Penpals!

While my brother was here from West Africa he arranged for Strike to be e-penpals w/ one of his students - a girl about her age - I'll call her Penny bc I don't like to use real names on my blog. I'm SO excited about this. At the very least I hope Strike makes a new friend in a faraway place & that the two girls learn things from each other about places & people so different from them & where they're at! At best....I hope to visit that new friend in that faraway place w/ Strike in the spring!

Before my brother heads back I want to take Strike shopping for a gift for Penny...something small & easy to pack - that my brother can take from our corner of the world to hers.

Kissing the War Goodbye

via

I love WWII history & memorabilia ... not the war(!) but how our country united in a common cause & how God guided & preserved our nation during that time.

This pic was taken the day the Japanese surrendured - V-J Day, August 14, 1945 & was published in the New York Times & a repro now hangs in our home. It reminds me of my husband (who was in the Navy when we were first married) & I. Can't tell you how many times we kissed hello :) & goodbye :( on the pier in front of the USS Constellation.

This past weekend the 4th of July parade we attended in Bristol had a float & supposedly the two people in the pic were on it too (apparently several have laid claim to be them?!). There was an article in Bristol's local newspaper about them & the man is now in his 80's.



more info can be found here

Just tho't it was neat...ironic & iconic :)

Fourth of July Family Reunion

My brother, "J" & his wife, "R" (from West Africa!) & two of their grandchildren just visited us. Soon more of their family arrived & my other brother & his wife stayed w/ my sister so we enjoyed quite the family reunion. We treated them to a homemade New England Clam Chowder dinner w/ canned brown bread (I'd never seen canned bread before we moved here!) & Cape Cod Potato chips.



Aunt "R" pulled out her Africa bag & let us all choose one thing! FUN!



My sister & her husband pulled out all the stops & treated us to lobster & steamers! Delicious!!

We traveled to Bristol, RI to spend time w/ even more family & to enjoy the 224th(!) Annual Fourth of July Parade w/ first class seats! Bristol is the most patriotic town I know. The houses & people & even the lines of the parade route are all decked out in patriotic colors for the occasion! A great place to be on the 4th of July!



J & R spoke at our church about their life in Africa... about the why & what & where behind their work. Interesting! Commited to pray for one boy in particular who has a very difficult life & (click) "here" is why. I'm posting his picture on my wall today & I can't help but wonder how God will work in him as a result!

Most of the family went to a nearby waterpark while my husband & I prepared to celebrate Uncle "J's birthday w/ a backyard bbq....
...which we followed up w/ a geocaching adventure that led us to an OLD aquaduct in town that I didn't even know existed...& it's right nearby! Fun!

Simply Profound

When I first read this "story", I was fascinated. Later saw this video of it over at Henley the Great Dane says Boof. I love Science bc I believe by studying it we learn so much about God. Perhaps that's why I found this video below to be simply profound.

²He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:2-4

Let thy food be thy medicine & thy medicine be thy food

When my friend "D" first shared this info w/ me I found it really thought provoking. I searched more online & found this video containing the same info. It does seem so like God to give us clues such as this....

Doc's "Magic Wand" ....

Doc's magic wand & special potion provided tons of good clean fun on our camping trip! Who knew you could have SO much fun w/ soap & water?!

Thx Doc for the above

pics of my beautiful baby girl :)

&

Thx Strike for the great pics below!

Bubble Potion: 1 cup JOY dish detergent (don't substitute anything else :) & 10 cups water

Beautiful Vermont Sunset

Strike took this cool pic when we were camping.

Not sure if she meant to make the sun look like a star - or not.
I'll have to ask her.