95.1

The local television stations were all abuzz yesterday with the news that we just completed OUR. HOTTEST. SUMMER. EVER! Which is kind of strange because it did not feel like the hottest summer to me. But they have the statistics to back them up and numbers don't lie.

The average temperature this summer was 95.1 F. This is not the average high temp of the summer. This is the average of the day and night temps put together. Now that I do believe. The nights here just keep getting warmer.

The good news is that yesterday was the date the latest 110 F. temp was recorded in 2010. We're pretty warm right now (106-109 F) the past few days, but not HOT like 110 F. You may wonder what's the difference between 109 F and 110 F; believe me, there IS a difference!

Fall officially starts on Sunday and our temps are supposed to drop into the double digits next week. The over night temps will be in the 70s. I am thrilled! Overnights in the 70s means we can open up the house and turn the AC off.

Hopefully the rest of September through Christmas will be in the 90s, 80s, and 70s. I'm not holding my breath though. The latest 100 F degree temp was recorded on October 23, 2003...

Inspiration

If you're like me and could use a spiritual pick-me-up after the tragic events of yesterday, check out Beth Moore's blog. She's written a post on grace that's awesome!

SSMT #18

The verse I've chosen this time around is for me. I do not want my faith to be a matter of idle talk. I want my life to be a demonstration of the power of God Almighty. The Lord has worked in powerful ways in my life. Sometimes I have to get through a circumstance to be able to look back and see the wondrous work He has done. Sometimes I am acutely aware of His working in the midst of the circumstance. Regardless of my perspective, the truth is that God is working in me. My prayer is that I let Him work through me, too.

For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 NET

9/11

Each year MSNBC (not a channel I normally watch any more) shows in real time the events of 9/11/2001 as broadcast on the NBC Today Show. Every year I watch. The sharpness of the shock I felt that day has worn off. The sadness has remained.

Twelve years have passed. I remarked to Dan last night that the kids who were 1-17 years old at that time have all grown up post 9/11. They do not know how much the world and particularly the USA changed on that day. He reminded me that it was like us growing up under the threat of nuclear weapons. If it's all you know, it's all you know... it's not as scary. He's right.

On this day it is important for us to remember. Not to remember what we've lost, or how different life is now. We need to remember the unity of those days. The heroes of those days. The faith of those days.

We need to remember so we don't forget. There's a quote that paraphrased says "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it". Very true. If you don't think that's true, just compare what's going on in our country today compared to the pre-WWII years. The similarities are eerie...

Cousins

Last weekend we went down to Mesa to visit Zach, Ashley, and Skye. Sunny and Thunder were spending the weekend with us so they got to enjoy a "Cousin's Day" with Skye. I just love it when all of the grandkids are together!

Sunny and Skye

Dan and Zach

Zach and Skye

Gramps and Skye

 

All of our Grands!

Having fun at IKEA

On Saturday night when we went to check on the kids, Thunder had crawled into bed with Sunny. They were so cute I just had to take a photo. Fortunately, they didn't wake up!

Grammy, Thunder, Sunny

Gramps, Thunder, Sunny

Thirty

Thirty years ago today I became a Mom. It was a dream come true for me. Growing up, I only ever wanted to be a mom. I used to dream about how many kids I would have, what their names would be, what being a mom would be like. When I was in Jr. High, I planned to have 12 kids. I wanted to still be young when I had them, so I planned some multiples into the mix. As I grew older, I matured and finally settled on having six kids. See, I told you I matured! As I reached my 20s, my dream was to have to six kids, but I really just wanted to be a mom - it didn't matter how many kids.

Jessica Lynn Koons arrived on September 3, 1983. She was born five weeks early. It was the first Saturday after I started disability leave at my job due to Toxemia. Dan had an early morning meeting at work and I was lying in bed with my feet braced on the wall talking to the baby. I was telling her (we didn't know what we were having) my worries about being off work for five more weeks and then six weeks of maternity leave after that. I told the baby I was hoping for an early arrival. However, I was hoping for a week early, not five weeks!

That afternoon we went to Breuner's to pass some time looking at furniture. One of the Sales Associates approached us and after learning we were browsing, she said to me "You look like you're ready to deliver!". Haha, we all laughed and I told her I had more than a month to go.

After Breuner's we headed to my folks to swim. Floating in a pool was sheer heaven with my swollen feet. As I was putting on my swimsuit, my water broke. I could not believe it.

As you can see, even before she was born Jessica was a compassionate, obedient, generous child! When I first held her in my arms, well, I wish I could describe the joy I felt, but I can't. It was overwhelming. She is my first born. The first person to call me Mom. She is my pride and joy and has been for 30 years.

I don't know what the future holds for Jessica. I do know that whatever comes her way, she will meet it with grace, dignity, and confidence.

Happy Birthday, Jess! And thank you for making it possible for me to fulfill my life's dream. I love you!

SSMT #17

This past couple of weeks have been filled with losses, challenges, and sadness. You know how bad news travels in threes, well I seem to have heard several sets of bad news lately.

For that reason, this verse is the best choice for memorizing:

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4 NET