There's No Place like Home

I thoroughly enjoyed our vacation time in Pittsburgh, but it really feels good to be sleeping in my own bed again. The full size bed Robby and I shared at Mom's was a challenge for two people used to sleeping on a California-King pillow top. I'll be accused of exaggerating, but Robby slept like he was tied to the four posts of the bed while I curled up in the leftover space on the very edge between his arm and his leg. He slept fine of course, but he wondered why I stayed in bed so long after he got up!


While I was stretching out in my big bed last night I was reminded of a truth I often forget. Like a guest from out of town, we too are visitors in a strange and sometimes uncomfortable place. I never questioned the oddities of my Mother's house because I knew it wasn't organized for me. I didn't get aggravated with the situation because I knew we were only staying there temporarily. Instead, I focused on what I was there for, enjoying some time with my family who I don't see as often as I would like.


It's comforting to know that this life on earth is only a temporary stop on my Heavenly journey. The discomforts and difficulties will one day be replaced with profound joy and contentment. One day I will find myself "stretched out" on the streets of Heaven finally realizing the true meaning of the popular phrase "there's no place like home". Until then I will try to focus on what I am here for. Learning to be a reflection of the Savior I serve and sharing the Good News wherever I go.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

While enjoying my cousin Andrew's baseball game "we" got the great idea to get out the kazoos that Lindsay won at the VBS carnival and make some noise. It was my Aunt Wendy who came up with the plan to attempt our own rendition of the popular 7th inning stretch (who cares if it was the wrong inning !) Garrett, Kimberly and Cynthia refused to participate in our "craziness" claiming that we are weird and they don't know us, but they did stand close enough to record our "concert".

Oh. By the way. Lindsay won about 100 of those wonderfully musical little plastic things-- so beware. They may reappear at any moment without notice. Who knows, they may be used to serenade YOU!

Guess Who Can Swim Underwater

Life's Lesson #4628

I learned yet another seemingly obvious lesson on the drive to Pittsburgh. Although I love to feel the wind against my skin, I don't often drive long distances with the windows down. During our 6 hour drive I took a nice long nap with my foot hanging out the open window. Occasionally a bug would smack against my socked foot and wake me, but otherwise I was extremely comfortable. I slept much of the way to my mother's, but when I was putting my PJ's on I noticed a thick red "stripe" on my shin.

I managed to get a sunburn in the 4 inches from my sock line to where my pants leg rested in the wind!


Although the wind feels good, the windows serve an important role in our defense against the sun's rays.

ROAD TRIP

I have the next two weeks off from school and Robby managed to get a vacation (from BOTH jobs!) so we headed to Pittsburgh to visit with family and leave Garrett for the annual Grandma visit. She keeps one grandchild each summer for about a week and it's Garrett's turn (again). I'm hoping for a less eventful stay this time since his last trip left him in the hospital with an attack of previously undiagnosed asthma.

Usually we travel at night so the kids can sleep and the opportunities for conflict are at a minimum. We decided to be brave this time and leave as soon as I took my Test since it's the first day of Robby's vacation and we didn't want to waste it. As expected, there were a million questions of "how much further?" and "how much longer?" and What are we going to do when we get there?" Then there was the "She's touching me!" and "He's putting his feet by me!" bickering back and forth. Overall the trip wasn't that bad, but we will be making every effort to continue to travel at night for awhile.

Take a look at these happy campers!!!!!

Someone managed to enjoy the drive. . . .

Once we made it to my Grandma's (about an hour outside of Pittsburgh) we stopped to eat dinner at Bob Evans. Garrett managed to find his sense of humor once again.

On another note. We passed the Christmas tree farm that Cynthia found so interesting a few summers ago. If I haven't told the story before--she was intrigued by the rows of trees growing so straight. I told her it was a Christmas Tree farm which confused her even more. She paused a moment before responding "They're growing them ALREADY?!?!?!?!?!?!?" Yes Cynthia. They grow Christmas trees all summer long!

Sowing Seeds

VBS was fun, but I'm glad it's over! I feel like we lived at church this past week. My kids were a great help (most of the time!) and it was nice to reconnect with people we haven't seen in awhile, but boy am I exhausted! Here are just a couple of the 200 or so pictures I took this week.

Even Ida had to get in on this "dog pile"

I was in charge of crafts. My room was called "clothesline creations" - hence the laundry hanging all over the room. . . I think the kids enjoyed everything we made, but I learned a lot about their abilities. Note to self: anything with beads and fishing-line spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

No matter how sore my back was or how tired I was feeling these little smiling faces were there to remind me of my purpose. I can totally understand why Jesus loved to be surrounded by children!

P A R T Y T I M E ! ! ! ! !

Kimberly had her birthday party today at Iroquois Park. She was a little disappointed that many of her friends had practice, work, and other obligations and weren't able to come, but the fun waits for no one. It was hot and muggy so the water feature at the playground came in really handy when the teenagers weren't busy taking over the kiddie swings.

These two girls spent the night with Kimberly after the party.

They only LOOK sweet and innocent! Trust me!

Nobody likes to hear that they look like their parent(s), but sometimes there's no denying it!

Kimberly spent some of her birthday money on overpriced ice cream from the ice cream truck. I can still hear that annoying song playing over and over and over and over . . . . . . . . .

I think Garrett secretly wanted to get egg all over himself in the egg toss.

I had to get the picture fast.

At 13 she thinks she's too cool to be seen taking pictures with her momma!