happy holiday

As is tradition, we spent the the holiday weekend at The Lake, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Even with Sarah and Doug 1400 miles away, windy weather, a 12-hour power outage, impending Mayflies and the realization that our surroundings are changing, the weekend was nothing short of wonderful.

Joel and Scott get the fireplace up and running.




Dad makes the popcorn for Saturday night sports and cards!


... and the grill for Sunday dinner.



Brianna says, "The Lake isn't too cold!"

Daddy and Morgan


Sunday fire











There was no lakefront view for the bon fire - too much wind.
So we set up shop out back behind the garage.

Little did we know that the wind would bring with it a ferocious storm. Not much rain, but a whole lot of thunder, lightening and drama. The power went out around 2:30am Monday morning, and didn't return until 2:30pm that afternoon. Doesn't seem like a big deal on an 80 degree holiday... unless your water comes from a well, and your only available frying pan is electric.


Grandma M's electric frying pan was useless without power, so our "big breakfast" was cooked piece-meal in a sauce pan. Here's Mom making "the best scrambled eggs we've ever had!"

Morgan and I on the boat.

Joel insisted on getting a photo of us hanging out on the pontoon.

And later, one of the jet skis goes in the water.


Hot and hazy relaxation before heading home.

Our home sweet (away from home) home. A fabulous place filled with many memories, shared with our family by one very special lady. And prepped for the season with lots of hard work by two very special parents, plus a special brother and his girlfriend. Thanks for all your elbow grease, top to bottom, from ceiling fan to dainty doily. Without you? Impossible.

wheelin' and dealin'


While the garage sale yielded nearly $600, Scott and I only walked away with $138. Nothing to be sad about... it's $138 more than we had just a few days ago, and our basement is now empty of college remnants. (I think the picture frame and candle industry owe me a big thank you!) Plus, as my friend, Anne, reminded me, I did sell a couple big ticket items on Craig's List the week before, which ups our grand total by $80. Not too shabby. Now if I could only get this furniture sold!


All in all it was a great weekend. The weather held. Profits were made. Morgan was amazing. She even went for her first ride alone in Grandma and Grandpa's van.
And now I can enjoy this coming week and prep for the holiday weekend ahead.

$378 and counting

Scott and I have spent the last week prepping for a multi-family garage sale. We played host and hostess to his parents and our friends. And turns out, this was a great idea. No ad in the paper, just some pretty awesome pink signs to lead the way. Day one was better than I expected. We had sunshine and a steady stream of shoppers. Tomorrow's forecast is rain, so we'll be fortunate to earn half of today's total. And, really... how can you expect to draw a crowd when your NASDAQ paperweight clock and Mandalay Bay cologne have already been sold?!



through water and the word

Today we celebrate a first birthday of another kind, one that has so much more significance in the future of our daughter than any other date on the calendar.



Isaiah 43

"... I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end — Because I am God, your personal God..."

Momma

Morgan just started calling out to me. Not in the way she typically does with little, indistinguishable shrieks saying, "I need something. If anyone is within earshot, please help a girl out, otherwise I might have to whine." But instead, from another room, with clear desire in her inflection for one person in particular... "Momma? Momma."


weekend on the west side

Sarah and Doug were in the homeland this weekend for a wedding, so we made the quick trip across the state to visit my family. A busy, busy weekend, but always lots of fun.

Aunt Sarah and Morgan lounging in the living room.



Grandpa buys Morgan a swing!



In a word: disaster.



Clean-up detail by the son and sons-in-law. Where's Dad?



Tuckered out.



Family photo.



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