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The snow is gently dancing outside my window today. It comes in waves, sometimes there is so much it feels as if our home is inside a snowglobe. Other times, it has just sprinkled, to remind us of the winter. But it has graced us with its' presence today. And for this I am thankful.

As a child during a fresh snowfall I would create a snow cone stand on the sidewalk outside of our house. This was not an imitation snow cone stand. I took the term "snow cone" literally and scoped up the fresh snow dosed it in flavoring and sold it to the neighbors around the block. I'm sure once they turned the corner they threw the snow cone over their shoulders. But that 25 cents was just enough to keep my business going for the winter. I miss this most about Colorado, the season changes.

By the time summer rolled around, my funds from snow cone sales were spent on extra snacks at lunch or the 25 cent machines at Kmart. So I of course, started a lemonade stand in the same office space where my snow cones were sold that winter. The lush green valleys of northwest Colorado, crisp rapids of the Yampa river, and comfortable heat made my customers very generous with their quarters. There is really nothing better than a pleasant conversation over an ice-cold lemonade in the heat of the summer.

I still love summer just as much as I did during my lemonade stand phase. It is a chance to just be. The idea of being content, where tomorrow is only a matter of time. And you don't worry about the things you can't control or let people control things for you. Summer allows you to believe that everything happens for a reason, that everything will bring you back to your path, the right path. Where worries are a little less, and fears are low, and a bad day can be cured with a lemonade from the kids down the street.

Summer is the moment to be.

To be quiet. To be singing.

To be dancing. To be still.

To be in love. To be out of love.

To be lost. To be found.

To be exactly who you want to be.

To me the idea of summer is so pure, so true. Where a swimsuit and a coverup becomes an appropriate outfit for both the beach and the bars, because it is most perfectly paired with your untamed beach waves and sandals. And where boys would rather you not wear your makeup just your sun-kissed cheeks will do. And they find themselves falling in love you’re your pureness. Falling in love with the way summer makes you look. And the way summer makes you feel.

It wasn't really the quarters that made my lemonade or snow cone stand, because I could find them in the cushions of the couch. It was my loyal customers, that came by snow or shine. That reminded me that summer is not really a season, but a state of mind.