Summer endings...

Summer is quickly coming to an end, and we've been trying to squeeze out every drop of it.

Some things have been planned, others completely impulsive, but doesn't that make for the best mix of memories and fun? 

Jetty Island is a fun place to visit.  It's only open during the summer months.  It's not quite the beach, but it's pretty close with real sand (not rocks) and salty water from the Puget Sound.

One morning I surprised the kids with my plans for Jetty Island and had them eat breakfast on the table while I finished mopping the kitchen floor.   

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A friend of a friend had a loaded apple tree.  Free apples for anyone willing to pick.  

We gathered some large bins and picked them all.  

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Another fun day was spent at a friends house - picking blackberries and more apples. 

My "adventure" friend is also in the same season of life with Olders and Littles and homeschooling.  She inspires me to press on and look for fresh approaches to this sometimes daunting path.

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One lazy morning I got a call from a nearby neighbor.  Her green beans were ready and we could come pick if we wanted some.  

The Lord is so good and faithful to provide such abundance and all for free.  Even though canning is a lot of work, when the produce is free, it's sure worth it. 

We ended up with 10 quarts of green beans, 35 quarts of applesauce (with plenty leftover for cidering), 6 pints of blackberry jam, and 6 half pints of plum butter.  

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Eric's company picnic is always a fun event. 

Lots of free food and swag.  This year was a Hawaiian theme.

They have lots of bouncy houses, and blow-up slides for the younger crowd.  

This year they added a blow up water slide.   Perfect for the 90 degree day.

A group of Hawaiian hula dancers performed while others played the ukulele. 

And so hula lessons, of course. 

Also a zip-line for the adventurous. 

We were adventurous too.

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 And a family day at Jetty Island.

The clam was still inside locked up tight. 

The tide was waaay out.  They had fun in the wet sand.  

Still tackling her summer reading list. 

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We've had a lot of fun this summer.  I'm not really ready for cooler, cloudy days, but school days with routine is always nice to return to.  
The summer garden was truly a flop except for the beets and basil, surprisingly.  
When I work in the garden the Lord brings to mind so many parallels.  Since we have expanded the garden, it's clear to see that the dirt in the new section is not very fertile. 
I want my heart to be able to receive His Word, like rich soil that produces an abundance of fruit. Just like a plant is known by the fruit it produces, I want to produce spiritual fruit that even those who don't know me see something beautifully different.  

Faith results in hope.  (well, depending in what you put your faith) and hope results in joy! 
I pray these three things are abundantly evident in my life.  (The source of my faith is God, the hope I have is in Christ and His finished work of the cross, and this is the joy of my heart.) 

Until next time... and I'll try not to be gone so long.
~Carol