July 4 – In Retrospect

It has almost been a month since the USA’s birthday, but the pictures involve cute kiddies’ feet and therefore must be posted. July 4 is a holiday I don’t know what to do with at this phase of life. We can dress in appropriate colors and eat traditional cookout fare with friends or family (or both) – but our little ones can’t stay up for fireworks and, well, I don’t know. So, I do what I know to do – be crafty.

I am truly thankful for Family Fun! What a great source of ideas. They were the inspiration for this year’s craft and fun was had by all (right, Honey?).

We also made ribbon flip flops for the girls. This was not as big a hit but my nephew and I had a good time, at least. Cole was an EXCELLENT helper because he was very good at making sure the ribbons were well balanced on either side of the shoe.

I am struck by the fact that when I lived overseas, July 4 was VERY special. We sang patriotic songs with great gusto and got misty at the things we missed about “the homeland”. Things are different for me now. And while the years have brought honest perspective, they have also deepened my appreciation for the freedoms we have. So, I celebrate the freedom to gather with my family and, without fear, thank God for our many blessings. I celebrate having two special children that no one has taken away because of their strain on society or something else horrible. I am thankful for our home and Honey’s job and the choice of 10+ grocery stores in a 5 mile radius from which to buy our food. And, if I may be so silly to mention it, I am thankful for a Hobby Lobby AND Michaels just around the corner. We are very blessed. Very Blessed.

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Friends

Last week the Lord God showed mercy to me by having dear friends stop by on their way to Colorado. Bryan and Erika lived a few doors down from us in seminary and we had our first children just days apart. Then they moved away and it has been sad.

Erika is a kindred spirit – one of those people you could pick right back up with after time away; and we did. Their 30 minute stop turned into an hour and a half and I am so thankful they gave us that. Honey even left work to come home and get in on the pandemonium!

All three of our children are the same age (maybe months apart, but VERY close!) They had a good time – the girls gave each other a run for their money on who would play with what, but a fat lip and banged head later and they conceded. KB even ran out and asked for the van door to be opened so she could give C one more goodbye!!

Thanks, guys. I know, it’s OUR TURN!

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Scrappy Me

My friend Nicole drove into town Thursday night and we set out Friday morning for 24+ hours of scrapbooking in a nearby hotel. Courtney joined us from 3:30PM – 11:00PM. We had a blast.

51 pages later, I have 3 out of 4 books caught up to Christmas of 2008. Except for the journaling. Now I will have to put a strategy into place to journal these pages and move forward into 2009.

I have no pictures of this weekend. I tell you, I was a machine. Page after page. Didn’t even turn the TV on. Head down, tape runner out, I tell you.

Thanks, Honey!!!

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