Summer Time

Summer has kicked off with lots of water fun! We spent Memorial Day at Uncle Greg's. We ate burgers and swam at the pool. Cousin Ally came along too. Hunter and Trent are really getting to be good swimmers. Faith Ann is a total fish! She may be doing laps around her brothers!

We also had a little reunion with my high school friends. We met at the splash pad with all our kids. It was SO much fun to see all these children together. I adore all their moms! We have been friends from elementary, middle and high school! Some of these kids will also go to school together...continue the cycle of our friendships! Then, of course more cousin outdoor play time! Hunter, Trent and Faith Ann get so excited when their cousins come play. Cousins are your tride and true friends till the end, and I just love their relationship already! And Pardner is still doing his afternoon swing by! He comes over and watches the kids play and brings a lollipop! Trent loves to play games with Pardner, Hunter loves to tell him long stories, and Faith Ann loves to boss him around!! We are really enjoying our time with Pardner. We also created an outdoor obstacle with the ladder. The boys love to do it. Yes, I spot them!! Hunter flies up and down that thing! It's a great workout for me too without using my legs! It's fun for all!

We also had a scary start to our summer. On Memorial Day weekend, we went to church as usual. The morning was going as planned, until the end of the service. Our pastor alerted us that there was a shooter in our parking lot, but things were under control! Strangely enough, people were all very calm. I ran to get my kids and help the nursery workers shuffle the kids to the back room. There was some chaos, but soon enough, everyone felt safe with firetrucks, police officers, and SWAT Team protecting our church doors. Crazy right?! We were on lock down in church for 4 hours!!!! Sadly, there were 2 deaths. One innocent man at the car detail place in the parking lot next to our church. And the shooter was also shot down and killed by a police officer in our parking lot! The story has come out that the young man was a veteran and suffered from PTSD. He was from California and was just visiting Houston. Unfortunately, he found his way to our neck of the woods! It could have been SO much worse! The first responders on site were quick and proactive! It was scary to feel our community shaken by violence, but we felt very safe and comforted to be in the presence of the Lord. We prayed, sang songs and felt comfort from our community!

Hunter and Trent had a lot of questions. Of course, this was a lot for their minds. We told them the whole truth and we prayed for peace. They also drew pictures and took them to the firemen who were first on the scene. It was so thoughtful....Hunter wanted to give them fruit snacks and Trent ran to his bed and got his favorite stuffed animal to give them. Both gifts from the heart. Hunter LOVES food and Trent has such a giving spirit. He wanted to give something that has brought him so much joy and comfort. His stuffed animal made those firemen melt like butter...with the soggy chewed tail, you could tell that Trent loved that stuffed animal, and the firemen very much appreciated the gesture! We are thankful for the outcome. A life lesson that there will always be bad guys in the world, and all we can do is pray for them and turn it over to God.