Happy 3rd of July!

The last couple of years our city has set off fireworks on the river the night before the 4th.  Last year's show was really cool, but we had to sit in a very hot, loud and crowded restaurant for hours to get a seat and wait for dark.  This year we decided not to do that.  Because of the high chance of storms for the 4th, we also knew we probably wouldn't see any that evening.  So after dinner and bath time, when the kids were settling down for bed in their PJs, we made a last minute decision to head downtown and see if we could find a high enough spot to see some fireworks!

We tried to prep the kids that if we got down there and couldn't find a place, or there was way too much traffic, we wouldn't be upset, we'd just have our consolation prize of popcorn in the truck and go on home.  They seemed cool with it so away we went!

This is what met us on the way. 

Not encouraging.  I figured we were going home.  But J found an exit off the interstate and kept going.  We chose to try a parking deck that was up on a hill.  It was a mile away so kind of sketchy as to what we would see.  We couldn't park in the deck since it was for students only, but we found a great parking spot on the street and headed up the stairs. 

Ty got it in his head somehow that we were going to see firemen, which he calls "fireguys." So before the fireworks started he kept asking me where the fireguys were and whether or not they were going to take his Leapster game?  No clue. So he was a little apprehensive as we waited for the fireworks since he thought men in hats and big coats were coming to take his game.

We were the only people in the deck.  We waited and watched in the general direction of where they would be coming from.  Within 15 minutes we saw this!

It was an awesome spot!

We enjoyed the whole show and walked back to the truck to have our popcorn.  Sometimes you have to choose a little late night, last minute fun over going to bed on time!

Walking back to the truck after the show Ty says, "Mommy, where were the fireguys?"

Things to remember - Beach Trip

Tyler sleeping on his Toy Story couch for the week and sharing a room with B.  Seeing them share a room made me happy.  Very tempting to do it all the time!

When Ty woke up from his nap, he would turn the old fashioned metal door knob (like my Aunt Iris had at her house) with a squeaking noise, and peek his little face through a crack in the door.  You knew he was coming because you would hear the door knob turn and see his attempts at turning it before you saw his little face.

Same thing with the outside door.  It had a lever handle and when we were sitting out on the back deck, you would see the lever go up and down, up and down before he actually got it open.  Here comes Ty.

Ty slept on his little couch, but he took his naps in B's big queen sized bed.  He looked very small in the middle of that big ole bed.  The last day of vacation, he woke up a little prematurely from nap and I went in and laid beside him on the big bed.  We played with Frog for a minute and both of us fell asleep for another hour.  It was a sweet time for me to have the time and opportunity to fall asleep with the soft and squishy little arm wrapped up in mine.  At home, there is always something waiting for me during naptime; laundry, dishes, cleaning... that I don't take advantage of these moments.  Thank you, Jesus for providing this moment!  I wanted to get up and get my camera but I didn't dare disturb this precious time.  I absorbed it instead and found an amazing peace in it.  His little face reflecting the peace I search for daily.  What a blessing. 

Watching my B fall into big brother mode as my two boys braved the waves in water up to their waists.  When one would come and knock Ty back, B would stand behind him and catch him.  Protection at its finest in my book!  He watched out for his little brother in his loving and serious way.

Walking with my little family of four and finding a huge piece of driftwood.  Watching my little Ty follow right behind his big brother in climbing and exploring it.

The boys playing well together the whole week.  And they did amazing in the car for the 6 hour trip down there and the 4 1/2 hour trip back.  :)  On the way down, everytime we stopped I would get the boys to pick out something cool they saw at the stop and draw it for me when we got back in the truck.  Then I would hand out prizes if I liked the drawings (which I always did!).  The boys loved this game, even though I'm not sure where Ty saw all of the snowmen since thats what he drew at every stop.

Finding a small place that hand scooped Italian Ice and walking over to a big gazeebo where the boys found two other boys their age to run crazy with and play an impromtu game of chase that proved to be a good recipe for a good night's sleep.

Enjoying B's humor, and his preference to hang with the adults while Ty and Hannah played.

Watching B overcome his timidity in the ocean and noting the difference in Ty jumping right in 3 years younger than B.

Quiet afternoons during the hottest part of the day as Ty napped and B played in our bed quietly.

Being on the beach by 8am and enjoying the empty sand, the calm water and the cooler breeze.

Listening as B calmed, comforted and encouraged his little brother forced to take a shower since no bath was built in our beach house.

Watching Ty take up for himself when pushed too far by the older kids.

Seeing Ty run in the sand with his too long swim trunks and little short legs.  He is FAST!

Watching J and B throw the football and create their own target game.

Being proud of B and his willingness to help carry stuff down to beach and back up to the house.

Watching the kids finally figure out how to play together near the end of the week.  The less we adults interfere, the better they do!

Chuckling at B's modesty and how he kept telling us not to look at him as he ran from the shower to his room in his towel.

Noticing how B got tanner and tanner and Ty just stayed the same with his little farmer's tan even when both went shirtless most of the week.

Seeing Ty cheer his brother on at the Go-Carts place even though he was too little to ride and disapointed.

Things to remember on this trip.  Things that can't necessarily be captured in photographs.  But things I want to treasure in my heart for later.

Our loss, Glory's gain

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?  But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, for he is good to me.  Psalm 13: 2 & 5-6

While on vacation this week we lost a couple of dear family friends.  One was my family's deacon at church when I was young.  He very much filled a grandfatherly role at church and although I haven't seen him in years, he holds a special place in my heart.  He was the first person I hugged on a regular basis that had hearing aides that would squeal.  He made me think I did it every time.  My family sang to he and his wife on Christmas Eves when we went caroling.  He was sick with cancer and God finally called him home.

Another huge hole will be left by a wonderful Christian woman who has been such a Godly example for me.  She was my Mama Stone's best friend and a prayer warrior for all she knew.  She was glue for her family and a grandmother figure to me.  God called her home peacefully in her sleep.  I dreamed about her this weekend and she was so happy and healthy and no longer moved slowly due to arthritis and age.  I pray that I will have a relationship with Jesus as intimately as she did.  I can imagine they embraced finally when she met him, as old friends do.

 

I see the facebook comments about her and the pictures and notes from her family and it makes me reflect on my own legacy.  What do I want people to remember about me when God reaches down to bring me home?  Nothing was more important to this great lady than her Savior and her family.

Til he returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.  --In Christ Alone

I want to accept and stand in the power Christ gives me to live my life as well as I can to bring glory to him.  I can truly say, even when Ms. D could hardly stand on her own, she was standing in the power of Christ.  And now, I can praise him with absolute certainty, that she is standing in God's glory.