July Family Time

July started off with a “bang”.  Pun intended!  July fourth weekend had some of our children and grandchildren at our house.  The weather was cool and ideal for cookouts, fireworks and just being together.  Many years on the farm we were harvesting and not able to enjoy the Independence Day celebration as we liked to.   I discovered that sparklers have advanced from the days when our children were little.  The sparklers we had this year had all kinds of beautiful colors and seemed to sparkle in every direction. 

I always think of my mother on this holiday as her birthday is on July 5th.  Her aunt always called her a “fizzle”.  She was little but mighty for sure!  The kids all called her “Mae-Maw”.  She is missed at these times.

One son brought his camper and built a nice fire in the fire pit.  His wife added color makers to the fire.  It was mesmerizing as we all sat around the campfire and visited.  Several different games were played and I think Luke who is ten won every hand of Sweep. 

“Our family is just one tent away from a full-blown circus!”

Later in July on the 26 we had some more children and grandchildren come out for the weekend.  Our son that lives in Flower Mound, TX brought his three teenagers, our son in Great Bend brought his wife and teenager, and our son and wife from Atwood came also.  The local Dairy Queen was a hit for an ice cream treat for sure.  We also played many board games and enjoyed spending time as a family.  The time goes much too fast.  Every moment has to be savored.  Harper from Texas had one thing on her agenda and that was playing games.  Grandma was happy to oblige. 

“In my family, crazy doesn’t skip a generation.”

The first of August we traveled to Olathe to spend time with our daughter’s family while she had to head back to school early.  It’s sad that teachers and librarians have to head back early but we had a great time helping kids with school supplies and enjoying summer’s last fling. 

Where did it go?  Summer, I mean. 

July on the Prairie

Thankful for the sacrifices made for our freedoms.

The farmer put up a couple of flag holders so that we could fly our United States flags on the fourth of July and praise our God for the freedom we have in this country to pursue our relationship with our Lord. We thought of many who have given it all to allow us to keep these freedoms. My dad was in the Navy in WWII and many we know served in VietNam. The farmer served six years in the National Guard. Thank you to all of you veterans out there for keeping this country free.

Every day we grow more thankful to live on the wide open prairie far from the happenings in the world. We don’t watch the news and do not watch TV at all. It has been a tremendous blessing to be free of that. We love to read and pray and keep our ears to the news with a Christian radio service.

We know our world is in turmoil and we know much of our world is in great fear. Every day there are new concerns and much, much is unknown. Tomorrow is a different story from the day before. Everything is changed and we don’t know when or if we will ever be back to “normal”. One constant is that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalms 90:2
The Heavens declaring the Glory of God.

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Psalms 19:1

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1:16
Gorgeous Sunset

With all that is happening in the world today the only place of safety and security is in His arms. Even here on the prairie the only place of refuge is in His loving arms. The only peace, the only calm, the only place to be free of fear is to put our trust in Him. Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 could walk on the water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. When he looked at the circumstances (the waves crashing around him) he sank down in the water and thought he would drown if Jesus didn’t reach out His hand and lift him up.

We too can drown in fear if we take our eyes off of Jesus and listen to the chaos around us. But for Jesus and his hand to rescue and save us, we may be overcome by fear in these days. Have you given your life to Jesus today? He is ready to give you the free gift of salvation. All you must do is ask him and believe. Here is a prayer you can use to ask him for his peace and faith instead of fear.

Lord, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins and then He arose from the dead. I repent of all of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I believe that you have forgiven me and I invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me, Jesus.

Oh How He Loves You and Me!