Thankful for

 Nine-year-olds

 brightly colored birthday celebrations

 baby brothers enjoying their cake

 baby brothers waiting for their cake,

and feeling special on your own special day.

p.s. can you tell which Johnson has a healthy fear of fire?

Thankful for

 one organized Johnson.

Thankful for

 this silly boy.

Thankful for

these people of mine.

This one likes to play Mama sometimes

This one is generally game to play baby

 Life is good when you're the baby

Except when "nap time" goes on a little too long and he's all

"I'm outta here"

These 40 years

September 9

 40 years of marriage

40 years of sacrificial love

40 years of moving around the world

40 years of setting Christ as the center

40 years of growing a family of 4 

into a family of 11

40 years of sacrifice

40 years of laughter

40 years of always coming home,

knowing we are not home yet

40 years of example 

40 years of non-ceasing prayer

40 years of gentle guidance

40 years of mornings spent lingering over breakfast

40 years of coffee

40 years of faithfulness

 

40 years of adventures

 

Today, as I sat in Church and watched as Greg was installed as Associate Pastor

I thought about prayers answered 8 years after they were first whispered

I thought about our 13 years together

and the 40 x 40 more years to come

I thought about the marriages of friends breaking apart

of people walking away from their covenants with one another and with God

And, I thought about 40 years

and all that God has blessed me with, 

as we celebrate

these 40 years.

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:5

 

There is a thief in my house

At certain times of the day

The soup spoons go missing

Questions are asked

Denials are given

But, not much gets by this Mama

A long day

Tired cousins

Grouchy cousin

What do you do when you don't get a pool pass for the summer?

You slip slide the summer away...

And, you get your mom to throw a rope over a tree branch,

and you get your dad to make a swing.

 

And, you call it a day.