Happy 4th of July

Along with celebrating our country's independence my family celebrates my sister's birthday. The story I recall hearing is that mom and dad were getting ready for a 4th of July picnic when -- Independence Day turned into labor day for mom, and then turned into a birthday for my sister Kathy.

To add to the fun, Kathy grew up and married a guy who has the same birthday. He's a native of France so the day doesn't have the same significance to him. But he's a good sport, and when they are in the states for his birthday, Bernard enjoys the fireworks and hoopla as much as the rest of us.

Speaking of hoopla -- Tom and I aren't hooping it up this year. I'm on the couch blogging, waiting for the TV version of fireworks. Tom is out on the tractor mowing in the tree field, but he'll surely be back soon, it's getting dark. Today he painted another side of the house while I painted shutters. My work was shorter than his so I had time to watch a friend's 4 squirts (ages 4-9) while she and a friend got a load of firewood not too far from our house. I volunteered to watch them...in the pool. So Barb and Doug are sweating it out cutting and loading wood, Tom's on a ladder painting for hours on end, and I'm in the pool playing with 4 little kids. Yeah, I know, it was big of me. After that we mowed lawn and weeded flower beds.

We turned our Independence Day into labor day. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Tom worked harder than I did, but I think he enjoyed it too. It's weird though, having no family around on a holiday. I wonder if this is something I'm going to have to get used to? We're moving David to Connecticut next week. He's actually on his round-about way already. Me? I'm feeling it already.

Oop, here's Tom... and the Macy's 4th of July fireworks show is on TV -- They're astounding! Gotta go watch. Happy Independence Day!!!

Rain, Rain

They say the monsoons will be over soon. Today is the funniest day ever. The weather man said it would be cloudy but no more rain. Well we had a downpour this morning, then sun -- beautiful bright happy sunshine -- then rain which stopped shortly, and then, there was the sun again -- briefly. Mist, rain, sun, rain, clouds, mist, sun. It's raining again, but I'm not fretting, we'll see the sun momentarily. Of course it will only last momentarily too. It's a perfect day for a nap! Good idea? Oh yeah.

"...for (your Father in heaven) makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt. 5:45

The verses before and after are the real message of this scripture which I, admittedly, ripped out of context. Something about loving your enemies, and what good is it really if you only love those who love you?. In light of that I'm not saying I'm good and just or evil and unjust. I'm just saying...it's raining here...on me.

He's Off!

BYE-BYE HENNINGS

Not our Davey boy, our Benji boy. Okay, so he's not ours. But for 2 weeks he's been ours and I kinda got attached to the kid. Maybe it's because he's like the perfect kid, the perfect house guest, and good fun company! Always a smile or a chuckle or a grin. Always a helping hand or offer to assist. Yeah, I know, it (he) doesn't seem real. But I think he is. He sure seems to be the real deal. (If you've seen the movie The Stepford Wives -- he wasn't like that. Those poor women lived a fake robotic, yet perfect, existence.)

All that to say, 16 year old Ben is a terrific kid.

But I had to pass him off to his next host family. He'll spend a couple of weeks with my brother's family. They have a boy Ben's age, so no doubt his time there will be even more fun than it was here. I say that because I really believe he had a good time here. Or was that just part of his "great house guest" quality?

HELLO BRUCES

The College Grad Has A Job

Davey Boy beat the odds and landed a job with his undergrad degree. A degree that includes a double major (two business related deals) and a minor in something else (maybe it's business related too, or maybe it's random). I know, I know, you're surprised at how closely I follow my own son's academic accomplishments. Maybe his dad knows the details. I keep closer track of his social life. Want any details? No, no, no...I don't share what I know...at least not without permission!

So the week we were going to spend working in our tree nursery, traveling to visit family, having guests here, will be spent helping David move to Connecticut. Thankfully it will be a lot of work and I won't have time to be weepy about the baby boy of the family moving so far away.

He is the last fledgling to leave the nest. It's not like I don't want to see him fly. That's what we raised our boys for -- to be independent. So why is it sad? Perhaps I don't like change. Um, wait a minute, that can't be it, I love change, at least when it comes to rearranging furniture. But rearranging family is another matter altogether. Honestly, I'm happy/sad. I'm glad that David is starting his grown up life. I'm thrilled that he is setting out to do what he's called to do. Just as his brothers have done.

He is (we are) God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. So go ahead, Dave, get on it!


For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

New Experiences in Rural America

FISHING!



SHOOTING! With good instruction and supervision -- honest Mom, at no time was your boy (or anyone else) in danger.

What Summer's All About

Warm weather , sunshine, 85+temps, friends, kids, and a pool. Yep, that's what summer is all about.

Qu'est-ce que tu fais, Ben?

What are you doing, Ben? In case anyone wants to know...here's a run down on what Ben, our young friend from France, is doing. Qu'est-ce que tu fais, Ben?

Hanging out at Adam and Alicia's, after a Pittsburgh day that included the zoo

Then we got him to our house and...

He mows lawn...

He paints the porch...

And, oh yes, he has a little fun too.

The Gate Keeper

This little guy was hanging out on the big gate that allows entrance to our pool. We have an open gate policy for swimming here...if you can open the gate you can swim. ("At your own risk" we add to keep the insurance people happy.) The gate is big enough that little kids can't readily open it even if it is unlocked. But my point is we have a gate keeper... who may or may not startle the unsuspecting visitor. Doesn't he look ferocious?



Of course the little guy is only an inch and a half long. He's not scaring away anyone. The best we can hope for is startle effect.

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Words by C. F. Alexander (1818-95)

Lilacs, Azaleas, Rhododendrons

The spring flowers are nearly past, but weren't they gorgeous this year!?!

Flower pictures are always better with people in them.

Thank you Adam and Alicia for posing!



"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." Gen. 1:31

A Near Perfect Day

Two little girls, Maddy and Audrey, sunshine, a picnic lunch and a playground. Does it get any better than that? Not for them! And didn't I have the pure pleasure of having packed their favorite foods -- p b and j, yogurt, apple juice and freeze pops. For me, a bag of chips and a can of Pepsi. WHAT!? Hey, if they can have their favorites I can too.

I was supposed to be helping clean a dorm at our church camp. Things didn't work out quite as planned. Eight other women worked. They did a bang up job: swept and mopped floors, washed windows, wiped down walls and vacuumed mattresses. Our Bethlehem dorm smelled so clean and fresh. And it looked...well it looked like a camp dorm, so to say it sparkled would be an exaggeration. But it looked great, certainly better than before.

My contribution was that my bucket and mop got used. I also like to think the chatter, laughter and exuberant squeals from the play area was a delightful reminder to the willing workers of the importance of the task at hand. It's all about kids. It's all about the kids who will be served and ministered to through a happy camping experience this summer. God bless 'em -- and bless the counselors and workers too!

It may have made more sense for me to stay home with the children, but I'm glad I went. From watching the girls play like monkeys and being there to say, "Wow, look at you!" while they showed off, to sitting in the grass sharing sandwiches (yeah, I got the crusts -- knew that would happen, which is why I didn't go to the trouble of making my own) it was just plain fun. Part of what made it so enjoyable was that Maddy couldn't contain her gratitude for such a fine picnic. Meanwhile, little Audrey, who was equally happy and pleasant, declared every other minute, "I'n all done. Le's go back to da swings. I weawwy wike dis pwayground."

I hope everyone had a weawwy good time. It was a near perfect day.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..."
Col. 3:23

We did. Thanks ladies, for letting me be part even though I didn't add any elbow grease!