Morning Rounds and Evening Musings

Summer has arrived! I've spent the last week after finishing finals on a 3-day camping trip at the beach and a 4 day backpack trip in the Appalachians with Wes. Both were fantastic. Wes and I realized that we have not been backpacking since the summer we left Seattle 2 years ago!! Pathetic. This trip certainly renewed our passion for hiking, mountains and getting 'away from it all'--we didn't even bring a watch!

Wes is once again in the throes of studying for his medical board exam at the end of June. I'm not looking forward to the next 41 days, to say the least. And he isn't either :) But it was delightful to have a little respite from the storm last weekend.

I know most people don't have the luxury of living by the academic year, but these transitions between semesters and years of school always provide nice avenues for reflection and incorporating changes into the structure of life. I was telling my friends I went camping with that I have a vision of this summer as being one for regaining my 'true self.' I'm either setting myself up for disappointment, or it's going to be a great summer! :)

Really though, I think school, stress and laziness has caused the things I want to do in my daily life fall by the wayside. So my summer goals are:

1. Pray. I've found a spiritual director/mentor who I really like and I think she will go a long way in helping me learn to practice prayer in a way that works for me. I don't want to revert back to the daily bible reading/prayer journal model I have always done. There's nothing wrong with that, it just doesn't feed me. I need to get more creative and look for different ways to listen to God. But this one is at the top of my list.

2. Read. I have a huge list of novels to read this summer. Wes and I started Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver while we were hiking (it's about the Appalachians). Others include Bel Canto, Run, East of Eden, The Glass Castle, 100 Years of Solitude, Thousand Splendid Suns (yes, I'm behind...), The Color Purple, Suite Francoise, maybe some Hemingway, Chekhov and Ann Lamott. Any other suggestions?

3. Exercise. I've got a pilates partner, and the pool is open. Time for lap swimming, running and toning. Too much time sitting at a desk does not do wonders for the physique. And with Alaskan backpacking and hiking coming up, this girl needs to build some muscles. That was utterly apparent as I stumbled my way up a (very steep!) trail last weekend at a much lower elevation:)

4. Organize. It is the summer of being domestic! I have a huge list of household organizational projects to do, which include such exciting things as organizing the spice drawer, cleaning closets, getting rid of clothes and some gardening. Also, I've been trying to expand my recipes and we have three new ones on the menu this week. I'm not crazy about cooking, but I love variety and eating new things, and can actually enjoy it when I have the time to do it.

So, I think I should write a book. Maybe I'll call it Sweat, Pray, Read. Or something.