More Summer Sweetness

Free snow cones at VBS thanks to a family whose new business was postponed while waiting on all the right licensing. Super nice of them to turn their problem into our blessing.

Bringing home a car load of kids from VBS while they sang at the TOP OF THEIR LUNGS:

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

Everybody's nerves

Everybody's nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves

And this is how it goes

Bom, bom, bom

I know a song that gets......

REPEAT

REPEAT

REPEAT.....

for 8 miles. They tried especially hard to annoy me as the driver, of course, but I just played air guitar to their singing and put my fingers in my ears to make them laugh. What they meant for my harm, God turned for the good. (Genesis 50:20) Hee hee. They have no idea I was having "a moment."

A day out with our "littles" doing all the stuff our oldest has grown out of. He was away at a camp out.

Riding around the neighborhood at midnight with my hubby in his new toy.

The neighbor dog coming over (and over and over) to "call upon" our lady yellow lab (through a hole he dug under our fence.) Explaining some things to our kids as a result.

Running into four of our teachers (separately) in one day in their "normal people" casual looks.

The day before that, our neighbor took our offer to lunch with us while she was coincidentally making a sales call to the restaurant where we were eating.

A glimpse of my daughter's golden silky hair reflecting the sun and flying in the breeze.

An impromptu visit to my parents' and their unconditional love and hospitality while there.

Watching raindrops on their pond on a sad day with only the sound of a few birds and rustling trees. Staying dry under the roof of their dock.

Hearing my 6-year-old son and my 85-year-old grandma singing "Jingle Bells" together wearing shorts in June. And having lunch with her at her place.

Standing in my dad's shop late at night looking out over the mementos that represent a lifetime of memories. Illuminated only by the glow through the doorway to the adjoining room, I saw the pool table we hauled from Missouri to south Texas on the sagging roof of an LTD company car (oops!), the old shop stool where I used to sit and talk his ear off while he woodworked, the painting by his college room mate that my brother and I teasingly dubbed "Dookiestick Sunrise," and my brother's old dirt bike. Somehow it reminded me of the truck he bought with his buddies for $50 and got running. He always got to keep the old electronics at our house because he had a knack for restoring them to working condition. Hard to imagine I'm not 10 anymore.

This conversation with my dad as I FROZE on his couch:

D: Punkin (his pet name for me), why're you all bundled up?
Me: Because I'm not used to living in a meat locker!
D: (teasingly) Oh, I just think you're getting OLD and lack the circulation you had when you were YOUNG.
Me: No. I'm actually going to stay this age forever since you're freezing me alive in your own personal cryogenics lab!
D: (Laughs) See? That's why we're planning our retirement in Colorado. Texas (where I grew up - my parents are originally from Missouri) is just too hot!
Me: (through chattering, while he sits comfortably in a short sleeved t-shirt) Well, when you two go furniture shopping, skip the bed and buy a hammock. I think you'd be most happy sleeping in the snow!

Swimming with my kids for three hours by the flickering pool light under a million stars.

A lost tooth, a bullfrog stampede and round-up, my daughter's first time in high heels, cannon balls in the swimming pool, and a power outage all in the span of twenty four hours.

Sitting in church with some of my favorite people in the world, despite all our bad hair due to the power outage.

The joyous glee and pride upon my son's face because his drawing was picked to appear in a magazine!!!

Laughing until my sides split with a group of new friends/fellow parents as we watched a 6-year-old tee ball game! Oh. My. Goodness! I had to go speak to my son frequently to alleviate the frustration. This was the only league available this summer and most of the players are very much new to the game, but they are so stinkin' cute to watch in their utter oblivion!

Watching my daughter and her cousin destroy the kitchen concocting 47-item ice cream "treats" in their PJ's.

Welcoming home our newest little neighbor, a baby boy born to the ridiculously adorable young couple across the street. Knowing that beyond this blissful moment await times they will wonder if they can possibly make it through. And knowing that they will - and they will love him even more then than they do right now.

The predictability of one of our children, who unfailingly "trumpets" the arrival of each new day! (If you read between the lines, you'll know what I'm referring to.) It's so funny that they each have their unique personalities - and their own special "talents." You can set your watch by this one.

Realizing that at least for ONE MORE DAY, we are still in the first half of summer break! I am off to make the very most of it!!!