Clearing clouds

My family is all back under the same roof again. Paul rerouted my washtub sink in the basement so that I can do more laundry at a time. For about 6 months, I've only been able to wash a small load a day, maybe two if I was lucky. So with a family our size, there was always laundry to do. So when they all left for their fishing weekend, I actually caught up! But of course, the huge mountain returned when they did with extra sleeping bags and blankets to boot. So I finally had to get mad about the situation. I won't nag Paul obviously, since it took him that long to finally get it done. But anyway, it's fixed sort of for now and I'm happy.

Our fourth was spent at Paul's sister's. We had a fun time over there. She lives right near the park so at dusk, we were able to just walk down the alley and set up our chairs and watch them away from all the crowds and smoke. Tayton still could care less about the fireworks, but Tyler and Katia have usually been at Lake Ellen during the 4th, so it was nice for them to be able to get to see them again.

On the 5th, Paul and I used some gift certificates that he was given, and golfed 18 holes at the Highland. It was really hot, but perfect. No one was behind us and we never had to wait on anyone in front of us. After that, we picked the kids up from my mom's and took them all strawberry picking. We picked two heaping flats(35 pounds) in about 45 minutes. Then my work began. We froze a good amount that night and I made one batch of jam- just strawberry. The next day, I made strawberry rhubarb jams. I didn't start that batch until about 5pm so needless to say, I wasn't all done with that last flat till 1am. A couple jars didn't seal so I had to reprocess them. So in all, I made 20 jars. I ran out of jars so we froze the rest of the mashed berries with some sliced ones mixed in for topping on sundaes. So we are strawberry-bundant.

Sunday was communion. Alot of times, my turn in the nursery comes up on communion Sunday. With the past month being a trying time spiritually for me, I was really looking forward to it. I repented and asked for my heart to change towards this one person that had caused me so much cherning. And of course, the Lord heard my prayer and my feelings are now a 180. I've been able to forgive, completely. Something that I have only been able to do with God's help. Without him, I tend to be a "hold the grudge" person. And of course we are constantly fighting the flesh, our sinful nature and so it rears it's ugly head sometimes. " A day without sin doesn't mean a holy life." But what I love is what I just heard in my ears and it sunk into my heart during SS this week, "I am a righteous child of God. " God looks at us that way and that's totally amazing. We're studying what legalism is right now.

And yesterday was my baby girl's 9th birthday. My feet were swollen just like the day or week that she was born. We had a small party for her last night with family and then she'll have a friend party at the end of the month when Tyler is gone to his week at camp. Speaking of camp, she goes this Sunday for a week. She is bringing a friend from school named Mary. Please pray they have a good week and that Mary might come to know the Lord as her Savior. Tyler is also bringing a friend from school named Andrew the following week. Since there's only a day between Katia's pickup and Tyler's dropoff, we're going to camp up there so as to eleviate that extra trip. Andrew will likely also go up and camp with us. This year is Lake Ellen's 50th Anniversary. That camp will always have a special place in my heart. At a time in my own life when pain was raw, it was like sauve for the soul.

And so, today is a pool day again. It's hot and humid and hazy and lazy. Finally! But the clouds have cleared this morning and it's sunny in so many ways.