This has been a very busy several days.

The kids are back home, which is great (though messy again). We are ramping up for school, which starts again next week. Tom is getting ready to play football for the first time (yes, I am terrified) and Steph is taking her driver's test next week (yes, I'm even more terrified). School clothes shopping was fun for all. If you haven't been to the newly remodeled SouthCenter Mall, you really should check it out! We had a great time, got some great deals, and did I mention we had a great time... together?

School board duties start ramping back up this time of year, too. Back-to-school activities, levy study sessions, budget issues...

Then there are the local community issues. Kitsap County is doing a great job of moving the SK Park forward (at Jackson and Lund), the Bethel Corridor Project is on the table, the Port will soon receive the "pause" study, Election season is in full swing...

All in all, I have a great and full life. Yup, there are bumps in the road. Sometimes individuals get on my nerves. But life is generally good. The kids are healthy, generally happy, and it is amazing to watch them every day as they grow and challenge me, solve world problems on the way to the mall (and believe that the solutions are that simple), and are engaging life with high hopes, humor, and energy.

Ok, consider this my "count yer' blessings" post.