Just Life

Sunday in the kitchen cooking for who knows how many. Jade and Jaxon came in to help and so Jaxon learned to peel carrots. He did the whole batch and was cheerful about helping. Jade and I traded out the everyday dishes for the Stars and Stripes plates, etc. in honor of Independence Day coming up. We ended up with quite a group for dinner and it was wonderful to have that (mostly) happy noise in the house. Emmy is less than happy if she can't have her Mom or Dad, but we found ways to bribe her. Chocolate frosting still warm in the pan seemed to be a big hit. Sorry about the bad diapers Taya, but she really had fun with that.



Well into the evening Emmy's defenses were down a tad, so her bottle was bribe enough to get her on my lap for awhile. She has the cutest thunder thighs ever.

On Friday last week Jordyn was over and she and I made two different kinds of chicken salad for sandwiches to be eaten on our trip to the lake Saturday. It is the first time we have been to the lake in over 3 years. I really, really, really love the lake. There is something about being on the water that speaks to my soul. Grumpy and I, Summer, Jamie and kids piled into two vehicles and off we went. Sitting in the boat being gently rocked while we eat with the family is great therapy for me. Even while they are tubing, skiing or swimming it is nice to relax with each other. No phones, faxes, beepers, T.V. etc. to interfere with that little bit of family time. Gotta love it.

Grumpy made bread again on Friday night, so we will have some bread on hand while he is gone this week. Instead of helping him, Jade, Taya and I went to Cheesecake Factory for some Fried Zucchini and then on to a show. We saw “The Brothers Bloom”. It was different. I don't feel any need to buy it for our movie library, but it was a fun evening. Grumpy never minds when I am out with the girls. That way, I don't mind when he is out with the boys. It works out pretty well. Even though our time together is pretty limited, we just take what we can get and make that work.

It was a meatloaf Sunday, and I was going to take pictures for a recipe to post, but the camera battery needed charging so maybe next time. I made a chocolate cake for dessert and so breakfast will be extra good for a couple of days. I figure there's probably as much nutrition in chocolate cake as any of the cold cereals on the market to buy. Now there's a great rationale if ever I heard one.

I've been thinking about family a lot this week, and I am profoundly and eternally grateful for mine. My brothers and sisters, Dad and Mom, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews (grands there too) are blessings on top of blessings to me. I am sometimes overwhelmed with wonder that we are all here in this great country enjoying the benefits of this land like no other. Even when I am upset over the things that are happening and threatening to happen, I am thankful for this nation and the hard won liberties that our rights are predicated on. I pray everyday that the Lord will soften the hearts of those determined to circumvent those rights and spur the rest of us to whatever action we can take to stop that from happening.

In the middle of all that, I am grateful we can still find time and means to do fun things with each other. We continue to build good memories that link our generations together. It isn't always big trips to the dunes, or little runs to the lake or trips to wherever that build good memories. Those things are fun and make good memories, but the simple meatloaf Sundays and all the other simple days in between those things are the basic fabric of our lives. I hope all my family knows how important each one of them are to me.

I love you all.