Summer winding down

Summer is winding down here at the Carlton house. School starts next week. Bob finishes CPE on Friday. I've been off work for nine wonderful weeks. I feel my batteries finally recharging. I actually cleaned the house this morning. Well, the truth is I cleaned before the cleaning people are coming. We haven't had cleaning people in two years, but we decided a one time clean would be a great way to start the new school year.

I have an interesting job possibility brewing. It totally seemed perfect when I interviewed. Now it has stalled a bit. I really want to listen and not just jump on a quick fix. I'm sensing that it will become clear. Either way the interview gave me great confidence. It also made realize that my options are wide open.

I'm feeling great about taking the summer off. Most of my fears have not been realized. I was sure we'd go broke if I took this time off. Actually, the money has worked out.

Labor day weekend we will go on our annual church family weekend up in beautiful Sonoma county. This weekend has been our commu nal glue for the past 8 years. We've watched babies grow to kids, marriages desolve,new love found, friends move, jobs lost and found. This is the place where friends have become family.

There is an ache in my heart knowing that this is our last Bishop's Ranch weekend. Whether we move or stay here after seminary we will be leaving this community. Over the past two years we have slowly moved out of this lovelvy community. But I sense that a new season is brewing for our family. A season of letting go. Part of the letting go is a deep gratitude for the wonderful community we landed in. And so my prayer for our annual Labor day pilgrimage is that we enter with deeply thnkful hearts for the love and hospitality that have been given to us. May we laugh hard, get little sleep, drink a little too much wine, and gently welcome new faces who can take our seats around the campfire.