Happy 4th of July!

 Happy 4th of July! 

It's the mid-way point of "Summer" and I'm not quite sure how it happened so fast! 

Take time today to enjoy family, friends and celebrating our great country.  

Enjoy this great song - it never gets old! 

Weekly Worship - Cochren & Co. - Thank God For Sunday Morning (Official Lyric Video)

Our Week at a Glance

 I told Darryl the other night that it makes me a little breathless to realize that it is already July.  June is done.  Looking back I can see that between wrapping up school, my guys being at camp, some huge changes within our Homeschool Co-Op that required many long meetings . .. my June got "eaten up".  I'm hopeful that July will be a little more productive.  

Here's a look back at our week

Just a couple photos from the concert last Friday :-)  

On Saturday we went to Darryl's dad's place and then headed to a park for a picnic and just to hang out for the afternoon.  Nice view of the lake and the breeze was great too! 

We spent a lot of time in the living room this week.  This is the first week everyone is here since school got out.  We were all trying to figure out the schedule which is at least 15 minutes outside in the morning and time off of electronics both morning and afternoon. (This isn't new - we did this last summer too).  The weather at the beginning of the week was gorgeous and I loved sitting by the open windows, feeling the breeze, and reading.  I only get that a few days each summer as normally it is too hot!!  

I know - why this photo?  This shows what we did two different days!  Nate, Cooper and Maeve all enjoy Pokemon and wanted to go searching . .. and stuff (I don't fully understand it - I just drive them HA!).  So, we head downtown to Main Street where they can walk around together and "catch" and "battle" things.  I enjoy getting to read my book :-)  I love this activity because it is easy, free, and they walk around a lot!  

We ended our week on Thursday (at least with our friends) so I picked up some pizza for a treat and we enjoyed a nice lunch.  

Josh is heading to a friends for an overnighter!  Should be a great night for him! 

Nate and I enjoyed the Fireworks from our front yard to end the night.  One of the great things about our house is being able to watch the fireworks from the yard.  Nineteen years ago the trees weren't as tall so the view isn't the same but we still like it! 

Our week ended with Tae Kwon Do for Nate.  Then, Nate invited two friends over to spend the night.  He's been begging for this for months and I finally set it up.  If you don't hear from me again, you will know I didn't survive HA! (Just teasing!) 

Weekly Menu - Half way through Summer

 And just like that it's July.  Now, if history proves itself true, July is the longest month of the year. 😄 There is something about those hot, humid days that just make it drag!!!  AND I still have to cook. 😱  It's ok, I'll survive just like I have for the last . . .well alot of years!  

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Friday - Homemade pizza using a recipe from a friend for the dough I've been wanting to try for months!  With the pizza we will have a salad too. (and be "we all" I mean Darryl and I HA!) 

Saturday - dinner at my mom's.  

Sunday- I've been wanting Darryl to grill for weeks and we just haven't had the chance!  So, today is it!  Marinated chicken,  Sweet Potatoes and Salad for the win!  

Monday - It's 4th of July!  My mom offered to host.  I think we are having burgers. 

Tuesday - Cod Fish Tacos with rice and beans.  (If you haven't noticed I've been trying various taco recipes so we can hopefully have a great rotation for "Taco Tuesday!" ;-) ) 

Wednesday - My mom comes over :-)  Oven Fried Pork Chops, Cheesy Mississippi Mud Potatoes (this recipe popped up on my Facebook feed and sounded good - don't worry there is no "mud" involved . . . I'm not even sure where the "mud" came from!) , and a salad.

Thursday Lazy Day Crock Pot Lasagna, roasted green beans, a salad land Garlic Bread

What we are eating - Beef, Tomato and Acini de Pepe Soup

I totally understand that it is not currently soup weather but this soup was amazing when I made it a few months ago!  It is hearty and has amazing flavor plus the itty bitty pasta is just plain fun.  It can be made in an InstaPot (if you have one of those new fangled things HA) or just on the stove top (which is what I did).  Serve this up with a slice of warm french bread and it is perfection.  Plus, it is even better the next day.  

You can find the full recipe HERE.  (And yes, it is another SkinnyTaste Recipe!) 

 

Rest

 Rest.

I'm not really big on the whole "audible voice of God" concept.

Don't get me wrong; I believe God speaks to us through His word. 

It's why we are taught . .. commanded to study the Bible; to live it; to breath it.

But the voice? Not so much.

Until.

A few weeks ago as I was caught in the mad, mad, race of life

Feeling slightly breathless and weary 

With two people down with Covid, gas prices going higher then ever before, and basic living expenses creeping up

I sat down on the couch trying to solve all the problems when I heard a whisper

"Rest"

I kinda looked around thinking one of my guys was playing a trick but there was no one.

My mind started to rework things again - I needed to run back to the store; I needed to clean that or pick up that. 

"Rest"

That second whisper is when I started to listen.  

Took a deep breath and just . .. rested. 

That become my theme for the rest of that day . .. that weekend . .. and now my summer.  

When I feel weary, overwhelmed, beat down. 

Just rest.  

Our summer will be a quiet one.  A summer of slowing down and maybe even being bored. 

We aren't signing up for programs or events. 

We aren't racing here and there and everywhere to find something to do. 

I'm not even planning crafts or activities because, well, my guys are old enough to figure things out on their own! 

Instead we will rest.  We will get rejuvenated and refreshed after a school year that was harder than normal for some reason. 

My guys felt it; I felt it.  So many others and their thoughts and ideas trying to pull us away from what we all enjoy

Just being home.  Together.  And doing what is best for our little family.

Weekly Worship --TAYA - For All My Life (Official Lyric Video)