Let’s catch up, shall we?

 May was intense until June and heck! Now it’s July.

Hello dear, precious, blog friends and family,

How are you?  How are your people?  I wish we were sitting on the porch chatting over lemonade but until then let’s catch up, shall we?

We started last month celebrating our baby boy’s birthday

and how shameful it is that I don’t remember if I celebrated him enough except that I’m sure we did but this baby and these bubbles ..I.just.can.not.

He went from 6 to 7 like BOOM! and since we all know seven is grown it’s fine that it’s been a month and I’m still sorting through my emotions.  Be still my heart.

No time to whine.  After we celebrated our baby it was time to report to the hayfield.

The hot, so very hot hayfield (speaking of hotness I might add the cowboy in this picture not too shabby)

 

Speaking of the hayfield, Hey! that’s actually where I spent my birthday.

 Because who wouldn’t want to spend their birthday in the hayfield?!

Except that I didn’t!  So I cried and that’s fine because It’s My Birthday and I’ll cry if I want to!  Just in case you missed how not grown up I am and my adult temper tantrum you can catch up here.

From there we went to Ponderosa Bible Camp where the boys were treated like kings and I spoke for six days to teens and college-age young people who are so inspiring and focused.

So many of them inspired me with their eagerness to serve and bless their ever-lovin’ hearts for doing their very best to keep me youthful and spry.  We chatted about God’s love and forgiveness (and yes, I asked him to forgive me for pitching a fit on my birthday and He did because He’s God and He’s good) and we challenged each other to live our love for God out loud.  We had a SOLE HOPE shoe cutting party and they blew me away with their service towards others.

It was truly a delightfully, hilarious, exhausting week.  And I should totally mention that they have the BEST COUNSELORS on the planet!  They were so gracious when I gave them a five-second warning before they were to go on stage and role-play this skit of the Good Samaritan.  I know Jesus will give them a bonus in glory because they were that good.

My boys want to leave home and move to Ponderosa.  I say that every year because it’s true.

Ponderosa and the staff are amazing and are making an eternal difference in the lives of all who visit.  If you have not been YOU SHOULD GO! and SEND YOUR KIDS and TAKE YOUR CHURCH and grab some UNCHURCHED FRIENDS and BOOK a retreat! Because it’s that’s great. Seriously.

Dropped by home for a couple of days and then off for some rest and girl time except who am I kidding?! We took the herd to the beach minus the baby daddies so there was no downtime.

I feel certain all the mommas are actually more exhausted after going on vacation than before if that’s even possible. And alll the tired moms said, “AMEN!”

But it’s worth it, right?

The sisters, our sweet momma and I did our best to be intentional with our time together.  We savored quality conversation and shared some much-needed hard belly laughs.  The kids can’t get enough of each other.  All seven of them.  First cousins between the ages of 11 and 4.  They love each other and hate each other all at the same time.  It’s complicated and hilarious.  Like an episode of Friends.  Which brings to mind ..do you remember the episode where someone got stung by a jellyfish and the others encouraged them to let someone use the restroom on them to relieve the pain?  That may have almost happened to one of us except that it didn’t but with seven tired kids on the beach often desperate means call for desperate measures.

Then it was the 4th of  July and we celebrated our freedom with a renewed appreciation.

These little jewels are my sisters and my littles.  Look at them lettin’ their little lights shine.  #sopresh

This wild bunch is free indeed.

Lastly, before we wrap this session of togetherness, I covet your prayers.  In just a few days, three other women who are sold-out for Jesus and I will be traveling to Honduras.

Our mission: to love orphans.  Pray for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Nothing more, nothing less as we share the relentless love of Christ.  I am preparing myself to be wrecked emotionally.   I ask that you join us as we ask God to give us eyes to see as He sees, ears to hear what He hears and hearts so full of His goodness that it spills out onto all of those He places in our path.  May He be glorified in thought, word, and deed.

OH! and one more thing….If you are not already signed up via email to receive Blessings Beyond the Barnyard – PLEASE DO!  We are so close to having a goodie ready that I want to share with you and EMAIL PEEPS will have first dibs!  Zip to the top and look to the –>right and SIGN UP! It’s free and I obviously won’t hound you with lots of emails because glory-be! I’ve only been blogging a few times a month!

Lots of love, lemonade and summer goodness to you dear ones,