Getaway

It's been a rough month...good and bad and very busy. I'm so ready to get away for a few days and just chill with the family, before September hits and we get right back into crazy again.

Making Memories

I had the day to myself yesterday. 1 kid at a friends house and the other had a daddy day planned. It's been planned/cancelled several times, so I was glad they were finally able to get it in before the end of the horse show break. Because once that's over, life gets really busy again.

I received this picture right around lunch time and about cried. And from what I understand, daddy did cry. :) His summer is complete, watching both his boys (on different days) spend the day with him and catch monster fish!

That smile says it all!

My edited version! (So cute, so tan and such blue eyes!) :) I saw that Maison posted this on facebook late last night right before bed..."I wish I could go back to that moment today where I was fishing with my dad and do it all over again"...THAT'S what life is all about!

Practice pays off

We had our first performance in the new uniforms last week. They are almost done with the whole routine, just missing out on a few more steps at the very end, but unless you know that, you wouldn't know that. :) They did great! And considering this is the largest band they've ever had AND about half the band is freshman/8th graders, they did an awesome job!

All business...don't look around, don't smile, etc...

Warm up before the show

It's hard to pick one person out, but at 5:42-ish, you will see him walking toward the front, right next to the big tuba player (on the left). He will then be at the end of the line that is moving to the left.

Hate

This post saddens me. Instead of beautiful pictures of my cute kid, in sweet sunlight, I write about bullies. School's out for the horse show and I guess that gives kids a right to do what they want. Wrong. I happened to be doing dishes and straightening up when I noticed Hunter coming home on his bike from a friends. I also noticed a black truck in the middle of the intersection, which happens a lot because the street signs have been stolen...again. I saw Hunter slow to a stop and then the truck peel out and Hunter came into the yard. Not thinking anything of it, I went back to cleaning. He came in seconds later, crying. He said the boys called him names, (they were bad) and peeled out. My heart aches for him...for what he heard, and probably doesn't even know what it means. I am sad that he witnessed this anywhere, much less this small town. Unfortunately for these punks, it's IS a small town, they WERE driving a recognizable truck (black low rider with shiny/chrome rims), and one of the little darlings has an unusual name. D'OH! So, come on back boys, let's have a talk!

Sweetness

Never pass up an opportunity to photograph some sweet evening sunlight!

A fish tale

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words...sometimes. This one had some smack talk involved. (Side note: Hunter was given a gift from his late great-grandpa and he bought a new fishing pole with it. It's not a user friendly pole, which he was warned about, so he's been practicing with it in the yard. So daddy finally had a free minute and took him fishing.) Daddy started casting with it and after about the 7th throw, he got a big hit...and said "That's how you do it Hunter."

Hunter took the pole and started casting...7 minutes later, he said (insert wise guy) "Like this daddy"...and proceeds to pull in the big one! :) These are the days I want to remember...gosh I love these guys...(and the other one not pictured.)

Happy Anniversary

17 years later and I'd do it all over again...even though some years there seems to be more downs than ups, I know it makes us stronger. And I hope we never stop laughing.

Noises

This kid cracks me up. He heard something coming from the neighbors shed...well, empty shed, since they have finally moved out. So, he had to investigate.

The approach...

Listening

Questions from the peanut gallery ;)

He's going in...

We were all disappointed to not see him come running out, fearing for his life...not really, but we probably would have laughed our butts off! He was disappointed to not find anything except a wing and some part of an animal skeleton.

The River

We missed church this morning because we had company visiting. But we knew we'd still be able to be a part of it later in the day, when we all went out to the river for a baptism. A special baptism...for this child went to her parents and ASKED to be baptized. Wow. So we celebrated her today...and several others that reaffirmed their baptisms. It was a glorious day and the sun finally came out...apparently it did not warm the water, but no one (that got in it), seemed to notice.

The kids didn't care...nor did the big kid! :)

We gathered

And then she headed out...

Along with her daddy

and with her lovely mom

She did it...look at her smile!

And her mom reaffirmed her baptism

We rejoiced and sang Amazing Grace...it really was amazing!

We ate some good food and the youth played some ultimate frisbee. What a beautiful Sunday.

Dreams

It's been an emotional day. I had a dream last night and I can't talk about it without crying. We went to church this morning...we laughed, we cried and we rejoiced. When was the last time you went to church and laughed, cried and rejoiced all in the same service? I THANK GOD we were sent here. I love our last church...I miss all the lovely people there, but with technology (facebook), we can still keep up...and go visit from time to time. But we BELONG here. I don't know how to describe it any other way.

The boys went on a camping trip last night to watch the meteor shower...we watched it, too, from the park...but that's another story! :) But the things I heard this morning...about my boys and about all the other boys...(it's not a "boy" group, they just didn't have any girls on this trip)...but the SPIRITUAL things I heard about, just sent chills down my spine. I wish I had gone, if not just for a few hours, but I think if I had, they might not have had the same experience.

So, thanks Grandpa's...yes, the 's is correct, because they were both in my dream (amazing!), I will continue to pray and know that "It's gonna be alright."

Frustration

Some days it's just hard to stay positive. I know it's a test, but geez, can we just catch a break?! I will keep reminding myself this as I go up to work at church today. Maybe I can find some peace there?!

They grow too fast

High school...already. It makes me want to cry, because I know the next 4 years are going to fly by! I hope he enjoys them.

Middle school...already. It makes me want to cry harder...where oh where did the last 12 years go? Appreciate them when they are young, because before you know it...they're gone. ;(

Summer Fun

The church youth took a trip to Nashville Shores last weekend. I was "requested" to go along...oh joy...but went...and the 4 mom's stuck together and had a blast. But holy moly did it knock me out all week. (And just an FYI...this girl will NOT be going camping with them next week. ;)

We've done several trips with the "new" church youth leaders so far and I have to say I'm rather impressed. They might be flying by the seat of their pants, but they're doing a great job. It also impresses me that no matter what they are doing, they take time out to worship. It may be 10 minutes or 20 minutes, but they stop at some point during their "fun" and have a message. Believe me, it matters...and it's awesome!

Imagine my surprise when punk #1 comes down with a GIRL! :) Funny how "I think" he was just giving her a ride because she didn't want to go down by herself...that's what I'm going to keep telling myself! ;)

I wasn't exaggerating about this angle with the camera...IT WAS this steep! Good heavens this thing was EVIL! How I got punk #2 to talk me into going down it I'll never know, but my neck has suffered because of it all week! Dang it, the things we do for our kids! ;)

Waiting on Hunter and Marc to come down before we head home.

It really was a beautiful day!

Adventures

We had to take an instrument to the repair guy today and punk #2 has been after me to go explore over at the discovery center wetlands. I finally gave in since we were 4 blocks from it...of course it was only 98 degrees out. But as always, we saw some cool things.

Lots of ducks

A snake...assumed it was poisonous and were glad we were on the raised boardwalk!

Very few flowers...unfortunately I think the summer heat has done them in.

And my goal...to get a dragonfly...done. :)