4th of July seeems like so long ago already! I didn't do a whole lot since I was in Ankeny for work on Friday and church on Sunday...just didn't feel like driving home for a day to sit around doing nothing much anyway. Nathan Schoen was home from camp for an extended weekend so we went to an Iowa Cubs game Sunday night (the 3rd)after church. It was the first game I had gone to there that there were actaully enough people that they didn't need to use the fake cheering sound effects! lol It was quite fun and we stayed up quite late just talking and catching up on life and sharing camp stories.
On the 4th, Mr and Mrs Love, Nathan and I played a few games in the afternoon and then went to fireworks that evening. Was a pretty fun relaxing day.
Ankeny had their summerfest this past weekend (7th-10th) and the annual parade was Saturday morning. I had mentioned to Dawn on the 4th that at some point I would like to take the kids to Grundy to see the farm etc and had mentioned that Grundy's annual parade was the same Saturday. Long story short, I ended up taking Maddie and Dylan to Grundy on the 9th. Payton had three different games that day so he was unable to go with us.
Bright and early Saturday morning (6:30) I got to the Fays and got the kids up around 8 to make it to the Ankeny parade at 9. They enjoyed it, but it was rather sunny and thus very warm... We came home, grabbed lunch, went to my apt to get my laundry and my lunch and then headed to Grundy. The kids were pretty excited but didn't want to go to a second parade. I was pretty bummed because I wanted to go because it would be my only chance to see people lol.
We got to Grundy arround 2:30 and the kids took a quick look around the house and then crashed in my room to play with all my neat toys lol. They played lincoln logs, lite brite, my keyboard, memory, sorry, checkers, marbles and then found the mouse trap game. Mom and I eventually figured out how to put it together and let the kids try it out a few times and then told them we needed to go to the parade. This time we got to sit in the shade and where we sat they were the only kids. Thus, it was a blast for them, they got TONS of candy, and I had a very very enjoyable time talking with my parents and seeing them interact with "my" kids. => Loved it.
After the parade, we went back to the farm, looked around the out buildings, found screwball scramble (Dylans favorite thing from the day) and then it was time for supper. Dad had got a fire going and we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. We had so much fun and the kids were hillarious! I think my favorite quote was from Dylan "Dont let the fly get into the melted pickles!" talking about the relish. and then later "Dont call it that, I don't know if its the real name, thats just what it looks like." LoL
After supper, the Jon and Dylan, Maddie and I played hide and seek on two teams. That was a blast as well and apparently there were some more good quotes from Dylan. => Maddie wanted to try everything that I had ever mentioned to them that I liked to do at home (wanted to go to wolf creek, go fishing, fly kites, go for a bike ride etc) and Dad and Grandpa were more than willing to help the kids with kites. So much fun! I was so helpless with it all that I gave up and decided to just take what pictures I could on my phone. After the kids gave up, Dad and Grandpa were still out there trying...think they've missed having reasons to have fun =>
By this time, it was about 8:00pm and I had planned on leaving at about 8:30 to make it back to Ankeny by 10. The kids had brought along sparklers so we did those (again, with Dad, Grandpa and Jon supervising) and the kids so did not want to leave. Finally...around 9:00 we finally were all loaded up in the van and ready to head out. They made sure they had pleanty of my mom's amazing juice (canned stuff from Aldies that they absolutly loved!) for the road. We talked the entire way back to Ankeny playing fun word games and just laughing and having fun. Dylan was so tired and was about ready to fall asleep right as we reached the edge of Ankney, but I told him to stay awake til we got home and he did. It was so much fun.
After I dropped them off, I drove back to my apt and as I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the empty booster seats in the back..it made me really sad. I realized then and there that those three kids had managed to completely steal my heart. I cannot immagine life without seeing them just about every day. Even on my days "off" or my evenings "off" I often see them and always think about them. It will be fun to be back in school and to see my college friends again, but going back to seeing the kids for only 2 hours a day might be kinda hard...
This summer has been so...unlike I imagined/planned it to be. But its been so much better in so many ways. This week is Jr High camp at IRBC and I had originally planned on counseling this week (in fact, I was registered to counsel, and apparently they did not get the memo that I had counseled Jr Girls instead and were expecting me this week =<) A big part of me wishes that I could be there. Wishes that I could take two weeks off and counsel both this week and the Jr Girls week that I already counseled. But God has better plans. I don't know why, but I am here and not there. And honestly, I may never know specifically why that is, but God does and Im ok with that. God is good...all the time. And He is in complete control..and its for my good!! I totally do not deserve this, but I am going to make the most of all that He has given me and strive to glorify Him in all that I say and in all that I think and in all that I do.
I was going to save this for Thankful Thursday, but Im pretty sure I will forget so here it goes. I was counting up my blessings a few days ago and felt like sharing a portion of the list I accumulated.
1. my job with the Fays. I have learned so much!
2. my cleaning job. definatly stretches me!
3. my babysitting job on Tuesdays..another way to pay the bills and im sure there will be more benefit after a few weeks..
4. my babysitting job each evening. its yet another chance to impact someones life and it actually puts me back into contact with my former co-workers from the TY2
5. my homework for my module is complete...and four days to spare!
6. the chance I had to go home and see my family
7. the chance I had to counsel Jr Girls
8. the chance to serve at CBC this summer
9. the friendships I have with Dana, Josh, JJ, Jordyn, Kyle, Tanya,David, Mr Binner,Thomas, Nate etc
10. the random ways that God provides for my needs (4 regular jobs, random babysitting and house/dog sitting, gift cards, car-pooling etc)
11. my mom..and the encouragement and just another person to talk to when others are busy
12. my sisters and the bond we share even tho we never really got along that super well like some sisters do. But seriously, you mess with my sister and you mess with me and thats just so not tolerated!
yah and I could go on and on and on. God is good and its for that reason that you just may happen to see my smiling like crazy and have no specific reason why. =)
No comments:
Post a Comment