End of Summer

 

 

These last August days can be a mixture of warm, lazy hours spent in a hammock...to mourning the end of this more carefree season...to looking forward to some of the new things ahead. I've experienced all of these emotions and more!

A part of me doesn't want to say good-bye to the languid season of summer and there's a small part of me that even looks ahead at my busy schedule this fall with a bit of dread. 
But just a little...mostly, I think it will be good. Lots of driving long distances to a new theater group for my daughter and being a part of a parent committee, teaching a class (along with preparing for it) at the co op where my youngest will be a senior. 

Wait- a senior? That means, also preparing for graduation and most of all for me personally- saying good-bye to 15 years of home schooling!!
 Can I just hide here in summertime just a little longer? 

 But on another note, it means finally realizing my dream to have a first-ever novel published. I'm waiting as beta reader responses continue to trickle in (most have had a busier summer than I think they expected) and next week, I'll probably be doing final edits on my own. (I may or may not hire a professional editor...still on the fence!) 
There's still the formatting to be done and the cover finished...before learning the ins and outs of publishing (most likely through Amazon). 
It's overwhelming, yet exciting! And I'll keep updating as everything comes together. 

 In these last summer days, I love taking my laptop out to the backyard to write the new book I've started, edit my finished one or simply read a book. And there's still one more short camping trip left and a weekend at the Christian Renewal Center to come. 

So for now, I'll leave you with a picture from the camping and road trip our whole family went on last week to southern Oregon. It was an amazing trip through Wildlife Safari, dining at Wolf Creek Inn, exploring a pioneer museum and ending with a drive up the coast and beautiful Yachats Beach. So excuse me as I finish squeezing out the last drops of summer. 

 (What about you? What has been your favorite things you've done this summer?)