Summer never has been on my list of favorite seasons but, so far this one hasn't been to bad. The unpredictable weather we've been experiencing has given just the right amount of relief I needed between the hot spells. I was thrilled when it started to rain on the 21st but, it was unfortunate that there was so much lightening. Now my brother Chris, who is stationed in Weaverville at the fire station, won't be home for quite a while, due to all the fires in our area. I'm so proud of him though. He's growing into such a neat young man.
Thing are so quiet at home now, what with everyone of working all summer. My poor dad is teaching summer school again and will hardly get any vacation this year, and my mom has taken over all my cleaning jobs for the summer. Ballet classes have begun for my sister Natalie and she has thrown herself into it body and soul (she's sometimes a little to into it if you ask me, but she is such a beautiful dancer). I can't wait to join her in the fall and begin dancing again. Then comes Tyler and I must say a miracle has occur ed and he is actually working. My brainiac brother is doing electrical work for a construction company and doing quite well. The sad news though is that he will be leaving us in the fall for Cal Poly and I know I will feel quite desolate without him, especally when Chris will be gone so often as well fighting fires.
So that's what the rest of my family will be doing through the summer, but that still leaves me. This summer is going to be a marathon for me. I will be practically living in Whitmore at the old Cascade school which is now called Shepard's Ranch. I am the lifeguard/kitchen worker/anything else they need person. This last weekend on the 20th-22nd I was left in charge of the whole kitchen because my boss Martha Boyle was due to have her baby at any time. I am glad to announce that the baby was born June 24th around 4am and her name is Cora.
My goal this summer is to make enough money to fully fund my trip to the British Ilse at the end of August. My friend Letti Simmonis and I will be leaving on the 26th of August to spend a week in England and five weeks in Ireland. While I'm there I will be doing research for the book I am writing about the Sinking of the Birkenhead and I may be visiting some churches and telling them about some ministry opportunities in my area.
Like always it is going to be a busy but very exciting summer and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me by the end of it. Keep me in your prayers if your prayers I will need all the strength I can get to persevere through this summer.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.... Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.