It's summer time and the livin' ain't easy . . .

We are in the summer swing of things now, and it makes me pant . . . work all week, go away or host events at our wooded garden and pavilion on the weekend. There is a graduation party/pig roast this afternoon in the pavilion (I have no responsibility--just show up)--tomorrow we host a reunion of the canyon river group--a year ago today we were on the river!

We leave early Monday for four days up north, come home, then pick up my sister at the airport Friday and head to the mountains for my family reunion. Second daughter did the planning, but I need to take some responsibility for food preparation. Three of my brothers are coming solo, as well as my sister who is flying in from Kansas--so none of them will bring food. We decided to have a Costco weekend and buy just about everything. But it will still need to be prepared and served. Mother and siblings will pitch in . . . brother-in-law will just have finished his final round of this course of chemo, so don't know how much time they'll be there--we didn't know, when we planned to gather in the mid-state this year (last year we were in Ohio and the year before in Tennessee) that it would be so helpful to him to be close by! One of the siblings suggested spending part of Saturday as a work day at their house . . . we'll see what unfolds. My niece and her family will be coming in from Arizona this year. We haven't seen them for a couple years, and I'm looking forward to spending time with her . . .

The following weekend, an almost-daughter and her family will be here overnight, and all the kids will be here, too. Second daughter has lined up a photographer to take family photos --it'll be one of the last times we're together before second son and his family leave the end of July. The next weekend is a reunion in the mountains for Hubby's family . . . the end of July we host another picnic, August has a picnic, a church service, September has a church campout and a wedding. I'm still waiting for Hubby to say "enough!" Actually he has cut back some . . . must have turned away six weddings . . .

Both second daughter and second son put their homes on the market this month and both sold them in less than a week . . . for that I am grateful. Second daughter bought a single family home with a nice lot (haven't actually seen it, but I know the neighborhood) nearby. It is west of town in an old, tree populated neighborhood. They have settlement July 20. Second son and family will be moving to South Carolina, along with their small group, attending some sort of mission training in preparation for a yet-to-be-determined assignment as a group. I keep forgetting to ask him if there is a website.

Perhaps I'm still in denial. I wonder what my mother was thinking as my sister and her family left for mission work in Africa so many times over the years. There must have been mixed feelings. How to support one's children in their discernment of call and passion when one is not necessarily at the same place . . . that is the challenge!