Firsts of the Summer...

My summer has started, though I still find it hard sometimes to believe that it's summer.  Did I really teach my kids everything? Surely, I missed something - shouldn't I be talking about math?  Those moments come and go frequently - but they are just brief - I shrug and move on - it's SUMMER!  

This post is title the firsts of the summer... first Road Trip... first book read... first packing and unpacking...  Since summer has started - it has brought the first of my summer travels - to Oklahoma.   In a couple of days, I will drive to Michigan to spend some time there before traveling to Europe in July.  I am ecstatic about my summer travels - where all they will lead, I do not know yet... but here are some of the firsts! 

I am back to Memphis after my first 'Road Trip' of the summer.   One of my friends from work invited me to go with her to the "Women's College World Series" in Oklahoma City.  Me, being the huge softball fan that I am (just a little sarcasm here) said yes.  It's not that I'm not a fan of softball - I enjoy it, as I enjoy most sports - but it's just not one I get on my non-cable-tv very often.  So, I figured it sounded fun, and decided to go.  I'm not sure if I knew what I was getting into - but it was fun.  In all, I saw 10 softball games at the field and then 3 others on TV.   It was a good time.  The seats were right at first base - the back row of the front section - it was a clear view of the everything (that is until the fan section stood up - then you had to peer around them).   Yesterday, it was an exciting game in which the University of Washington ended up winning, and winning the National Championship.  It was definitely a fun experience. 

While we were in Oklahoma City - we also went to the OKC Memorial.  It was a solemn experience - I remember being in Searcy visiting my sister on spring break.  I was in 8th grade.  To see history, and relive those moments - solemn is the best way I can describe it.   It was one of those moments that the best thing I could thing of was to pray.  To pray for the people who were affected - to pray for the families - to pray for the people who were there.  I am glad we were able to see it. 

On another note - I also finished my first book of the summer, The Shack.   I started to read this back in March/April... I got 60 pages in and realized I wanted something light-that I didn't have to think about-something I already knew.  But, wow.  It was a great book.  There were some things that I had heard, some things that took me by surprise, it was great.  I'm sure that I could've read it in a day if I had needed to - but it was great to read some, and walk away and think and process it.