With being at the beach last Monday and Tuesday, that made my week really short at home and very busy! Wednesday, was a catch up day for me with hanging out with the kids and doing all my laundry and putting suitcases away. I mowed the yard and spent some time in the sunshine with the kids. Thursday, I needed to go clean my dad's shop and then clean my house. My outside work has been kinda put on hold and I am only doing the necessary. Too bad the weeds don't go on strike or be put on hold! Friday morning was busy with packing suitcases again and loading up the van for the weekend at the mountains with Mike's family!
Lena and I went together with my kids and got to Perry County at 10:30 AM. Matt and Mike went golfing in Harrisburg before meeting us at the cabin. We got to the "Beiler's Lodge" and the fun began! There's a lovely pool at the cabin and the kids got right in! Swim, swim, and more swimming ... all weekend! (We are now treating Matthew for swimmers ear! His ear hurts really bad from all that water!) The weather was perfect! Mike didn't feel the best all weekend and so was a little more laid back and took naps. That was a bummer but the food was delicious and playing settlers was fun! The kids roasted hot dogs by the campfire that night and we had a tiny firework display ... sparkler's for the kids!
Hadassah, Matt, and Ritchie were a howl. They love to hang out and doing pool tricks was fun for them! Celine was a water duck too! She was jumping off the dive with her life jacket and loved the water fun! Matthew wouldn't be complete in the water without his goggles! So cute!
We stayed at this beautiful cabin till Sunday afternoon. Mike was feeling lousy and so I drove home. Mike rested and was all wrapped in a blanket. Flu bug?
Mike's old ball team, the Falcons, aways get together over the 4th. So, we had plans for Sunday night too. They have a supper and camp out. We didn't get there till later (and wasn't sure if we would even go because of how Mike was feeling. So hard to miss out especially with this group of friends!). We sat around the camp fire and the guys played some volleyball and croquet. The topics are aways so much fun and this time it was about the men getting simple house projects done in a looong time period. Why is it that with some men, projects just take really long? Nothing like a quick fix when it comes to our home projects! We didn't get to bed till 12:30 AM! I was soooo tired! (We picked up Ginger late that night to. She spent the weekend with LaVern's. She was so happy to see us again - especially Hadassah!)
Ashlyn got me up and out of bed at 6:30 the next morning. I had laundry to do anyway, so I got that started. The Falcons had a 10:00 breakfast back at the camping spot, so we went again. We were back home at 12:30 because we needed to get Hadassah's things packed and ready for her week at camp ... this week! Out the door again and took her to camp at 2:00 PM. She was looking so forwards to this and absolutely loves camp! We are missing her so much! I can't wait to see her at the end of the week!
Thinking about our freedom comes with ease for me. We live in a free country and can live our lives for Christ in freedom. How long will this last? No one can say for sure, and I don't want to take our freedom for granite. Thinking of those who gave their lives for our country and those that literally worked their butts off to have some 'freedom', is why we celebrate this weekend! The party's and gatherings are a blast, the fireworks are spectacular, and the watermelon is yummy, yet, I hope that I never celebrate these country holidays without realizing the true reason of our celebration! Our freedom! Just as we have freedom in the U.S.A., I yearn to be free in Christ also. Dying to self, feeling the heat of temptations or trials, and then celebrating the victory's that have been won with Christ's help are a reminder that I must always thank God for His freedom and for the freedom we have in America!
Today I took the day OFF! Why is it that we need a day's vacation after we come back from vacation? Feels so good to hang out at home and inside from the heat! Matthew and I played so many games of UNO and Connect Four since he's laying around quit a bit with ear ache. Ashlyn's loving the full attention too.
Here are some pics of our fun weekend!!! Happy Independence Day everyone!
SO MANY HUMMINGBIRDS UP THERE ...
HADASSAH AND MATTHEW SWIMMING IN THE POOL ...
LANDON ENJOYING THE CAMP FIRE ...
MATTHEW WEARING THE LION HAT MOMMY LAPP GAVE TO HIM ...
ASHLYN HANGING OUT WITH HER TOYS AND WATCHING THE POOL FUN...
THE BEAUTIFUL POOL VIEW FROM THE DECK ...
OLDEST AND YOUNGEST IN THE FAMILY ...
