Summer Fun with Friends!

Today we had the pleasure of having some friends over for a visit while their mom and dad finish up some cleaning of a rental home they just moved from.  We had the joy of having the 3 middle children from this dear family for the day, and two of them are camping out with us tonight! 

 

We had lots of fun together! 

 

We fed goats . . .

 

We rode horses . . .

(I think they liked the horse riding . . . a lot!)

 

 

We played with puppies . . .

 

We had a picnic lunch at the park . . .

 

We swam in the lake . . .

 

We played on the playground . . .

We really enjoyed the tire swing!

(Caroline can definitely vouch for that, as she was the tire swing operator for over an hour!)

 

We had a fun water balloon fight . . .

 

 

 Then, we moved on to hitting the water  balloons with baseball bats . . .

The girls especially loved craft time with Valerie . . .

 

(and Valerie especially loved having little girls around!)

We painted our nails . . .

 

 

and the boys played legos . . . 

 

 

We played lots outside . . .

(love this team effort!)

 We enjoyed the inside animals . . .

We decorated cookies . . .

(and then ate them!)

We ate hot dogs for dinner . . .

(don't these two look similar?)

And lastly,

we picked up cousin Cassidy and jumped in two boats and went fishing!

A Visit to the Park!

It is a beautiful day here,

so we decided to pack a lunch and enjoy a little time at the park.

We are so blessed to have such a special place to enjoy

just a few minutes from where we live!

 

While Timmy and Joe are spending the day and night at Lydia and Richie's house,

we thought this would be a fun thing for Benjamin to do. 

A few days ago, he saw on one of his sing-a-long videos some kids swinging on a tire swing,

and he has been asking us to take him to the tire swing ever since!  

July 4th Festivities!

We began our celebrations early,

starting on July 4th Eve!

We had a great time over dinner, dessert and fireworks 

with Aunt Kelley, Cassidy,

Richie and Lydia.

 

 Just before the festivities began,

Ted did some brush hogging,

and had a terrible allergy flare up in one of his eyes.

His eye swelled nearly shut,

so he wore these sunglasses all night.  :-(

Here, Richie, being the awesome son that he is,

put his sunglasses on to help sympathize with Ted!

 Then, we headed outside for some fun fireworks!

This is a really cool new one we put on a fence post and it spins!

 The parachutes are always a big hit with the boys!

 Benjamin wanted to wear his baseball pajamas clothes for the festivities!

 

 Today, we left early for Long Beach!

We started with a parade in Ocean Park.

 

 Then, played frisbee football on the beach,

and had a SERIOUS competition of miniature golf.

 There were some very interesting techniques observed . . .

However, the results were very satisfying

for each of the competitors!

The "number 1" sign means "hole-in-one!"



And now, for the rest of the , , , month of June! :-)

We've been enjoying . . .

 

smores . . .

 around Meemom and PapaBob's fire pit,

with Aunt Kelley, McKenna and Cassidy (and pooch, Sharaya) . . .

 and homemade chocolate fudgesicles;

 

taking dominion of the land,

and fighting back the noxious weeds . . .

 

  at a "tansy party";

 

("Sweet victory!")

 (The partiers!)

 

jogging on the country roads in the cool mornings;

 

   the excitement of fireworks shopping;

  and Mommy's anticipation of some landscaping

work getting accomplished

in exchange for their purchase;

 lovin' a new litter of puppies;



 

frog hunting;

and a fun, early birthday party

for Aunt Kelley!

 

 

 



WOW!!!! It's July 2nd Already!!!

Well, hello again!

Happy July!

How are you all doing during these hot summer days?

It sure has been warm here in our neck of the woods!

And busy, as usual!

We've already made a few trips

down to the lake for some swimming!

 

Annie and Ellie, the newest lab pups, were cracking us up!

Annie LOVES the water and never wanted to get out.

And Ellie, on the other hand, was perfectly content watching Annie do all the swimming to retrieve the balls, while she waited patiently to move in at the final second to steal them away!

 

And now . . . back to where we last left off . . . June 16th . . .

Father's Day!

 

Like Father like son,

both in their new glasses!

(Ted's are just reading glasses,

but he needs them every time he reads!

I think he looks even more handsome in them! ;-)

Can you see on Joe's face how much this Daddy is loved? : -)

AND . . . .

Richie and Lydia's one year anniversary!!!

We rejoice with them,

and thank the Lord for His goodness in bringing these two amazing people together,

and at the most perfect time!

We are so grateful for both of them,

and enjoy them sooo much! 

 As we all reflected on their first very special year together,

a particular song kept coming to my mind. 

I first heard this beautiful song years ago,

as I watched a video of a Christian couple's wedding photos set to it.

At the time, I thought it was an interesting choice for a wedding-photo video,

but I thought the last line was sure sweet . . .

"You make my joy complete."

(Though it is really referring to the Lord. :-)

As Richie and Lydia planned for their wedding,

I wondered if they would be interested in using the song somehow.

But there were so many great ones to choose from!

 

So now, a year later, looking back on their first year together,

so many of the lines of this song are particularly meaningful

 as we celebrate all He has done for them . . .

as they,

put their trust in Him alone . . . their Master, Creator, Healer and Sustainer;

 clung to the joy of their salvation through their many trials;

experienced the full measure of God's mercy and grace in new, profound ways;

were blessed with increased faith and endurance;

 and sought to be "open" and "humble" in their brokenness

to carry the hope found in Jesus to those who haven't heard! 

(This is the only picture video I could find on you tube of this song. 

Interestingly, it was just posted a week before their anniversary on June 8, 2013! ;-)

 

 

Lord, You are the maker of my heart
The framer and reshaper of my soul
Master and Creator
Healer and Sustainer
I will put my trust in You alone

Teach me to be faithful to confess
In this way my spirit will be blessed
Though my sins are daily,
You have loved me greatly
Removing them as far as East from West

Let me be open
Let me be humble
Let me find the joy of my salvation in Your cross
Let me be broken
Whenever I stumble
Let me remember the great mercy of my God

Give me the full measure of Your grace
As it is reflected in the Word
Faith and reassurance
Mercy and endurance
Carry these to those who haven’t heard

So let me be open
Let me be humble
Let me find the joy of my salvation in your cross
Let me be broken
Whenever I stumble
Let me remember the great mercy of my God

All I have needed is laid at your table
All my achievements, I lay at your feet
Alive in your spirit, I’m willing and able
You make my joy complete

Let me be open
Let me be humble
Let me find the joy of my salvation in your cross
Let me be broken whenever I stumble
Let me remember the great mercy

Make my joy complete