The Storm(s) and the Calm

The last week of July has been a week of thunder, lightning, and rain storms. Very different from heat lightning shows that illuminate the sky on hot summer evenings, which generally lack rumbles, cracks and booms of thunder and present themselves sans rain. No, we’ve been inundated with noisy, flashing, pouring-cats-and-dogs storms. They seem to come out of nowhere. But after a few weeks of drought, the drenching rain is welcome -- at least to the farmers and ducks, it's welcome.

Good news though: we're expecting beautiful, sunny weather for this weekend's family reunion. So the campers won't get damp in their tents. The swimmers will enjoy the pool. Picnic tables will be the main dining venue. We’ll set up games on the grass. Only those who hope to canoe and fish may be disappointed. The creek is high and muddy, but who knows, it may clear up by Saturday, provided the rain stops soon.

We've been running helter-skelter between enjoying summer events, attending a high school class reunion, standing in support of our newest grandchild getting dedicated, entertaining at the pool, and oh yeah, clicking off projects that we put on a list, projects that were supposed to be done in time for the family reunion. Guess what? They aren't all going to get done. But that’s okay. Next year, maybe.

The house is clean, and,  at 11:15p.m., the night before the first of the guests arrive, it is quiet. Perhaps this is the calm before the storm. We're ready. Bring it on!

Consider the Lilies

Our lilies...

Aren't they beautiful? I wish they lasted longer than they do. We planted some that bloom more than once -- ever blooming, or re-blooms, or something. So far they act just like regular lilies except that they bloomed earlier. They seem to be done for the season, but I hold onto great expectations that they will bloom again.

We went to a funeral today. A man whose wife passed away just 40 days ago. The testimonies were wonderfully hopeful and comforting -- a couple who has left a spiritual legacy in their children and grandchildren walking with the Lord. A couple who is reunited in heaven for all eternity. Although the Bible clearly says that in heaven there is no marriage or giving in marriage...what does that mean, I wonder? Not that I really care. I just know that it's all good. A God who has created all the beauty and wonder of this world must have something incredible for us to enjoy for all of eternity. I can hardly wait to find out!

Meanwhile I'll just consider the lilies of the fields. How they neither toil nor spin, yet they look gorgeous. And the birds of the air don't fret about what they'll eat. If our  heavenly Father cares for them, why should I worry?

The Dog Days of Summer

The heat brings guests to the pool.

And we love it.

July brings day guests to the pool, overnight guests, traveling for a family reunion and class reunion,graduation parties, wedding showers, hosting our own "Cousins reunion" right here...which reminds me...gotta track down that piggy.

Happy Belated Birthday to...

my sister Kathleen (who is back to Kathy these days) and her husband, Bernard (and you need to roll those r's to say is name correctly because he is French) and, oh yes, our country -- the good ole U.S. of A. I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day. We did. Church was terrific -- my friend Robin sang a gorgeous medley of patriotic songs, really belted it out, it rocked. Then the message, A Declaration of Freedom, was equally good.

After church we went to the Riverside Inn in Cambridge Springs. The new owners were throwing a big party all day long. It started with a pig roast barbeque at 11:00am - 7pm. The food tent was surrounded by smaller tents for civil war re-enactors, a quill and bamboo pen making workshop with "Ben Franklin," maple syrup and candy making, organic soaps, vintage games, face painting, history displays including "The Mineral Water Boom," which put Cambridge Springs on the map. It was tons of fun for tons of people. There were pie and hot dog eating contests, musical presentations until dusk and then for a grand finale to a grand day -- fireworks!

We stayed for lunch then went home to cool off in our own pool. (Although the Riverside opened their pool to the community, free swimming all day...actually, everything was free except the picnic food, which was extremely reasonable.)

We returned for the evening festivities.

What a fabulous gift to the community this party was. It's so fun to be part of a small town. Everywhere I looked I saw familiar faces. People out and about, greeting people they know and making introductions to those they don't. Many, many thanks to Brenda Evans and Ken Falkenhagen the husband/wife proprietors of the beautiful, historic, 125-year-old Riverside Inn for showing us all a good holiday.