I pray for my kids often.  For their safety, for their health, for their courage and their confidence.  I pray that they will make good choices and that they will be confident being who they are.  I pray that they have dreams and faith and joy in their life.  I pray that they will have […]

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  • Ky • twopretzels.com - August 29, 2012 - 6:55 pm

    Lisa sounds wonderful. 😉ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - August 29, 2012 - 7:00 pm

    Happy Birthday to your friend, Lisa! You always speak so kindly of her. She is beautiful too! 🙂 Close friendships like this are gifts from God! Everyone needs a few good CLOSE friends. It keeps us grounded, makes us think, helps us follow our dreams…its a gift!

    JoEllen

    p.s I love that I can keep up with your blog now — I have a little bit more time on my hands! 😉 ReplyCancel

  • Katie - August 30, 2012 - 12:55 am

    I have two friends like your Lisa, one I've known for 43 (?!) years and one I've known for 14 years. The 43-year-old friendship is the type where we'll go for years without talking, but as soon as one of us picks up the phone, we're right back where we were when we last talked. Enduring, that girl is. The other one has seen me through grief, happiness, silliness, births, deaths, all the ups and downs that happen in life. We've watched our kids grow up. Our husbands are good friends and they tease us unmercifully about all the e-mailing we do back and forth (in 2005 my family moved halfway across the country), but we keep in contact as much as we did when we were next door neighbors.

    Friendship is a treasure that needs to be shared. Hope your friend had the happiest of days today! : )ReplyCancel

I’m a bit moody today.  It’s true, ask Chad.  (Never mind, don’t. . . I’d prefer to save a little face.)  I’ll spare you the details and keep to the point. . . I’m moody.  It’s not just me, though.  It seems that the majority of our household is moody.  Chanelle seems to be her […]

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  • Anonymous - August 27, 2012 - 2:10 pm

    augmentation? tell me more. are your teeth (or one of them) getting a lift or a tuck or a nip? ; )

    love your instagram captions. mine for the one with meadow scrubbing was "it's a hard knock life".

    i LOVED loved loved seeing. if only it was for like 6 days longer than it was. love you.
    miss ReplyCancel

  • woopig - August 27, 2012 - 6:39 pm

    I think your captions for Meadow were perfect—she really does have that whole Senior Portrait pose down! Glad you made yourself feel better. My kids will do the same thing, no matter how hard I try and fight it: they always, always wind up making me laugh hysterically.
    And some people think God doesn't have a sense of humor. ; ) Hope your mouth heals quickly!

    KatieReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - August 28, 2012 - 2:15 am

    Oh Summer, I hope you are finding some relief from that nasty poison ivy!! AND I am so proud of you for going to the dentist! 😉 I sure hope that appointment was a success and that you do not need to go back for awhile.

    I like the phrase, "Moody Monday"…we have those here and there too. Hope tomorrow is a "Tuity Fruity Tuesday" (Whatever that means! I think I am tired and need to go to bed!)

    As always, love the post, love your words, love those photos.

    JoEllenReplyCancel

  • Sassytimes - August 29, 2012 - 1:53 am

    I love that you think in captions. I do this too…and most times, I don't even realize it. 😉

    I hope your dental appointment went well! That doesn't sound fun…and neither does poison ivy! Poor thing! ReplyCancel

  • Ky • twopretzels.com - August 29, 2012 - 6:58 pm

    I loved so much about this post. And I'd write more, but I'm at work and I need to work, but know that I read every MORSEL of this post and I'd totally wear Chanelle's swimsuit if it came in my size. ReplyCancel

These are the words that repeatedly passed through my mind in the days leading up to the first day of school:  it’s not about me.  When I found myself lingering on thoughts that would undoubtedly lead to that familiar lump in my throat, I swallowed hard and repeated my mantra. . . it’s not about […]

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  • Lisa@Pocketfuls - August 24, 2012 - 2:01 pm

    I have a lump in my throat just reading this beautiful post. Those first days of school are hard on a mama, aren't they? We are still on summer holidays here, but I know in a week and half, I'll feel the same tugging on my heartstrings as I watch my boys head off into their school for exciting new adventures (and they're going into grades 6 and 3!) I hope Charlie and Chanelle both have a wonderful school year!

    By the way, I think Charlie and Will might have the same new running shoes! 🙂 ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 25, 2012 - 12:44 am

      Oh Lisa, I wish you all the best as you send your boys off. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in these feelings. There is just no way around it, is there. . . it just stinks!ReplyCancel

  • kate • one more thing - August 24, 2012 - 6:13 pm

    And you made me cry… beautiful. Just beautifully written.ReplyCancel

  • Wendy - August 24, 2012 - 6:45 pm

    I'll never forget the feeling I had when I watched my girls board the bus off to kindergarten. I was scared/nervous/hopeful/ecstatic/proud all rolled into one. I was more scared though – to see them get on the bus? Then woosh, they're GONE. Without me! It took me a couple days to get used to it. School is tough for moms, it sure is. I don't think the first day of school will ever come without emotion, no matter how old they get! ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 25, 2012 - 12:45 am

      I agree with you completely, Wendy. I just don't think this will get easier. . . ugh. the things they don't tell you when they send you home from the hospital.ReplyCancel

  • Kim Ellis - August 24, 2012 - 6:57 pm

    Where's the tissues!?? Memories surround me as I read your post! I so remember like yesterday putting my (now 34 and 31) children on the bus… I was terrified and God gave me a peace! He said.. I love them more than you! I will be with them no matter what! (it was the no matter what part that bothered me) but I learned to lean only on Him and Trust him totally ~even though through the years you gradually have to be reminded to trust Him again as we try to take the control and the 'fear' back. all to learn that when something tragic happens (when my daughter had a near death experience) God took me back to that moment putting them on the bus and visually I saw them board the bus and heard the words again… "Trust me.. I love them more than you.. I will be with her No matter what! Thanks for your blog!!! I so enjoy reliving through your experiences!!! ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 25, 2012 - 12:46 am

      Thank you, Kim! It's nice to hear from someone who has been through it and to know that all these feelings are normal and regardless. . . we will survive.

      Thank you for commenting!ReplyCancel

  • Dri - August 24, 2012 - 8:22 pm

    Your words captured my internal experience exactly. It's not about me. But it should be, but it's not. This is Miss J's first year of preschool – that will start after Labor Day. And Little R is in SECOND GRADE. Time. I want it to stop, but I have enjoyed every moment so far so I also simultaneously look forward to the future. Love you friend!ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 25, 2012 - 12:46 am

      Thank you, Dri. Thank you for getting it. . . ReplyCancel

  • Sassytimes - August 25, 2012 - 12:45 am

    Oh wow, that farm looks amazing!

    I'm a wreck thinking about S going to K next year all day. I WISH it were only half day. 🙁 I can't take it and it's a year away still. It scares me so much to let go. I need to start saying "It's not about me…" over and over starting right now. Sigh.

    This was a great post…and it made me cry. Oh boy. Motherhood. Letting go. Ah. ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 25, 2012 - 12:47 am

      You are right, S. . . Motherhood. . . Ah.ReplyCancel

                                                        “So every day                                                          So every day. . .                                          I was surrounded by the beautiful crying forth                                                    of the ideas of God. . . “     […]

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  • Amy - August 22, 2012 - 4:31 pm

    I love that picture! And I love being reminded to appreciate all of the beauty around me. There really is SO much beauty in this world, we just have to open our eyes to see it. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday, as well 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - August 22, 2012 - 10:25 pm

    I know how ya feel, friend! 🙂 It has definitely been an "ADJUSTING TO A NEW ROUTINE" kind of a week. But you are so right, the sunset is a good reminder that all is well…all is pretty…all our needs are supplied– Because HE is in control if His creation and His people! I find this time of evening (sun set) to be one of my favorite part to each day.

    JoEllenReplyCancel

  • Sassytimes - August 23, 2012 - 1:57 am

    I love your thoughts. 😉

    And because of V, when I read the title to this, my mind immediately started playing (Every day I'm shufflin'…). Ahhh…pop music loved by babies. Ha. 😉ReplyCancel

That grabbed your attention, didn’t it?  I mean, the word “fartlek” sounds borderline inappropriate, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, it’s not.  In case you are unaware, the word fartlek is a running term that specifically means “speed play”.  The term is part of any semi-serious runners language and a word I have been familiar with for […]

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  • CharisFaith - August 20, 2012 - 11:43 am

    Such great pictures!!! As always thank you for sharing your journey, it is amazing to follow!

    Talk to me about runners knee. I have stretches that I'm doing, is there anything else I need to know?ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 21, 2012 - 6:53 pm

      Oh Runner's Knee. Have you been doing any strength training? Decreased mileage? Laid off for any amount of time? It's important that your quads and hamstrings are strong–as they support the knee.

      As much as I don't take my own advice, laying off for some time or at least decreasing your mileage really helps most ailments. It's important to allow your body to rest. (Really, I rarely take my own advice on this, but have also suffered the consequences. Also, have you looked at your shoes? Are they in good shape?

      ReplyCancel

  • Ky • twopretzels.com - August 20, 2012 - 3:41 pm

    I am so proud of you. It has been so flipping COOL to see this gift of yours develop.

    WAH-who! Keep on it, girl.ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 22, 2012 - 1:08 am

      Oh, Ky. Thank you. You have been there from them beginning and truly. . . that matters. ReplyCancel

  • Katie - August 20, 2012 - 5:30 pm

    Running has always been the way I've identified myself. I began when I was 18 and had gained the famous Freshman 15 in college. I ran to lose that weight, and kept on running. Now, nearly 30 years later I'm still running so much that I don't even really think about it—it's just ME now. Photography is my new discovery, and like you, I'm constantly learning, practicing and having just so much fun along the way. i love also that I can combine the two, scoping out shots as I run, or training my eye to see the world even more magical than it already is. For me, it's all about capturing the natural world, not so much people. It's the light or the cows in the pastures or just a lone single tree in the field that I run by daily. It's THAT that I want people to see, to see the world the way I see it. It really is a breathtaking place.

    Well, I didn't mean to go on and on! I can tell through your pix that you love what you are discovering every day along your journey. The results are beautiful, Summer!ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 22, 2012 - 1:07 am

      Katie,

      It's crazy how similar our stories are. Your words could have been mine and, I imagine, vice versa. That's why I love this blog world. . . finding community in the most unexpected places.

      I agree with you, Katie, the world is really a breathtaking place. ReplyCancel

  • Pam - August 21, 2012 - 11:40 am

    Yes you do – feel the picture – and therefore those of us who look at your pictures get to feel them too. Really beautiful work Summer!ReplyCancel

    • Summer - August 22, 2012 - 1:06 am

      Pam. . . you just can't know what your encouragement means to me. Thank you. Thank you so very much.ReplyCancel

  • CharisFaith - August 23, 2012 - 2:17 pm

    Thank you for coming back to my comments. I've been strength training, my chiropractor gave me moves to do. I say chiropractor but he's more a sports doctor.

    Shoes are about ready to be replaced. I backed off and now I'm able to gradually start adding back again.

    Thank you for all the wisdom!!!ReplyCancel

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