The News from Jersey

It was good to be home this week. It was busy but not frantically so. I was able to accomplish some things that had been put off for a while, like weeding my flower gardens. I spent almost 4 hours early Tuesday morning outside in the gardens. I got around the whole house, just needing to do one last garden, which I hope to attack tomorrow. Speaking of attacking, the mosquitoes love to attack me, and I have 6 or 7 bites on my arms from Tuesday. I wonder what God had in mind when he made mosquitoes, other than to be food for bats, which I don't like either!

I took a few more pictures of flowers in the yard.

Here is my hydrangea bush that is outdoing itself this year. It has both pink and blue blossoms on the same bush. (Never mind the green gunk on the shed siding - one of these days, we'll get around to cleaning that.)
I didn't realize coneflowers got so tall. I'm impressed!
And here's my butterfly bush. I like the blue flowers against the white house.
In other news, our upstairs tenant turned 21 this week, so I resurrected an oldie, but goodie recipe that I used to make: Chicken & Ham Rollups. It calls for a 1/4 cup of dry white wine, plus some other things, but I thought that would be comical to serve for his birthday. I also made a blueberry cream cheese pound cake. Andy's mom and dad joined us for the party, which was Thursday evening.
I was able to spend an hour or so in the evenings before bed to sew the doll clothes for Grace's doll. The skirt was a cinch to do and went together easily, but the top was a stretchy crushed velvet and kept getting caught in a bunch under the stitchplate of the sewing machine. If it had been for me or one of the kids, I would have thrown it away and started over on a different material, but after it was all done, it didn't look too bad. Plus, after Grace put the outfit on the doll, I later found that same doll in her fancy outfit in a corner on the floor. Well, she did look good sitting there all "dolled up!"
If someone tells you to smile, here is an example of what you should look like.
Yesterday was the 4th of July and we chose to spend the day with C & C because at this point, they are unable to take the whole family out for long excursions. It's still too stressful for Patrick to be with large groups of people. Andy & I desire to be as supportive and encouraging as we can to them in their calling and mission to their family.

I did some preparatory baking and cooking on Friday night and we left fairly early Saturday morning. Christy had asked me to bring rolls. The last time I had bought rolls, I didn't like them. They were hard and on the stale side. So I got the bright idea to see if I could make some. I found this recipe online that looked easy and didn't take long and voila...
I also made a pasta salad and blueberry dessert.
Andy and Christian worked on some finishing touches to the addition/house, then Christian grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for our dinner. It was a good day, enjoying the kids and being together.

I am very thankful for the freedom we still enjoy in our nation, but even more I'm eternally grateful for the freedom I enjoy in Christ. ...He "has freed us from our sins by His blood." (Rev. 1:5) and we are also ..."free from accusation." (Colossians 1:22)

My chains are gone, I've been set FREE,
My God, my Savior, has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns,
Unending love, amazing grace.
Words by Chris Tomlin & Louis Giglio