This is summer. This is bliss.

The sun almost reached the 100 degree mark in its valiant shining efforts today. Hot, bright, UVA-ray filled happiness fell from the sky in waves of torrid sultriness. And our family spent this glorious day sweating on a blanket at the ball field. Elijah played tee-ball at noon; Isaac, Levi and Luke played coach pitch at 2:30. (We made an ice cream run between games)

Wade sweltered. The boys sizzled. I swooned.

Wade baked. The boys boiled. I basked.

Wade groaned. The boys griped. I grinned.

Okay, I think you get the point. I love summer!

It's days like this that infuse me with the inner warmth I need to keep from freezing solid six months from now when it's 130 degrees colder than it was today. Like animals that stockpile food for the winter or creatures that build up stores of blubber to survive arctic temperatures, I hoard sunshine and heat now to carry me through to another summer.

And I do it with gladness! Give me some sunscreen, a hat and a garden hose and I will revel in the superheated outdoors all day long. Add in a couple glasses of iced tea and I'll do it with a cheesy grin on my face! My body will become one with the heat in such a way, that when I step back into our air-conditioned 75-degree house, I'll need a hoodie to keep warm.

This is summer. This is bliss. Let the thermometer soar.

PS - The snow shovel is still out. If I put it away, I know it will promptly snow. I'm leaving it in plain sight to guarantee a snow-less summer.