Summer Dreaming

Summer is here! Hooray! It has been a wet summer, for all practical reasons. The grass is still green, all kinds of new plants in the ground, and everything seems to be growing. Many of the trees we thought would not survive the previous spring cutting by the village have come back strong. The newly planted Stella Lilies are growing well, and we have a few new places where plants have never appeared in the past. The only downer are the bunnies. They love our newly planted green beans. Every time one comes up and sprouts leaves, the rabbits chew them off. I think we will just give up and plant peas. They seem to leave them alone.

We are in the middle of Vacation Bible School, a program sponsored by four local churches in Suttons Bay. We have the largest group of kids in a long time--101. We are missing Pastor Don, from Keswisk United Methodist Church. He has been sent down state. Sorry to see him go, but Pastor Robin and I are taking up the slack, and things will go well.

Mary and I have plans to visit the Kesner's in Montana. We will fly out of Grand Rapids in the middle of July and spend Paul's birthday with them. We hope to visit Yellowstone Park, a dream we have both had. A member of the church is doing her internship there, and we hope to see her as well.

The synod Global Mission Committee will return for the "second" annual Latin American Luncheon. It has become a favorite of the group, and we hope to do a great experience for all the members who come.

I really hope to get into the shop soon. I have Angela's table to finish, a new credence table for the church to build, a new television stand for the living room to build, and a new headboard for our bed, long overdue.

Discovered some new local beers that I am looking forward to share at the Ohio Kuhlman's October Fest. Mary and I traveled to Ohio in June to look at some property for retirement. Though we have agreed on a property, we are keeping our options open to see if something else pops up. Hope to buy something this year, build on it next year, and then take the year to finish it off inside. We would like to live in it in 2-3 years. More on this in the months to come.

I love summer. I spend little time in the office and more in my shop; baseball is everywhere; football is in the making; everything is green and growing; and life is everywhere. Summer is a time for dreaming and making plans.