Labor Day 2013 has come and gone and with it the start of another school year is the current “buzz topic” around our communities. It’s been awhile since I’ve had the privilege of chiming in with other moms either lamenting or cheering the fact that my own kids would return to school, leaving me to either cherish or grieve the silence of our home. My home is quiet with the absence of my now young adult children. Our oldest, a daughter, lives a short distance from us and is currently very well established in a career holding down a management position. Our son lives a bit further away and attends Eastern Michigan University and works part-time. He is scheduled to graduate in June 2014. Sarah is also enrolled in one course at Lansing Community College. So, although my house is “quiet” and they are no longer in public education, they are both wrapped up in the school year routine.

When the kids were home and life centered around their schooling for those nine months from grades K through 12 our family pretty much planned our lives based on that calendar. As they got older and more involved with sports our schedules got even tighter and some weeks down-right hectic. Until one or both could drive the wheels on our van never seemed to stop turning. Running from practice to practice or a quick drive through for a bite to eat was a common thread as we tried to maintain who needed to be where at what time. You know what I mean. It was a God send when we connected with another family or two (or three) to help share in the transportation.

It’s only Sept. 3 and yet I’ve heard several people say “well, summer’s over”. I have to laugh because when our kids hit high school we pretty much figured our summer ended mid August when they began practice for fall sports. Now that those years are far behind me, I like to think that summer isn’t over until it’s over….and how will that look? Do I have to go by the official calendar date that marks the end of summer? Can I go by the outside temps and the ability to still wear sandals and shorts? Or enjoy the gentle breezes through open windows rather than closing everything to turn on air conditioning?

As much as I want or would enjoy having summer extend past August there’s just something about September. Even though the days are still warm and sunny (allowing one to wear sandals and shorts) there’s a different feel and smell to the air. A walk around my yard reveals evidence of plants slowly dying from their full vibrancy getting ready to go dormant for another winter. Taking a deep breath brings aromas that aren’t here in June or July….the smell of cooler air, the changing of the leaves, the dryness of the yard….fall definitely has its own “smell” and no amount of lamenting or cheering can change that fact.

After 10 years this is my first full summer being home. When I came home full-time in early May I thought “wow….I’ve got the whole summer to do what I want and when I want”….amazing now that I look back that I didn’t accomplish quite everything on my ‘summer dream list’. But that’s okay because now I’m easing into the arms of fall and actually looking forward to winter. With each season I gain a new sense of excitement as the natural changes of nature occur. I get bored easily and for that reason the change of seasons help to keep me anticipating and expecting new experiences and opportunities personally and within my family.

Summer 2013 has many memories recorded in my “treasure bank”, many of which I will pull to the front of my mind later this fall and into the long days of the coming winter. When I bring up a “treasured memory” hopefully it be over a glass of fresh apple cider or a mug of hot chocolate when the first snowfall creates a blanket covering the remnants of all that was fall. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy each day, revel in any ability to continue wearing sandals and shorts and embrace what each day has to offer while anticipating my first deposit to my Fall 2013 “treasure bank”.