Summer Vacation! These words alone can bring back many memories of our childhood. Today, on the first day of Summer, I am reminiscing about the time when these words meant a full Summer of time off. Goodbye to Spring with blossoming trees and pretty flowers and on to Summer.

As the school year drew to a close and Summer would draw near, I would always think of the many things that I was going to do during Summer vacation.

Playing Baseball, Bible Camps, Scout Camp, lots of reading, family vacations and trips to see grandparents in California or Iowa. Of course, one year Summer Vacation meant Drivers Ed and getting my license. Summer also meant lots of time either riding or pushing a mower and many little projects like cleaning the garage.

Another fun prospect for the Summer was working in the Boy Scout fireworks stand.

After graduating from High School, I soon found out that Summer time was no longer just a vacation. The night of graduation I received a phone call with a job offer and there went that last long Summer vacation. Even during college I did not have long Summer vacations as I went to school year round, and would work through most of each semester break. Welcome to the Adult world.

Today when Summer comes I look forward to Baseball season, but now as a spectator and not a player.

I do have a few weeks of vacation scheduled this Summer. My mother will be visiting in a few weeks and we will have some time to work on family history. We may also visit some areas in the California Mother Lode where one of my family members worked when he came to California as part of the Gold Rush.

Near the end of Summer I will be taking a two week tour to Israel. Taking a trip to the Land of the Bible is something that I have been contemplating for many years. I am looking forward to the trip, especially as I will be joined by several friends.

Steven