Hello Heatwave

 Happy July!  We are starting it with a triple digit heatwave here in south-central Pennsylvania.   How about where you live?  I'll be staying in the air conditioning fighting what I hope is the end of what has been a terrible cold.  

I forgot to share the strawberry moon from the end of June.  Did you see it?  My hubby captured it with our new Cannon camera.  I love anything that involves space.  

Yesterday, at the start of the heatwave we took a trip to Baltimore.   The Orioles were playing my husband's team, the Chicago White Sox.  It was miserably hot and there were moments I thought about passing out but we survived.  

The Orioles won, though.  

Then we headed to the Towson Mall to walk around.  None of us bought anything except for Auntie Annes, which we've established is a requirement for any and all trips to the mall.  Yummy pretzels and lemonade. 

I'm not sure where my kids get their quirky weirdness from.  

In the Macy's is a small section of Toys R Us.  That store was a huge part of my childhood and my childrens.  It was sad when they closed but also a relief because it caused my dad to stop spoiling them with more toys than we had room for.

And that was our first adventure for July.  The next few days we'll be keeping cool indoors.  Hoping the rain holds off for the weekend of celebration for America's 250th.  

I would also like to ask for prayers for my new friend Tiara.  She's a homeless girl in Baltimore who asked if we could buy her lunch.  She said she had nothing to eat in 4 days.  It's not for me to judge or question her sincerity, especially on a day that was so hot.  She's been in my heart and prayers since.  

Moments From June

 My son ran into the house to tell me there was a toad in the backyard that our dog was trying to catch.  so I moved this little guy to the front flower bed where he went on to live a life safe from the husky (or it's a she, I can't tell).  

My kids enjoyed a week of teen camp with the other teens from our church.  They grew closer to those teens while making friends from different churches.  They heard sermons, sang songs, ate food that my daughter said was gross, played games and went swimming.  Some kids were saved.  I screenshot this picture from a video my church posted.  It was supposed to be something silly Bri was doing with friends.  She took her hair straightener and interviewed some of the teens and asked them what their favorite part about camp was.  These are my two.  I'm glad they had that experience and I'm glad, as much as I missed them, to have a week of quietness in the home.  

Rob wanted to get rid of a bunch of old paperwork so we decided to have a fire one night.  It was a pretty impressive fire until an unexpected rainfall came down.  

While the kids were away at camp I was chicken sitting for a friend while they were at the beach.  For the first few days I could not find any eggs until discovering the little nesting box tucked away in the corner.  I forgot she mentioned about that.  So, I had plenty of eggs to take home.  

And that's about it.  Seriously.  The month of June has been relaxing, peaceful and boring as my kids would say.  My daughter started cross-country practice so that's been taking up a few hours/three times a week.  They went to a friend's graduation party.  My husband has been working.  I've been hanging out at home.  The month ended with my daughter getting sick, then my husband, then me, and now Matthew.  Ugh!  It's been a terrible cold.  

Tomorrow starts July and the calendar is filling up.  My kids like doing things and I feel bad when we don't make that happen.  By the end of next month I should have several, more entertaining, pictures to share.  

Goodbye June!  

Breaking Generational Curses

 

I look at these two little ones with a heart that pangs with feelings of missing them just like this.  When they were sweet and innocent, unaware that the big world around them was filled with heartbreaks and challenges.  Before they experienced bullies who took away their joy and before worrying about knowing all the information to pass the next test.  When imagination ran wild while playing with either dolls and trucks.  When our days were spent borrowing books from the library and playing at the park.  When the hugs and "I love you, Mommy" were constant.  

The lady behind the camera was someone who promised she'd be the kind of mother who brought unconditional love and peace in her home instead of the chaos she grew up in.  She wanted nothing more than to create an environment in the home where they experienced kindness and felt comfort.  She did okay with it but also made plenty of mistakes and finds herself currently consumed with thoughts of all those mistakes with wishes of being able to go back and have another try.  

Unfortunately, I can't go back.  God did not design life to be that way.  I hope one day these two can look back on their lives and know that their mother tried, really, really tried.  And I hope they succeed at doing so much better than I ever could in their own lives and with their children.  

Lazy Days of Summer

 

Look at this girl all snuggled up.  That pretty much sums up what the month of June has been for me.  Slow, quiet, lazy and relaxed.

In the mornings after Rob leaves for work and while the kids are still sleeping I take a cup of coffee on the back deck with my Bible and spend some time reading, praying and reflecting.  One of the benefits of my job is having the summer off and I just love how it gives me a chance to go at a slower pace.  

We do have a lot of fun things scheduled for the rest of the summer but for June it's been full of rest.  My kids get bored but I enjoy the days that aren't so full.  Today Rob and my son headed to his college for a new student orientation day.  My daughter and I are at home relaxing and she wants to do some crafts with me later and she may get a chance to visit her friend for swimming.  The day will be good.  There is cleaning to be done, as usual, and it will be done slowly but surely.  

I hope you are all enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer, too.  Even if you aren't a summer person like I am, I do hope you find peace within these days.  God bless!