According to the calendar, we are about three weeks into fall, but of course here in North Carolina that can be debatable each day. Anyone who knows me well knows that I live my entire life for summer. I definitely inherited that from my dad. I thrive in the sunshine, sitting by a body of water with a good book, wearing all the bright colors, and enjoying the longer days. I will never forget my dad teaching me the trick of rubbing a dab of sunscreen on my nose year round, just to have the smell of summer. It's a great way to fight seasonal depression!
The funny thing is that even though I love summer more than any other time of year, it's also a big triggering time for me. During the past chunk of years, the majority of my big life events and changes have all happened during the summer. Many of these have turned out positively, but many have also been more difficult than I can share right now. Because of this, I have this subconscious anticipation of bracing myself when those warm months roll around, wondering what's coming.
During the summer of 2022, I began the season stable in my current job and home at the time. My goal was to just have a calm, status quo summer. Well, God definitely laughs when you tell him these plans, because July 3rd, 2022 drastically altered that course, as well as my entire upcoming year. That night I received the very unexpected call that my dad had passed away. I will forever think of 2022 in two halves, with a giant fork in the middle.
This past spring, I began fervently praying for the summer of 2023. I prayed for it to not only be calm, but to be enjoyable and quite possibly the best summer that I could recall in recent years. I wrote this in my journal daily, worshiped during my daily walks, just praising God for the sunshine, both literally and figuratively. Now, I can confidently say that God went above and beyond in answering those prayers!
My summer began in May, with my dad's estate sale. My mom and I, with the help of so many, spent every single day since July 3rd, 2022 in preparation for this. It was held Mother's Day weekend, which was also symbolic for both of us. To say that a weight lifted once it was over is a huge understatement.
I then got to take a quick best friend trip to one of my all time favorite cities, Charleston, SC. If I had to pick 3 places to move to in the country, Charleston would definitely be one of those. I mean, I don't know anyone more fitting to live in a place with rainbow row?!
Shortly after Charleston, I ventured to Spain on the trip of a lifetime to celebrate one of my dearest friend's weddings! However, days before leaving on that adventure, I had the remarkable gift of closing on my brand new house - something that was so far beyond my reality one year ago, it was genuinely hard to fathom. My closing occurred on Flag Day, a huge God wink about my dad!
After returning from Spain I had the very unwelcome gift of a kidney stone, that brought the blessing in disguise of forced rest. I could not pack, I could barely work, but my mind and body desperately needed a break. I am also eternally thankful for my friends who stepped up during this time to help in insurmountable ways! Once I was fully healed from Fred, as the kidney stone was dearly named, I was able to move into my adorable house and begin creating my Barbie dream home!
August was highlighted by a trip to my other all time favorite destination, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, with my mom. It is impossible to not feel peace in that island air. It was rejuvenating and recentering in the best ways. It also helped kickstart September, my birthday month, on a positive note. I was determined for the entire month to feel like a new start, and it certainly did. I celebrated my big day with a handful of my closest friends, and ended the month honoring my dad's birthday by scattering his ashes in Key West!
If that doesn't wrap up a summer to remember, I can't imagine any alternative! In January, I set one of my yearly goals to be travel. I was unsure if it could become reality this year, but it's a long term goal for sure. Well, with the exception of July, I have traveled every month of 2023 so far, making unforgettable memories. God is so good, and this has been the summer for the record books. I have grown, I have learned, and I have lived. I have nothing but positive anticipation for what the upcoming seasons will bring!
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