America, America, God Shed His Grace on Thee

The news out of Aurora, Colorado, brings me to tears whenever I think about it. The shock and horror for those touched by it will last for a long time. Thankfully, our God is Healer, awesome in power, and mighty to save. He works things together for good for those who love Him. This blog post, (click to view) written by an eye-witness survivor, is an awesome testimony.

Here at home, things have been good. I may have mentioned before that the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. This year was a little different/disappointing because the drought we're in meant no setting off fireworks ourselves. But the good news is that my brother Matt, his wife Ronda and daughter Emily got to come visit from Colorado Springs!  And my great-niece Gabby was visiting from Phoenix. So we celebrated (early) with them at my Mom's house and my other brother's house doing what we do best--eating and talking. It was very nice.

Mike grillin' and Matt chillin'

Gabby chatting with her Uncle Jason

Jessica, Emily, Mikayla, Kennedi, Kelli, and Rebecca just being cousins

Mark and Sally

Matt and Ronda

Mom and Whitney

The cousins with my Aunt Sue--we missed the 5 that couldn't come!

Then a few days later we celebrated again with our college students, who came to our house for smoked brisket/sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, BBQ beans, and homemade ice cream. We played 4-on-the-couch and went to the Walmart parking lot to watch our city fireworks, which were pretty good!

So I missed the smell of gunpowder, but am so thankful for a country where we're still free to express our beliefs publicly and worship God without fear, and for the men and women who work to keep it that way.
And we will save the fireworks we bought for New Year's Eve, when we will make the whole neighborhood love us at midnight!