Seeing the Good: Our Summer So Far

I've started this blog post a few different times. Working titles included: "How Not to Move", "Ain't Nobody Got For That" and "House Hunters: You're-Not-Getting-Your-Dream-Home-So-Suck-It-Up Edition". 

This move has been one of the hardest things we have had to go through in recent years--in so many ways. I'm not going to bore you with details. I generally try to steer clear of public whining; Private whining is a different story ;). I want my social media interactions to be uplifting for the most part so that's what I try to shoot for (although as in other areas of life, sometimes I fall short). Anyway, I'm telling you this because I am trying to see the good but I also kind of need people to understand how hard the events of the last three months or so have been on me--physically, mentally and emotionally. The things that have been difficult for me might not affect someone else the same way, but my struggle has been very real.

When I post pictures of all the good things going on in our lives, I don't want people to think that my life is perfect. I'm just trying to preserve the pretty parts of my life and hold onto them so the tough parts don't seem quite as bad. So, now that I've gotten all that out in the open, I am going to switch gears and tell you some of the awesome, wonderful things that we've enjoyed since moving here because when life is hard, I really believe that's one of the things we need to do to make it better--to see the good.

*Disclaimer--If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you've probably already seen most of these pictures (but not all of them). Sorry about that. Also, this post has tons of pictures. You've been warned.

1. Lake Ontario. We've been to Lake Ontario a couple of times. I love it. It's one of the best things about living here so far. I could listen to the sound of the waves all day. 

One day we bought Little Caesar's Pizza and just drove right up to the edge of the lake and sat in the car with the windows down and ate it. It was pretty great.

View from the driver's seat.

This is the view from the passenger's side of the car that day.

 2. The farmer's market downtown. Huzzah for fresh, locally grown produce.

3. We met up with family to see the LDS Church history sites and The Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra. This was one the highest highlights of the summer!

4. During Harborfest (which is a big shindig they have here every year) we went to a couple of free concerts, most notably Foghat and Blue Öyster Cult.  Rock on. We also saw smiley face shaped fireworks for the first time in our lives. Pretty darn cool.

5. The sunsets around here are awesome.

6. We love talking walks along the Oswego River.

7. Blueberry picking--the family tradition lives on. We're excited for apple picking in a month or two.

8. We are able to occasionally shop at Wegmans again. The nearest one is half an hour away but it's worth the drive. In case you didn't know, Wegmans is The. Best. Grocery Store. Ever. Seriously, y'all. Is your grocery store stocking Twinkies again yet?

9. My kids found an enchanted trail in the woods leading into a magical forest of wildflowers and a man who carries his cat home from work in a basket. There is also a wicked ogre and a witch who hang out there occasionally. True story.

10. There is some prime treasure hunting in this neck of the woods. We thought this flea market/antique auction and the pickers we met there were really great. We even scored an antique but fully functional snow shovel for the coming winter.

11. I got to see one of my dearest friends and spend the day with her and her sweet family at the zoo. It was almost like old times. Words cannot express how happy I am that we are now only an hour and a half away instead of a three day drive.

12. It brought back happy memories to drive through our old neighborhood while we were in Rochester. Hopefully it won't be too long until we can see some of our other friends that are still in the area.

13. Trader Joe's. Fresh figs. Enough said.

14. Dr. Dave's job is going to be awesome. We are already enjoying the perks, like the most epic (to quote my boys) company family picnic ever at SUNY Oswego. Free ice cream from the ice cream truck? Yes please!

15. My kids got out of school at the end of May and don't go back until after Labor Day so we've enjoyed the longest summer ever filled with LEGOs, toys that have been packed away in the attic for ages, lots of Doctor Who and tons of reading time for kids and adults.

In case you can't tell this is the Doctor, the TARDIS and Donna Noble.

Also, after looking at 50+ houses, we found one that we feel will work for our family. Buying a house has been quite an ordeal and maybe I will write all about it one day but considering some things that happened before I don't even want to share anything about it until we have closed on it (which if everything goes according to plan should be around the end of September--Fingers crossed and praying hard).

We drove by this field of wild flowers on the way home from church yesterday.

That pretty much sums up life around here lately. We are slowly making new friends and are getting to know our way around pretty well. Life is hard, but it has beautiful parts too. Even on the sad days I know I'm blessed--extremely blessed. So, I'll keep forging ahead trying to see the good even when the path seems thorny. Forward, ho!