Lunches for Kids and Friends

On Saturday, Joe and I returned the New Beginnings Church to volunteer

for their lunch program.  Renaee and Anna from WB joined us and we all enjoyed it very much.

WB had decided on this mission as our WB Gives Back recipient this year.  We collected money from our generous customers during July,

 and WB matched our earnings for a total donation of over $1,000 to their program!

We played a small role in preparing the lunches for over 300 kids on Saturday.

The church picks up some kids from the community that often receive the meals

and they help pack and deliver the meals, too.

How brilliant is that?  Joe loves doing this!

The lunches contain information for local church services and a simple bible verse each week.

The kids were full of spirit and wanted a silly picture

Joe's friend Daniel came because his mom delivers the meals in Shoals, 

so Daniel came home with us for the afternoon.

We swam and made brownies and played nerf guns

We went to visit our Graham baby that night.  He was super somber for the first 

time ever (boo), but we got to help give his bath and that made our night!

Left is yesterday, right is 2 weeks ago - we are using a key to expand those

front teeth every night.  We are creating a gap for sure!  Hope we put that back together!  

Impromptu Cabin Night!

We spent an impromptu night away at a friend's cabin last weekend!

Sam and Dan were planning to fish there on Saturday morning,

so they asked to spend the night and Joe and I snuck along with them.

Now let me tell you how we squeezed this in...after Sam was done with tennis practice

at 7pm and Joe and I have to be back in town by 9am the next morning.

But, it sure felt like an escape!

DH was making us a fire when we got there.

It was a nice summer evening and the fire felt good.

My pics are dark but the memories are strong.

We 'might' have let the boys play in the fire

and make their own "glow sticks".

We didn't take a thing with us other than blankets to sleep on

and drinks.  We used the fire for our entertainment.

Joe took this picture...

We played 3 rounds of Sequence before bed.

No one wanted to be my partner, but Sam and I won 2 rounds anyway

and he changed his mind!

It stormed as we were going to bed and that made the cabin extra cozy.

We were rewarded with a hazy sunrise the next morning

And the storm/heat made the pond they fished extra mossy by morning,

but the fishing was good. John ( our friend who owns the cabin) came the next morning

and they fished the areas of the pond they cannot reach without a boat.

Dan and Sam stayed to fish and caught 25 or so - 

it made for delicious lunch at Grandma's on Sunday!

As Joe and I were leaving this family of deer were there. So very pretty!

Excellent family evening

Salsa Making Day

The summer seemed to sneak away this year

and the tomatoes were ready about the time school was ready to start.

We were able to get our salsa making day in.

The boys love this one.

Grandma put away corn one day after school was back in session

as she got a lecture from Joe for that. He likes doing that, too.

Sam had the ninja blender job.

He's worked in Grandma's kitchen before.  He knew how to use this thing.

DH and Grandpa came in from getting the combine ready to help.

Lots of hand make light work for sure and these are the days

we are making memories.  I bet years from now we will yearn

for the taste of this delicious treat.

Joe had the straining job, getting rid of most of those tomato skins

Chopping peppers and onions--where did his shirt go?

I put this here just in case I could possibly try in the future,

although Jean only got this out at the very end, so she didn't really follow it at all

and did count or measure anything, ha!

Sam grilled us burgers for lunch

Here is the evidence that I was there and helping, not just taking pictures.

Joe snapped this of me.

Loaded in the pressure cooker

Sunday Best Days

We had a slow summer Sunday a couple weeks ago!

Joe and I had a very good Sunday School lesson about God's sacrifice for us, at the end 

of the lesson we laid hands on the picture and and prayed together.

My year of teaching this group is almost up and I will miss them. 

They are a super and they make me think and spend planned time preparing for them each week.

I really enjoy teaching Sunday school!  

And would you look at those summer suntans!  

We grabbed some lunch and then spent the day poolside.

Will and Drew and Bella came first.  

Bella is their new GoldenDoodle.

She is full of energy and sweet as can be.

And Sam and Drew were happy swimming in the pool when they decided 

the pond was calling again - Bella and I went to visit.

We enjoyed watching them a long while

and when they were coming out we discovered

that Bella loves water.  I was watching them and Bella made a beeline for the pond. 

  Yep, she was in the pond and back out rolling 

in the grass before I could even think.

She was so happy and I thought I was going to be in SO MUCH TROUBLE

with her mom and dad for making her dirty.

But, nah, she dried off and all was good!

Joe was at open gym for basketball but he caught some swimtime in the pool

when he got back.  Scott stopped by as well and we got to hear about his 

latest racing adventures and watch some videos.  I loved having both my brothers

there for an afternoon visit!

That night, Joe and I had some quality time making supper together.

He wanted to make meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

We made the meatloaf "cupcake" style and the boys love them!

He did so very well!

Love his desire to learn. Everything - would you like 

to teach him something?  He will try to learn it.

Love that.

Mama made some sauteed cabbage for her and pops - boys don't like that, ha!

Love seemingly regular days that turn out simply perfect.

Write on Your Heart that Every Day 

is the Best Day of the Year.