The perfect summer

The last time I had a summer this fun and carefree was 1997, my counselor-in-training year at Camp Eberhart. Stuck somewhere between a camper and a counselor, it was the perfect summer. A touch of responsibility, a ton of fun, all with the company of people who loved me.

This summer is shaping up to beat 1997. Sure, it's been filled with family drama the likes of which I've never experienced, but it's also been one of the best summers of my life. My two babies have grown into two little people who constantly amuse, amaze and astound me with their antics, and we're having so much fun. My husband has been amazing, my best friend and a shoulder to lean on and laugh with. Few people in this world are as lucky as me. We've gone to Cedar Point twice, we go to the beach a few times a week, we go on picnics and hikes and explore the parks and playgrounds. We've had a visit from GA friends. We go to the zoo and the nature center and learn about the animals. We visit Grandpa and tend to the garden, enjoying the mounds of vegetables it produces. We explore the river, finding clams and climbing rocks. This summer has truly been exquisite in almost every way.

I wish I could explain exactly why I love this place so much, why it calls to me the way it does. Maybe my soul knows that I got married on the banks of this lake, that I started my new "life" here almost 5 years ago, and I've finally returned. I know so many people who have lived in this area their whole lives, and are itching to leave. But I have lived in other places, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia, and now Ohio, so I know what it is like to leave one home for the merits of another. I can honestly say that I've never felt as at home as I do here in Northern Ohio. The lapping waves on the shores of Lake Erie feel like long lost friends to me, beckoning with promises of course sand, colored pebbles and cool refreshing water. I'm loving summer and yet already yearning for fall, to see the leaves turn colors and crunch under my feet. It's something I haven't felt in 5 long years, and I plan on relishing the seasons (yes, even winter!) as they come.

Here are some pictures of more of our summer fun. All of August left to enjoy, and then September to look forward to.