I always feel like the 4th of July holiday is like the Christmas of summer. There’s so much excitement building up to all the parties and fireworks! But when it’s over, it seems like back to school is just around the corner. Like an end of summer countdown just began.

(I won’t complain — I LOVE back to school shopping!) 

(I also won’t complain because that means fall’s getting closer, which means cooler weather!)

But I literally just looked at the calendar on my iPhone and and counted: we have the rest of this week plus exactly 6 weeks left before school starts up again for our family on August 22nd.

And I am determined to make these six weeks count!

Some of the weeks already are bringing excitement with them, like the week in August when we get to visit with my brother who is flying in from Japan!!! 

And the last week of July will bring its own excitement of sorts, when my in-laws come from Puerto Rico to help us while my husband goes in for brain surgery … again. He had a brain tumor removed back in 2004, and now, twelve years later, he had a seizure, caused by a new tumor. So there’s that.

Thankfully, we live very close to MD Anderson in Houston, which is one of the best places to go for medical issues like this. I am also thankful that the doctors say the tumor looks benign and the outcome should be great! They don’t expect my hubby to need chemo or radiation. Thank God!

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why I’m not just about making each week in the summer count but really making every day count.

I’ve actually been keeping a little note pad stuck to the refrigerator, highlighting ALL the fun stuff we’ve already been doing. The month of June was pretty epic:

• Summer reading kickoff at the Kingwood Library!

• FREE Houston Symphony concert featuring Star Wars & more John Williams classic film scores!

• My son Christopher’s 4th & 5th grade Next Level camp at Carolina Creek with our church, Second Baptist!

• My daughter Allyson’s week visiting the Abuelos (grandparents) in Dallas! She loved my mom’s church VBS week, too! And we loved going to pick her up & enjoying some In N Out Burger while we were there!

• Plus, we had fun celebrating my birthday … it’s not every day mommy turns FORTY! 

Add to that a few random play dates, pool fun, park visits and lots of Chick-fil-A, and we can’t complain. 

You especially will not hear me complain because, ever since my son was born, I’ve been a working mom. Summers were harder to juggle, finding child care. I’m BEYOND thankful for the month of June and all the fun we’ve had, with me staying home! Bliss!!!

Plus, we were able to celebrate the Fourth of July in our neighborhood with an awesome fireworks display!

The next six weeks will definitely be interesting. I’ll do my best to keep ’em filled with fun, catching up with TioTat from Japan! Visiting with the Abuelos from Puerto Rico! Squeezing in the super fun Houston Zoo, Aquarium & many museums (especially on free museum days!) 

Of course, we’ll continue praying for another miracle with Daddy! 

At the end of the day, I think we’re going to end up with an EPIC summer!!! And I hope you’ll do the same! 

Keep a note pad on the fridge to remind the kids, especially on boring days, of all the fun days (past & future!)

And even when we’re down to the last week of summer, Lets! Make! It! Count! 

Love,

Coppelia