Summer Snapshots

Tomorrow is the first day of school and just like that, our summer comes to a close.  I don't really like heat, more specifically humidity, so summer hasn't ever been my favorite season.  This year was different.  We got out.  We explored.  We relaxed.  We enjoyed summer.  I enjoyed summer.  Maybe it's the ages the kids are at or maybe it's the fact that we now have our own backyard? Whatever it was, I'm happy to have finally enjoyed summer, despite the heat ;)

I didn't get on the actual computer much this summer so here is a glimpse of our adventures the past few months!

Enjoying having our very own backyard!

Our private island in the Apple River!  Our elderly neighbor has been gracious enough to allow us to use his yard (which is riverfront property) to access this little island and explore whenever we want!

We went to three library programs this summer!  Touch-a-Truck, the MN ZOOmobile and "The Frog Guy!"

Boating on Pipe Lake!

Backyard camping over the fourth of July!

Fawn-Doe-Rosa

Hiking and exploring the falls at Willow River State Park!

Wildlife!

Polk County Fair!

Polk County Fair!

Amelia LOVES catching all the critters she can find and I LOVE that about her :)

Shot for Hope and meeting/chatting with Donnie Vincent!!!

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota State Fair

We enjoyed our summer but we are ready for fall!  We are ready to fall back into the routines that come with having a child in school.  We thrive on routine but it is just so darn hard for us to adhere to even a loose schedule during the summer!  Tomorrow the schedule returns and we will spend a few weeks figuring out our new routines for the academic year.  And I suppose it won't be long before we are all longing for summer 2016 to arrive :)

$30,302

I contemplated not even writing this.  It's not a happy story.  But there is hope.

Yesterday in a neighboring community a man killed his three young daughters.  Jason and I, along with everyone else we know, can't even comprehend how someone could do such a thing.  It's terrible.

Today a local business owner used his Facebook page to do something really quite amazing.  He posted that he wanted to raise funds for the mother of the girls to help with expenses.  He stated he would be downtown Hudson from 10-6 and set a goal to raise $10,000.

I text Jason on my break and asked if I should go down there.  He replied that he was already texting me to tell me to go.  So I went to give our humble donation.  We can't spare much but even a small amount is more than nothing I figured.

The entire drive downtown I was actually pretty nervous.  I wondered if anyone else would be there donating.  I wondered how my little check would even make a difference because $10,000 is a lot of money and so on.  When I got to the stoplight downtown I saw the makeshift donation center and while I waited at the light there was a steady flow of cars pulling in to donate.  I went and donated.  When I left there was a steady stream of cars.  The whole town turned out it seemed.

When I went I was shown where they were at in their fundraising.  $10,050.  I was shocked.  He hadn't even been out there three hours and the original goal was surpassed.  When I told Jason he said he hoped he could double that and do $20,000.  When I went online this evening I saw it posted that $30,302 was raised by this man, and the town, in just eight hours.  Triple the goal.

It just gave me a lot of hope.  There are still good people in this world.  A community raised $30,302 in eight hours for someone most of us have never met.  I just find that really amazing.  Despite all the bad that we are surrounded by in this world there is still hope. 

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16: 17

No gift is ever too small.  Our small donation, along with the small and large donations of others, made a huge difference.  Remember that the next time you only have a small amount to give.  Giving is giving - large or small.

Link to news coverage of fundraising HERE

MS Challenge Walk 2012

This weekend, Jason's sister, Liz, did her second MS Challenge Walk.  Last year it was over three days (and in October) and this year it was shortened up a bit to two days.  We had humid, 90-degree weather this weekend and I cannot imagine being out, walking, in it! 

We were at the capital waiting for the walkers to cross the finish line this afternoon!

Walkers approaching the Capital

2012 walkers - those in light blue, including Liz, are walkers who have MS

Jason and Liz

Amelia in orange for MS!

Group shot with almost everyone looking!

Next year's walk is in August and Liz is unsure if she will participate because of the heat.  Heat and MS don't mix well and as someone who lives with MS the summer months are not ideal.  Maybe in 2014 they will figure it out and switch it back to October like last year!

Great job walking and raising funds for MS research, Auntie Liz!