Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

OK, so yesterday was what can only be described as a horrendous day.

It started out harmless enough. The girls have been taking a little dance class with a friend of mine so they were there until about 2:30 when I went to get them. Up until that point I had been to the grocery store and running kind of late. I hurried home to put away the refrigerator stuff and thought how much fun it would be to surprise them with a trip to the pool. I also knew they would love it if I brought along their dear friend Kaitlyn, and Gracie's little friend Ella.

So, we get to the pool and for the first time I can remember I didn't go into the pool with them. It was going to be a quick swim because I had an eye doctor appt. at 4:30. Emily and Kaitlyn were fine on their own. And Grace could touch bottom in the shallow end and Ella had on a floatie vest that was keeping her afloat. So, I sat down on a chair not far from the edge of the pool and I'm not sure now how it happened but Grace and Ella had gotten to the deep end and Grace had had a little kick board floatie thing and before I knew it the board got away from Grace and she was keeping herself afloat by holding on to Ella. Well, that was causing them both to go under.

Now I have to tell you if you don't already know...I am a worrier. I have thought through every horrible thing that can happen to kids. I always say that then I know how to react because I have played through so many situations in my head. Well, guess what. What was supposed to happen didn't. I froze. I actually froze. Well, I didn't completely freeze. I screamed for this lady next to me in a bathing suit to please get them and when she froze I screamed for the lifeguard. Thank God, he didn't freeze. He jumped in and brought them to me at the edge.

I am filled with so many feeling right now. Here I was being trusted with the safety of someone else's kid and I froze in a moment of need. I'm ashamed and embarrassed. But I am also so thankful to God for bring those girls back to the edge of the pool.

P.S. Turns out I have an ulcer on my eye.

Good Neighbors

I love my neighbors. Last night they invited us over to roast marshmallows over their new fire-pit. Glad I had green peppers for dinner instead of the Little Ceasers everyone else had. So I had 3 marshmallows. Yummy! I probably gained 2lbs. from eating them...That's okay...I love you Traci!

Strawberry Fields

It was a perfect day for strawberry picking. And my girls did so good! They each filled a box and hardly ate any while we were picking. And let me tell you...they are the sweetest, juiciest, yummiest strawberries I have ever had! De-lish!

Full Day

Yes, the girls and I had just that...a full day. It started out with a little play at the new and fully awesome park at Pottawatomie. We then hopped on our bikes and rode around the campus at IUSB. They've got an awesome bridge over the road/river that the girls loved. Then we got home and I took a nap for about 30 min.'s and then babysat for a couple of cuties for about 2 1/2 hours. During that time we went for a walk around our unusually large block and played at Hums park for about 1/2 hour. Then when Daddy got home we went to play Putt-Putt for the first time. Grace got a hole in one! Then to my friend Carrie's friend Libby's house. Yikes! Did that all make sense? Oh, and I just walked the dog...again.
No pictures today :(

Up

Great movie! I want to adopt Russell...and Carl. And Doug. And Kevin.

Fernwood

My friend Carrie has talked about Fernwood many time in the years that I've known her. She and her husband were married there. I've seen the pictures. But I did not know. I did not know the beauty of this place. I am so glad we went. I love you Carrie!

Don't forget you can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

This awesome sight was the first of many that thrilled us all. The little black dots are this frogs eggs. There were hundreds of them.

This poor guy thinks he's hiding from us. So cute!

My beautiful girls.

I don't have any idea what this was but it was so beautiful. All the leaves on this bush were turning this lovely pink color.

So pretty...

This was definitely the highlight of the day. All of the kids went running into this beautiful gazebo and came to a halting stop. Tucked away, right at their feet was this precious baby deer. They all were able to get a really good look at her before she just jumped up and took off for her mommy. Amazing.

I love the looks on the girls faces here...

The whole gang...