I spent Saturday morning shopping for school supplies. I felt an ironic mixture of autumn-y back-to-school excitement and hollowness in my chest as I placed the pencils and notebooks in the cart.  New friends, new experiences, new adventures in learning await my children, yet I won't get to see them for the lion's share of the day. You understand the mixed emotions, right? This morning, I flipped through photos of our summer adventures in this breathtaking piece of the world.  We have zipped around to lovely, and (mostly) local treasures within a few hours of home. I am thankful for long and beautiful summer days with my kiddos. Now, I can look back-to-school in the face and well, face it.