Summer Fun with Family and Friends

 

''All in all, it was a never-to-be forgotten summer ... one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful family and friends, and delightful activities, came as near to perfection as anything can in this world.''

L.M. Montgomery

I don't really know where the last few months have gone, but as I look back through all our photos, I realize that we have been busy having way too much fun! After almost a year and a half of limited contact with those who are important to us, we took full advantage of catching up as we spent a ''never-to-be forgotten'' summer with our dear family and friends. 

Our summer ''visit-a-thon'' appropriately began on Memorial Day weekend when we pulled into Richmond, Virginia to spend a week with my youngest sister and her family. I knew that she would probably make a big deal of the fact that I was also turning a year older that weekend, but I was blown away by the extent to which she made sure that a monumental birthday was celebrated to perfection.

Unknown to me, she convinced my other sister to fly out for the festivities. After I got over the shock of seeing both of my sisters at the door, the three of us had a delightful week filled with laughter, reminiscing, delicious food ... and a wee-bit of wine.

What a delight to spend time with my sisters, even if it meant that I had to drink out of the wine glass that was labeled ''oldest''!

While at my sister's, I was also able to spend time with a dear friend who had recently moved to the area. Despite serious health struggles, Cheryl's smile still lights up the room. Her positive attitude reinforced to us how important it is to embrace each day as the perfect gift that it is.

A few weeks later, we were able to make a weekend trip to check out the fun city of Greenville, South Carolina which is the current ''home'' of fellow RVers and Habitat for Humanity volunteers, Cindy and Tim. Walking trails, waterfalls, restaurants, and of course, craft breweries were all an easy stroll from their current apartment. We enjoyed exploring the city with them and look forward to when we meet up again at our next scheduled Habitat build in Oneanta, New York at the end of September.

Continuing our journey north, we had to check out the new hometown of Doug's sister and family. Laurie took us on a tour of nearby Pittsburgh which we found had much more to offer than just steel mills. Afterwards she gladly allowed me to take over her kitchen to prepare a few family feasts.

When my cousin heard that we were staying at Starved Rock State Park in central Illinois, she and her husband gladly braved the pre-4th of July traffic pouring out of Chicago in order to join us for dinner.  We enjoyed some of some of my favorite Polish foods as she brought homemade kolacky and pound cake for dessert ... just like ''Busha'' used to make!

We arrived in our former hometown, Rochester Minnesota, at the beginning of July to continue our visiting marathon. Our dear friends, Mary Beth and Gary, once again made sure that we knew that ''their house is our house.''

I promptly took over her kitchen, and there were smiles all around when a chicken stir-fry dinner appeared ready for us all to enjoy after Mary Beth got home from work.

Their pool and patio were also always open to us and any of our other friends who wanted to cool off or share a meal together.

Our visit back to Rochester also allowed us to spend time with our friends' precious little ones who through the years have become our ''adopted'' grandchildren. What a joy to see how they have grown since we last saw them two years ago!

Daniel (age 4) loved making

ooey-gooey Silly Putty with us.

Luelle (age 1) delighted us with her

cute smiles and silly faces.

Ella (age 14) somehow got taller than

me since our last visit.

In fact, just about all of my dear church

friends now tower over me!

Doug may have had a legitimate reason to be ''tired out'' and ''talked out'' by the time we left Rochester. We have been so blessed over the years with friends who graciously welcome us back each year with open arms. They take time out of their busy summer schedules to ...

... share a home-cooked meal,

... give me the gift of girl-friend time,

... share memories of our past biking adventures,

... welcome us back to our old neighborhood,

... celebrate family and good health,

... plan for future traveling adventures,

... treat us to some our favorite Bar-B-Q,

... and light up our lives with friendship.

While in Minnesota, we also spent time in Minneapolis where most of my family lives.

Whether it was more ''sister time'',

... or ''flipping'' out at the annual 4th of July pool party,

... or hanging out with our son Kevin

and Pippy Longbody,

... and son Adam and Peter the Pug,

... or enjoying happy hour,

... and having my friend JoAnn meet my friend Joanne,

Time in the ''Cities'' is always fun!

We also took our ''home'' on the road to a few of the surrounding small towns. We enjoyed ...

... a night on the farm of my former

co-worker, Kim in Stacyville, Iowa,

... a volunteer opportunity at the MS TRAM

bike ride rest stop near Austin, Minnesota,  

... the best smiles during our

annual German Lake gathering of friends, 

... Lake Carlos fun, games and

chocolate pudding cake,

... a Lake Zumbro sunset pontoon ride,

... a ''never a dull moment'' visit at friends

Tim and Liz's newly completed lake home,

... a gathering of dear college friends who

still laugh about ''the good old days''.

We are grateful for our family and friends who filled our summer days with ...

Hikes!

Pickleball!

Biking!

Tubing!

Cooking!

Libations!

And Smiles!

This week we left Minnesota to continue our travels and RVentures. Canada opened their borders to fully vaccinated Americans, so we are currently heading to the eastern provinces of Ontario, Quebec and beyond. We are looking forward to exploring a new part of God's beautiful world and sharing our experiences with you. But we are also grateful for the chance to settle down for a bit and enjoy summer fun with family and friends.

Because ...

... summer is for celebrating,

... summer is for reconnecting,

... summer is for enjoying those

never-to-be forgotten moments!

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