creative escape 2009Whew… what a fabulous holiday weekend… I actually ‘holidayed’!!
We didn’t have any big plans, and here it’s so HOT, that the only option is WATER… well, some friends of mine invited our family to come and stay at the Ft. McDowell Casino/Hotel! They got us a sweet hook up with rooms, food and FIREWORKS! When we got there, they had laid out this HUGE goodie basket complete with pool toys, flip flops, towels and TONS of candy!! The kids thought they had died and gone to HEAVEN! It was the cutest thing. I was totally BLOWN away!! (a HUGE thanks to Ernestine, Meghan and Dale… you guys ROCK!). The resort is only about 25 minutes away from our house, so we just packed an overnight bag and drove over. It was SO fun to have an ‘in-town’ vacation! What a fun surprise, and blessing!
We came home Sat morning, and started purging through boxes, re-packing and organizing… so by the afternoon, we were ready to party for the 4th. we swam, grilled and made homemade strawberry ice cream. I was dead set on the ice cream, and when we could only find part of ours…we borrowed one- and it was dead…so ended up running to Target to get one- worked like a charm and I was SO happy to have homemade ice cream on the 4th… it’s just such a tradition!
Capri and Connor have been taking swimming lessons and have turned into little FISH and they LOVE to be in the pool!
Of course, as we were celebrating all weekend- listening to all the USA lovin’ music and surrounded by friends, family, convenience and freedom… my heart was SO full of gratitude. I was constantly thinking about the contrast between here and life in China; truly, we live in a great nation. As we sang songs, hymns and listened to music, tears ran down my cheeks as I thought about the lives lost both creating the freedom, preserving the freedom and trying to provide that freedom for others. It’s so easy to take it for granted- to expect it and think it’s just always going to be there no matter what. But this life, and life style is fragile. It’s a gift. A privilege. I am thankful and proud to be an American. Our constant prayers are with the soldiers and their families that make the daily sacrifice for that freedom. I am so thankful to be here, and enjoy those freedoms, and opportunity and life with my family and the people that I love. We are so blessed. God bless America. Forever.
Sounds like the perfect weekend, and you probably were ready for a relaxing break with the family!
Happy 4th on the 7th!!!
Posted by: wendy myers | July 07, 2009 at 12:28 PM
amen! :-)
Posted by: janis | July 07, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Very wonderful thoughts put into words. Thanks for reminding us to be grateful forever.
Posted by: KJ Miller | July 07, 2009 at 04:08 PM