Fruits of Summer 2012

I did this post at the end of last summer, too, but was actually referring some real fruit I had grown.  Lazy way to reflect.  I've always loved summer with its change of pace, new adventures, and opportunity for real learning in the midst of it all...

• The only real fruit this year comes in our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box each week.  Lots of yummy produce & fun learning to cook it.  Favorite new recipe: Crunchy Asian Salad.  I didn't try to grow anything but wildflowers, strawberries, & some herbs myself and all but the potted herbs have died.  Didn't even get a single strawberry.
• Renewed love for my husband after watching him work so hard to care for us, for me in the midst of several very crazy months of tons of work for him preparing to deploy, trainings here and away, then cancellation of it all because he re-injured his back at the last, month-long training.  We re-learned never to know what to expect from God and gratitude that He has all things worked out better than we can imagine when we just trust Him.  Learned a lot about horse care during his absences.  And we're both working hard to take care of our backs.  He is still in intense physical therapy.
• Trip to San Antonio with him and the kids for one of his trainings.  Fun with old friends and some homeschool learning: Texas history at the Alamo and rocks & minerals at the Natural Bridge Caverns.  Also a lot of American history from watching Liberty's Kids when we in the hotel room.  Highly recommended, no-guilt TV for your kids.
• Couple of trips to Ft. Worth to see my family, including a week-long one for all the boys.  Big ones went to LEGO Camp at TCU and had a blast, learned some about robotics.
• Biggest boys also did swim team & a boys' book club this summer. 
• They are also working on reading patches from the library.
• Jude will continue with swim team this year and John Paul has started judo with friends.  Trying new sports & different ones for each, rather than soccer this fall.  A little sad for this soccer mom.
• Little pair did pre-school camp at church with fun crafts & games.
• And we all did VBS at church, too.  Cat Chat: Angels & Saints.  Solid & fun program.
• Mark is a fish in the water and swimming well, including in the deep end with a vest & going off the board.  Mary loves the water.
• Mary turned 2 yrs. on the 18th and is talking all the time.  She is sweet again & not as ornery as she had been the last few months, probably from frustration at not being able to express herself.
• New, even homeschooling friends for us all.  One family from book club & another from our CRHP experiences.
• Got some help w/ the problems I had been having w/ this blog and, combined w/ the fact that I have a camera again, I'm hoping to be a more regular poster, especially since we are using it for the CRHP Prayer Book project.
• Last but not least, Jesse & I both finished CRHP Formation and helped put on the Women's & Men's Retreats these past two weekends.  An awesome experience on both the retreatant & team ends.  God really has used it to renew our faith & show His power in our lives and those of our friends.  More on CRHP & the Prayer Book later...