Celia Thaxter believed that "there shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart." As I thought about that, I reflected on June and July for our family -the good and bad, our heartaches and triumphs, the pains and pleasures. Decidedly, it has truly been summer to us, despite what the actual calendar says. The sun has shone at the end of each day because we've been together - summer forever....

1. Grand Central Station: If you thought the train station in mid-town Manhattan was busy, try Sample Cove in the summertime! We can't clean the sheets fast enough to accommodate all the friends and family that have come through the Berry residence, and we are lovin' it. They call SLC city "the crossroads of the west," and we must concur. We seen loved ones from southern Utah, California, Arizona, Montana, New York, and London (more from Florida before summer's end). Trains come it, trains go out, and you don't even need a ticket.

2. Never a dull moment: Reuniting with friends from Darren's "Munich, Germany era" was fantastic - incriminating stories and all. Reunioning with the Berrys proved a rush as we explored Snowbird (local ski-resort) with its mechanical bull-riding, ziplines, alpines slides, bungy-trampolining, etc. And nothing beats a day at the lake just "hanging out" courtesy of boat malfunction, or dinner at the Mayan while men in loin clothes depicted tribal traditions. And what's summer without BBQ's? Too many to count, but lots of excellent food and the pounds to prove it:)

3. No schedules - no problem: One of the greatest things about summer is the laxity of "schedules." A little more freedom, a little less planning, a lot more slip n' sliding. Getting up too early, going to bed to late, naps just because, watching movies late even when you have to go to work the same time in the morning, and a lot more "what the he**, let's do it anyway!" Good times, good times...

4. Projects: Must be in the bloodline, but you can't go through a summer without "projects." Painting, fixing, tile-sealing, mildew-scraping, rust-removing, book-reading, swim-lessoning, trailend-finding, insect-magnifying, fruit-preserving, physically-feating, growth-promoting ....must......do.......must.....be.......PRODUCTIVE!!!!

5. Traditions: Those never-get-tired-of things like trips to the aquarium (pic 1), a good hike in the mountains (pic 2), making quilt like our grandmothers used to do (pic 3), putting your feet in the river water for your birthday (pic 4), bowling in style at the Y (pics 5 &6), reconnecting with old friends in the outdoors (pic 7), lunch at the gateway (pic 8), and all the stuff you just do.

Yes, the season of summer may end in a few weeks, but not really. So many great things ahead (like Becky's big wedding at Lake Tahoe in just a few weeks - yeah!) and the memory of summer nights in our grateful hearts.

The DKB's