Happy 4th of July

We celebrated the 4th of July at our cabin on Lake Martin with Mike's family. His parents and brother and other brother and his wife and 1 of his children came to be with us. We had a great day of talking, grilling out hamburgers and hotdogs, playing in the water, riding on the boat and making home made ice cream. We were going to go out in the boat and watch the fireworks that Russell puts on but it started raining and didn't let up so we thought they cancelled it. Mike's brother and his family went home. About 10 minutes after they left we heard the fireworks going off and stepped out on the deck and watched them from the house. Emily was so tired that she didn't even wake up when they went off. We were out on the deck around 5:00 watching it rain and I couldn't find Emily. Went inside and she had put herself to bed and closed the door! Mike had to wake her up at 7:00 to eat but she was back out at 8:30 (maybe earlier). She had a busy day. We inflated the towable tube for my niece and her friend to ride on. When Emily saw it, she wanted to ride on it. My niece was kind enough to let Emily ride with her. Emily loved it! After my niece and Emily rode it my niece wanted a turn by herself so we let her. After she got back on the boat Emily starts to jump in the lake saying she wants a turn by herself. We let her do it by herself but went very slow! You should have seen the grin on her face from ear to ear.






Sunday morning we got up and went to church and it was a wonderful sermon. It was my Sunday to teach the 4 and 5 year old class. Let's just say that they have lots of energy! They are really a sweet group of children. There are several that will be leaving our class when school starts and I hate to see them go. After church we went to lunch and then to Wal-Mart to look for another towable that was Emily's size. We found one and she LOVES it! We couldn't get her out of it Sunday afternoon!

The 4th of July always makes me reflect on how fortunate to live in the country where I do. I'm glad that I can read my bible when I want to, dress how I want to, do whatever I want and go to church whenever I want. I also remember those that are serving our country overseas and all over and pray that they can soon come home and be with their families. I truly appreciate all that they are doing for our country. The 4th of July shouldn't be the only time of year that people should be thankful for these things but should be thankful every day.

Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

5 eggs

1 heaping cup of sugar

1 can Eagle Brand milk

4 teaspoons vanialla

1 can Hershey's chocolate syrup (or whatever flavor you want)

whole milk

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and mix with a mixer until well blended. Pour into ice cream freezer and finish filling freezer with milk until at the fill line. Give container to husband and let him do the rest ;-) with the ice cream maker.

Meeting Great Grandpa

My mom had knee replacement surgery on June 19th. Since June 18th I've made 3 trips to Gulf Shores, AL to be with my mom during the surgery and her recovery. Two of those trips I brought Emily along with me. On our last trip to my mom's we made a detour through Brewton, AL to see my grandfather, Emily's great-grandfather. This is my mom's step father but the only grandfather I've ever known. He is 82 years old and loved seeing Emily. It has been a year or so since I've seen him so he couldn't believe how big Emily has gotten. Emily wasn't too sure about him and didn't really want to have anything to do with him, until he told her he had Oreo cookies in the kitchen, then she was okay with him. We had a nice visit for about an hour and half. I love my Papa and I'm so glad that Emily has been able to meet him. She was very cranky that day and didn't want her picture taken. This was a battle to get her to take this one picture, she was made because I put her on the counter, that's a 4 year old minus a nap for you! Anyway, I'm so fortunate Papa is still around. My grandmother died in 1989, 13 days after her 61st birthday. I remember spending many summers at their house and working in the garden and going to Jay, FL for groceries. My Papa was diagnosed several years ago with prostate cancer but the doctor's said they didn't want to do anything because of his age. I could tell this past visit he is starting to fail in health. He was having a hard time remembering Emily's name and at times my name. He's lost 20 pounds without even trying. I'm going to make every effort to be able to go visit him more. I hate that I haven't visited him more in the past than I have.