Well, as the summer is wrapping up now, it is difficult not to be a little ansy about things to come. Isn't it funny, how even when we are on vacation, we find ways to become stressed? I do, anyway. I am always so busy planning for the future, and trying to prepare for it, that I forget to live! I am already looking for next summer's job, which of course means I'm attempting to plan my entire life.

In the middle of it all, though, I know that I am deeply blessed. I have a wonderful man to share it all with, and help me remember the important stuff. And I've my whole life ahead of me, with many good things to come. And I've got my family, who finally all have met Jon. This past weekend was with my sister and brother-in-law in Atlanta, where we met them at the prettiest hotel ever where they were staying. How precious is my nephew! I really like him. And my niece is funnier than ever, and I can't get enough of her smiles. Jon and I both loved watching how my sister and brother-in-law ran their family, full of love! We look forward to spending more time with them in the future.

Now I am back in Florida for one more week. I am doing wedding projects, preparing my resume, catching up on my blog, things like that. I'm really thankful I have this last week to reflect, appreciate what a great summer it's been and patiently look forward to things to come.

zucchini and fireworks

Our first baby! Just kidding, it's our first monster zucchini. As you may guess, we were very proud! It was mostly Jon's baby, he nurtured it from a seed!

Well, besides working in the garden, we spent last weekend helping Jon's cousin move out of his house. We didn't go anywhere for the 4th, even though we both had that day off, because I wasn't feel well and Jon had worked 10 days straight. So we just rested, but this weekend was full of activity, including one unexpected treat. First we went to the moves with Jon's sister's family and dad on Friday night. On Saturday we went to a house warming party in the early evening for Jon's coworker. Then, Clint (Jon's cousin) wanted to treat us to dinner for helping him move. So we went to the hotel where they're staying downtown on the Jacksonville River Walk. When we got there Jon and Clint had to go help their Uncle Walter fix the electricity at his meat store. While they did that, Alaina (Clint's wife), their two kids and I went to the exercise room and watched a movie on TV. When Jon and CLint got back a few hours later, they noticed while looking out their hotel room window that something was going on down on the river. There was a huge convention going on for a particular branch of Hinduism, and they were down on the waterfront. CLint said the barge on the river looked just like the barge they used on the 4th for fireworks. Sure enough, 15 minutes later, there was a full-out fireworks show right there on the river, just like they had the fourth of July! It was a fantastic surprise. We were on the 15th floor, so our seats could not have been better- the sparks would fizzle out on the way to our window.
After the show, we went out to eat at "the Landing", a spot on the riverwalk where they have live music and lots of restaurants.
We didn't get to bed until 1, which is way past our bedtime. But we couldn't have asked for a more magical night!
Now we are resting, and tomorrow starts the rest of busy July. We get to see Jon's best friend next weekend, and my sister's family the next! Sad as it is that the summer is quickly passing, it's worth it for all the worthwhile times we have had.