Summer is slipping away, one sweet day at a time, but the anticipation of the upcoming school year is not the same as other years. I don’t know what we’re walking into at the end of next month, but I know it’s not going to be like any other year. And that breaks my heart a little bit.

There are too many unknowns, and so much can and will change between now and then. It would be so easy to dwell on all the possibilities and allow the stress to overwhelm me, but I won’t think about that right now.

Instead, I’m going to soak up this moment. I’m going to savor these summer memories.

My focus is on picnics,

chalk designs,

bubbles,

sprinklers,

water balloons,

playing in the mud,

ice cream,

popsicle smiles,

sticky fingers,

bike rides,

pool days,

campfires,

catching lightning bugs,

and beautiful sunrises on sunsets.

My focus is on my children and the memories we’re making.

We don’t know what the school year is going to bring, but we’re not going to worry about it right now. Let’s just worry about whether or not we’re going to change out of PJs today and decide if we’ll eat breakfast inside or outside at the picnic table.

Let’s soak up each sweet drop of summer!