For the first time in my life, I didn't enjoy fireworks on the 4th of July. I wasn't in the city, eating elephant ears {which are not made from elephant's ears} or stealing candy from little kids during a parade with big fire trucks. For the first time since moving here, Loren didn't have to work on the fourth. It was a different sort of 4th of July; but it was great.
We traveled the 3 and a half hours to Lake Wikiup {near Sunriver, OR}. We set up camp and spent a lot of time laughing at and with our baby niece Elsy. She is almst 13 months! I can hardly believe it. Emily and Anthony have become some of Loren & my best friends. They also happen to be our siblings. Do you know what a joy it is to be best friends with your sisters and brothers? To share the same core-beliefs and encourage each other closer to Christ simply by being in close relationship? Jesus unifies powerfully as we are connected by Something so much bigger than ourselves. So cool. Such a gift.
We fished, we laid by the lake, we went in the lake, we had Angry Orchards, we ate literally tons of great food, we were dusty, and we talked about Jesus. We played Rook - have you played Rook? It's great. Also. We witnessed the BEST parade EVER! There were signs all over the campground saying there would be a parade at 7 pm, face paintings at 6:30. You could say we were well pleased.
There was so much yummy-ness: the creation surrounding us, the baby's laughter, the conversations had, the everything. Check out all of the beauty Jesus gifted us with in a photo-journalist layout:
My brother caught the only fish - but I'll tell you what, fishing casting is one of my favorite things to do.
Elsy helping Uncle Loren prep his sermon.
And now for the legendary parade:
One excited 1 year old.
You could say this weekend was legendary and I will never forget it. There were many moments that I looked up to the great beautiful sky to thank my Father in heaven who blessed by deeply by providing a time away, unplugged from the world, rest with friends/family, and my beloved husband. I feel refreshed and ready for the week, day by day.
I feel a possible tradition forming.
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