
I have decided to join in with Emily Freeman's quarterly reflections on the past season. It is a great idea to look back and see what happened, and what I learned from it. I enjoyed looking back and finding these things in a highly unusual summer.
1. S'mores in the Grill
Every summer Robbie goes to camp at Medcamps, a special needs camp. He loves going. Due to Covid and the camp population, we had Medcamps at Home instead.
There were a few zoom meetings, and there were recommended activities. Robbie's favorite activity was to make s'mores. But we don't have a fire pit, and open fires are prohibited. What to do? My husband said - we'll make a wood fire inside our charcoal grill! I never knew that you could make a wood fire inside a S'mores - fire in a grill. It worked perfectly and Robbie enjoyed his s'mores a great deal (and so did we!).

2. Kebabs are the best food ever.
I have had kebabs before, but this summer, I fell in love with them. It was probably this recipe that cemented my deep love for them. Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs (note - I have always known these as Kebabs, but Kabobs is an alternate spelling that is also correct, according to Merriam Webster!) have been a lovely addition to our summer. We managed to make them for both Father's Day and for my birthday. While it was sad not to get to everything we normally do this summer, we had lovely times anyway.

3. Hummingbirds and relaxation
Hummingbirds are impossible to photograph with my phone -- and getting away by myself was one of the best things I have ever done. I went to a bed and breakfast that we had been to before, with my husband's blessing. I got time away from the stresses of life, which enabled me to relax, reflect, and find time with God. The other motive I had for getting away was to take time to figure out what I want to write and why. I learned a lot about myself. I also found that spark inside me that helps me write and I am writing again. Not as much as I'd like, but definitely a step in the right direction.
The view outside my room at the bed and breakfast.
There really was a hummingbird just a moment before the picture.
4. Buying New Shoes for Robbie, Made Easier!
It only took me forever to learn how to buy new shoes for Robbie in an easier way. Robbie is 16 and has autism, and buying shoes has gotten easier over the years, but still tends to be a minefield where he doesn't WANT to put on the new shoes. We've gotten him to try them on but then he wants to leave them at the store. This time, I looked at the old shoes' model number, googled to see if they still existed or if there was a new model of them. There was a new generation of that model, so voila, I had him try them on, and he wanted to take them home. He didn't want to WEAR them home, of course, but that would ha.taken a larger miracle than I received.
Ta-da!
5. Breathe
I know I know, a morning quiet time is a great idea. But I always seemed to need to get my bible out and all this other stuff, and then I had to get someone else ready to go, and by the time I was ready to read, I was all wound up.
I started using an app on my phone to read through the bible daily. Now I pick up my phone, turn off the alarm, and go to the app. The only way to explain what this does for me is this: It makes room in my heart to breathe. When the first thing I focus on is God's words, it help me focus on what is really important. My shoulders relax, I can breathe deeply, and by the time I roll out of bed, I feel relaxed, instead of worrying about what I have to do. I didn't expect it to be this helpful, but it has been the best thing I've done for me all summer.
6. Macarons
I can still learn how to bake new things. Also, baking with my adult daughter is so much fun. She wanted to learn to make macarons, so step by step, we figured it out. They were tasty and we think we can do better. We also learned that this green was a very bad color to tint the shells with, especially since we made a blueberry filling. But it tasted great!
7. Hurricanes can make it all the way up from the coast.
This was about a half hour before we lost power for the next couple of days. My usual response to friends wondering if we'll be affected by a hurricane was to say, "Don't worry! We live near the Arkansas border! It will be a tropical storm at worst!"
I will never say that again. Laura remained a hurricane until the storm was in Arkansas. Our town lost 95% of the power grid, and many people didn't have power for a week. And we are a community that is doing much better than most. While the Gulf Coast was hit by a cat 4 storm and is dealing with a full scale disaster, this wasn't just a rainstorm up here. We got hit by a hurricane. It was my first time going through a hurricane, and I hope it's the last time too.
8. Cats and Sunlight
I have known for decades that cats adore sunlight. Even if it's just a tiny bit, they will sit and absorb it. But... I didn't know that they would fight for it! Twice this past month, I've seen them going at it to have sole possession of a scrap of sunlight, even when there is another patch just a few feet away!
9. Watch out for those curbside orders!
It is very important to double check what you are ordering, especially when you are ordering groceries. Because you might think you ordered 4 potatoes.... but instead you ordered this:

Four 5-lb bags of potatoes. Oops. Thankfully I was able to give away 2 of the bags!
10. I am really not good at asking for help.
The reason I haven't been able to finish this blog post until today was that I have been very busy learning how to ask for help. I had ankle surgery last week and just getting down the hallway is a challenge. I have a knee scooter that I borrowed and it is very helpful, but sometimes I am so tired, I have had to ask for help just to make it to my foot! We've accepted help from our small group and church for meals, and it has been so nice to receive. I feel guilty at times, because I don't like to be a burden. But how can we give to others if we aren't willing to allow others to give help to us? I can't be the one taking care of everyone else, not even some of the time. I am not being a burden. I am just facing a harder time, one that should get better soon thankfully. It is a blessing to give, and a blessing to receive. I am glad that I am learning to accept help even a bit better!