Spring and Summer's parade of blooms has slowed as quiet contentment has set into my heart that Fall will soon be here. Cool night temps in the 40s remind me that summer is quickly fading away - and a beautiful summer it has been. We've been very blessed to have received 1/4" of rain over the weekend, and while our skies have been smoky at times from fires in other places, thankfully we have no fires close by us! There is much to be grateful for, in this time of shifting seasons. August is a month of dry, hot weather, where the skies are usually smoky from forest fires, yet harvest season is underway. Yes. August brings seasonal transition. It's a time of enjoying the beautiful season of Summer while realizing that Fall's cooler weather and clear skies are not far away. 

I have a "She Shed" in my garden where I can sit and enjoy the beauty of the world around me as it beckons my heart in measures of a splendid symphony. The summer breeze whistles gently through the pine and fir trees, while birds call out to each other in their musical tones of cheer. I hear my baby chicks happily "cheeping" as they explore the new world around them. Butterflies dance merrily among the blooms, while the crickets chirp happily in the shadows.  Hummingbirds buzz around as if their life depends on every drop of sugary fluid. A symphony without a conductor, and the only audience is me! 

I could sit in my garden all day and just soak in the beauty around me.

Oh... if only I could do just that!!

Mom arrived at the end of June, just in time to enjoy our beautiful cool weather. Coming from the triple-digit Texas heat, she was thrilled to be here! She stayed for 10 days, and left the day our weather turned hot! It was a blessed trip, and time for all of us, in every way. 

The glorious days of May have slipped by us so quickly - so much has happened in May that I haven't had time to post any updates.  The biggest event was a quick trip to Texas. My Dad's birthday was on May 19, and we gathered to remember him on his birthday. We also visited his grave where the tombstone was newly set. My sister and I visited Dad's tombstone with Mom for the first time and then the rest of our family gathered later. 

Mother... the very word is the embodiment of so many things!

My mother loved, gave, served, and dedicated her life to the Lord, and she leaves big footprints to walk in.

It's that special time of year that we look forward to during the winter - the time when the snow has finally melted, the mud has dried up, the cold snowy days have ceased, and Spring in all its glory has arrived.  The beauty of Spring never ceases to amaze every year! This year our spring has been a rollercoaster with days of warmth and sunshine, mixed in with many days of winter's chill.  But still... Spring has prevailed! 

Springtime blooms in Sandpoint, ID