Today is the last day of having to teach summer school! Yay!! We are saying good-bye to 3 students who will be going off to a public school setting (special needs kindergarten). And 1 student will be switching classrooms. This leaves us with 5 new students in September joining the remaining 7 students we've had since July 8th. It's a bittersweet day. The children we are saying good bye to have been with us for 2 years. It always brings tears to my eyes when we hug good bye.
But...my vacation officially begins as of 2 pm and for now, I'm looking for the blessings in the week and linking up at Susanne's with others who are intentional about finding five things to be thankful for.
But...my vacation officially begins as of 2 pm and for now, I'm looking for the blessings in the week and linking up at Susanne's with others who are intentional about finding five things to be thankful for.
FIVE FAVES
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| a bench on the side of the trail! |
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| Trail up Severance Mt |
- SOLO MOUNTAIN HIKE! I hiked alone up a small mountain Saturday morning. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to hike and Dave wanted to relax at home, so I went by myself to Severance Mountain about 1.5 hours north of my home. I wasn't worried as it's just over 2100 feet high so is small and I've hiked it 3 other times, the first being about 12 years ago with my bff Lynn. I passed 5 people coming down as I was going up and after spending about 15 minutes on the summit, eating a snack and meditating, I heard some more people coming up. I went down quickly and passed a group of 6 who were just starting out. It only took me 35 minutes to hike up the 1.2 miles and then only 20 minutes to hike down. I was back at my car by 10:15 a.m! Then I drove to the town beach and sat on a bench having an early lunch. Here's a photo of my view for that lunch and reading time:
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| SCHROON LAKE/Eastern Adirondacks as seen from the town beach |
After lunch and a time for reading, the sky became overcast but I wasn't ready to drive another hour and a half home since it was only about 11:30 so I drove over to this place. It was my first time there. We had always meant to take the girls when they were younger but we always ended up doing other things when camping in that area. So since I'm working on the ADKS 50 FALLS CHALLENGE, I decided to go because 2 of the required falls are in that venue. The only way to see them is to buy a ticket and do the self-guided tour. Here are some highlights of my hour there:
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| Noisy Cave Falls in a cave with colored lights that change intermittently) |
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| Sawmill Falls on Trout Brook |
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| typical walkway at the Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Pottersville, NY (eastern Adks) |
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| a large cave formed many many years ago |
- A FUN DISCOVERY! After touring the above mentioned Stone Bridge and Cave place, I drove south-west to a little town called Hague. I hadn't been there in probably 20 years! Again, I was on the hunt for one of the waterfalls in the 50 Falls Challenge book. I'm determined to see all 50 falls. So far I have visited/hiked to 16 of them. It will probably take me a few years to complete this particular hiking challenge. At any rate, I happened to stumble upon the falls by accident. I was following the book's directions but having no luck. Then I saw a small sign for Hague Town Park and saw a car in the small pull-off. I pulled over and started walking towards the sound of a brook. Sure enough....a family was there wading in Hague Brook and pointed me upstream to where the falls was located. It was a lovely path. Here are the photos:
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| Hague Park in the Eastern Adirondacks |
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| Millbrook Falls on Hague Brook |
- DATE DAY! After church on Sunday, Dave and I had a date to kayak on a small lake just one town north of us. The lake is called Round Lake and the state put in a new boat launch about a year or so ago. It was busy! It was a perfect day to kayak...a nice breeze, temps in the high 70s and no humidity. It was just wonderful. We really enjoyed our time out on the lake. We didn't stay more than an hour as the lake is small. We paddled about half way around it and then across in a very brisk breeze which really made us work our arm and shoulder muscles! I'm so thankful we took the time to do this.
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| Dave on Round Lake 11 August |
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| A quiet area of Round Lake we saw a blue heron close up but didn't get a good photo! |
- DINNER COMPANY: Last week my friend Darlene called me to see if we could get together one evening so she could share about the Toronto missions trip she went on with one of our church mission teams. They went in July and ministered to the large Muslim community there. She said it was quite an experience. Well, we ended up inviting her over for dinner Tuesday evening so we could do some face to face time. Dave and I really enjoyed talking with her. She was a member of the small group Bible study I led last year and although we've known each other for less than a year, I consider her a friend.....and sister in Christ. We've prayed with each other for several things and it's a blessing to have been able to be one of her financial supporters as well as prayer partners. We're thankful for friends who can enjoy a meal with us.
- COOLER DAYS: We've had some nice summer days this week. No high temps (for me that means no days over 84) or high humidity except for one day. I'm thankful we can have the windows open in the house and enjoy time on the deck after dinner.
That wraps up my week.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I might not be here for the FFF a week from today due to being gone the day before to NH. We will be helping Claire move into her dorm at UNH all day Thursday and we expect to be home VERY late. (Dave has to work Friday so we can't make it a mini-vacation this year and it's a 4 hour drive one way! More if summer tourists clog the interstates!).
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I might not be here for the FFF a week from today due to being gone the day before to NH. We will be helping Claire move into her dorm at UNH all day Thursday and we expect to be home VERY late. (Dave has to work Friday so we can't make it a mini-vacation this year and it's a 4 hour drive one way! More if summer tourists clog the interstates!).
6 comments:
Goodbyes are so hard! Best of luck to your students that are moving on.
Your beach spot for lunch looks so peaceful. I've been craving the shore this summer, and am 'making do' with lake beaches.
I'm so not a fan of caves. They are spectacular, but I have a hard time relaxing enough to appreciate them.
Your summer days sound lovely and cool. Best of luck with Claire's move!
What a full day you had last Saturday. Hiking by yourself, spending time on the beach, and then going to check out some caves and waterfalls. I bet you came back very refreshed although probably tired.
I looked up the ADKS 50 falls challenge. What an ambitious GOAL. I bet you'll complete it. Thanks for the Photos.
Spending time With folks we click with is so important for our emotional health. So glad you had this time with your hubby and a friend. I love hearing people report back from a Missions trip. It is encouraging to hear how God showed up.
Hurray for cooler temps and lower humidity. We've been in the 100's but no humidity. I'll take it.
Which Lysa book are you leading? Her story is amazing.
Is it that time of the year again to take Claire back? Man, this summer went by quickly. Stay safe and have a good summer vacation week, Faith.
Goodbyes to students are always bittersweet. We are happy for their progress, but we will miss those sweet smiles and 'light bulb moments'.
Your hikes seem so relaxing! I know you are having fun working your way through the fifty falls.
I'm glad you had time with your friend!
Happy weekend!
Goodbyes are hard. I have taken a new job at a Montessori school and am in the midst of saying goodbye to all of my little friends. I’m happy for the cooler weather. It’s been a beastly hot and humid summer here and I’m ready for it to be over. Happy vacation!
What nice venues to hike and walk! My husband would like the cave. It's so odd you're on summer break when schools just started here in the last couple of weeks. I wonder why the schedules are so different. I love that first day of vacation feeling. Though it is hard to say good-bye. Glad you had a good get-together with your friend and a good date with your husband. We're having some of the hottest days of summer here--90+ degrees and 70-80+% humidity.
Lots of outdoors stuff to be thankful for this week. I love hikes and walks that involve waterfalls! Hard to say good bye to those little ones. I can totally relate. Enjoy your holidays.
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