Happy Birthday Kim (and welcome July)

Most of my readers know....Kim is my sister. I have three wonderful sisters, but Kim is the one closest to me in age. We had LOTS of fun adventures as young girls travelling with our family in the AF, and now as adults we really enjoy each other and appreciate each other.

Kim ~ oh how she loves the ocean :)

Kim and Heather (daughter)

Kim at work in the garden (yep, helping out!)

Kim, Brandon and Heather

and her sweet daughter in law ~ Jackie

The sisters.......

Two special people in Kim's (our) life....Bea and Bob

Kim's heart is bigger than life ~ she will always be known for being the kind, caring person she is.

Happy Birthday Kim! We love you!!!!!

It is still June

Yep.....still June.....still summer. Yahoo! Very, very thankful.

hydrangeas in full bloom

lovely

1st squash of the season

tomatoes and squash growing nicely

impatiens ~ hmmmm, beautiful

thoughts of the beach.....yet to come

Cruisin' on the River

Yesterday, Alden and I got to join some of the Richmond Crew for a day on the river.....in a pontoon boat. We joined Susan and Richard, Kim and Heather for the day. What a wonderful time we had ~ visiting and enjoying the perfect summer day....mid 80's, low humidity. Restful and fun!

this group of people :)

on this boat

down the James River

to a wonderful marina in Williamsburg ~ enjoyed lunch

Susan and Heather Richard and Kim

some rest :)

and lots of fun

perfect ending to the day ~ beautiful sunset

ahhhh, yet another wonderful summer day

Summer Days

I am loving my days at home this summer! I do not take them for granted AT ALL. I find it so interesting that my lists for each (yep, I am defintely a LIST person!) day are so PACKED. I find it hard to prioritize sometimes. Yet, I love the fact that most anything on my list CAN wait til the next day......as I do have the flexibility I don't have while working. Yes, I am thankful for summer...even a hail storm we had last week!

The things I see on my morning walks these summer mornings ~ mobile grooming station (in a van...parked in front of people's homes) Yep. I am not kidding. I laugh every time I see it cause I expect to see the van bouncing up and down or swaying side to side as the person wrestles with the dog! Quite some service huh! And.....skateboards hanging from a rope tied in a high tree limb. Hmmmm.

Hannah and I enjoying some time with Courtney and her kiddos this Wed.

yes, ALL three of the older kids took turns jumping rope. What fun for us all!!!!

Do you believe little miss Bailey with her "sunglasses" on that make her look like Miss Teacher Bailey {adorable}

Sawyer taking in signs of summer!

Hannah shared some pictures of Africa :)

Happy 4th Anniversary Phill and Christy (Alden and I got to enjoy their kids while they went out to eat!) Andrea loving on Nessa (their dog)

Alden, otherwise known as Papa.....playing soccer with Brittany

enjoying Ayden

Week ago Wed.......fun with boats..... after school time with Mom

It is STILL June ~ yipee yahoo! :)

One happy lady here.

Ayden Phillip ~ Dedicated to the Lord

What a joyous day it was for us yesterday ~ to have Ayden dedicated (at Phill and Christy's church)....on Father's Day. We had a wonderful day celebrating together.

Ayden Phillip Smith

6 months old

What is dedication of babies? A Baby Dedication is a ceremony in which believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God's will and to raise that child according to God's Word and God's ways. What parents do who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. Parents who make this vow of commitment are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God, and not according to their own ways. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God's Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God's ways, and praying earnestly for the child.

The happy family. :)

We were all so thankful to be there to celebrate with Phill and Christy. Christy's parents, Cindy and Tim came down from PA. {Steve is video-taping us and Hannah was at work. }

Cousins enjoying each other at lunch following the dedication service

Sawyer is ready to eat!!!!!!!

The fathers in our life......we love you!

At the beginning of the service they picked 4 fathers to come on stage and participate in some fun......flipping REAL hot dogs OVER their heads into a barrell BEHIND them. Phill was chosen and what fun it was!!!!!!

Phill and Christy, we rejoice with you this day!!!!!!!!