Seasons of Summer

Summer is my favorite season. It means so much more to me than just the sun, although that is the central part to what I love. It's more about what summer represents - the warmth. The kind of warmth from the inside out, the kind of warmth that allows you to go barefoot. The kind of warmth that comes from BBQ's, family reunions, and strawberry margaritas. The kind of warmth that begs for coolants like Lake Michigan, a fan in your bedroom at night, and air conditioning in the car (even though the windows are rolled down).

People say that we wouldn't love summer without winter, we wouldn't appreciate the sunshine if we didn't have the clouds. While I would forever replace snow-skiing with water-skiing and ice for sand, I understand the sentiment.

Typically we would keep our baby's name as a surprise until she was born but, at the suggestion of my Aunt Donna, it's important that people pray for her by name. I totally agree and am pleased to officially replace 'Baby A' with the name...
Summer Marie Von Tobel.

We thought about the implication of naming her Summer when she is due to be born in the middle of winter but decided that we like that aspect of it. My sister in law gave me good perspective on the spiritual aspect of Summer vs. winter...(in her words)...

A SUMMER in the middle of winter. I actually kinda like the symbolism of that! She is what you guys need right now and maybe it's God saying that HE'S THE GOD OF SEASONS in our lives. We (you, especially) dread the winter and we all have a rough time seeing Him in our figurative winters. What does it look like for God to see our winters as the summers (i.e. the time where actually most growth happens.)??

Maybe during our times of spiritual summer, when we feel close to God, and feel like we are having a 'good' season in our walk with Him, maybe God sees it differently. Maybe He views our spiritual winters, as His summers. The times when we feel like we are lost, disconnected, apathetic - maybe that's when God can do His best work in us. Maybe that's when God can mold us, use us, and teach us the most. Maybe that's his favorite season in our lives, His summer.

God has already used Summer Marie to draw us closer to Him, make us rely on His strength, trust in Him more fully. We pray constantly for her and her little heart - that she would continue to grow and develop until the day we get to meet her and introduce her to her big sister Mia. We are looking forward to meeting her but pray that she stays in my tummy as long as possible!