The Blessings of Being Strong and Courageous

Unfortuntely, my vacation is officially over this morning. I'm headed back into work. I can't head back though, without taking a few minutes to reflect over one of the most enjoyable weeks I've had in a long time. It's funny, the last few days before my vacation, everyone kept asking me where we were going during my week off - as though travel was required for a relaxing week. I am here to say that one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a vacation is to stay at home. We had an exciting week, and I will treasure this vacation - at home - for a long time to come.
It would be easiest to break the vacation time down into about three parts - Bible School, swimming pool and anything else.
I had a wonderful time this week as Katherine's group leader at Bible School. She is a sponge, and enjoyed soaking in the stories that we looked at, the songs that we sang and quite a bit of application coming away from Bible School. She truly seems to be a little girl who is excited by and drawn to God's love for her.
It was also Elizabeth's first time at Bible School, and she also soaked up so much knowledge. She enjoyed making the many crafts that the pre-schoolers made and has especially enjoyed learning all the motions to the Bible School songs that she and Katherine have learned.
The songs and lessons were a good reminder to me as well. It's amazing that although Bible School is geared to the kids, the grown-ups who are involved learn as well. I have seen God's amazing power to provide and care for me, by giving me this time away from my everyday world.
The other big portion of our vacation was the time spent at the swimming pool. Katherine and I were at the pool every day last week, and most days, Julie, Elizabeth and Christopher joinued us as well. The girls are each growing in their abilities and have used the Bible School lesson of being "strong and courageous" to encourage them to try new things at the pool. Christopher has become a fish in his own right. He has no fear as he leans into the pool from the side, knowing of course, that we are right there to catch him. He's definitely one that needs watching around the pool.
It was a joy to just find time to hang out with the kids and to feel that Julie and I could stay up a little later each night talking. The fact that we had no agenda, no plans and no timetable was a wonderful blessing to our whole family.
I am thankful for the blessings I have in my family, and I am thankful that God gave me this time off to see how blessed I truly am.

Wonderful Distractions

I am thankful that the Lord has given me distraction. It is a wonderful blessing that after only one day away from my office, the Lord has blessed me with the distraction of my life to cause me to relax and enjoy His blessings. I spent a wonderful 4th of July with my family yesterday. It was one of those days that was a blessing in that I saw something through my chidlren's simple eyes and savored that joy. We had the opportuity to go to their first parade in the morning, and then I topped off the day with a "daddy-daughter" date with Katherine on the St. Charles riverfront to ride carnival rides and take in the fireworks. It was an evening of pure, childlike pleasure. For whatever reason, we had never taken the kids to parade or to carnival rides, and after having done so, I found myself vowing to continue to expose the kids to more new experiences. They are coming to the age when new things aren't always scary, and it is a joy to see the fun in their eyes and hear it in their squeals.

The joy continued throughout the weekend as the girls became completely focused on sparklers and fireworks (OK, Katheirne likes the fireworks, Elizabeth does not - yet). I confess my pyrotechnic male side was thrilled at their interest, and at the fact that on July 6, they were sad that the fireworks tents were coming down til next year.

It has been a great weekend, and the week looks good too - God has provided me a wonderful respite from work.