 |
| A cozy walk around town |
 |
| I think the heat-index was still over a hundred --I'm not sure what we were thinking--it was very hot! |
Ben was with me, he made the walk considerably more interesting, not to say hilarious. Converse . . .
Evening Walk
A fly-by of summer pictures
Road Trip to the city:
 |
| Such a ham! |
 |
| we get kind of goofy in the van. . . . |
 |
| he sees Sister and Mama |
 |
| Sweet face! |
 |
| Oh yeah! |
 |
| . . . Random picture, I know, but I was just loving the colors of summer. |
 |
| and that's me in the rearview mirror. . . |
. . . . *~*~*. . . .
 |
| Bee-balm posies from Katie and Greta! |
 |
| Ever seen Tangled? It's a cute movie. I enjoyed showing it to Katie and Caleb :) |
Love, Share, Serve, Pray & Laugh
The fourth of July dawned clear, with a bright blue sky and fans humming inside. My alarm went off at six-thirty so that I had time to read my Bible before the tumult of the holiday. "Happy Independence Day Mother!" I called as I came into the kitchen, which was already buzzing with activity. Will had been sent off to work early, the beans were pressure-cooked and the eggs were boiled.
I spent a busy morning making potato-salad and cold drinks for later on. The cakes, I knew, were already in the freezer, and only one was still to be frosted. This I accomplished once Mother had brought home more powdered sugar. All hands were on deck that morning; we were in festive mood, and listened to a lot of music, including the National Treasure soundtrack :)
At about one-thirty, Katie came in with Greta Rosie, who exclaimed "the friends are here!" And they were! A bunch of old friends had driven down from the city for the day, and there was much hugging and laughter and talking and joking. There wasn't a cloud in the sky overhead, and the heat of the sun soon reminded us of the swimming to be had. So we pulled out coolers and fixed sandwiches and offered cold drinks.
Will came home just in time to join the contingent for the waterpark. Some walked over and some drove -- it was a lovely day for it. The waterpark was full, but we found plenty of room for water-basketball, practicing a dive or splashing the lifeguards, trying out the slides, watching babies in the kiddy-pool.
When it drew near evening and we had worked up a good appetite, we splashed out of the water and changed back into our festive attire for the walk to Katie and Caleb's house. There were chairs out for chatting, the pergola was strung with lights, and Caleb's grill was letting off a superb aroma. Several of us headed across the street to play softball before supper, and I discovered that I like the game better with lots of people.
Then the ribs came off the grill--oh my, the deliciousness!--and the line-up of side dishes was remarkable. . . indeed there were a great many remarks upon them, as well as of the ribs, but that between mouthfulls. Munching and chatting went on for a good while, and even after more softball, we came back to a tableful of magnificent desserts.
Lightening bugs started to glow among the trees in the yard, and shadows began to creep up around us. Soon it would be time for the firework display over the lake, but before that, the boys pulled out two guitars and a banjo and played around for a bit. When we did have to start walking toward the park, they decided to cart the instruments along, and so played right up until ten o'clock. The mosquitoes were fierce, even with bugspray, but it was so much fun listening to the music in the dusk, and Anna even tought me the swing-step. As the first fire-works went up, most of us made our way to the dock so we could watch from there.
The air was cooler there, and the bugs fewer; the dock rocked gently and the water was still and dark, except where it reflected the headlights and the bright colors of the fireworks. They lasted quite a while, although we had fun joking around about the long pauses between some of them. That was when I got to thinking how this is what childhood memories are about, even if I'm not exactly still a child. These memories of games and fun, talk and laughter, music and friends--never quite perfect and never quite the same, but such an abundant blessing that God sends us in the name of summer.
We sang most of the walk back to the house, and when we were gathered there again, we began to choose hymns to sing together. Dozens of voices raised in harmony and heartfelt praise; we have such a bond as brothers and sisters in our beloved Christ. That singing was like a little taste of heaven . . . there are many people I look forward to singing with there!
I spent a busy morning making potato-salad and cold drinks for later on. The cakes, I knew, were already in the freezer, and only one was still to be frosted. This I accomplished once Mother had brought home more powdered sugar. All hands were on deck that morning; we were in festive mood, and listened to a lot of music, including the National Treasure soundtrack :)
At about one-thirty, Katie came in with Greta Rosie, who exclaimed "the friends are here!" And they were! A bunch of old friends had driven down from the city for the day, and there was much hugging and laughter and talking and joking. There wasn't a cloud in the sky overhead, and the heat of the sun soon reminded us of the swimming to be had. So we pulled out coolers and fixed sandwiches and offered cold drinks.
Will came home just in time to join the contingent for the waterpark. Some walked over and some drove -- it was a lovely day for it. The waterpark was full, but we found plenty of room for water-basketball, practicing a dive or splashing the lifeguards, trying out the slides, watching babies in the kiddy-pool.
When it drew near evening and we had worked up a good appetite, we splashed out of the water and changed back into our festive attire for the walk to Katie and Caleb's house. There were chairs out for chatting, the pergola was strung with lights, and Caleb's grill was letting off a superb aroma. Several of us headed across the street to play softball before supper, and I discovered that I like the game better with lots of people.
Then the ribs came off the grill--oh my, the deliciousness!--and the line-up of side dishes was remarkable. . . indeed there were a great many remarks upon them, as well as of the ribs, but that between mouthfulls. Munching and chatting went on for a good while, and even after more softball, we came back to a tableful of magnificent desserts.
Lightening bugs started to glow among the trees in the yard, and shadows began to creep up around us. Soon it would be time for the firework display over the lake, but before that, the boys pulled out two guitars and a banjo and played around for a bit. When we did have to start walking toward the park, they decided to cart the instruments along, and so played right up until ten o'clock. The mosquitoes were fierce, even with bugspray, but it was so much fun listening to the music in the dusk, and Anna even tought me the swing-step. As the first fire-works went up, most of us made our way to the dock so we could watch from there.
The air was cooler there, and the bugs fewer; the dock rocked gently and the water was still and dark, except where it reflected the headlights and the bright colors of the fireworks. They lasted quite a while, although we had fun joking around about the long pauses between some of them. That was when I got to thinking how this is what childhood memories are about, even if I'm not exactly still a child. These memories of games and fun, talk and laughter, music and friends--never quite perfect and never quite the same, but such an abundant blessing that God sends us in the name of summer.
We sang most of the walk back to the house, and when we were gathered there again, we began to choose hymns to sing together. Dozens of voices raised in harmony and heartfelt praise; we have such a bond as brothers and sisters in our beloved Christ. That singing was like a little taste of heaven . . . there are many people I look forward to singing with there!
July
by Olivia, in the summer of 2006 or 2007 :)
by Olivia, in the summer of 2006 or 2007 :)
.
It speaks to me of summer heat
Of struggling grass and burning street
Of struggling grass and burning street
Of sweating drinks that cool my hand
When lemonade is in demand
.
Though heat is more a friend than foe
It never our love for breeze will know
And oft in shade of trees we find
A rest for body and the mind
.
Before the warmth had come to height
We raise the banner: blue, red, white
Then mix a dish to chill, and pack
The cookies for an evening snack
.
We all arrive in festive air
The breeze caresses our damp hair
Up high in blue shines out a torch
And smiling on we cross the porch
.
Activities throughout the day
Might possibly contain hose-spray
While over picnic bounty lingers
Playful feet and serving fingers
.
On past this day my thoughts reach out
The fireworks gone--to days without
The noise of people, all I see
Is green beans being picked by me
.
Then back to people--at the lake
And splashing water, eating steak
Build towers high from fresh wet sand
Then back in water, back to land
.
I've left out lots of things, you know
Enjoy them all and learn and grow
In summer's heat and winter's chill
In flow'ry valley, sun-baked hill
.
Learn: God, in all good things we see
Shows crazy love and so should we
And don't forget it's 'Only the
First sentence of eternity'
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