As Happy As We Look

Sometimes God works in a way where you can see His goodness just right out.

 

This last weekend, I got to enjoy a trip to State College, Pennsylvania. My sister is here this summer on a grant as a PhD candidate, studying rocks at Penn State. She lives in New Zealand with her family so its a really big deal that she's here in the U.S. at all. Not so coincidentally, my brother and his family only live 40 minutes from Penn State. With the stars aligning in a way that only happens once every 450 years or so, I had to make a visit! My Dad and Step-Mom felt the same way. All our time together was just blessed, blessed, blessed. Getting the chance to come by myself, I got to have quality, meaningful time with every one...

 

My sister, Carolyn, is the one on the far right (above). Ever meet a genuine genius? How about one who likes country music? That's Carolyn! She cracks me up and fascinates me at the same time. I love to listen to her. I don't understand half the stuff she talks about, but the crumbs I catch are very interesting. She has some very acute observations about American psuedo-science and the twisting and bending thereof. I don't know what she doesn't observe, quite frankly, so she is a girl after my own heart. I love that I got to spend so much time with her...

 

My brother, John (above) and his cool family are always so much fun to hang around. John is the pastor of a fast-growing church in their town. We got to hear him Sunday morning and I couldn't have been more proud had I been his own mother. I think we're all considering the weekly commute! John's wife Suzie is an amazing wife and mother. She juggles so much and still has such a great sense of humor. You can see it in my niece and nephew, Emily & Cole. They're so grounded and smart and nice to be around. Josh was seriously sore with me for not bringing him to play with them!

I could go on and on about everyone, including my Dad and Step-Mom. I wonder at how I got stuck in such a great family. It's enough to make you want to miss them when the time is over.

Go Cards!

We just wrapped up another year of baseball and, I'm tellin' ya, it just keeps getting more and more fun! You wouldn't believe 8&9-year-olds could be so amazing. I saw a triple play by these guys that I've never seen in the big boy arena. There's still quite a bit of yawning in the outfield where Joshua mostly is, but at bat -- wow -- he's an ox! Solid and consistent and never nervous (unlike his mother).

We've put the bag we couldn't live without away for now and hung the uniform up, but the talk is big and the hopes are high for next year. Until then, some parting shots...

 

 

 

 

What's In My Purse...

I've been tagged by my friend Ashley to share what's in my sacred purse -- a territory otherwise off limits to the general public. To start, I had to figure out which one to highlight from the sum total of my inventory:

 

I zeroed in on the one I used most recently, which was this one.

 

This is my favorite because it was made by my Grandma. Isnt' it so cute? She sells these (and lots of other crafty things) and puts her little tag on them at her fairs. Now you can call her with an order!

 

The contents here reflect that we had just been to a baseball game. Greg's cousin plays for who our visiting team was. I brought the Sharpie so he could sign Josh's baseball glove. He did, and the game was a blast! So glad I was given the opportunity to do some purse-sharing just so I could remember our evening. Thanks, Ashley!

 

And speaking of baseball...

Catching The Big One

 

These nice-lookin' fellas love to go fishing. They never, ever, ever catch anything worth keeping which makes me wonder what the draw is, but I've heard it's relaxing and I imagine there's alot of male bonding that goes on (although they wouldn't put it that way). It might be peaceful and all, but I stayed about 5 minutes to take pictures and said "See you later!" Bug bites and car talk for me are the converse of dragging them to the fabric store.

 

So, once again, they didn't exactly see fish BUT...

Eventually the trip netted the better thing.

 

 

Isn't it just adorable? This one and it's sibling now live with us and Tiny (our other little turtle). We can't tell if it's just an ordinary snapper or the more rare (and fine-able) alligator snapper. Anyone an expert???

Josh recently told me he'd like to work for the NWF. After I told him "But you don't wrestle", he clarified, "No, it's the National Wildlife Federation!" Ah-ha. That makes much more sense...