The Summer

It's funny how it happens. The times you go into thinking the worst somehow ends up being salvaged and being the best after all. Like this summer. On the tail end of six months of upheaval and 'I'm packing', 'No, I'm staying', 'Nope, I'm packing again!', here came a summer of experiences. I'm guessing that this would be God's gift to me throughout the chaos.


I'll try to summarize with clarity, but some moments are just moments. Words can't really do them justice.


After my 'Almost 40' party, I came back to the Island while the kids stayed in Ontario with all the amazing supports I have there. .....mostly my mother! I tried to make good use of the time and re-did the boys' room. It was a total shock to them both. Here is the end result.
Picture #1 is the room when you walk in the door. Picture #2 is Michael's side, complete with Pirate poster and Christmas lights for ambience! Picture #3 is Samuel's side, fully furnished with Spongebob! Behind the white dresser in Sam's part is a small desk hidden away, and under his bunkbed, I created a little fort for playing, which he loves. Michael has a table in his section where he has been building and painting a small birdhouse before bed each night. It's all worked out beautifully, but kudos must go to those who actually made it work for me.
Marlene, the amazing, made the drapes, almost before the thought had made it into my mind! Ken and Lori-Ann worked tirelessly at hanging the drapes from chains and steel pipe from the ceiling. It created a very masculine feel, which the boys appreciated, I'm sure!!



I read a blog recently and there was reference to the 'Top 10 list' of things they wanted to do. I guess I've sort of made my own twist on that and called them 'PEI Moments'. Sort of like things I wanted to experience in PEI. I do have a separate list of places I want to see and experiences I want to have before I die, but these are specifically Island things. I can be walking down the street and see a 4-pc jazz band playing at dusk, and that is my PEI Moment. One of the things that I really have wanted to do was go out on a boat. I love the water, and it did seem fairly pointless to move all this way and never get out on the water. So I snuck aboard the 'Golden Moments' trip (the senior's group at the church) when they went Deep Sea Fishing.
This would be 'Charlie' the first mate. A true Islander, a true fisherman and the craziest guy on the planet! Doesn't the water look nice and calm?? Doesn't it appear to be the perfect evening for deep sea fishing?? Well, all I can say, without ruining this lovely picture, is that by the end of it all, 8 out of 18 of us were hanging our heads over the side of the boat feeding the fish! The swells were extremely high and in my defense, even those who have been avid boaters were 'losing it', so I didn't really feel so bad. All in all, I did get out on the water. I would love the chance to try it again on a night when things were a bit calmer, but I still love the water and still would jump at any chance to be out on it.


A couple more pictures. Michael and I.
Yes, that would be me, CLIMBING A ROCK WALL. Surprisingly harder than it looks. Michael, of course, did very well, but I think he was secretly happier with my effort than even his own! He tends to be very pleased when I am a good sport and try something new. Funny thing about the climbing that I didn't realize before, how all your body is supported by the tips of your fingers and the balls of your feet (if there's even room for those, sometimes just your big toe!!!)

Many more moments over the summer were fantastic. I heard some pretty amazing live music this summer. For me, that is what embodies most of the PEI experience. Walking down by the water and some French man playing his guitar and singing quietly over by a building. So peaceful.

Samuel has had an amazing month of camps in August. He went to Seggie (the local church camp) the first of the month and just got back from Oak Acres in Murray River on Sunday. Michael left that same day for Seggie, and he'll be back just in time for school to begin. Both boys have relished the fact that they get 'Mom' all to themselves for an entire week. Nice that that still means something to a 13 yr old.

Anyway, I should actually try and post more often, and I will try and do better at that. Off to get ready for the day now.

Take care.