I am thinking of my parents today on their anniversary :)

Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor;

If either of them falls down,

one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls 

and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone"

Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12~

Last weekend we celebrated my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary.  My parents still have a few years to go to be at that point.  Anyway, another aunt had written a sweet poem as a tribute to my aunt and uncle, but when she stood up to read it to them she became overcome with emotion and couldn't finish reading it.  My youngest cousin, who just completed graduate school and is not married yet, jumped up beside my aunt and said, "maybe I can help you out" and she started reading the poem where my aunt had left off....the whole poem was recited....and it was pretty special to see my "little" cousin jump right in there where there was a need and meet it.....cheerfully.

When I think of my parents, I am often amazed at the things they have helped each other accomplish over the years.  With my mom's creativity and sewing skills and my dad's engineering mind and carpentry skills, they've made a pretty incredible team as they have labored together.  Most of their DIY projects ROCK.....but, marriage is not a DIY(yourselves) project.  I am most grateful that they have taught me about the cord of three strands.

Our Air Conditioning At Work Is Broken

Might try this tomorrow :P  Friday FUN!  Wonder who will notice it first???

It is so hard for me to believe Kassi is moving into the Youth Group this year :)  She was so excited about going with them to Cedar Point today and finally getting to ride roller coasters....part of that was her age and part of it has always been her size :) But, she is big enough now for some of the coasters!

Well, First Of All, Everything

McKenna and I were having a silly talk a couple weeks ago....I don't remember the subject now, but she was making up crazy things and telling them to me.  It was obvious that they were exaggerations, so it was funny to both of us.  When she finished, I said, "Well, first of all".....as if I planned on correcting her, but there were far too many details wrong with her statements, so I just said, "everything" and we both laughed.  She is one who will take something funny and keep saying it for a while, so whenever someone says, "First of all" now.....she says, "everything" and we giggle....is it weird that I get a little pride out of having those one-liners that my kids will repeat?....the little things!

Anyway, sometimes our attitude or our perception of things is so totally incorrect and upside-down that we need to be told, "First of all, EVERYTHING!" With, in, and through Jesus, EVERYTHING. :)

Mended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqYramG_Rk4

And To Walk In All His Ways

"All gracious affections, which are a sweet odour to Christ, filling the soul of a Christian with a heavenly sweetness and fragrancy, are broken-hearted affections.  A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is an humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires; their hope is an humble hope; and their joy; even when it is unspeakable and full of glory, is an humble, broken-hearted joy, leaving the Christian more poor in spirit, more like a little child, and more disposed to an universal lowliness of behaviour." ~Jonathan Edwards~

"Lord, here is my heart" seems like an easy thing to say, but understanding that this offering is a commitment to brokenness and that only through brokenness can we really serve God and our neighbors is the ultimate consideration. Only through the brokenness of knowing we are sinners in need of the great mercy of our Savior can we also begin to understand the gratefulness of knowing we are saints by God's amazing grace....these two awarenesses light the right and the left side of our narrow path. 

With All My Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaG8L-pSYu4

Happy Independence Day!

Getting ready for some fireworks!!!  YAHOO!

Totally Enjoying A CHILL Day!

We set my new croquet set up and played Poison Croquet....so nice to have a free day!  It is tricky to play it in our yard in it's current condition, though....you have to have a good strategy to make it through the rough dead grass, the really tall weeds, and over the pine cones.

This is one HUGE weed...how can these grow when all the grass is dead.....?  WEIRD!