Let the Summer Begin!

School is out for the summer and all the extracurricular activities that run during the school year have finally wound down only to be replaced with summer madness.

DIGGING IN THE DIRT. I’m guessing Jenna is the only high school girl within at least a hundred miles of here who heads to her very own garden the day her summer vacation begins and works for five hours. That’s exactly what she did when she finished her last final and Vicki picked her up from school two weeks ago today.

The garden is doing really well. If it doesn’t produce it won’t be due to neglect. That girl is out there weeding and watering most every day.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. What made Memorial Day weekend so fun was that the Cotters came up for a quick visit. They arrived Friday evening and left Monday morning. We had the most perfect weather while they were here. There is absolutely no way we could have asked for better.

On Saturday we went to White House to help our scout pack and troop place flags on veterans’ graves in the two cemeteries there. That done I took Alex in my truck and let him get some driving practice on narrow, curvy, country roads since he doesn’t have those where he lives. He sure got a driving workout. We were on one curvy backroad when he met a cement mixer on a narrow bridge. I also made him drive large figure eights around the church parking lot ... in reverse ... with mirrors only. We visited all that afternoon and went to the Catfish House in Springfield for supper.

Sunday morning found us at church. We had planned a late lunch afterwards because the Dees joined us from Ashland City. We set up picnic tables in Mom’s backyard and all enjoyed the breeze while we ate and talked. I had brought over one of our model rockets to shoot off. I had three engines for it, but unfortunately the wind carried it into the trees and we lost it the first time we launched it. When the Dees left and we had put everything away we headed to the Franklin Drive-in to take in the movie Epic (which is entertaining but doesn’t live up to its name in my opinion). This was the first the Cotter boys had ever seen a drive-in movie.

GEORGIA FUN. Last Thursday Vicki and the kids headed south to visit the Jones family. I have a project at work that will keep me in the office most of the summer, but I followed them down the next day. We enjoyed the usual family time together playing games, playing tennis, swimming, and eating. I feel like I’m really glossing over the visit given how I’ve summarized it, but what is invaluable to me, all of us really, is the time to just stop, relax, and enjoy each other. The Jones house is a place of restoration for us and there’s really no way to put that into words.

END OF THE SCOUTING YEAR. Our scout troop had their final court of honor last night. Ben had achieved his Tenderfoot rank and beginning July 1 he will serve as the assistant patrol leader for his patrol. The boys and I will go to summer camp toward the end of the month, but for now we have Monday and Tuesday evenings free.

UPDATE ON ANNIE FANNIE. That is my cousin Judy’s nickname for my mom which makes me chuckle every time I see it.

I took Mom to the doctor for a checkup on her mouth on Friday. He said things are healing very nicely and that she should be ready to be fitted for a partial by August. We are very pleased to hear that. Mom goes in this Friday for a heart catheter and a stint if needed. She will only stay overnight if they do put in the stint. Low risk as this is we do appreciate your ongoing prayers.

Joe