August is finally here which means the end of the summer is drawing near and I’m not quite ready for it to end. July seemed like the most challenging and longest month of my life! Not to mention, it rained for most of the month as well. Nevertheless, it’s been a great summer for the most part, especially since I didn’t have to worry about school assignments and tests. It felt good being able to pretty much wake up later than 8:00 AM, or should I say, lay in the bed past 8:00 AM. Being able to sleep past 8:00 AM is foreign to me.

I didn’t get a chance to travel as much as I would have hoped for, but that was mainly because I was in desperate need of some wheels. I believe that was one of the highlights of my summer. I’m still in awe about my acheivement. It feels good being able to get into a car that I know will start and get me here, there and everywhere. I have yet to put the Silver Bullet to the highway test, but the summer isn’t over just yet. Hopefully after church this Sunday, we’re headed to Florida, or Mississippi, before they go back to school. That’ll at least give them something to share with their little friends when they return to school next week.

There’s a lot to be done this week. Besides getting settled in the house, I still need to get school supplies for my daughter, clothes, shoes, hair accessories – and not to mention, my son is going to need some things to for his school. As for me, school starts soon and returning to take on a new semester creates an indifferent feeling for me. I’m ready to return, but coincidentally, I could definitely go for a few more weeks before I have to return to such responsibilities. As with the start of any semester, I plan to remain organized. One of the things that I’m excited about, though, is shopping for school supplies. I’m a nerd and I can spend hours in Office Depot testing out pens, Sharpie markers, and the like.

The ending of the summer is always bittersweet to me, though. I was able to appreciate every event that has occurred. The smiles, the laughter, the tears, the accomplishments, the triumphs, the tribulations – everything. So besides the hot weather that permits cute summer outfits with bright colors, cookouts, late nights with daquiris, and weekend trips, my summers always present me with the opportunity to grow and to become a stronger person. It provides introspective moments, as well as time for self-reflection. And that, is what I look forward to each year.

It’s been a super busy week for me and I have yet to sit down and really take the breather that I need. With all of the preparations that I’ve done so far to the house, I am completely exhausted. With all of the paint samples, pamplets, and flooring that I’ve looked at, I honestly feel as though I should add the title Interior Decorator to my resume. There are still two more rooms that need painting before I want to move my furniture in (The other rooms can wait.) and it’s been a process trying to select the right color. I absolutely LOVE dark homes and that’s pretty much the theme I’m going with – except for the kitchen, hallway, and rooms for my children.

I’ve hit my head on the ceiling multiple times. I’m sore from reaching and climbing up and down the ladder. I can STILL smell the varnish and paint. Oh, and let’s not forget my thumb’s struggle with a knife. Yea, it’s like that.

I can’t wait until I get situated. It’s been a fun process but I’m not trying to make it a longer process than it already is. I need to be moved in before August so I won’t have to deal with any of this when school starts for my daughter and I. I’ve been calculating the amount of money that I’ll be saving and I’m wondering why I haven’t decided to do this sooner? And let’s not even get on the extra time that I’ll have to get to do things that I haven’t done in so long.

I work too hard to not be able to spend my money the way I want to spend it. But now, I plan to.