Soxs on Heels: August 2008

I am not sure if everyone is aware but my brother dubbed this the Summer of ThomCarter. Why? Because he turned 30, because he went to a lot of baseball games and because, well, he is Thom! So, seeing that today was the first day of classes for me, I will give a review of my summer...Sam's Summer of ThomCarter.

1)After finishing my first year of graduate school at UNC, Amy, Grace and I made our way up to NJ for the summer. We did this so that I could work as an administrative intern at the Hunterdon Health Care System...and so that Grace and Amy could swim all day.

2)On May 12th my internship began and I worked and worked and worked!!

3)A few weeks later Amy, Grace and I went to one of my dads many retirement parties. It was fantastic to see all that he had accomplished in his career through the eyes of his employees.

4)Ron, Rachael and Cadence came down to NJ from Boston to visit for Memorial Day. It was great to see Grace and Cadence play together...they have both grown so much.

5)In June the rest of my family came to visit in the good ol' NJ. First Laura, Sean, Emma and Carter arrived...just in time for my dad to have kidney stones...and Laura and Sean went on a much deserved vacation after 2 gruelings years of business school. Then a very pregnant Kim and her daughter; Brittin, Ginny and Annika, came to! Unfortunately, work made it so Jeff could not come...it is never the same without him there. Laura and Sean came back, so we had just one big party the whole time! After 10 days Kim and her girls left and Laura and Sean never did!!

6)During the summer I went to 5 Major League Baseball Games. 2 in Shea Stadium...Mets v Dodgers and Mets v yankees...1 at Yankee Stadium...The Sox beat up on the yankees...on at Citizens Bank Park in Philly...the Phills had their way with the Sox...and one at FENWAY, where the Sox HUMILIATED the A's. The last one was for my birthday and it was fantastic game to be at the Fens. Oh, and guess how much those tickets cost us??? If you answered $0 you are correct! Thanks Thom!!

7)When we went up to Boston for the Sox game we spent time with Ron, Rachael and Cadence. It was great because we go to the zoo...which was perfect for Grace. We also learned that they would be moving back to Utah, because Ron got accepted to BYU's school of Law. We are sad to see them leave the east, but excited for them (even if won't be getting a good education at the y...I kid, I kid.)

8)In July we went to Angela and Aaron's wedding in Ashville, NC. It was a fantastic day. Angela is one of my classmates who was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was amazing for us to see how happy they both are and how much joy the Gospel has brought her.

9)We got to be there to see my dad transition into retirement. Which pretty much meant watching him throw away everything. He worked so hard and did so much good for so long, he deserves this time to spend with his family.

10)Grace grew and grew and grew! She no longer walks...she only RUNS! She talks all day long...seriously there are no breaks. She tells everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, that we are on walk and that she just had some juice and that she would like a snack. "Mine" or "My" are her new words of choice. "My Car", "My House", "My TREAT", "My MOMMY!!!!"...pretty much everything is hers. She loves to sing and dance...especially to The Wiggles. She loves to play all day. She mostly loves to give Hugs and pray and read the scriptures. She is a fantastic example!

11)Amy certified to be an Aerobics instructor!! WOOHOO! She put a lot of work into this and she loves this kind of stuff (unlike me...I like to eat and sleep and watch baseball). I am excited for her.

12)I completed my internship. It was fantastic. I cannot say enough about all that I learned, all that I accomplished and the confidence I gained from this experience. Today I described myself to first year MHA as, "A Hospital Administration Nerd...I love the work so much." This was just a reminder for me of the great work that I am going to be involved in.

13)And to end it all, on the last day of Sam's Summer of ThomCarter, my sister Kim had her 4 little girl! Kassandra London Roth. They are doing great and I could not be happier for them.

All in all it was the perfect summer. Good people, good food, good baseball and good people! Yup, lots of good people. It was just a great reminder of how much our Savior loves us and hears and answers our prayers. This summer was what we needed as a family and our Savior knew that. I am so grateful for Him and grateful for the blessings of Eternal Families.

Let the Sam's Fall of ThomCarter begin!