Sunburns

Summer is almost here!  School is out in a week and a half!  So, in preparation for summer, I decided to make a summer list that will cure any case of summer boredom.  What can I say, I am a list maker.  (Mostly due to my inability to remember... things).  And, since we are staying pretty close to home for most of the summer, I thought it would be a good thing to have.  Yes, there will be trips to see cousins and Grandparents, family reunions, and maybe even an impromptu trip to BC, but this list is for those days that have no end... the ones where you can either embrace the day or you can watch it go by without doing anything spectacular.  So, even though most of our time will be at home, I still want this summer to be one of wonderful memories for our family.  Without further adieu, here is my Super Awesome Summer List...

-fly a kite
-make sock puppets
-have a fancy outdoor tea party
-go for a hike
-go to a splash park
-have a puppet show
-star gazing
-sidewalk chalk party
-glow in the dark tag
-bird watching
-go fishing
-ride bikes
-slurpee runs
-farmer's market
-feed the ducks
-fireman museum
-wash the car
-watch fireworks
-photo shoot outside (this one might be hard now that our camera was stolen. Boo!)
-factory tour
-Stampede
-play croquet
-science experiments https://docs.google.com/document/d/14v-TC3D22k1UtMHs3Fa0310O5bq49rSP1QJA3tsqQeY/edit?pli=1
-write a song or a story
-paint with water
-spread kind messages with sidewalk chalk http://deliacreates.blogspot.ca/2012/05/come-on-get-happy.html
-rock painting
-library club
-swimming lessons
-ABC scavenger hunt
-homemade ice cream
-beach
-go on a picnic
-tie dye t shirts
-discover new parks
-spend an hour cleaning up a local park
-window markers
-ding dong ditches (with cookies of course)
-bingo dot art
-outdoor reading day
-nature walks

We will also be implementing out very own chore chart.  That way, if the girls complain about being bored, there will always be something for the to do.  (Insert evil laugh).

I CANNOT tell you how excited I am for summer to really begin, especially since we get a nice "gift" at the end of it!  :)

Endurance

Do you ever feel like you are running a marathon?  A marathon at night, when you can only make out dark shapes in the distance?  Many times you stumble.  You get road rash on your knees and hands...  You feel tired and have no idea where the finish line is or how long it will take you to get there?  You feel tired and defeated.  This seems like such a dark lonely road that you are on, and on the other hand you can feel the imminence of morning.  You are tired, but the burning in your lungs makes you feel strong and alive.  Somehow you know you won't give up.  You want to reach the end of this marathon...  You fight through the blood, sweat, and tears.  Even though it doesn't feel like it now, these things will make you stronger for parts of the journey that are really tough.

I miss running.... a lot.  I never did it to be fit...  Instead, I did it to clear my head and heart.  I can remember running on a lonely road to the cemetery just outside our small town.  I remember the clean breeze that felt so good....  I remember the storm clouds that always seemed to be in the distance.  I remember thinking things through.... boys, friends, God, life, etc.  I swear I can still smell the clean, crisp air.  I remember being so sweaty and tired, but feeling so good.

Life can be hard.  Plans never go... as planned.  Surprises jump out at you when you least expect them.  Sometimes life seems looooong.  Other times, it feels as though the pace of life is racing past you.  I guess I just hope I will be the person I want to be at the finish line.  I want to be the one lifting others.  I want to have battle scars to show how hard I fought to make it.  I want to be strong.  And I want to do it all with a little bit of grace.

Some days I feel like I am running in the dark at a snails pace.  Today, I feel like I am running uphill... but I can feel that wonderful burning in my lungs... I can feel that burning in my heart.  I feel very much alive and I feel like this is all part of the plan.