Independence Day

 Good morning friends!  

I wanted to hop on here before the day begins.  I've been waking up early lately and dedicate this time to slipping outside to the back porch to listen to some podcasts, read the Bible and pray.  Giving time to God first is something I've always strived to do and yet it often seemed impossible.   With these slow summer days I'm able to do that.  The kids sleep in late and that's been a blessing.  As I'm reading Scripture I keep coming across verses that speak on peace, turning from evil, being the salt and light, and being in the world and not of the world.  I've been asking God to reveal what that all means for me and I think I'm figuring it out.   There's so much chaos going on around us and I made the decision to keep the news turned off, not involve myself in hateful conversations and turn away from anything evil.  It's not easy because evil is all around me.  People are always wanting to talk about what someone else is doing in a rude way.  It's always going to be there but I can choose to ignore it. Still be present but not involved, if that makes sense.  

I hope you enjoyed our Independence Day yesterday.  On Sunday we went to a very well done patriotic church service where we the attending veterans were honored, we sang those beautiful patriotic songs and heard a message from our local congressman.   Then we went back in the evening for another service followed by food trucks and fireworks.  In the last few years we have devoted our Independence Day to God and it's been wonderful.   Yesterday we stayed low at home and just enjoyed the company of each other, ending the evening by the fire with sparklers and S'mores.  We also attempted to play badminton, which we all failed miserably at.  It was a good day and I wish you all an amazing week ahead.