Carli invited us over to swim last Saturday. Hunter and his Dad had already planned weeks ago to do some projects the same day! Sad. So Henry and I packed up and went over together. This was the longest he'd been outside in the Arizona heat and I did get a little nervous about how his sweet little body would handle it. But he ate a lot (keep him hydrated) and stayed wet the whole time. After a quick nap as I held him in the pool he woke up and was happy happy happy.
Later that night, Hunter and I took him swimming again at a neighbor's pool. Henry honestly kicked his legs the whole time, smiled and cooed and floated on his back (we held his head of course). At one point he even pushed his face in the water. Like on his own. We both were pretty startled, but Henry came up with a cough and was totally fine. And then we all laughed.
We are taking open invitations to swim ANYWHERE the rest of the Summer!
My respect, love and gratitude for this amazing country that I was miraculously born into has grown a ton this last month as we visited Boston. A post about that trip is STILL coming. I truly felt the Spirit as I walked through historic fields, churches, houses and other sites. And the people who built our country! They became real to me. How brave they were- it never occurred to me until I was there- at the sites- of how these people were REAL people with real lives and how hard and dangerous that would be to rebel. I am so so so grateful for their bravery- and their communication with God to know that their declaration for independence was the right thing to do.
My mother worked for the local school district for many years and now I am a teacher. She and I just had a conversation about how wonderful it is each morning to say the Pledge of Allegiance or listen to the National Anthem. She says she misses that a lot now that she's retired. And even though I've only been out for the Summer for a few weeks- I too agreed that I really miss it!
I always make sure my first hour class is up and at attention when the Pledge starts- and if there is any disrespect or dismissal of the Pledge we do it again.
It's also awesome as a choir teacher to teach the National Anthem to my singers. That song is so powerful! I know it was inspired from each word to each interval that builds to the climax where you can't help but get goose bumps. I also love how much the students love to sing that song! They love how it makes them feel when they breathe those powerful words.
On a more modern and perhaps juvenile note- I love the fourth of July for it's Summer purity. When you think of a perfect Summer day- doesn't it describe the Fourth? Swimming, barbecue, friends, family, music, sunburn, water, popsicles, and perhaps for others like me- amazing shopping sales! What a day! Seriously one of my absolute favorite days of the year. (Right up there with Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas Eve.)
And fireworks.
FIREWORKS! I am literally smiling right now at the thought. I love fireworks sooooo much. If I could do my wedding over again it would include fireworks.
Anyways- there's my thoughts this Independence Day 2012 at 12:41 am.
Here's a little patriotic tune for the day- sung by a British girl:
This has been an extremely busy, fun packed summer so far.
I'll be posting soon about our week long stay in Boston.
And each day in between get aways seem to fill up fast!
Today was the first day since spring break (that was last March) that I didn't have to do ANYTHING.
I slept in very late... Specifics are not important... And I've been a total bum.
It's been a great day.
Here's what I did not do today:
I did not purge unwanted items from our office closet:
I did not hand wash our swimsuits and clean the bathroom (it's getting gross):
I did not fix the bed or even open the blinds:
I did not hang Hunter's shirts:
I did not tidy up the spare bedroom that is currently my sew room:
This is the worst one... I did not wash the kitchen floor. This is the one that kills me a little... I hate dirty kitchen floors. And it's super hard to see it in this photo, but it's bad.
I did not do the dishes:
I did not organize my desk:
Or Hunters:
It's all good. This will all happen next week. :-)
Last Tuesday was busy. And stressful. And miraculous.
Hunter helped my dad at work at trimmed 50 or so palm trees and came home looking like this:
I think he looks soooo good looking.
Then we helped Todd (brother dearest) into his new apartment in Tempe. Hunter had already been up since like 5 am but being the trooper he is, he happily moved Todd's bedroom furniture downstairs at my parents and THEN up THREE FLOORS to his new apartment. Right when mom and I got home from moving Todd at 9pm, her phone rang and one of the scariest calls came in... Dad (who had been at a HOA meeting for work) had got in a roll over accident in his truck and was being air-vacced to Scottsdale Osborne Hospital! Cry! We raced over there with Hunter and Todd following close behind. He was sent to Scottsdale bc they have a trauma unit..oh great. But because of a beautiful miracle he looked like this when we finally saw him in the ER:
Hunter here trying to looked happy while going on five hours of sleep.... Todd giving me a sassy look.
Dad had high spirits, but the hospital makes anyone crabby. Mom is super.
Dad was released that night with a concussion. He has been throwing up and dizzy and super super sore for the last few days. But we are all counting our blessings as he is safe and healthy!
Mom went to the junk yard the next day to see if she could salvage anything from the truck... She was not ready for the sight she saw:
How was he released that night? The mess of a truck doesn't match the bruise-less, cut-less dad that came home. Tender mercies of the Lord! I love my family.
