than one occasion and some cooler than average temperatures.  All in all, I am glad that the weather wasn't too warm since the kids had to be in school with no air conditioning.  Next year, they will be out of school much earlier, thank goodness!

 

Thomas and Haley during one of the torrential downpours that came through town.

 I am growing more and more settled in our life here all the time.  I am developing some strong connections with the people who live here and now can't imagine ever not knowing them.  I feel at peace with the knowledge that the people I left behind are doing the things that they need to do and my family and I are where we need to be, too.  A sweet person helped me to put things in perspective when she told me that, for right now, my family was more needed here than back in Utah.  It finally clicked in my mind that I don't need to wish things were different because they are exactly what they should be.  I look forward to spending time with my family when it is right, but have felt more of an ability to joy in the blessings living here affords me and the rest of my family this last little while.

The last few months have been busy and productive.  We finally bought a "real" lawnmower, much to Thomas' delight.  Our push mower literally wasn't "cutting it".  Here is a picture of him happily mowing away!

Aren't those rhododendrons beautiful?!  It was so fun to see them flower this year.  We missed seeing them entirely the year before.  I took some photos of the kids in front of the flowers while they were still in bloom:

The end of the year notable events were Thomas graduating from the sixth grade and Sarah Jane becoming a kindergarten graduate.  Time is flying by.  My heart is always, always a little tender at the close of a school year.  

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Our last day of school was on Monday, June 24th.  We have only had two weeks of summer, but they have been full of adventure!  We went swimming several times the last few weeks thanks to our season pass to the pool in town.  I love seeing friends there every time we go.  I have been actually getting in the pool and swimming with the kids rather than sitting on the edge.  I did that more last year, but now that Alice is a little older, I have enjoyed getting wet and getting some exercise.  In life and swimming it's still best to just "jump in"! 

We have also taken the time to go on a hike.  We went to Enders Forest in Granby, CT to see some beautiful waterfalls last Saturday:

This last week, Jonathan headed off to youth conference for three days. It was held at Camp Joseph in Sharon, Vermont.  For those of you who don't remember your church history, that's the Smith Farm where Joseph Smith, Jr. was born.  He had a lot of fun with the other youth in our stake.

While Jonathan was enjoying Vermont, the rest of us went swimming some more, spent time with friends and got ready for the 4th of July.  On Wednesday night, we met some friends and got to see the fireworks in town.  Then on the 4th of July we went to a pool party for most of the day and then had a few friends over for dessert and sparklers.  I loved celebrating with them!

Finally, we went to the beach yesterday!  I am a bit tired today, but it was worth it.  It's still so amazing to me that I can go to the beach and come back in a single day.  I can't wait to go again soon!

Last of all in this post, I would like to add some pictures of some of the decorating I have been doing around the house.  It's still very much a work in progress, but I am really pleased with how things are starting to come together.  It has taken some faith and effort and help from friends, but I am thrilled with how things are looking:

This has been such a great summer so far!  I am looking forward to the future and continue to take things one day at a time.  I feel so, so blessed and am truly enjoying my days here.  I hope all of you are enjoying life wherever you may be, too!