The Goodness of Summer

I love summer.

Seriously, I wish it was summer all year long. People are so much more relaxed. It's fun to see kids out of school. Family vacations are planned. The sun is out longer. You can eat popsicles everyday without guilt. Normal schedules at church are tossed out the window, which means time for days at the water park, coffee with parishoners, and Vacation Bible School. Tonight was our first night. It was fun. I forgot how much fun VBS can be when you're not the one in charge.

Our Saviors, like 75% of the other churches in the area, are using Group's Crocodile Dock. Gosh, they must make a killing off of us. If I were better at curriculum planning, I would write my own and sell it for half the cost. Still, it was fun to see Chadder the Chipmunk again and to learn some new songs. I even got the job of "Skeeter" for the opening skit. Aren't I lucky?!

With VBS week here, it also means that my time in Arizona is drawing to a close. It's not time to say goodbye forever yet, but some goodbyes have been in order.

Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to do the whole service at Epiphany by myself. No other pastors present. That was kind of fun, and it was a Communion Sunday! Then I zipped over to preach at Gold Canyon for my last Sunday there. They had a nice sending service for me. It was very nice. The Hackneys even took pictures.

Can you guess what I'm thinking in this funny picture? I have no clue, but I was really happy in that moment.

Plus, we had cake together! It was delicious.

So now, I have VBS the rest of the week, interrupted by our Synod Assembly Thursday--Saturday. Then at 4 am on Sunday I head to the airport to catch a ride to Romania. 10 days later I return for a brief hiatus, then it's off to camp for a week, which means soon after I take a quick jaunt back to Minnesota for emily & Colby's wedding! Two weeks later, I pack up my stuff and head north.

The rest of my time here is going to go by fast. I am confident though that it will be well spent.

Plus, I'm just happy I'm not counting down 400 hours worth of work at United like I did last summer.

Hope you have been enjoying the goodness of summer. If not, have a popsicle! Somehow, it makes everything seem a little better.

Peace--
HGJ