Wordless Wednesday

This weekend I...

I know it's late Tuesday, but I wasn't here on Sunday or Monday to do this, but still, love being part of Becky's gang.



~ drove 7 hours to Va Beach to see my daughter & son-in-law.

~ woke up at 6:20 am Saturday to watch said daughter run a 5K and son-in-law do a run/swim on the ocean/run race. Both did GREAT! I was exhausted.

~ went to Williamsburg.

~ went to Williamsburg outlets where the STILL HAVE AN LL BEAN OUTLET!!!

~ randomly saw a young lady whom I have know for years. She moved down there, too and we saw her at one of the stores! What were the chances??

~ went to church service on the beach. It was my kids' church's turn to have it there. Pretty cool.

~ stayed at the beach and got super dark. :P

~ watched Elly's first time on the beach. She LOVED it.

~ dragged my son out of the water to feed him. Was unsuccessful.

~ went to Water World USA. Were going to go to Busch Gardens, but the 102 weather changed our minds.

~ ate pizza. In the south. Never a good thing, but this time is was*decent*. For the south.

~ pump up my son with A*vil for the weekend. He got his braces on Thursday.

~miss the kids already.

Yes it was an exhausting weekend. But it was fantastic! The only thing that was a bummer was that my beloved stayed home. Being a contractor doesn't lend to too much time off in the summer. :( But now we are waiting for him to come home and shower him with hugs & kisses. :)

Join in the fun!!

VA

Leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning ( meaning 8am) to go see Baby Girl #1.




And won't be back until Tuesday.

Hopefully the weather will co-operate. VA Beach, here we come. Again.

Queen

This is the life I wish I had. Being queen, for at least a day.




But this is my life. Trying to be queen, but not really working out.



LOL.


I won't change it for the world.

This weekend I...

Thanks Becky, for making me document and remember!!



~ watched the rain!! Though it only lasted 1/2hour, it was beautiful.

~ played with Elly & Jessica, our 7 year old neighbor.

~ watched Brian Regan on netflix. H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!

~ started reading a new book.

~ went to church.

~ heard a fantastic sermon.

~ sat next my oldest son at church. I haven't done that in YEARS because he goes to a different church.

~ ironed.

~ watched the final game of the World Cup. yAy Spain!!!

~ took the beagles & the children for a walk around the lake with my husband.

~ had calzone for dinner. I didn't make them. Alfonzo did.

~ taught my son a lesson in humility & authority. I hate teaching those lessons to an adolescent. But that's when they need it the most.

~ lost yet another toe nail. Thank you 1/2 marathon training. :P

~ got a new cat. Her name is Mike Piazza. Don't ask.

Is over 5 years enough???

Sorrow is our John the Baptist, clad in grim garments, with rough arms, a son of the wilderness, baptizing us with bitter tears, preaching repentance; and behind him comes the gracious, affectionate, healing Lord, speaking peace and joy to the soul. ~Frederic Dan Huntington

I know very few people have an easy life. And I know more people have a difficult life. Some have to watch their children die of starvation. Some have to watch their children/spouse/family member/dear friend self destruct with drugs/alcohol/sex. Some have constant pain that no medication can bring relief. Some have heartache that doesn't seem as monumental as the others, but just as real.


And those who turn to The Cross, have the advantage of peace amongst the storm. When they cling to it.

Will this be the year when I am released? Will it get worse ( though I can't imagine) before it gets better? Will I see the fire as refinement or whine because I am tired? Probably a bit of both.

But John the Baptist, was an important part of the story.

And I will embrace John, bitter tears and all, and find the grace & healing.

"I give thanks before You, Living and Eternal King, that You have returned within me my soul with compassion; [how] abundant is Your faithfulness!" Jewish prayer upon waking up.

What?? It's been a week????

There are so many things to do during summer, one forgets to catch up so one can look back and remember what we did.

Meaning I haven't had time to blog.

Let me preface this by saying it is H-O-T here in Jersey.

And I don't have central air. And my husband is an HVAC contractor. And that's all I have to say about that.

:P

Well, for the holiday weekend, we went to my sister's in PA. It was fantastic.


She has a pool.

I think this should be EVERYBODY'S reaction when in the pool. Elly did not stop looking like this the whole time she was in the pool. She woke up ready to swim, and had to be dragged out of the pool to go to bed. And eat.
(click to enlarge)


I did make her get out of the pool to give her skin some rest. I told her her hands were too pruney and until they got drier, she had to stay out. Here she is trying to make the sun dry them super fast.


Look who is back from Israel!!!

Contemplating life. And reading on the iPad.


Elizzi, Elly & Tim waiting to go to the fireworks. And since the wait was too long, they made Tim give them rides.


AGAIN, this should be everybody's reaction to fireworks. Elly cheered, laughed, clapped her hands, loved, loved, loved the fireworks!! It was more fun watching her than watching the sky-show.


Since we live in NJ, and fireworks are illegal, and sparklers will get you a few years in jail, and PA sell fireworks in the supermarket... we came home from the big show, and had a show of our own. Samuel, Tim and Lance did a box's worth of their own, which lasted an hour. It was cool!


They spent all that time in Israel together, but it didn't make these 2 any less competitive on who gets the most comfortable couch. Neither was going to get off, so they both dealt with it. Cousins...


Samuel, going for an almost midnight swim.


Football catching.


We are still doing school. We didn't finish so that's that. Even when friends call to get together, the answer is " Did you finish your school work for today? Because whatever your answer is, is my answer." He doesn't like that answer.

And then there is the hard times of life. We just found out that my dad has Parkinsons.

We are still processing.

And we are still clinging to HIM.