My Beautiful Mother

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Celebrating Independence Day

We started early this year. Our first celebration was a patriotic concert performed by the local Symphony Orchestra at KSU's outdoor amphitheater on Sunday. The concert was followed by fireworks right above us. It was great having front row seats so close that we could smell the sulfur. It rained off and on throughout the music, but we didn't mind. Someone loaned us a tarp because we arrived unprepared for rain.

Our next celebration was watching another fireworks display at a nearby church on the third. They put on a professional display for the community every year. Cars fill their parking lot, kids run all over, and people bring tailgate picnics to enjoy before it gets dark. We didn't think to do that; maybe next year.

Our third celebration was on the fourth. It's our tradition to fight the crowds through our town square's street festival in order to watch the biggest fireworks display in our area. We have our favorite spot to sit ~ directly across the street from the parking lot where the fireworks are set off. We arrive early to claim some space, then we usually wander through the festival and buy some soft frozen lemonade. This year, Greta invited about 20 friends, so we saved extra space. More like 25 showed up. The more the merrier!

baby pictures

lil' blue Peep

Well, the baby is a boy! We had an ultrasound yesterday and got to watch the baby for 15 minutes. The ultrasound was so clear that after orienting myself I could tell what I was looking at - and it looked like a baby! We could see all the cute baby parts - his hands, feet, ear, belly, spine, brain, etc. I will put the pictures up soon.

Chivalry Isn't Dead

I saw a wonderful example of courteous behavior at church this morning. A man, following his wife by a distance, ran to reach the door before she did so that he could open the door for her. Several of us ladies inside the building watched it happen and we all commented on it.

I was glad to see it. So often, men walk through a door and let it slam behind them, disregarding anyone who might be following. Or they dash ahead of their wife, only to let her struggle with the door alone.

I remember being on the receiving end of this one time in particular. I was pushing a double stroller with two tiny children into the mall. There were two sets of heavy glass doors that I had to prop open with one leg, then wrestle the stroller through. Two well-dressed men on their lunch hour approached, and I foolishly assumed that one of them would hold at least one of the doors for me. But nooooo, they grabbed the door, plowed through, and let it slam back on me. "Thank you very much", I fumed, "I LOVE glass door bruises."

Anyway, kudos to Russ for his chivalry!