Catching Up to Summer

I can't believe how quickly this last half of summer has gone!  I have been so busy I have hardly had time to think straight and now the school year is about to start! 

My life this summer seems to be all about a few specific things: weddings, art, and sunshine.  Other people's weddings, of course, but weddings seem to be happening ALL the time these days.  I feel like I went through a wave of friends getting married back about 5 or 6 years ago, and now, the wave has blown in again.  I have a wedding to go to every single weekend in August, and that is just the weddings of people I care a lot about!  I have invitations to several others but I don't intend to go to those.  I don't particularly care for weddings, especially wedding receptions.  I know.  Sue me. 

I am in the middle of taking a few art classes.  I have spent most of the summer being reminded that I used to have talents in the artistic realm and I have let them wither away and die.  Early this summer I determined to revive some of those skills as best I could while I had time to study the skills and practice, and I must say, I have been fairly successful.  I took an Art for Educators course which was a lot of fun and highly practical.  We studied many types of art media and I found myself encompassed by the sheer joy of creating things.  I also found that I am still good at the types of art I used to be good at.  Mainly I have been doing watercolor paintings and collaging.  I love both of these art forms and have found a lot of solace in the time I have set aside to focus on developing a talent and a hobby.  I find a lot of comfort in losing myself to the artwork.  It is like I can escape to another part of me that has been begging to exist. To that end, I also love feeling like I have a little bit of my "old self" back again. 

I have been trying to spend a lot of time outside, seeing as how I rarely see the sun or breathe fresh air during the school year.  I feel like I spend 9 months out of the year trapped inside my school and the other 3 are desperate for the outdoors.  I have been trying to do a lot of running, walking, biking, and hiking, but have also just enjoyed having time to sit on the porch, relax in the sun, and wander around the neighborhood.  Not aimlessly of course. 

I am on the verge of starting a new adventure (also known as the new school year) and I am hoping for the best.  I think this year will be the best year I've had and I look forward to my new batch of kids.  Believe it or not, I may almost be ready for them again.  I've actually missed them a little this summer and look forward to being back in the swing of things.  I sure am grateful for the summer I've had though, and wouldn't give it up for the world! (But maybe for a six figure salary).

Happy Trails my friends!  And hopefully I will be back soon!