We have been spending a lot of time at the lake this summer and it has been soooo refreshing.  I take the kids and go a couple of times a week and when my hubby isn't working we usually go again on the weekend.  It's fun getting all the necessities around for a picnic or cook out at the lake.  We pack our favorite games Boggle, Yahtzee or Scrabble and usually I rook someone into playing games with me  on the beach while the youngers enjoy the water.  It really is simple yet wonderful and the weather has been most cooperative this summer.  Lots of sunshine without the humidity.  Although there was the one afternoon when we raced for the van and sat out a hail storm that had me a little concerned, only to have the children race for the water as soon as the lightning stopped as we saw a double rainbow overhead.  It was beautiful.

I'm trying to keep things simple and unencumbered.  I mean it really is a struggle sometimes to not let us all get too busy and going off in too  any different directions.  But my two oldest girls (my adopted daughter and my neice that lives with us) will be graduating this year and I'm blown away by the speed at which these last few years have flown by.  I want to enjoy them as they prepare to go off on there own and pursue their dreams.  So we have closed our foster care license and will be focusing on family.  I am going back to college in the fall to finish up my degree in Early Childhood Education and know that will be a bit of a juggle.  Besides that I do plan to live as simply and peacefully as possible.  We have had some pretty tumultous times over the last couple of years and it is my desire to enjoy and better appreciate all that I've been given....beautiful healthy children who keep me on my toes, a husband who loves me most when I feel like I deserve it least, brothers and a sister who do the same and friends that have been here for us through the years.  I am blessed and I am grateful.  Thank you all!