Summer Bucket List

It's almost my birthday and First Official Day of Summer (June 21st).  However, this weekend marks the halfway point in my summer as far as my work is concerned.  Halfway between the last day of finals for students and the first day of August--when everything gets moving and rolling heading for Welcome Week and the first day of classes.  I feel as though I am just starting summer NOW.  The wind down from the year has been a little chaotic.  It's taken me since May 9th just to semi-catch up. And that doesn't mean I have caught up on home life.

But, truly, I have had some pretty fine summer moments in the last few weeks and plenty more to come!

Here's my summer fun bucket list--so I can let you know how we did post-August 1.

• Catch lightning bugs--DONE!

• Host a summer party for Madi's friends--YES, DONE!

• Host a summer party for my friends--IN PROCESS (tonight, although my friend Bethany is hosting, it's my event too--so it counts!)

• Read the Harry Potter series (again! but it's been awhile)--halfway thru book 2

• Have many s-l-o-w summer evenings of park, walks, sitting outside  (in process)

• Get to the beach!  (Oregon coast in July)

• Get away as a family--summer VACAY!!  (Oregon in July)

• Shakespeare at the Park--DONE! and more to come!

• Pool trips with Kai (I am aiming for 5 pool visits)

• Make homemade ice cream

• Make a container vegetable garden--YES

• Go camping as a family (this is planned for late Aug or early Sept)

• Restaurant date with Clint, sitting outside on a patio

• Day with Madi  (TBD)

Well, that's my list and we are doing pretty good at it!  That's encouraging! What's most important to me is that is feels like summer.  Which means things have to slow down.  And in life, the feeling of "slow" is hard to capture.  

Lately, I have been thinking that balance and the "slow" life is a feeling, not something I can schedule.  I can feel peaceful, relaxed and "slow" when there is lots going on.  Or I can feel pressured, intense and stressed when I don't have anything on my calendar.  Slow is a state of mind.  

Breathing deeply these days, taking it all in.  Spending lots of time watching my three-year-old enjoy life.  Taking walks in the evenings, watching the fireflies, remembering that this is the good life.  I have so much that is abundant, for which I am grateful.