The Last Day of Summer

Today was the perfect day to end a sweet summer. 

Last night we had our Fourth Annual Back to School Celebration. We decorated our dining room, divided our meal into three courses, and used my wedding china as we honored Cate, Johnny, William, and Matthew. We toasted to the end of a glorious summer that filled our memory buckets overflowing. We welcomed in a new school year with an excited anxiety, for lack of a better emotion. John and I introduced our 2020/21 school year theme, "By small and simple things, are great things brought to pass." Despite the hurdles and the unknown this year, if we just focus on doing small and simple acts with faith, be it acts of kindness, courage, service, order, gratitude, learning, forgiveness...whatever it may be...when done in faith, we can be assured that the Lord will bring about great things, even mighty things, and we will be witnesses of His love, mercy, and power. We gifted each child a watch so they would remember to "make time for the small and simple things." (You know I love a good pun.) John gave each of us a father's blessing, and I felt so grateful for this family of mine. We have a lot of growth ahead, but what a tender mercy that we get to do it together!

Our theme hanging on the fridge.

Here's the remnants of our decorations after we cleaned up the fancy table. I love, love, love back to school everything.

Knowing today was our last day of summer freedom, we decided to make the most of it and float the Rogue River. So after spending the morning giving our house a good school-prep cleaning, we loaded kids into the van, the raft into the truck, and tried to out drive the 100 degree weather.

It was the perfect day. The Cummings were also rafting, and floating with good friends made it all more celebratory. There were water fights, kids jumping ship, dance contests over the Rapids, and raft-ramming. The breeze kept us cool as we meandered with the current through layers of green trees. This float has such magnificent views! For a few hours we collectively felt a little more present, and grateful for our opportunity to live so fully. It was such a reset for me. 

So right before this picture, John did a back flip into the water. Right after this picture, William just up and did a front flip into the water! Crazy boys.

I had a van full of sleepy kids as I tailed behind John in his truck. I kept the old-school country music blaring as I took in the scenery of home. It was beautiful farms cuddling the evergreen hills I love, "Peaches for Sale" stands, and Hemp swaying in the wind. I felt content and full on life.

After we hauled our tired, slightly sunburned crew home, and had a barbecue. Everyone finished their food in record time. All the kids bathed and laid out their first-day-of-school outfits. We made lunches, and organized our "school areas." John took the kids for a ride on the four-wheelers, because he's the fun parent, and I made the kids finish up some last minute cleaning because I'm also the fun parent, haha. I feel like for the first time possibly ever, we finished everything according to the neurotic schedule I keep in my brain. Per my negotiations with Johnny,the kids then watched a couple episodes of Recess to wind down before bed.  

While the boys were occupied, Cate (no longer Caity, starting tomorrow) asked me to straighten her hair for the first day. We were able to talk through a lot of her worries and anxieties starting into a new school year. I felt so grateful to have this time with her. I was able to testify of God's awareness and love for her. I shared all the ways I had seen His hand in her life recently. So many of the little elements I felt inspired to prepare for this school year were direct answers to Cate's concerns, providing her peace. We read a book that made me cry, and I held my preteen trying to recapture how it felt when she fit in the crook of my arm. We said a prayer together and felt such peace and love from Heavenly Father. We prayed that she would be filled with memories of everyone who loves her and times she had overcome difficult things. We also prayed that the clouds of doubt, fear, and insecurity could be lifted for a time so Cate could more clearly feel God's love for her. It was a sacred moment I will always treasure with my sweet girl that is growing more independent every day. 

Everyone was in bed and asleep before 9:00 pm, which is amazing after this 6 month summer. John and I walked the dog, watched a show, and fell asleep satisfied we squeezed every drop from this summer we could. 

Now...ready or not...tomorrow commences the 2020/21 school year! At this point, I'm feeling delusionally optimistic. It's going to be a good year, or a least a year of growth, that's for sure!

(I mean, it's completely normal to wake up at 1:00 am for a quick blog session, right??)