Mid-Summer Days

Here we are at the end of June, with firework stands popping up all over town. I used to silently dread this time of year. Everyone loves the 4th of July, right? I didn't. Noisy fireworks interfered with my babies' naps and bedtimes. It's hot and buggy. Lots of hype all around for a day (or days) of irresponsible partying. I know, I know, what a party-pooper I was. All that has changed now that my kids are older! I LOVE this time of year!!! Last summer my boys and I rode our bikes to the nearest fireworks stand and bought some goodies. I like to think we'll do that every year now. (until they learn to drive!) Braylen is old enough to light his own firecrackers, and nobody takes naps. :) I'm one of those super-cautious moms around fireworks, though. I think that's my firefighter daddy in me. :) My house is decked out in red, white, and blue. Salads and desserts center around a 4th of July theme, and the week wouldn't be complete without a big juicy watermelon. Top it all off with a visit from my parents, and this week is more fun than any other week of the year! I'm very excited for it to begin!

Playing hide-and-seek with Daddy

Ginger is 12 weeks old and growing so fast. These days she's chasing her tail and walking better on her leash. Derek got some awesome pictures of her the other night by our pink flowering shrubs. Pink is my absolute favorite flower color, and I just love it when these shrubs are in full bloom. What a perfect place for our puppy to plop down and pose.

This past week our activities really cranked up a notch. Aaron enjoyed a preschool VBS, which he called "PBS." :) Braylen kept busy mowing lawns and swimming at a friend's pool party. Kaleb and I had 2 hours to ourselves one morning and enjoyed a modified donut date. Let me explain. When we went to the donut shop, we saw it's closed for a month. A month?! Thankfully, Kaleb agreed to sit in the shopping cart and eat his grocery-store donut while I sipped a yummy iced coffee :) Throw in 3 doctor's appointments and pharmacy visits along with a house screaming to be cleaned, and I was one busy mama.

Last night I had one of those mad-mommy-moments when I found ice cream on the couch, water all over the bathroom mirror, and poor aim around the toilet. It's so hard to rise above that and look at what really matters. I'd really like a few hours (alone) to deep-clean my house before my parents come for a visit. I think that would do wonders for me. Since that wasn't happening last night, I opened my Bible to try and soak up some kind of cure for my grumpiness. I found it in Psalm 118:13-14. "I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." So many times I feel pushed--pushed by my kids, by life's demands, by my own standards. When I take some time to be still before the Lord, He helps me. He quiets my spirit and helps me realign my priorities. My kids don't need a clean house, but they do need a mom who's grounded in the Lord. However, I'm still hoping Derek takes the kids out for a couple hours this week. :)