July 4th Weekend

I hope all of you had a great weekend celebrating the independence of our country. I thank God for this great country and our privilege to be living here. And I remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, or those serving now and stand ready and willing to give it on our behalf. I saw a commercial on TV this weekend. It was a group of military walking into an airport, wearing their uniforms and everyone around stood and clapped as a way of saying 'thank you'. It's the least we can do. It gave me the chills just watching the commercial. (And I think it was a Budweiser commercial...of all things...)

I know this country isn't perfect; far from it, in fact. However, I still consider it an honor to live here under freedom. Our country has been so blessed by God.

We had a very fun-filled weekend with family. Friday, we participated in a July 4th parade in our neighborhood. Everyone decorated their golf carts and bikes and other things you can drive and we drove around throwing candy. It was fun! Our golf cart is pretty much decorated. It's got stars and stripes on it, so we just added a flag and some streamers.

Yeah, I chopped my hair off - and I LOVE it!

Getting ready for the parade.

After the parade, Jim played in a golf tournament and the kids and I went to my parents' house. Mom and Dad grilled some chicken and veggies and we just hung out over there all afternoon. After the kids woke up from their naps, Dad got the slip 'n' slide out and some water balloons and the kids had a ball. Jim was back by then, so he got to play, too.

Dad had to push the boy down the slide!

The girl loved it!

So did her daddy!

My sweet boy - he was cold.

Jim trying to be cool!

The kid in my sister Emily coming out. She's in town for a few days and didn't have a swimsuit, but wanted to play really bad, so she put some shorts and a t-shirt on.

Lola and the boy

The hottie I'm married to...

Em's knees after playing on the slip 'n' slide...ouch!

Isn't she cute?!

My dad being a kid

July 4th evening, our church, Paul Ann Baptist Church, sponsored an event called Freedom Fest at the baseball stadium. It is a free event for the public, with children's games and concert and a bunch of give-aways and fireworks. And we also presented the gospel. I'm not sure how many people were saved that night, but I pray that there were some lives changed. Jim and I were volunteers.

And here are Emily's knees the next day. Look at the bruises! And she was so sore! :)
Saturday evening, my cousins were bringing my grandmother back to town and so they came over to eat dinner. They were going to stay with my grandmother, but the kids were having a blast playing together so they decided to stay with us! They stayed up until about 11:00 last night. We finally decided they better go to bed, but T#1 and the girl talked till midnight!

Alisha and I

Stephen and Anna (my sister)


Jim took them for a ride in the golf cart.

Playing golf in the front yard.