Summer Time

I don't know how easy the livin' is, but summer brings all kinds of interesting activities.  It is a nice change from the routine of the rest of the year.  The 4th of July, for our family, usually means a picnic with my side of the family in Pennsylvania.  This year was no exception.  So on Wednesday, Andy and I made the 2 hour drive with a salad I had made to join all our kids and grandkids and all my brothers and sisters and their spouses, as well as my mother.  My aunt and one of my cousins also joined us.  We don't see each other very often so what a nice treat to all be together again.

There was lots of good food, scores of little kids, fun time with family members.

 
Three sisters

brothers-in-law

cousins and second cousins

 
daughters, moms, cousins, in-laws

Thanks to my brother, Sam and his wife, Julie for hosting the picnic every year.  And we're all happy to be there because they have a pool, especially when it's so hot as it was this year.  The pool is a big hit with everyone.

 

 Traditionally, we set off fireworks every year that Kerby buys for the enjoyment of all.  They are always a huge hit causing lots of ooh's and ahh's along with the booms and bangs!  I didn't attempt to take pictures of the fireworks show, but it lives on in my memory!

Of course, the fireworks can't be started till after dark, so by the time they were over and we were on our way home, it was quite late.  We didn't get to bed until midnight, then up the next day for work.  Needless to say, I was pretty tired the rest of the week.  But it was worth it.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little sleep in order to have a good time and make memories.

I invited Tommy and Dawn to come over for dinner on Friday evening.  They had bought a tandem bike and wanted an excuse to ride it to our house.  So I made barbeque chicken pizza - a favorite of everyone's.  Unfortunately, on their way over, they got a flat tire and Andy had to go pick them and the bike up in his truck.  After dinner, Dawn, Kira and I played outside on the swing set and the neighbors' trampoline while Andy and Tommy fixed the flat tire.

All fixed and ready to bike on home.

It's been soooo hot all week, but the forecast is calling for a break tomorrow.  I have been hibernating inside and will be glad to get out again.  As thankful as I am for air conditioning, I do long for the great outdoors to enjoy the summer, which in my mind is 80's weather with no humidity.  So far, although our grass is burning up, our flowers and bushes are still alive and seemingly thriving.  Andy and I are religiously watering them every day.  We're hoping to get rain soon, and as soon as it does, we'll need to mow the lawn to cut down all the weeds.  Somehow they keep growing even though the grass shrivels up.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.  Isaiah 40:8  The Word of God is as refreshing to our souls as the rain is to grass.  Let it rain, let it pour!  May we not wither and fall, but be fruitful in our walk with the Lord.