Final Summer To-Do List Update

Sigh...now that I have been teaching for four weeks, I think I finally need to admit that summer is over. Honestly, though, this is the first time I really have had time to think about summer being over. My school year is off to a great start (my students are better behaved and working harder than ever before--thank you, Common Core), but it has been BUSY.

Here are the last few things I got done this summer (more or less):

• Finish decorating the laundry room, thanks in part to these lovely printables from View Along The Way (#13)
• Created a cool "ohana" sign for the Hamel family portrait session and spent about 45 minutes changing me and my son in and out of our street clothes, family t-shirt one, and family t-shirt two (#37)
• Made good use of the well-loved yard clippers, lopers, and garden shears my dad gifted to me--and goodness knows I love (almost) anything secondhand! (#46 & 47)
• Decided to go a different direction in our tiny entryway and nixed the family photo monogram project (#54 & 55)
• Finally surrendered the keys to the church building's nursery cabinets (nearly four months after I received a new calling), simultaneously releasing myself from ever doing a full reveal of the very cute Moon Valley Ward nursery--sometimes you just need to let it go (#59)
• Finally pulled the trigger and ordered a tripod, remote, and extra battery for my camera as my birthday gifts from my dad (FYI: I turned thirty in April) (#68)
• Relaxed, had fun, and enjoyed myself all summer long (#71)

What I learned this summer:

Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the choices I made this summer. When school started again, I was actually happy to start teaching. Although I worked hard all summer, I felt well-rested, centered, and relaxed. For me, keeping a project-centered life still makes the most sense, and this to-do list and these periodic updates were the best possible way to keep my summer on track.

Now what am I going to do for the other four seasons?