My how they have grown!

I staked this hibiscus right before we left on vacation 10 days ago, and it is a good thing, they grew almost a foot and are starting to bloom, they are gorgeous! Each bloom is a little more than 8 inches across!

This hydrangea is only blooming on this side, I am glad it is the side I see!

We had a great time on vacation, as soon as I get my pictures sorted out I will be posting them for all to see - have a great day!

Water skiing!

This is the cheering crowd! After 25 attempts (and Kevin counted) Nick finally made it up!

Passing time playing in the U.P.

4 Sisters!

Toni Jo, the baby, Micki, the 2nd oldest, Me and Sandy, the most old!!!

How great to spend sometime with my sisters! It has been years since we were all together.

Isaiah

Micah

The air is cool and the water cooler,but they still enjoyed it!

A day playing on the shores of Lake Michigamme, What a great way to spend the day!.

The twins are here!

They liked playing in the sprinkler, last night and this afternoon, plus a snack under the tree! Nick and I took them to Duncan Park for a swing, they liked that!

We planned to go to the pool, but it was 90 degrees today and I thought even with the sunscreen that was not a good idea. I think they enjoyed the sprinkler as well.

A wedding, such happiness!!

Mr and Mrs Jesse Freeman Jesse and Renee repeat sacred vows No words needed for this picture! I am so happy for my nephew and his wife - God's blessings to you, May the God who lives inside you both, grant you peace in the stormy times, contentment in the trying times, and a very soft heart for each other. May you find comfort in each others hands, in each others words, in each others hearts. As spouses you are to be each others "soft safe place to fall", a place of safety, not a place of judgment or criticism. A place you can fail and know no matter what you are still loved, with an unconditional love that accepts you warts and all. Know that difficulties and trials will come, but when they do as you seek His will He will bless you with wisdom and understanding from above. May the Lord bless your union as you seek to glorify Him in your lives. May your home be protected with a hedge provided by the Savior. May you always seek the shelter provided by Him. I love you Jesse, Congratulations!!

Going to church

Well the week is coming to an end, Cassie will go home tomorrow morning and she is very anxious to see her family! We have had a busy week, we painted birdhouses, made stepping stones, went to the store and got a second birdhouse to paint, Nick took her to see Wall-e and Wendell and I took her to see Kung Fu Panda. We picked, snapped and cooked green beans, we have worked in the flower gardens, watered them, cut off the dead ones and picked beautiful boquets! She is so smart, she remembers all the names of the flowers!! We made homemade pizza, homemade Apricot pie (or cobbler) as Wendell calls it, we played at the park, swam at the pool, went to church and have had an overall great time. Later today we will make a scrapbook with all out pictures for her to take home and show her mom and dad. I am going to miss my little shadow - next year Nick graduates from High School and their whole family will come up, so we have that to look forward to!!!

Apricot pie and bird houses.

Wendells favorite, Apricot! Cassie and I made it and it was delicious!! We also painted birdhouse to hang out for the wrens in the backyard. Jordan gave me a bright red birdhouse several years ago, that is hanging near the screen porch and every year it is filled with a nest from either wrens, finches or sparrows. It has a finch nest in it this year. Cassie also helped harvest lettuce and spread some on the grass to share with the many rabbits in the backyard. This week is passing quickly!

Picking green beans!

Cassie arrived last night from Florida, she saw lightning from the airplane and did not like it! She said she kept telling everyone , "We're all going to die, we're all going to die!" We had terrible storms yesterday and got about 1.9 inches of rain! The plants love it, but we sure don 't need it with all the flooding we have had.

We were busy today, running errands and then we went out to the garden and picked about a gallon of green beans, she stayed right up with me as we snapped them and everything! Nick and his girlfriend took her to see Walle this afternoon and then they are going to the county fair here in town. She will be worn out!!!!

As you can see my tomatos are getting big, but not ready yet - I can hardly wait, you can 't beat a home grown tomato!!

Are we done yet?

We are in the middle of summer, Nick realized the other day that it will be little more than a month until school starts! His senior year, sure makes me feel old! He asked me and Wendell not too long ago a question that made me pause, and I quote "do you feel like you life is over?"!! I guess it is because we are soooo old (53 and 54) that he thinks we are "done" - I can remember being his age like it was yesterday, I really don't feel any older in my mind, but my body does!!! Do we feel like our lives are over --- the kids are raised, we get to enjoy the grandkids without the day to day work, we are financially stable (as opposed to the years of raising kids, living paycheck to paycheck), we are healthy, we are happy, we are listening to the Lords leading--- are we "done", NO, I think we are definitely in a different phase, but far from "done"!!! I am sure in his mind, thinking of his whole life in front of him, with endless options, college, career, marraige, children, he feels like we accomplished all the things he is looking forward to, so we must be "done", but now we get to enjoy the fruit of that labor. My children just cause me to burst at the seams with pride, all those years of tears and prayers paid off, the Lord worked in them to be wonderful adults who love Him and are raising their children to know Him. They are successful - a mothers dream come true!! My life has taken some turns I did not see coming, but the Lord brought it all about for good, as He promises in His Word. I wish I could say I have always been faithful, never failed, stayed true to the course, but that would be a lie. I am just thankful that His mercy never fails, and no matter what we do, we can come to Him, confess, ask forgiveness and be restored- thank you Lord. In all my selfish, self-centered wanderings His faithfulness never wavers, He loves me with a love that never fails and is always seeking to encourage and uplift me, what a wonderful perfect Father! Are we done?, no, not until God says so, and my plan is to stay sensitive to His leading and just keep on-keepin' on until He calls me home, I believe the most exciting years are yet to come!! Wonder what is just around the corner!

The Pledge of Allegience!

This is priceless, if you have never heard it is worth 4 minutes of your time, be sure to listen to the end!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

I am sitting here on the screen porch watching the day come to life, thanking God that I live in the United States of America! I could have been born anywhere, but it was here that He choose for me to be and the same is true for most of you reading this (I do see that I get international visitors sometimes). I believe this country has been blessed by God because it was founded by Christians who sought out this land so they could have religous freedom - it was founded on the principles of the Bible, go back and read any historical document, the Declaration of Independence for example and you will see that was the basis of it. The Declaration begins ;

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "

As you see, acknowledging God was in the very beginning of the writing and in the forefront of thier thoughts. They ended it this way -

"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. "

With a "firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence" - God, they knew who their Creator and their protector was. Boy, have we come a long way from that - I pray our country would turn back to their roots and again seek their Creator and Protector!

Happy Birthday America - Land of the free and the brave - and thank you to all who serve to keep us free - God Bless You!