I haven't enjoyed a summer off like this one since I was, well, I guess 15, and let me tell you; it flies by now just like it did back then. However, unlike "back then," I'm not forced to end my summer the first week of August by returning to school ;) I plan to enjoy many more morning walks, afternoons by the pool, and several more of Panera's strawberry poppyseed and chicken salads! (a summertime speciality, so hurry and get one if you haven't already...or if you have :) ) Anyway, all that to say, don't let the onset of the school year convince you that summer is over. It's not.
If this blog were a journal it would be sadly under-updated, I'm afraid. I've done lots that the world (a.k.a., the four people who actually read this) has probably been just dying to know, but as I've let myself get this far behind, I'll just sum up with bullet points. Some of these endeavors will get their own post--believe it or not--but in the meantime...
This summer I have:
- Learned how to bake bread, and discovered I really enjoy it!
- Trained for an 8K with Todd (who, disgustedly, does not have to exercise...he just does it to humor me)
- Run around with my sister who was home from college. She told me I could be her "BFF" for the summer (a presumable honor, I understand), as she claimed she had no other friends without a life. I would say I wasn't sure how to take that, but unfortunately, I was.
- Laid out by my sister's-in-law pool, where I got the tan of my life! (the aforementioned sister in the third bullet point has, up til now, provided regular and derogatory commentary on the general pasty nature of my usual summertime skin. One of us got pretty dark this summer, and I'll give you a clue as to which: it wasn't her)
- Traveled with my mother to both Pennsylvania (did you know that means Penn's woods?) and Illinois (...I got nothing). More to come on both of these later.
- Tried lots of new recipes from broiled italian tilapia (win!) to portabella mushroom "burgers" (win!) to roasted vegetable medley (win!) to cauliflower crust pizza (miserable, miserable fail...don't ever do that to yourself)
- Photographed two weddings (a third to come next month!) and participated in two others. I love weddings. In moderation (see my previous post on "The Year of the Wedding").
I have generally enjoyed myself and the laid back life that God saw fit to grant me for a few months. It hasn't been all fun and games, of course, though I know it looks it from the highlights! No, Todd and I continue to pray and work toward the goal that Operation Mobilization has set for our support. We have seen the Lord provide commitments for 70% (yay!) of that goal so far, and look forward to seeing how he will bring about the rest. Lord willing, we hope to be able to leave for South Africa in January and join our ministry team after our training! We aren't really sure what to expect yet, and I'm thinking that's probably not a bad thing; but I'm not universally known for being go-with-the-flow, so the lack of details is somewhat of a challenge. But it leaves me wide open to be up for anything when I get there. That's what I keep telling myself, anyway. :)
For insight on the life of a missionary in support-raising mode, I encourage you to read my friend Abby's blog. She puts it all much better than I could.
I hate to post anything without something of visual interest, and while I know it's a stretch, here's a shot from our recent sister session (shot by Todd this time). You know moms...always gotta have an updated picture for the mantle. ;)
Happy summering!
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