~ Of changing Seasons & Times~

(This is the picture I took standing at the top of the mountain...our driveway is where you see the white * in the center of the picture...you can click on the photo's to see them better)

Yesterday afternoon Mark & I, Mark's sister Stephanie & her son...our nephew, Adam went for a hike....the mountain we hiked up is part of Stephanie & Rick's farm...the farm is just down the road from our house..and the mountain we hiked up sits directly across from our house..I love looking over at the mountain and seeing the cows grazing.....just little white dots scattered on the hillside. There were quite a few trees up on top of the mountain with their leaves just turning from yellow to orange..soon the entire mountainside will be bathed in gorgeous color. We are going to hike back up in the fall..so I can get some pictures of it. Mark wants to camp up there next summer...but I'm not sure I want to pitch a tent up there...first of all....the cows graze in that field..we were constantly stepping over cow patties..I'm not sure I want to camp in cow patties...plus...that mountain is full of coyotes....bobcats...and bears..people have even seen a mountain lion in this area..so I'm thinking...no at this time :). But I'm sure he'll talk me into it before next summer rolls around.

(Another view from the top..the red barn you see belongs to the farm next door to our house)

....Fall will be here in the blink of an eye and we will all shake our heads and wonder how Summer passed so quickly. I think about how fast time goes by allll the time..do you do that ..... ponder on how quickly things change???? I do......I look back at what I was doing last week, last month....or last year at this time...what the weather was on those days...what was happening in our life at the time..who was there...things like that...for example.......last weekend..we went to the Woodsmen Field days in Boonsville..and it was so hot and humid it was unbearable...the weather this weekend is completely different..and it's only been a matter of days...it's crazy how fast time goes by and how quickly things change isn't it. Last year at this time we were getting the kids settled into their dorms...Jenna for another year.....Kurt for his first...there was the craziness of signing in...getting the room assignment...rushing to the book store for books..getting all the necessary schedules, passes, rules and keys....Gosh this year is so different...Kurt is living off campus this year....sharing the house that Jenna & Ben live in...It will be wonderful...they will both be in the same place..so when we visit...it will be easier and nicer......but....due to the fact that he wasn't going to be living in the dorms..he needed a lot less stuff...and he knows the routine of all that needs to be done at Paul Smith's for his signing in and such.....for returning students it's much quicker and easier.....we didn't go up for the "Official" check in day.....and...I kinda..well..to tell the truth..not kinda....I feel lost....like I don't know what to do with myself.....I feel this overwhelming feeling that there is something I should be doing....but I'm not. Classes start tomorrow...and I don't have any lunchboxes to get ready!!!!!!!!

It seems like yesterday they were in grade school..and there was school clothes shopping to be done....school supplies to be purchased...backpacks to get ready...snacks and lunch stuff to buy and lunchboxes to prepare.....I loved all of it...I'm not saying I don't love where my children are now....they are both SO happy......living on their own....loving college......loving their lives and are both in wonderful relationships with fantastic people...it's a good feeling when you know...your kids are grown...... they are happy, healthy, wonderful people...and that you must have done it right...BUT....(Jenna...2 years Old..my favorite picture from when she was young..look at that face!!!)

(Jenna...age 22 & her friend Jules (Jenna is on the right).....I love this picture..she still has that same wonderful smile!)
(Kurt...1 year old!!! Oh my gosh..what a love!!!..this is my favorite baby picture of Kurt!)

(Kurt....age 20....my baby is all grown up!)


....... you will never forget..and feel just a little bit sad for those days when they would come bounding into the house with dirty faces and red cheeks flushed from bike riding asking what's for dinner...knowing that after bath's and stories..they would be safely tucked into their beds under your roof that night!

Have a good day everyone,

Doreen