Nine and Counting

Six months later, I'm posting this. Oops...started something and it didn't get completed. I wanted to write more, but summer is just too busy. So here it is. Lucky me and my man!


Wow, things do change in nine years. Our nine year anniversary rolled around last week. My husband reminded me the day before! Can you believe it? How could I forget? I was a little preoccupied with preparing to sing at a funeral. You know you're bogged down in family life when you pay a baby-sitter so your date can constitute going to a funeral. A good family friend from our church passed away and I was asked to sing. So we got dressed up and went hand-in-hand to the funeral. I almost felt guilty being so excited to be going out (to a funeral), without the kids, and with my husband.
A lot has happened in our nine years together.

Pokey Beh-ah

Happy Independence Day! Today was cloudy and gray. We had rain this morning all the way up to parade time. We usually have an hour parade...even out in the middle of "nowhere." The only road that runs through our town is closed off for an hour. I'm sure there are some really irritated RV drivers.

The girls were so excited to get out of church and go to the parade. It didn't take Natalie long to figure out how to pick up candy. Our parade consists of the usual fire trucks and police cars. Most of the other floats or entries come from local businesses.

The Division of Forestry always brings Smokey the Bear. Natalie spotted him a long way off and came running for me to pick her up. She buried her head in my shoulder and started shaking. I walked off the road a ways so she wasn't close when Smokey passed by. When we were far enough away, she was able to turn around and get a look. Later during dinner, Natalie kept talking about Pokey Beh-ah. I didn't get it until she shook her head, then said "like Pokey Beh-ah." She didn't like Smokey the Bear. She told me that he had shoes, a hat and pants on. After that, everything was "Pokey" this or "Pokey" that. He definately made an impression. I sure hope she doesn't wake up with nightmares tonight.

Later tonight we tried to watch the fireworks on TV. We called the girls in and tried to get them excited about them, but they just didn't get it. They have asked why we don't do fireworks on the fourth of July. With having light practically all night, there's no way that we would be able to see the fireworks even if we didn't get to do them. Many people up here do them for New Years (if they can afford them). That time of year we could see them at 4pm if we chose. (This is the land of the extremes.)

I do enjoy thinking back of our nation's birthday and it's beginning, the courageous forefathers that brought up our country and all that our "young" country has been through. I also think of the "rise and fall" of nations. "America, America, God shed his grace on thee." We sure do need it.