We were running late and so the exit to Shelley’s house was closed and we had to drive around looking for a place to park while trying not to kill the pedestrians who were abusing the “pedestrians have the right of way” rule.  Honey finally dropped us off and went to park while we set off to find our hostess.  Just as we met up on the main street, the skies opened up and the rains came tumbling down.

Rain pouring down on me while I walked through throngs of people? It was a real test of my personal growth and I think I came out smelling like a rose.  I am not a fan of getting ready for an event and then getting wet.  I am not a huge fan of getting wet in my clothes.  I had to consciously talk myself through it and make the choice to be okay and THEN I could turn to my older two children and assure them that getting rained on was an adventure and that however wet they got it WOULD dry, etc.  When Honey found us, the rain had stopped, he was dry, and we were drenched.

Over the course of the next hour the kids gathered a Ziploc full of candy, Ms. Shelley waved at so many people she knew that she was once mistaken for Miss Webster Groves, and the Clydesdales and Bubble Bus were the hands down favored parade elements.

Belated THANKS, Ms. Shelley, for the wonderful fun on our country’s birthday.  Being with you is always fun and your random lunches consistently fail to disappoint.  Much love.

When asked how it was, Bubba reported that Mater is his favorite and the movie was “pretty funny”.  On the Bubbometer that means a huge success!

1.  Did you know it is national hot dog month?

2.  Tonight we had Thai Chicken for dinner – super easy and one of Honey’s favorites.  I knew the kids weren’t going to like it but they have to taste everything.  Bubba took a bite and his face curled up and he said, “Peanuts are not my favorite.”  I gave them something else to eat (leftovers from lunch – this is not the habit but I knew this dish was asking a lot of them) and Bubba ended up with Thai Chicken mixed on the spoon when he took a bite of macaroni and cheese.  His face squenched up and he whined in the most dramatic way, “I got another peanut.  It’s horrible.”

3.  One of my favorite indulgences is Made By You Mondays at Skip to My Lou.  So many links to so many projects done by so many people.  It makes me feel alive in some ways.

4.  I miss being on the women’s council at church.  I fully understand rotating off – it’s good to have fresh eyes and fresh ideas – but I miss it.  Just sayin’.

5.  I went to book club this week, sat down beside the wife of one of our pastors and remembered that she had done Little’s testing two years ago when we considered sending her to Kirk Day School.  She had let the testing go on for 10 minutes and then stopped it and came to get me.  She cried as she told me that Little really needed to be at Promise and asked if that was a possibility.  I told her that it was not unless God performed a miracle.  She said we would just have to pray that God would “sell a cow or two”.  (Psalm 50:10)  That was two years ago and what fun it was to sit down beside her and say, “Kelly! God sold some cows!!” She teared up and giggled with me as I told her that Little got in to Promise Christian Academy and will be student #15 this fall.  The real miracle: her bill is completely paid.  “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13)  


I told Little, “God has made it clear he wants you to go to Promise to school.”  Her eyes got big and bright and she said, “I think that will be good.”  A couple minutes later she looked up again and said, “Promise is the school with all the friends.”  My heart is full.