Our bags were all packed and we were ready to head to Wisconsin. Jill and Adam had purchased a home and we were going to go to help them paint and do some other projects.
However, there were last minute situations at work and Allen called me to say we would not be able to go. He would have to work and couldn't get away.
I unpacked all our things and uncanceled our "hold mail". The LORD says "Do all things without grumbling or complaining. Give thanks in all circumstances." so this is what we do. The LORD had other plans for us.
One evening as we were taking a walk around the lake, the stillness of the lake made me think of the verse Psalm 37:7:
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him."
Also I thought of 2Co 3:18 (NLT)
"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image."
What a thought! May it be so, more and more!
Because we did not go to Wisconsin, I was able to visit with a friend at Presbyterian Manor. We talked about drawing near to God. I have a study book called Draw Near. The first chapter and teaching talked about how burdens can weigh us down like carrying very heavy water buckets on a pole.
I went home and made me a little picture of what it would look like. I began to write down what some of these are, and I will continue to add more as I have them. But Christ says to give our burdens to Him. We need not carry such heavy "buckets". Fill my bucket with the Living Water, instead of the cares of this world!
I was able to go to the women's prayer meeting on Wednesday. There were some heavy things to pray over. And we gave these to Him, who is able to carry them.
I was able to go to my women's Bible study on Thursday and it was such an encouragement! Plus one of the ladies brought some Hershey's chocolate from her trip to Hershey PA with her husband. Another brought some fudge from her trip to Mackinac Island with her husband! And a friend brought me a fun mug for my birthday!
I was also able to help clean out a home for a friend who is moving next door to her kids! What a joy to help her out!
We sure did enjoy sitting by the pool with refreshing drinks! I was very tempted to jump in the pool, sweaty clothes and all!!
I was able to go to the women's swim class at the lazy river the following night! That is so fun!
And we were able to take Filipino friends to the Pretty Prairie rodeo! That was a new American experience for them!
One of the bulls trampled the cowboy he bucked off, but he was able to walk away from it! Incredible!
On Thursday evening I was able to go to our ladies progressive dinner too! Had we gone to Wisconsin, I wouldn't have been able to do that either! It was so fun!
His ways are not our ways. We trust Him, however He leads us. And we experience things we would not have been able to otherwise.
The kids left on Tuesday. I spent Wednesday (and a few more days) cleaning and washing sheets/towels. But I also took time out to have fun with friends! On Thursday, instead of our normal Bible study, some of us drove to Inman to the Lighthouse Coffee.
The daughter of one of the girls in our Bible study owns it. I got a breakfast burrito and it was amazing! Too huge and took 1/2 home to Allen. She also gave us a HUGE cinnamon roll that we cut up and shared.
I highly recommend this place.
On Friday, July 4, we went to the fireworks at Kidron.
On Saturday I went to the funeral for my Dad's cousin. My Dad did not have brothers so he chose Myron to be his groomsman when he got married.
On Sunday, we had Community Life group after church. Allen had to work the weekend so he was not able to come.
Vicky has decorated her window well. I LOVE this idea! There is a plastic cover on top which keeps the rain out.
On Monday, I drove to Wichita and went out with my friend. We went to Kohls and then to a new restaurant called Raisin' Canes. It had just opened so was very crowded as everyone was trying it out! They had policemen helping with all the traffic!
Then came Tuesday. Our bags were all packed to go to Wisconsin.
On Saturday, Josh's family went home for a wedding, but they were coming back to finish our family week of celebration' my birthday and their 23rd wedding anniversary.
Jill, her girls and I went shopping downtown. Mindy doesn't care to shop. Correction - she likes to shop on-line, not on foot with 2 little girls in tow.
We went to Norms again, of course!
Just for fun, we went to look at rings.
We felt like queens.
Claire and Sophia had gone on a scavenger hunt and came a bit later to pose.
We stopped in at Faith and Life.
And then we went to an antique store where Sophia came upon a Sophia Landing and Hannah found a Hanna Court.
While we were shopping, the little ones were napping and the guys were golfing in that awful humid heat! That evening, instead of cooking, Jason and Mindy chose to take us out to eat at Back Alley. My neighbor, Francesca, who I walk with, was there with her granddaughter too!
It was really busy! Back Alley is the place to be! Amazing brick oven pizza!
That evening, the girls helped me cook what they call "Nani Cake" for the following morning. That bowl is one that belonged to my grandmother. She made her famously known cinnamon rolls in it. We also made bierrocks, always requested by Jason, who does not like cabbage, but he loves these! The filling is cabbage, ground beef, onion and garlic. Fried down and put into rolls. You can use thawed Rhodes dough if you prefer to making dough from scratch.
On Sunday morning, Claire and I volunteered to teach the Lamb class (3's) at church. During the summer, they use volunteer workers so the regular ones can take a break. One never knows how many children to expect with families taking vacations. Several children were gone, but what a JOY to teach Tenley and Kaia!
My friend Jess also helped out. Can you tell what our story was?
When we got home from church, Josh's had made it back from Arkansas from their short trip for a friend's wedding.
Tenley was so excited to see her cousin Eli! She would just cling to him.
After lunch, the teens went to play pickleball and Claire and the little girls went to swim at the Y. Josh and Staci made dinner.
That evening, they celebrated my 70th birthday. We had spaghetti, salad and garlic bread.
This girl loves her noodles!
And we had pie for dessert!
They knew I would want chocolate pie rather than a birthday cake.
Jill had each of them tell something nice about me. It was rather embarrassing to me as I do not deserve all the things they said. But so appreciated too! Often these things are said at a funeral and the recipient is not able to hear them, right?
"They rise up and called her blessed."
Proverbs 31:28
They got me a bird feeder with video cam!
Pretty cool! Thank you, kids!!
After dishes were put away (they wouldn't let me life a finger), we had a family painting session! They didn't know about it. I had seen this on-line and thought "what a great, fun time this would be!" I had them pick seats across from each other. Then I handed out pallets and paints and told them to paint the person across from them.
Oh, my, we had many laughs!
Originally, Tenley was doing a great job of painting her mommy.
But she likes blue so much, she decided to go with a blue blob instead.
We all know who the best artist is.
Josh did go to college in art, afterall.
They found a home on my stairwell.
Happy anniversary, Josh and Staci! And happy 4th of July!
