An Evening Outing

On Thursday this week, Kathy and I along with a special friend met Rachael downtown for a fun evening on the canal.  It was a beautiful day but also very hot.  As we hiked the sidewalks and walked block after block with the bright sun beating down on our backs, we realized just how grateful we were for air conditioning and longed for a brief break under the shade of some trees.  Once we reached our destination, though, and procured a very important mode of transportation, our spirits were revived and we settled in to our hour surrey ride around the canal.

Proverbs says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine", and how true it is!  We had a delightful time laughing with another, maneuvering through tight spaces, trying to avoid tipping over into the canal (don't worry - we didn't come too close!), and snapping pictures.  There happened to be a free concert on the canal at the time, so during a portion of our ride, we were serenaded by music.

Along the way, we came across this sight that necessitated a stop in our travels:

Thirteen ducklings with their mother - oh, so cute!  There was even a platform to help them get in the water.

The evening ended with a hike to Circle Center Mall to cool down with ice-cold refreshments:  smoothies and iced tea!

It was a great time and one we hope to experience again in the near future.

Fun in the Sand!

Last Saturday was the "grand opening" of Grandpa's new sandboxes, and the little ones were so very excited!  Since it's been very hot and humid in the afternoons recently, we decided to eat dinner first and then play in the sand, hoping it would be cooler and more bearable outdoors.  We were right - especially since a thunderstorm rolled through the area, dropping the temperature a few degrees.  Some of the rain also leaked through the covers to one of the sandboxes, so the experience was almost like the beach on Florida's coast - damp sand perfect for building sandcastles! 

It was a family affair with the grown ups digging in, too. :)

Kathy, Rachael, and Essie worked hard at their masterpiece.

Meanwhile, in the smaller sandbox, Grandpa, Sarah, and Hannah were having fun in their own way.  There's nothing like sitting in Grandpa's lap while you play...

Little Hannah loved everything from the start and soon decided it was a lot more fun sitting right in the middle on top of the sand.  Forget this leaning over and trying to dig!  Let me get in it!

Yes, there was one person missing from the "grand opening"- Benjamin.  It's fireworks season, and the little guy didn't like our neighbor's occasional pops and bangs.  Maybe next time...

I'd say Grandpa's labor of love paid off well!  We'll enjoy these sandboxes for many years to come.

A Day Trip

This past week held an unexpected day trip to Cincinnati with Dad which offered the opportunity for a little break - and some fun!  It was amazing to see how God worked out all the details for us, and I am so grateful for the special time He gave us together.

Since I had wanted to see a major league baseball game this summer, Dad purchased tickets to a Reds game.  But before the 7:00 game that Wednesday night, we spent most of the day exploring the downtown area and walking along the river.  It was a beautiful summer day, and we so enjoyed the hours spent in the sun.

We walked across this bridge in the morning which offered great views of the skyline as well as the Great American Ballpark.  We were amazed to discover that this structure was built in 1865!

Another detail the Lord worked out for us was our hotel room.  When Dad tried making a reservation for Wednesday night, he discovered that almost all of the hotels were full - in Cincinnati as well as at the airport.  But through an incredible series of events, we found ourselves staying at the Marriott for free!!!

Our stroll through the park along the Ohio River that afternoon was lovely.

Dad made reservations at a sea food restaurant for a pre-game dinner.  He really knows how to make me feel special!

Probably the highlight of the evening though was the baseball game:  the Cincinnati Reds vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Over 36, 500 fans attended that night.  And it was an exciting game!  With a tie in the ninth inning that took the game into overtime with the Reds finally scoring a home run in the 13th inning and the game concluding at 11:45 p.m., I'd say we got our monies worth!  And we were glad that we had a hotel room (a free one at that!) to catch a few winks of sleep before heading back to Indy early the next morning.

All in all, it was a wonderful vacation with many special memories we'll hold in our hearts.  And I think the Reds have a new fan. :)

Lasting Friendships

In the fall last year, we started hosting a bi-weekly Bible study in our home on Monday nights.  Little did we realize what rich, spiritual growth and fellowship would come as a result!  We all look forward to coming together and sharing what God has taught us as well as lingering into the night hours talking and laughing with one another.  What special memories are being built that we will carry with us the rest of our lives.  These sisters in Christ have grown dear to our hearts, and we thank the Lord for the friendships that have been built in Him around His Word! 

From the Kitchen: Sunrise Scones

For our book study meeting this past Monday, I made one of our favorite scone recipes.  Since they are on the healthier side, you can eat them guilt-free!

Sunrise Scones
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 T. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. cold butter, unsalted
1 c. dried fruit (I used dried cranberries and raisins)
1/2 c. milk
1/3 c. honey

Combine the first four ingredients.  Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbles.  Stir in the fruit.  Add the milk and honey, mixing until just moistened.  Turn onto floured surface and knead gently six times.  On a lightly greased baking sheet, pat dough to form an 8-in. circle.  Lightly score into 12 wedges (or shape into small balls).  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

A Promise from the Word

Of Work and Sandboxes

Well, the last week and a half has flown by!  Between keeping four precious children, resuming work and school responsibilities, hosting our bi-weekly Bible study, going to an evening baseball game, meeting with friends, and seeking to maintain daily life in between all the extras, the days have passed quickly!  Although I've fallen into bed exhausted many nights, my heart can't help but thank the Lord for all the good things He's done.  Truly, "the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance."  (Psalm 16: 6)

A project that was started while keeping the kids was the sandboxes.  Given that the weather was cool and rainy during their four-day stay, we resumed cutting and building this past Saturday.

The finished product will be two sandboxes, one small and the other bigger, with a ramp spanning between them for the dump trucks and "diggers" the kids play with.

We didn't quite complete everything by the time the kids arrived late Saturday afternoon for their weekly visit, but that didn't stop their imaginations or desire to "test"what had been built.  Even without sand, they brought all the toys outside and had a great time.  

Benjamin commented, "This is the BEST sandbox ever!"  We are happy he's satisfied since he told Grandpa several weeks ago that the large sandbox needed to be as big as our kitchen. ;)