God's Fireworks

As we sat waiting for the fireworks, I realized that I would miss the sunset. You see, I am an avid sunset watcher because it is so beautiful in our valley, almost every night. From my neighborhood, there is a panoramic view of both the sunrise and sunset and it rises and sets over the mountain ranges on either side of our valley. But on July 5th, my view of where the sun goes down was blocked by trees, so I thought that I would miss it. But God did not disappoint. Through the break in the trees, this is what I saw! I only wish that I had been somewhere to see the whole thing.

I doubt that I would have been too disappointed if for some reason the fireworks were cancelled, because of all the things I saw, this was the most beautiful!

FIREWORKS!

These really all speak for themselves! Hope your 4th was happy! Let Freedom Ring!

Family and Fireworks-part 2

On thing our family loves to do is eat! Here is our nice little spot we secured to watch the fireworks. The view from where we were was, as usual, beautiful. There is a reason that our valley is called "HAPPY VALLEY."

The sun was reflecting off the clouds in such a way that I just knew that I was going to miss a nice sunset because our view of the location where the sun sets was blocked by trees. I contemplated taking a walk to watch it, but stayed instead to have fun with my family.
This is the famous BEAVER STADIUM, home of the greatest college game day show on earth! When it comes to student sections, we are the Dukies of NCAA football! Our stadium now holds over 100,000 people! It's a once in a lifetime experience to be in a stadium with that many die hard Penn State fans, all yelling at once!
Right across the street from the stadium is the Bryce Jordan Center, home of the NIT Tourney campion Nittany Lions.

As the sun began to set, God decided to give us His own firewoks display and I have to admit, it was better than the one choreographed by men!

It started ever so faintly and grew from there!

Even if the fireworks display would have tanked, as it did one year not too long ago, I don't think that I would have gone home disapointed.

Family and Fireworks

After the ballgame, we headed over to a spot on a hill that overlooks the PSU sports complexes to watch the fireworks. Since our little borough has one of the largest, most highly rated, totally volunteer, choreographed fireworks displays in the country, we have to go early. So we pack our dinner and spend some time playing football while waiting on dark to settle in.


This is my oldest son waiting for a throw from his Dad.
And smiling for Mom who always has a camera attached to the front of her face.



This is my youngest daughter, smiling at her Dad, whom she absolutely adores. Can you tell?

This is my youngest who was very patriotic if you count the red scratch, white skin and blue bruise right below his left eye. Looks tough, doesn't he?


Now the defender swore that he did not interfere, but I think he's busted!

But it didn't deter the receiver in any way! He loves it when he shoves it in the face of his older brother!

A good time was had by all. After football, we settled in for Subway subs, chips, cookies and soda. The boys drooled over the latest NRA magazine, the girls walked around visiting others that we only see on July 4th and then grabbed a good book until it got too dark to read.

God surprised us with a fireworks display of His own, but that will have to go on the next entry.

Concentration

When my kids were toddlers, I was always wary if there was a period of time when all was quiet. It usually meant that they were up to something or into something that they shouldn't be. Like once, I found my 3 year old sitting face to face with my 2 year old with a can of open pears between them. The 3 year old was smashing pear halves on the 2 year old's head and as pear mush dropped off his head onto the floor and pear juice ran in his eyes and mouth, they just teered back and laughed ear splitting delight!

Then I found the 3 year old again applying foreign substances to my 2 year old's head, only this time it was hair removal cream that had fallen from the bathroom closet shelf, unnoticed by the adults. And then there was the day that she brushed his head with toothpaste.....and the day she covered his head in Vaseline.......right before church. (That was the day I discovered that you can't wash Vaseline out, not matter how many head washings you give, so you have to improvise and spike it!)

Tonight at dinner, we noticed that our golden retriever, who takes up all the leg room under the dinner table was missing. Upon investigation, this is what we found. She remained in this position for over an hour!

This is what we found on the other side of the fence.

And every time Zoe, our dog would try to stick her paw through the fence, this is what the bird would do. Who knew such a loud, abrasive squawk could come out of such a little beak! The bird thought our dog was going to feed him. The dog thought that the bird was going to feed her!

4th of July Fun!

July 4th was truly a freedom celebration day for me--freedom from the lawn mower, the piles of grass flying through the air, getting stuck in my hair and going down my shirt, the layer of dust that covers me by the end of each day, and the noise of machinery that sometimes dulls my hearing, even with ear protection.

It was off to

The home of the Penn State Nittany Lions with the Nittany Lion mascot that is recognized nationally and is a tried and true tradition in the world of college athletics, AND the home of:




Ike the Spike...




who is either really camera shy, or who thinks that his backside is the better side of his body because he is always turning around shaking it at people---Strange! I really began to wonder about him after awhile and was glad that my boys are past the age where they would want to go get his autograph! I was almost ready to go the main office and ask if they did an FBI clearance before hiring him! Yes, in my mind, he gave new meaning to the words:


Nevertheless, you can't deny the fact that even if you are not interested in baseball, the view from our stadium is beyond comparison!
And there is something fun to watch between every inning:

Where else in America could you watch people catch water balloons, (or not), in buckets attached to their heads?




Of watch human bowling balls knock down gigantic pins.....








Or watch mutant eye balls have a foot race?





Or watch a Nookie Monster dance a jig every time the team does something commendable!

Many even dressed for the occasion!


These guys were stretching it a bit, but I guess that's good because they were the leaders of God Bless America and Take Me Out To The Ball Game during the 7th inning stretch!





There was lots of baseball action too!

But the best part about July 4th is, of course, family, friends, and fireworks. But that will have to be part of the next blog!

It's Mother's Day!

On Mother's day I received a promise! And today, the promise was delivered. For Mother's day a few years ago, I received a table and chairs for the patio. I LOVED it! I spent hours on the deck, playing my guitar, reading, playing games with my kids and chatting with friends over ice cream and strawberries. Then one day, the temperature dropped really quickly because of an upcoming storm and BOOM!, the table shattered into a million pieces! Then the next year our deck was struck by lightening. The lightening went through every chair and welded the grill entirely shut! Even the chairs were welded together and had what looked like .22 caliber bullet holes where the lightening entered and the exited. We still used the chairs, but they were weakened and over time and pounds, gradually they bit the dust. I have wanted more furniture for years, but these extras depend on our summer business and last years windfall went into a vehicle.

Today, my hubby made good on this year's Mother's Day promise and took me shopping for patio furniture. I'm thrilled with the furniture, but what blessed my heart even more was watching the kids and my hubby work to put it all together and get it ready to "present" to me!










While they worked on putting it all together, I fixed dinner. Crock Pot meat and potatoes, fresh cantelope, and sweet tea! We had a wonderful time eating outside all together!

I LOVE MY FAMILY! They are so good to me! Now that everything is cleaned up, I think I'll take a book and prop my feet up on my new furniture and read til the sunset distracts me!

Calypso Capers

I am Calypso. Explorer of the vast back yard! Scaling walls of stone, on a great safari, hunting wild game!

Wait a minute. I think hear something! I think I smell something too! Oh Yea! Lock and Load!
I smell a trophy catch!

Yep! I'm pretty sure there's something in here! This is going to require some demolition! Do you think Grandma would mind if I re-design her retaining wall? Afte rall, it's not good to have varmits living in your back yard!

What do you think Zoe? Are you in or out?



I'll be the lookout! Go ahead and get started!

Okay, let's see! I think there's something down there. Wait, I have to get a better look!

Wait, I have to dig a little deeper! Darn this Pennsylvania clay and limestone!
I'm close, I just know it!

Hmmmmm! The smell down here is exquisite! I can smell dinner! Fresh meat!

Wait! I think I see something! Man, it's dark in here! I'm close, I'm close!

Stupid Dogs! If they only knew that I was right behind them getting the whole crime on film!

The Heaven's Declare The Glory of the Lord

I love my valley! And here is why! God has certainly blessed us with beautiful surrounding that all serve to declare His glory!




This appeared in my garden just today. How beautiful!


This was the scene a few weeks ago at a birthday party I attended just 40 minutes from my house.


This is my valley! Isn't it beautiful? I never get tired of living here!
These clouds were absolutely beautiful. The sky was so full, I could have filled my camera stick them and still have not captured them all. I thought it would have been an ideal day for Jesus to return, but He didn't.
So, so beautiful!

When Enjoyment Becomes Idolatrous

Here is an excellent and practical article on enjoyment and entertainment becoming idolatry. Very fitting for the American summer culture!

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/3991_Discerning_Idolatry_in_Desire/