Busy Summertime

Some weeks are busy, and others are VERY busy, to the point that you think it has been two!
Last week was one of those VERY busy ones.

It started Sunday night with a unique opportunity to attend a Women’s VBS.
Yes, ladies, VBS! It was three evenings, Sunday through Tuesday. Each evening was complete with old Sunday School songs and Survivor-themed skit. The VBS theme was a takeoff of the TV series Survivor with the subtext “out live, out learn, out love”

Denise Hildreth-Jones, who started the event, spoke each evening and was very motivational, encouraging to allow God to be in complete control of our lives. She is also the author of several books, including Flying Solo, A Journey of Divorce, Healing and a Very Present God, a diary of her thoughts and feelings as she went through a divorce. Her newest book, the Gardener, was just released today.

Two authors, who spoke briefly, were introduced:

Sarah Berger, who co-authored, with her husband, who is a pastor at Grace Chapel in Leiper’s Fork, Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf between Heaven and Earth after losing their son, Josiah, in a car accident. I remembered when it happened (2009) and what a spiritual impact it made on the community, mainly due to these parents reaction and strength and dependence on God.

and Rebecca Alonzo, author of The Devil in Pew Number 7, a true story of hatred, loss and forgiveness. Her father took a job a a pastor in Sellerstown, North Carolina. One of the congregants did not like the changes being made and proceeded to harass the family. She watched as both of her parents were shot by another angry man. She did say that since the book had been published, she found out that the original harasser was found to have been involved with the shooting as well.
I’ve been told it is a hard read.
(I got both books)!

It was great “Girl Time”!

Monday morning I looked out and saw a tree trimming/chipping machine at the neighbors. Wonder what they do with the mulch?? We need some, but were going to wait until spring. So I sent Paul to find out.... (and he prayed all of the way over that they would not give it to him!) They told him they would unload it in a couple of hours.
Four hours later.......we had 10 yards sitting in our driveway! For FREE!

So we both got shovels and had our work out! It took a couple of days, working in the early morning due to the record breaking heat and humidity! One section, before,

and after!

We also really piled a lot around our trees to keep the moisture in and weeds out.

Wednesday was a craft day with New Neighbor Club, making some Christmas Tags.... Christmas is only 5 months away!

Then, Thursday we took Hailey out to the Natchez Trace for a couple of days camping. We had lots of fun with her! We had some rain, but it did not keep us inside too much! Not like the old tent camping, but we did the typical, including bug catching (oops.... no picture of that!),
roasting hotdogs,

and making smores

swimming,

miniature golfing,

(Where did the ball go?)

playing games,

and playground, her favorite!




Retirement is great!! We love making great memories!