In my excitement over Mark and Alia’s visit yesterday, I may have been a little overzealous in my meat thawing preparations.  Being past the point of no return by the time I realized I had thawed far too many chicken breasts, and not wishing to be wasteful, I wracked my brains for a good dinner solution.  Alia’s chicken kabob idea was inspired, and we quickly got to work marinading meat and slicing up yummy summer veggies! 

Since my DH is working late this month, I was in need of a stand-in Grill Master.  Of course, Mark was delighted to have the honor. 

Once the honor was bestowed and accepted, Alia and I and the kids resumed spreading rumors and making final accusations in our rousing game of Clue while we practically salivated on our cards thinking about those kabobs.  Suddenly,  thick clouds of black billowy smoke came rushing into the house, choking us mid rumor.  Mark yelled to keep the kids in the house, and I rushed to the back patio as Mark lifted the grill cover and released a column of fire.  He reached under the grill to shut off the gas, but the smoke and the fire continued to billow and bluster under our Covered! patio.   Being spry of limb, quick of wit, and always prepared, I scrambled to my kitchen cupboard to retrieve our fire extinguisher, conveniently located on the bottom shelf behind all the pots and pans.  I also granted Mark the honors of extinguishing the flame. 

Once the air was cleared of smoke and flame retardant, we had a moment of silence for our dear departed chicken kabobs.  The cause of the fire remains undetermined, but grill master authorities are launching a full investigation.   No grills or patios were harmed in the incident, and the children were cleared to resume their game of Clue. Professor Plum did it in the Hall with the poison; then we ordered pizza.

It’s the first of July, and you all know what that means…  only two more days until July 4th!   I confess I always get excited about the Fourth of July.  Next to Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is my favorite holiday.  I’m sure that has a lot to do with growing up in Cody, WY.  The folks in Cody really know how to do it up right.  They kick off the day with a HUGE parade.  So if you happen to be in town, make your way over to Main Street (just follow the crowd) to admire the many beautiful horses, cowboys, mountain men shooting off their muzzle loaders, shriners in caps with tassels riding around in little turtle-shaped cars, the marching bands, the cloggers, and the floats–oh, the floats–celebrating modern community and the Old West.  Confession time again: I love a parade!  After the parade, grab your lawn chair and relocate to City Park for concerts and other live entertainment.  A trip to the Dairy Queen is also a must.  Later in the evening, if you dare, head out the the rodeo grounds for the Stampede Rodeo (if you’re lucky you might get to see Fransisco the Spanish dancing horse) followed by fireworks from across the Shoshone River–or shoot your own out in the country.  Cody is the place to be on Independence Day.

The years and distance from my home town have done nothing to diminish my excitement for the holiday.  This year John and I both have Friday off, and we’re just going to relax and enjoy the day together.  Then Saturday afternoon, we’ll go down to Tim and Sarah’s to celebrate with the Valiante family.   I’m looking forward to Sarah’s blackberry pie, fun with the kiddos, and maybe even some fireworks!    

Today, Alia and co are making their way back home via my house.  Yippee!  It seems I’m blessed this week with lots of family time.  I am, indeed, a happy camper.  So, how do you plan to celebrate this weekend?

Happy Independence Day!

Tuesday morning, I had a text from my sister Alia to call her stat.  That makes me nervous.  Simultaneously I had a f*cebook note from my bro-in-law which alleviated my nerves a little, but made me realize SOMETHING WAS UP.  A quick phone call answered the question:  an impromptu vacation for my sister and her family and, consequently, a mid-road-trip stop over at my house that eveningwas what was up.  Wooo-woooo! 

Of course, I was very excited to see them and the little kiddos!  But my house was not exactly company ready–and that’s an understatement!  John and I have a long list of summer home improvement projects which make both our guest bedroom and guest bath uninhabitable.  This works just fine for us since we inhabit neither room.  But when unexpected company is coming, that’s another story.  Thankfully, Mark and Alia are pretty flexible and the kids will sleep anywhere, so we made it work and had a lovely evening cooking out and relaxing with the Rivers.  Not having children of our own, it’s times like these that I’m thankful I married such a little boy, because we have PLENTY of toys to keep the kids entertained.  The guys busied themselves with whiffle ball in the yard, while Harmony caught lightning bugs (apparently, they don’t have those in New England) and Mali played Don’t Break Da Ice, taking great pleasure in making ”da bay-yah” fall as he poundedout the little plastic ice cubes with his little plastic mallet.  With everyone thusly occupied, I enjoyed some good, albeit short, sister time.

What an unexpected blessing! 

(And they may be stopping again as the pass back through.  Wooo-wooooo! )

Has it really been a whole week since I’ve posted?  How did that happen?  And I was on such a roll! 

It has been a pretty uneventful week, and I’ve really enjoyed it that way, frankly.  Once again, I’m teaching junior high girls’ Sunday school for the summer, and yesterday was my first Sunday.  I’m really happy to be back teaching the girls and pray for a profitable summer.  I, personally, was really encouraged by the lesson which focused on finding our confidence in Christ. 

I really can’t think of any other events of note from the past week.  I expect the week to come will be a busy one, but I’m looking forward to it.  I’ve got to run, but I’ll try post more later this week.  For now, here are the words to a song that’s been running through my head all weekend:

The Look

I saw one hanging on a tree
In agony and blood
Who fixed his loving eyes on me
As near his cross I stood
And never till my dying breath
Will I forget that look
It seemed to charge me with his death
Though not a word he spoke

My conscience felt and owned the guilt
And plunged me in despair
I saw my sins his blood had spilt
And helped to nail him there
But with a second look he said
“I freely all forgive
This blood is for your ransom paid
I died that you might live”

Forever etched upon my mind
Is the look of Him who died
The Lamb I crucified
And now my life will sing the praise
Of pure atoning grace
That looked on me and
Gladly took my place

Thus while his death my sin displays
For all the world to view
Such is the mystery of grace
It seals my pardon too
With pleasing grief and mournful joy
My spirit now is filled
That I should such a life destroy
Yet live by Him I killed

© 2001 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).  Lyrics by John Newton, music and additional lyrics by Bob Kauflin.

My heart is full of God’s goodness today.  Thanks to all of you who prayed that my quick trip down to South Carolina would go well.  All flights operated smoothly and on time. 

Matt and Rachel’s wedding was beautiful and God-honoring.  I expected no less from them.  Everything–the excellent wedding party, the thoughtfully chosen music selections, their grace-filled expressions of welcome and love toward those invited to celebrate with them–was a reflection of the beautiful heart of these two special people.  I am so honored to call them friends, and I was blessed to share in their joy.  Weddings are always busy and chaotic–I expected this, and I knew there would be little time to spend with my friends in the midst of their busy day.  But God did bless me with some extra time to spend with Rachel as well as other friends whom I haven’t seen since my own wedding five years ago.   It was a short but very full 24 hours, and I thank God for it.

I’m also thankful to be home with my hubby.  Given his busy schedule, time together has been a rarity of late, and it is so sweet of him to be willing to sacrifice both time and money for me to make this trip.  I missed him, and it was so good to come home to him!  During the wedding ceremony, I watched the way that Matt looked at Rachel and was so amazed to see the love shining there–my tear ducts had a mind of their own in that moment.  But to come home and see that same look in my husband’s eyes. . . there aren’t words for that!     

The weekend has caused me to contemplate the tremendous blessing I have had in my friendships over the years.  Maybe another day when I have more time, I’ll post my musings on the subject here.  I am often very poor at keeping up with long distance friendships.  Social networking sites like blogger and facebook are great tools, but they can give one the illusion of maintaining relationships and can be a very poor substitute for real communication.  My friends, I want you to know how thankful I am for you!  I hope I will never take for granted the gift you have given me by offering your friendship.  I thank God for you.

I’m making a vvvvvvvvvvvvery quick trip down to Greenville, SC this weekend.  I fly out early tomorrow morning and return Saturday morning.  Two of my dear friends from college, Matt and Rachel, are getting married Friday evening, and I’m blessed with the opportunity to attend.  

That being said, I’m trying not to be anxious:  it has been storming all week and is expected to continue until Saturday.  Two travel rules to live by are don’t fly through Chicago in winter and don’t fly through Philadelphia in spring.  The Philly airport is infamous for cancellations and long delays due to thunderstorms.  Please pray that the weather will be clear for my flights and that I will be able to make it to the wedding with no problem.  I do have a buffer of time between when I arrive in Greenville and when the wedding begins, but I still have some concern. 

Also, please pray that the weather will be good for the wedding itself as they are having an outdoor reception. 

Lord willing, I’ll have some pictures to post when I get back!