Summer 2016, You Are One Of My Favorites

Summer 2016, you were good to us.

Sure, I know you’re not officially over, but I consider the 90+ days between Memorial Day and Labor Day “summer.” As we began our #bestsummerever during Memorial Day weekend, I set out to make this a special season, and one our family would cherish forever. You didn’t disappoint.

Summer 2016, you are one of my favorites.

You gave us numerous adventures on our tandem bicycle. We peddled over 1,500 miles, and finished our third RAGBRAI. Biking in four different states, we knocked three more off our #50statestandembiketour goal, and had a ball doing so. We learned Kansas is not flat, and thankfully so, it trained us for the hills of RAGBRAI. We experienced Michigan’s beauty and hospitality. No wonder my friend, Marcia, loves it so much! A much-needed weekend away was found in Missouri for our 24th wedding anniversary. We had a ball on the Katy Trail, and look forward to going back!

Summer 2016, you showered us with umpteen, wonderful times where the four of us embraced life together.  A family bicycle ride, farmers’ markets, baseball games, bonfires, dinners together, much laughter and many smiles. Even though we didn’t take a family summer vacation, the times spent with each other were just as special and memorable.

You blessed us with occasions where we enjoyed making memories with extended family. It’s never a dull moment when we’re together. The photo below makes me chuckle… no, we weren’t watching the corn grow, even though it looks like it!

You gave us many Friday nights at the races, and great times with friends. My classmates gathered one evening, my girlfriends and I shared coffees, lunches, and dinners, and the weddings we attended were nothing short of lovely.

Summer 2016, you blessed us with beautiful weather. Sunny days, cooler nights, and timely rains. You even prompted us to grow our first vegetable garden! Enjoying the “fruits” of our labor was a treat… literally! Lettuce, strawberries, and carrots were delicious! There’s just something about growing our own food that trips my trigger.

And, the sunrises and sunsets were breathtaking.

But, it wasn’t all blissful and care-free.

Summer 2016, you threw some wrenches our way as well.

Our summer ended in ways I would have chosen differently. My brother, Steve’s injury and resulting stroke sent our close-knit family into a tail-spin. It wasn’t something any of us expected, and it affected us all. Steve still in the hospital as I write this, but is, thankfully, recovering. We celebrate God’s healing and restoration, and continue to pray for his full recovery.

And, I can’t help but be disappointed in the unrelated, but heart-crushing news our family received Labor Day weekend. I wasn’t prepared for it. None of us were. But, we can continue to trust God and His plans. He knows what He’s doing, even when it doesn’t make sense to me.

So, Summer 2016, you truly were the #bestsummerever. Not because of the things we did or the experiences we had. You were the #bestsummerever because we saw God moving through you every day. We lived in the moment, we loved all we could, and we laughed a whole bunch.

Thank you for the memories, Summer 2016. I won’t soon forget you.

Much love,

Julie

 

 

Linking this post with Jennifer and Holley.