August is probably the busiest month of our summer! Here in the Hudson Valley, school doesn’t start until after Labor Day, so activities are still going strong. It is also a big birthday month for us, and everything was happening at once this week!
Our oldest turned 22! He had the day off, so we had lots of time to visit and go out to dinner. We often do alternate desserts for birthdays in our house (and sometimes not a dessert at all for those who don’t have a sweet tooth). But we all were so full from the diner, that the Boston Cream donuts went home with the birthday boy.
Our middlest turned 19! Their friends were all over to celebrate in the morning — the band is embarking on a pre back-to-college mini-tour. It was a joy having these guys camping in our yard and celebrating with birthday bagels.
And our youngest returned from a week at Camp Veritas! I just adore this photo of the girls in their camp shirts. My girl is the one in the middle — no surprise that she has the brightly colored shirt, because that is just her personality! For those who aren’t familiar, Camp Veritas is a Catholic summer camp for teens. This is her third year going! The first year we tried it out because it was offered in our parish as an alterative to weekly CCD classes and she just loved the experience. This year it was totally and entirely up to her because she made her Confirmation last fall, so we are done with all the religious ed, but she couldn’t wait to go back. It is a wonderful (phone-free!) week of fellowship, faith, and fun. Her big accomplishment this year was doing the zipline. She has always wanted to try ziplining and there happened to be one at Lake Champion. But when she got up to the top she was absolutely in tears because she started to get nervous. Nevertheless, she did it, and I am so proud! A big exercise in trust and faith to be sure!
So now we are down to the last stretch of summer! Noah heads back to campus, we have a last-minute getaway planned, then Community Day, Labor Day, and back to school for Laura!
I’m curious: do your towns have Community Days? I guess it’s like a very small town fair. Most towns around here have them and local organizations all have tables to share information about their work, I’m reading and hearing so many people saying they think we all should just be focusing on our own families and I just don’t understand it. Community and service is so important to me, and as much as I complain sometimes, I am almost never regretful for getting involved in an organization or event, or volunteering somewhere. I think if more people were community-minded and willing to help neighbors the world would be a nicer place. But since I can’t change people’s minds, I will just joyfully keep doing what I am doing!