Birthday pixs

Great, hot day

Today was great. Hotter than I like, but a great day none the less. Ruth and Ray had invited some of their friends over to our house to celebrate Josette's first birthday and Mikayla's fourth. With the temperatures climbing to an eventual 100 degrees, this was a day spent in the shade. As the guests arrived, we had a mixture of generations. Some guests were family (Ray's parents and grandparents made it), some guests were parents bringing their children to the party and others were friends of Ruth and Ray. Hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on two grills were the foundation to a filling meal. The guests supplied salads, chips and all the other goodies to make for more than anyone would want.

The children played at first and then joined in with the meal. After lunch, the children donned adult sized t-shirts and "painted" an LARGE drawing of a rocking horse that Esther had done. Then it was time for water balloons! I had taped some pictures of hippos on the porch wall and they began lobbing balloons at them. Some hit and broke and others bounced off and were grabbed up again... all accompanied with giggles. You could tell we were hosting pre-school children as not one took aim at anything but the targets!
The cupcakes were then brought out and the kids had fun icing them. All enjoyed little ice cream cups. Finally, all poured into the air conditioned living room to open presents. All were so generous and the birthdays girls seemed to have a lot of fun. So... a party on a hot day. Four hours of fun, beginning at 11 am. Wow...
I am worn out! And I hardly did anything.
While I certainly was not the oldest attending this party, I did reflect on a time... not so long ago, it seems, when Diane and I were these parents ages. The reminder that we should redeemed the time was forcefully thrust home today!

About last night

If kids can teach you things... how about those grandkids? Last night Ruth (our youngest daughter), her husband, Ray, and their two kids, Mikayla and Josette, came over for their weekly visit. We spent a couple of hours together and enjoyed some crock pot vegetable chili that Diane (my God-given helpmate) had made. When it was time to go, they were making the rounds of good-bye hugs and kisses. When Mikayla came to me she didn't want a hug or kiss. She resisted the encouragement of mom, then dad and even grandma. Her mom, I could see, was afraid I was hurt by Mikayla's "rejection." Ruth (her name means compassionate) certainly matches her name. The family headed down the stairs to their car. When Mikayla was climbing into her car seat, she yelled out, "I love you Gan-pa!" I know Ruth was relieved. I came back into the house from the garage steps smiling and reflecting.

I know Mikayla loves me. She had come in that evening looking for Gan-pa. When she spotted me she had run to me for hugs. Why she didn't want a hug when she left probably had more to do with teasing me than anything else (at three years old, she has her own personality!). Anyway, I reflected on my relationship with my heavenly Father... He knows I love Him. I imagine He is not hurt when I don't said I love Him. I also imagine He loves it when I do say it!