One of my Summer Days

Yesterday and today I've been helping my daughter start her own Blog. It's been fun watching her be so creative with her own writings. She has watched Mom do her Blog and read others, Mrs. J's in particular and Mrs. G's plus children. She's been inspired to do her own.
Right now the kids are shouting for joy, it's raining! We are finally into our "monsoon season". No more dry desert. They are chanting "rain more, rain more" they want to go out and walk the yard in the rain. They are looking for an umbrella as I am writing. They are plotting what they will do in the rain. They couldn't find the umbrella so they went to their closets. They chose winter coats to wear! One has a hood the other wears a hat. Anything to keep dry I guess they thought. Too funny watching this. What a treat for them, children living in the desert.
We've been playing board games more and more these days. That encourages playing together instead of playing alone. There is so much peace in our house when the two children are playing a board game together! It's fun to play as a family as well. Now they want The game of Life, Sponge Bob version. I've read reviews that it is geared more toward young children. I remember having The game of Life and never actually playing it. The directions seemed to complicated. I am more hands on and if there are a bunch of rules and regulations, I'd just a soon not play. So it sounds like we may venture out to find this other version of Life later. Not until the kids have had their time in the rain.
I'm sadden sometimes to think yet as another year passes playing in the rain may not be as fun to them. Each year they grow and mature and someday they will not think as they do as children. I pray they will always have hearts like children. That rain can always make their face light up. That they will always love playing in the snow too.

The accident that almost happened

I took my daughter to the Doctor yesterday for routine immunizations. On the way home, we were stopped behind some cars waiting to turn. All of a sudden we felt we'd been bumped. I wouldn't say hit, just bumped. I hopped out of my SUV and walked to the rear. The man remained in his car, not even making any attempt to get out to assess damage he may have caused. I asked him "did you just hit me?", what else could I say? He responded that he did and he was sorry. Might I add this was during a dust storm. It was pretty windy out. My daughter was left in the car. He seemed nice enough, but then the thoughts went through my head. All those e-mail forwards we receive. If someone rear ends you, they may be trying to get you out of the car.... He seems like a nice enough guy though, even though he was still sitting in his car. So then I assessed the area where the damage would be. Thinking in the back of my mind, don't get between the two cars, who knows what could happen. So I saw there was no damage, he probably just hit my hitch that extends out, not sure why? Didn't he see that I was stopped? Maybe he wasn't paying attention. OK so no damage here, I have a cross hanging around my neck. It would be nice of me to just let him go. So I said OK looks like no damage and went on my way. Had there actually been damage it would have been another story. It seems as we drove along he wouldn't pass me. I had the thought that we should at least get a license plate number, just in case, maybe there was unseen damage. He still lagged behind as slow as I drove. Finally he speeds up and then got between some cars. We tried our best to get the numbers. Then he turned into a neighborhood, quickly my daughter jot down the letters and numbers. She thought I should follow, I thought that would really look like we were in fact following. So we just went on home. My husband looked over the SUV, it didn't look like any damage had been done. Just one of those things to make the day a little more eventful. I'm just being honest with my thoughts here. I'm sure these are the same thoughts you have had also. Oh what goes on in the mind at such a time.

Never let the fear of striking out,
keep you from playing the game.
~ A Cinderella Story (Hilary Duff)

Precious Moments

I have some little people with fine hair and rosy cheeks,
They giggle and they squeal quite as often as they speak,
They climb on me each morning and chase me through the day
Asking lots of questions and begging me to play.

It's easy to get busy with the things I need to do
Forgetting that their playful days are fleeting and too few
O, Lord, please help me notice what's important and what's not,
To cherish precious moments and to mother as I ought.

Please keep me from distractions that would rob me of the joy
That you have planned to give me through my precious girls and boys.
Please help me teach them of Your ways, this is my highest aim,
I long to see my children live to glorify Your name.


O, help me be the model that would draw them to Your throne,
Let me make for them a haven that would turn their hearts to home,
And in these fast and fleeting years, please help me not to miss
The treasures that you give me in each cuddle and each kiss.

When I am old and looking back at every blessed year
I will rejoice that I was there to share each joy and tear.

By Val Hallaran,
Live Oak, Florida, USA.

Cleansing Rain!

Finally the rains have come to our dry land. We have waited so long to see rain again. We'd almost forgotten what it looked like, felt like, smelt like. It amazes me that we have no water restrictions or shortages here. We have become so accustom to not carrying an umbrella or even thinking of rescheduling events due to them being rained out. It's always sunny here, if we hung clothes out on a line, does anyone do that anymore? we wouldn't have to bring it in. You get the point, it doesn't rain much here. It has become so hot and dry here lately that the rain was welcomed with open arms. It was almost as if we were a boiling pot and we finally came to a boil and we taken off the burner to cool down when the rain came. Coming from Florida (uhhh not the "Sunshine State" really) I love the fact that we don't see rain here everyday at 4:00 like clockwork.
My daughter and I prayed for rain yesterday. We first heard the rain in Circuit City while shopping, unfamiliar with the sound of rain pounding on the roof, we questioned what we were hearing. Upon investigation we came to find out it was in fact the rain. Now what do we do? it was check out time. The gallant King and Prince went to get our truck for us, since we were totally unprepared. As we climbed in, the rain stopped long enough for the Queen and Princess to enter their coach then it came again full force.

Still have some issues.....why I need Jesus

I took my daughter and a friend skating last night. Upon arrival I scouted out a table to camp at. I found one, it was rather large but I was willing to share, if politely asked to do so. Low and behold moments later, a woman and her 2 older children plopped down at it. Not a word said, no permission for access granted. This is Christian Night people! Should I say something, should I not? Could she be a Christian if she is apparently so rude? Maybe God hasn't dealt with her in this area yet? Oh the things that can go through the mind at such a time. I was determined to stand my ground and not be moved. As time passed more came, her friends, they just came and sat. The woman and I spoke for a moment previous but it was only about the drinks at the snack bar. The invasion continued, how many people could fit at this table? I kept spreading our things around so that I could take control of our territory. When the girls came back to the table to sit, where would they? We squeezed in, but uncomfortably. Never did I say a word about it, neither did she. I stood my ground until the end and then we left. Jesus I need your help with this one, as always, I need your help! Are you laughing yet or praying for me?

Dreaming of cool places on hot days

A few years back we took a trip up to Yellowstone. On the way back we went to the Grand Tetons. This is one of my favorite photos of the Grand Tetons. I look forward to visiting this beautiful place again one day.

The 4th of July

I must admit I'm not so good about keeping up with this blog. I must be better about it because I do enjoy it.
We had thoughts of going out of town today. We thought we'd go in search of more bearable temps. It is supposed to be 117 in the desert today! Going outside in the heat to watch fireworks has never sounded more horrible. We looked at the forecasts around the state and even they aren't having much better weather. So we have decided to stay at home today. We are still getting settled into our new home. Plenty to do to make our house a home. We will venture out in the comforts of our vehicle to watch the fireworks just before they go off. Can't withhold from the kids the joy of seeing fireworks. They are always so beautiful. Happy 4th of July.
Thank God for our freedom!