We have friends who have a beautiful swimming pool in their back yard. For three years now, they have been so sweet to let our family come enjoy the pool. Here’s a picture from three summers ago. The boys were so timid in the water then…
Now? They are all over the pool – diving, having contests, and playing swimming games. It’s awesome to watch. We’ve been away from home most of this summer, so we haven’t had as much pool time as we would have liked. Now that we’re home and settled into some sort of routine, we’ve gone swimming every chance we could grab. It’s been great motivation to get our schoolwork done each day. Ahhh, a fantastic, refreshing reward for hard work – and P.E. at it’s finest. :)
I love sunshine, heat, Vitamin D, and pool exercise. But alas, all good things must come to an end, at least for a time. Tis the time of year for our friends to shut their pool down for the season. This week we’re experiencing cooler weather – and by cooler, I mean that temps are what most people consider perfect. Mid to upper 70’s. Who doesn’t love that? (me, maybe?) I do – really I do. This weather is gorgeous. I just like 90° best – because I do. ;)
Recognizing that swimming just wasn’t going to happen today, or tomorrow, or again probably until next summer – and because our house was actually a bit chilly (who knew?) I coped the only way I knew how. I baked.
I love everything about summer (like, I crazy love it) – but I do miss baking. So yay for chillier weather (she said with a half-smile and a shrug). Today I got to bake!
Malachi and I had fun making Chocolate Graham Crackers. I’ve been pretty intentional the past few weeks about teaching him cooking skills. He did most of the mixing and measuring himself, then decided that shaping crackers with cookie cutters would be way more fun than simply cutting them into squares. But of course.
Eek, a few got overdone. My apologies to the blackened bunnies. We will eat you anyway.
Justus and I made a double batch of Dark Chocolate Almond Granola. This is so great to have on hand for quick breakfasts and snacks. The house smelled so good while this was baking!
Summer’s not over yet and you can bet I’ll be soaking up as much sunshine as I can during the next few weeks before…oh, I can’t even say it. La, la, la, I am in denial in my happy, warm place – and that is where I shall stay for now. But yay for all the blessings (like baking!) that come with the change of seasons. I love how God shows us His goodness through everything.
And now I want to hear from YOU. Tell me how you are, how God is working in your life, and what you are thankful for. Go!
Robyn Owens-Miille says
Come visit Texas. 102 here in Fort Worth today!
Sandra @ Sandra's Ark says
I am thankful that God loved me first before I even did anything.
http://www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/its-gods-love-8.html
Deb says
I am thankful for our church’s family camp we had this past weekend, where temps were in the mid to high 60’s and the kids still went swimming and canoeing! It is all perspective to what is warm in Montana! ;)
Shelley says
I love the heat also, and we didn’t have much of it this summer in Wisconsin. I always get a bit melancholy at the end of summer because I know I might be stuck inside for months, but on the other hand I do like baking and will be looking forward to starting up the wood burning stove and crocheting a baby blanket for my new grandchild to come in December.
Annie T. says
I had to smile when I saw the title of your post… My brothers and I have been trying to swim as much as we can before it gets too cold at the pond!
Lisa Appelo says
So thankful that on the hardest days, in the deepest loss, God is there and we can still bless his name.
Kristin says
It hasn’t been especially warm here in Upstate New York this summer, and it seems like we had more rain than usual. So we didn’t get to swim as much as I would have liked. I am looking forward to baking again and to making some of my fall/winter recipes again. I miss them.
And I am grateful that we didn’t have any spells of really hot and humid weather this summer.
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
I’m thankful for work! We might not have as much as we’d like to, but it’s enough for now. I’m also thankful for your Chocolate Graham Cracker recipe. :)
Barbara says
God is definitely trying to teach my family something right now, but honestly, I haven’t figured out what it is yet. Something is happening in our lives that we don’t understand. We’re just praying and listening and waiting for Him . . .
We too are thankful for a neighbor’s pool! My twins have been enjoying it about once a week this summer. I’ve seen their swimming fears disappear and their skills increase. Fun, exercise, vitamin D and fresh air all in one!
I’m also thankful for your menu plans each week. They challenge me to make my own menu and to do my best to stick to it, saving money and staying healthy.