Friday, August 13, 2010

Where HAS the Summer Gone??




Well, here in Northern Colorado, at our house, it has gone to lots of time with the girlies, for various reasons. Grandpa is a whiz at keeping the big girls busy and happy - his company closes for 3 weeks, and it has been good for us. School begins next Wednesday already, so I thought it would be fun to look back at the summer.

I was blessed to have missed the one week that the temps were at the 100 degree mark - I was in Minnesota, where I expected to be miserable with heat and humidity. Oddly enough, the weather was very pleasant for me that week and I was able to enjoy a walk every morning - I need to share the pix I took there one of these days.

Because of the nice weather, when I've had a chance to be home without little people, I have spent a lot of time on the patio doing my favorite activity ---




Right now I'm reading the 5th book of the Anne of Green Gables series. I'm reading them again in hopes of visiting Prince Edward Island when we go to see Kevin in Maine the first week of October. I need to watch the movies again. Best movies ever made from a book - ever.

Speaking of Kev - he was here last week and it flew by. The littles fell in love with him - in fact, it was as if they remembered him, though that seems impossible since they were a year old when he left.




Kev was as excited to see his dog, Callie, as he was to see any human in his life. Sema has done a fabulous job of training this huge animal, even though she has only recently become willing to have a pet!



The big girls came such a long ways in overcoming their fear of dogs in general, Callie in particular. This was HUGE and made Kev very happy.




Kev had either a sinus infection or allergy issues while he was home and didn't feel great most of the time. But I'm so thankful he had this week to catch up on his rest and have time to heal.

The highlight of the week for me was Sunday evening, when he shared with our church family. The Sunday evening crowd is always fairly small, but this group was made up of folks who have known him since he was born, watched him struggle, prayed for him, loved him, supported him financially. Now he opened his heart to them and told them things they had never heard. He did a fabulous job, and was, as the pastor said, very transparent. There were many tears, including mine of course, and even some from him. It was a powerful time. Pastor called Sema up and we surrounded them with prayer as they face many decisions in the next year.




Kev left very very early Monday morning (as in we left the house at 3:30 am!) for a six month internship back in Maine. Thank you so much for your prayers for him and Sema over the years, and please continue to pray that they'll discern God's will for the time following the internship.




Remember last fall when we tore out our old patio and put in a new one designed by DC?









Because our yard is so very shady, we can't have lots of roses or petunias or other summer flowers that I love.

This is my only rose bush, not counting the mini ones that do well.




It's funny - DC says we've had these lilies for years, but I never noticed them before!




DC spent a great deal of time finding plants and flowers that could thrive in this cooler area. They're doing well, and it'll be fun to watch the perennials fill in as the years go by.













I brought this dahlia bulb home from the grocery store one day and watched as it grew and grew and grew - very tall. It had one blossom when a huge gust of wind hit one afternoon, snapping it off flush with the ground. It was sad. But, as so many things in life, it came back from adversity and is growing again - I don't know if it will have time to bloom again, but I'm watching it every day. There are many more things that should be blossoming yet, but we'll see if they have time before the weather gets too cool.





I have lots more that I was going to write and show tonight, but decided to give you a break. I'll be back with the girlies' activities soon. I'll close with some beautiful skies.











Have a great week-end!


21 comments:

Needled Mom said...

It's hard to imagine that summer is coming to a close so soon.

I know that you had a wonderful time with Kev home and I'll bet you hated to see him go. I can only imagine how emotional his speech must have been for those in attendance.

The plantings around the patio look gorgeous. Perhaps the dahlia is like us - what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!!!!

Glenda said...

It was great to see the big smile on Kevin's face and to hear about your Sunday night service. And your flowers are really pretty!

We loved listening to the quartet on the way to and from eating out tonight! Great music!

Amy said...

I can't believe school is starting again already! I'm both sad and happy about this.

Kev and the girls look so very happy! I'm glad you got to have that visit with him!

Hootin Anni said...

Yep, it's hard to believe that August is nearly half over already. I was just setting up a blog for tomorrow about that very same thing. Erik's classes he teaches this year will begin on the 30th. Seems like summer just began. Now it's coming up on Autumn. Well...at your neck of the woods...around here we'll have Autumn like temps when you're being snowed upon. LOL

Anyway, once again, dear Dawn...this was a fabulous post. Kev looks like he was very happy to be home with you and his beloved fur baby!!

Oh and tell D C all his pain and hard long hours of working on the landscaping is just simply BEAUTIFUL!!!

Linds said...

I love the photo of you reading in the garden! Just what summer should be like. Well, we have no sun here either, and there is a real chill to the air. I am not ready for this.
I am so glad Kev came home, and that you all had a wonderful time with him. Of course I will keep praying for him and for Sema too.
Lovely pics, Dawn. Enjoy the last days of summer!

Linda said...

It is so good to see Kev looking so well and happy. God is so very good.
It will be wonderful to visit Maine and a trip to PEI sounds delightful. I hope to get there some day too.
Your yard is just beautiful. My poor flower garden has just gone wild. It is absolutely too hot to go outside and weed!
Have a blessed weekend Dawn.

Mary said...

Dawn, so glad that Kevin got home for a visit. It's been far too long since I've read your blog. Lots of lovely photos. The area you changed around the patio last fall is looking gorgeous. Dahlias are so nice. I used to have dinner plate dahlias and they were fabulous.

Nice to be in touch with you again.

Blessings,
Mary

grammy said...

that is great that Kevin got to be there and see everyone. Will his wife go on this internship?
That is a cute dog.
the garden...flower area looks great.

I will have Fridays off this school year...if nothing changes. You could come down and have coffe at Starbucks...or on Tues. and Thurs. I have three little girls and could go to McDonald's in the morning (o:
let me know.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Looks like you've had a wonderful summer with family, flowers, and some travel. Perfect!

I'd love to visit PEI someday!

grammy said...

opps
It would have to be a Mon or Wed. with girls
the other two days (tues. and Thurs) I have a 2 month baby and a one year old and a three year old (all boys in one family) so I will stay home on those days (o:
I guess I don't have my schedule memorized yet

SentimentsbyDenise said...

So good to see and hear how God is working in Kevin's life! I feel like I know him, though we've never met! That's the power of praying for friends - the Lord intercedes so beautifully.
I owe you an email soon. Lots has happened and I know you're curious.
Have a great week!

nannykim said...

Wow--love the flowers--looks great. I am so glad your son could come home for a visit and I know how hard it is to deal with sinus problems and allergies--makes you feel so tired and it is hard to think when it is bad.

Is the internship training for leading in something?

I too have been reading a series. I am currently reading Thomas Kinkade's series about Cape light or something like that--I always forget the names!! They are getting better as the series goes on. Our schools start next Monday. Some of the colleges have started this week.

nancygrayce said...

Summer really has flown! I can't believe school is in session...it is still summer to me, although it is a little cooler here so far this week. When I say that, I don't mean cool....just not so hot.

So glad you had a good time with Kevin and it was good to see Sema! I think Callie is adorable and am glad the girls got to know her.

Your flowers are so pretty...I'm not so good at flowers. It's shrubs for me and they need trimming!

I pray God will reveal His will for Kevin and Sema.

Denise said...

Beautiful post and jut coming by to talk a while..... This has been a summer of emotions.. They ebb an fall and they leave me tired and uncertain of life... I guess that is why it is called grief.... That is what it brings... Great Grief.. I will be sad to see summer go.. I love the pool and it seems that I just have not had much time.
Your patio looks wonderful and the plants really are nice..... I love the story about the dahlias.. We might be broken but never destroyed......

Unknown said...

I'd like to read the Anne of Green Gables books to my girls. Emily has started reading the first one on her own, but I think it would be fun to read it all together.

I'm glad you had a nice visit with Kevin, even though he wasn't feeling great. Is Sema in Maine with him now?

Sharon Lynne said...

The flowers are beautiful!

It was so good to hear about Kevin. You described the evening so well, I felt I was there...with tears in my eyes.

I'm really praying for him! I want him to make it this time...over the hump. Even though life will never be easy for any of us...I pray that Kevin can make it and keep moving forward.

Oh...Glenda commented on the quartet music. It WAS really good. My husband thought it was well recorded. I also played it in the car with Letty, the woman I care for. She played the organ in her church for 30 years. She loves music. She enjoyed it immensely!

Midlife Mom said...

So nice to see the pictures of Kev at home! I can just imagine that there was not a dry eye in the evening service when he spoke! Our evening services are much smaller too, people don't know what they are missing do they? Hope to see you in October if we can work it out. You will love PEI and the Anne of Green Gables show!

Your patio is lovely. DC did a wonderful job on it and the flowers look so nice. I not only have to get shade plants for some parts of my yard but DEER RESISTANT ones too!!

School starts here right after Labor Day. Don't know where the summer has gone. We are taking the two grands to New Hampshire this weekend as their parents are out of town. I think I will take a nap today and try to get some rest stocked up for all the walking! ha!

Robin said...

I just love that new landscaping and the flowers make it extra gorgeous!
Sorry I have been MIA for so long - this time of the school year gets to be a bit overwhelming. I plan to post an upside-tomato thingy report soon!

A Hint of Home said...

How great that you had Kev home and for a visit.
He looks well and healthy.
Your patio and landscaping is beautiful!
I hope it's a good school year for the girls.

Diane said...

Dawn,

As I looked at the pictures of Kevin....they literally took my breath away. Praise God.....

PRAISE GOD!

PRAISE GOD AND PRAISE GOD AND PRAISE GOD!

Gigi said...

Dawn, Kev and Sema look fantastic...and Callie - well, you KNOW I'm a sucker for a sweet doggie face! I continue to pray for them as they seek God's will for their lives. May He surround them with His love, strength and protection.

DC's hard work in your yard and on that patio has sure paid off...it's just lovely!

And you are looking fabulous!!