Okay, so I need to get caught up on so I am going back to the beginning of summer. When I look back at this summer I guess we did a lot but it still doesn't really seem like we got out of the house as much as we normally do during the summer. I think because of so many of our summer days were cloudy we stayed in more than normal. I can't believe that it is already September and about to be fall. I really feel like we didn't have a complete summer.
Here is what we did do this summer though...
At the very beginning of June we went to Running Y Ranch with Justin's Uncle Jon and Aunt Nancy. We had such a good time for the week we were there. Justin got in a lot of golf with his uncle, the girls got to ride their bikes, swim, and play outside and go for prairie dog hunts. Aunt Nancy and I did a lot of watching food network, talking, and cooking. It was a great time. I also got an awesome opportunity. I got to go out for a morning and herd cattle on horseback with a small group of 'cowboys'. Actually there was only one true cowboy and the other 3 were women. It was one of the coolest experiences. I could have spent all day out there and am pretty sure I missed my calling as a cowgirl! Look for me in an upcoming issue of The Furrow, a magazine put out by John Deer. In the picture I am the one in the middle driving the cattle across a highway.
When we got back from our week at Running Y Justin's only sister, Amy, had arrived here with her 4 daughters. They live in Maryland and drove for 4 days 14 hrs a day to get here. They spent the summer here and that was great. It was so nice to get to know our nieces better since we haven't been able to spend that much time with them. There is Shannon, the oldest at 6, who loves to hang out with the adults and how that girl can sing! Then Audrey, the 4 year old. She is a little mischievous, like our Emma. She is a crack up. The first thing she said to me when I got to Nana's house to see them was 'Your husband is going to get old, die, and turn gray.' So matter of factual. Then there is Lila, little Lolly, the just turned 2 big girl! She is a love, but also wants to do everything on her own. And she'll tell ya how it is too! Then there is the baby, Trinity. The sweetest, most adorable little thing, she is I think, 8 months old now. Just a happy sweet baby. Oh I miss those girls so much. It was such a great summer with them here. We went to the zoo, the beach, a parade, vbs. Good times. I loved getting to know Amy too, we got to spend a lot of time together and I thoroughly enjoy her company and miss her as well. I wish they lived closer.
In late June Justin went on a missions trip with the youth group to San Fransisco. They worked in the Tenderloin District working with homeless and the needy and poor in the hear of San Fran. Justin said it was an amazing trip spiritually both for him and the kids. It was hard to have him gone from us for a week but we managed, we were so happy to have him home again.
In July, we got to see our dear friend Tina get married. She tied the knot with Jakob on 7/7/07. It was such a fun wedding. Myself, Katrina, and Emma were in the wedding. The wedding party was huge! 5 flower girls, 9 bridesmaids, and 7 groomsman! It was a very bittersweet time for me. I had to figure out how to celebrate the joy of her marriage with her at the same time I was dealing with the sadness of knowing she would soon after be leaving Portland to move back to Denver where her family is. I miss her so much.
Also in July Grama Edie and Papa Bill (Justins grandparents) came to visit for 5 days. It was a great time with them just visiting and enjoying watching them with their 7 great grand daughters. They are such a testimony to marriage, having stayed faithful for 61 years now! I am so grateful that I am part of their family and thank God for the love and prayers they have given us for our entire marriage.
Towards the end of August we spent 4 days and 3 nights at Wallowa Lake in North Eastern Oregon near a little town called Joseph for a family reunion on my dads side. It was very fun, the kids had a blast just playing outside with their cousins and going for nature walks, and learning how to pee in the woods (first timers didn't do to well according to their poor Uncle Terry!). We took our boat that we got this summer with us and got to enjoy the FREEZING cold glacier water the lake is made out of. I tried to attempt wake boarding but as soon as my body hit the water, after Justin pushed me in, it said NO NO NO. I thought I was going to die of shock. Yes, it really was that cold, even in August. I got out as soon as I could swim to the boat and tried to avoid getting back in the rest of our time there. Being on the beach was nice though.
We also had the opportunity to host a few guests this summer. In early August Justin's cousin Michelle, her brother John (who is deaf) and her two little ones, Selah (2) and Kaleo (6wks), stayed with us for a week. I had such a great time with Michelle, I feel like she is a sister and so enjoyed getting to know her on a deeper level. We just click. The girls loved learning sign language from John who is amazing with kids. They really latched on to him. Selah and Kaleo were so sweet and man did Katrina miss Selah when she was gone. It's all I heard every half hour for the rest of the day and intermittently throughout the week. It was such a blessing to have them in our home and be able to serve them as much as we could and just have that fellowship with them. Michelle has a passion for the Lord that is so contagious.
In late August Justin's aunt and uncle came up from California for a wedding and stayed with us for a few days. It was just more fun with family.
When I reflect back on the summer and my earlier comment that we didn't really do much this summer I think I was wrong. I see now that we spent a whole lot of time with family this summer, cultivating and sealing relationships that will ultimately last for eternity. I can't really think of a better way we could have spent our time because family is everything.
