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Food, Fun, Family, Fireworks

Some of the family got together on the 4th of July to celebrate Katie's birthday, to welcome Jess & Adam home, and to celebrate the 4th.

The food was great, we had fun, we enjoyed time with family, and we watched the fireworks display at Surprise Stadium from our front yard!

Yes, I started to cut the cake before I realized we needed to get a picture.

Plus, I already took all the decorations off!

Carl & JoAnne - the Greats

Katie & Sunny

Gabe

Adam & Jessica

Dan (Gramps)

"I don't think I like this pool!"

"Yeah, I really don't like this pool, get me out of here!"

Fun Friday

Last Friday was a very fun day for me.

My friend Melanie was in town from Omaha, Nebraska. I have not seen her in three years, although we stay close through phone calls, e-mails, blogs, &  snail mail cards (not so much). We were able to enjoy a leisurely lunch at which we talked at length about all the things we talk more succinctly about over the phone.

Sunny was at my house that day, so Melanie got to meet her, which was very special for me.

This next picture comes from Saturday morning... you guessed it, animal pancakes for breakfast! This time Gramps made her an elephant and a rabbit. She devoured them both.

Happy Birthday, USA!

America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)


Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
Music: Thesaurus Musicus

1. My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!

2. My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

3. Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

4. Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

Happy Birthday, Katie! (and Joanna)

Today is Katie's birthday. She is 24 today. When Katie was born JD was only 12 mos, 2 weeks old. Everybody worried that Katie would not get any attention from us (well actually, Dan's mom was the only one that expressed that fear aloud). They obviously did not know Katie. If she needed something she let us know, otherwise she just sat around and smiled. She was the "smilie-iest" of all my kids.

All of the kids were friendly and made friends easily, but Katie was definitely the most social of the bunch. She attracted friends like honey attracts bees. She always has a variety of friends, no two are alike. She has a soft heart for those in need, but, thankfully, she also has a really good bulls**t detector and does not let herself be taken advantage of.

In a family of four kids there are constantly shifting alliances. Although she would be closer to one or the other at various times, she's always gotten along with her siblings.

Katie's social life was so busy as a child, that I seriously did not think she would go to college. I used to wonder what in the world she would choose as a career. Her senior year in high school, we let her get a job at the neighborhood child care center. All of my concerns about what her career would be disappeared. She loves kids and did a great job teaching and caring for them. As her job developed, she displayed remarkable administrative skills, especially in one so young. I was very impressed!

Today she has earned her A.A. and is finishing her B.A. as well as working full-time as an assistant director at KinderCare, caring for Gabe and Sunny, and running a household. And she does it all so well!

The most surprising thing about Katie is how much she is like me. Or, as she likes to put it, she has all of my good qualities, only better, and none of my bad! I have to admit that she has my good qualities only better. Usually mothers and daughters that are alike are not as close as they could be. Thankfully, that is not the case here. I'm grateful for the closeness between us, and the generosity Katie displays in giving me access to her daughter.

All in all, Katie is the best surprise we ever got. She will always be our "ladybug" and Dan's "Katie-did". She continues to be loving, kind, and of course, who can forget that she provided us with our grandchild!

So, Happy Birthday Katie! We are so proud of you, we love you, and we enjoy every moment we get to spend with you.

I also want to say Happy Birthday to my friend Joanna. She is hands-down the sweetest person I know. We met working together at the church, but came to find out that she had worked with some of my kids in the children's ministry when they were little. I always enjoy talking to her, and she is one of the most creative, talented women I know. Now that she's a mom, I enjoy sharing the adventure of motherhood with her through her blog. Plus, I will never forget her birthday! ha ha

Two Blogs Worth Reading Today

Two of the blogs I read were especially worthwhile today. Both contain stories that confirm that God can, will, and does work through unimaginable circumstances (for us) to His Glory. If you want to be inspired, encouraged, and blessed, read about this youth worker's experience and this mission trip. God is so awesome!

In other news: we have Sunny with us for a couple of days. I hope to get some cute pictures to post. Have I mentioned that she is the most incredible, brilliant, happiest child ever born?! Plus, my friend Melanie is in town and we are going to spend some time together today. Yippee!

It's July

Wow, the year is flying by. It's July which means we've completed half of 2010. For some reason, I always stop and evaluate the year on the 4th of July. When the kids were still living at home, I would sit in the parking lot at Sweet Tomatoes on Bell Rd waiting for the Peoria Stadium fireworks display to begin and think about what had transpired that year and what was yet to come. When is the first day of school? When does early morning band practice start for JD? Who needs shots for the upcoming school year? How much will I have to spend on school supplies this year?

I also used that time to imagine what will it look like next year when everyone's a year older? Will we still all be together watching fireworks or will some of them be off to other events? What will Dan & I do when they're all grown?

As you've already figured out, I'm usually living in the future. The positive thing about that is that I'm usually prepared for whatever. The negative is that I can (and sometimes do) miss out on the pleasure of the here and now.

This year we're having family over for a BBQ. We can see the fireworks from the Surprise Stadium from our backyard. Some of the kids will be here, some won't. Some extended family members will attend, others are forging their own Independence Day traditions.

No matter what, there will be constants that connect me to the 4th of July(s) of years past. It will be hot, not extremely hot this year, but still plenty warm. I will still sit in the dark awaiting the fireworks and take a few moments to evaluate January - June 2010, and then  look ahead to the rest of the year. I will wonder what will it look like next year when everyone's a year older? Then I'll turn my attention to the pleasure of the here and now.