So long July. Until next year...

July is my favorite month of the year, and it is already over. It seems like just yesterday we were so eagerly waiting for the "nicer weather" to come along, and now we're already getting ready to shop for school supply lists and making fall plans.

There is something special about July to me. It's partly because Isaac's birthday and our anniversary is in July, and my favorite holiday, Independence Day. So many things and events and trips usually occur this month for us (along with some sort of family getaway) that's is always exciting to see what this month will bring each year. But it also has a lot to do with the fact that I just adore July because it's right in the middle of the year, in the "heat" of all that is summer, and it just makes my heart "melt." Boy, I'm on a roll with these puns.

July is like, in the midst of summer glory. The sun and heat beat down so hard, make you sweat, and all you want to do is jump in a pool and throw some dogs on the grill. And events, concerts, and fairs can be found on every corner. It's a midpoint...where summer is kind of just getting rolling, but as the month ends, it's on the downswing to fall. A peak, if you will. A highlight. My heart rejoices.

I love sitting outside on patios with friends enjoying a glass of wine, watching the condensation form on our glasses, or doing water balloons with my buddy just enjoying the slow-pace of life. There is more silence and peace in the world, it seems, and definitely in my spirit.

So, I always get sad when it is over. And then I get a wee bit excited for fall. Seeing the Jansport backpacks in Marshall's and the racks of paper and pencils in Wal-mart. The apples in season and the feelings of the first day of school, starting afresh. It's all so exciting.

Today I write to you from the office. We are in "slow" season right now and there's not a ton happening in the way of production. Most of our clients are on vacation and there aren't too many shows happening around the country. In this industry, it's typically a time to quiet down, take a breath, and gear up for fall (God help me).

I'm going to see the movie "Bad Moms" tonight with some girlfriends after work. They don't know it, but I already saw it with Isaac on vacation (we died laughing). It was one of the only good looking movies out at the time so we went for it. Though a bit raunchy, It was funny and I know I'll be laughing all over again.

As we enjoy the last few bits of summer and head into fall, I think about how Levi is starting his first year of kindergarten and how my heart can hardly bear it. He was just born yesterday, wasn't he?

For now, we'll soak up the rest of summer and enjoy it while we can.

(Papaw and Levi during his first fishing experience!)