Our July 4ths do not have a tradition…

2008
2009 – drove home from TN
2010 – no recollection what-so-ever
2011 – again – no clue… likely worked
2012 – impromptu picnic – our Brookses friends asked if they could pop over with their out-of-town guests to cook out and swim.

This last one was so much fun I asked Emily if she wanted to repeat & expand  Her family was up for it & we forged ahead.

The forecast was grim and it poured buckets all morning.  Half-an-hour before the picnic was slated to start the forecast abruptly and dramatically shifted; we were blessed with 85+ degrees, and there was not a raindrop to be seen. 

We quickly assembled our party tent in our own yard for the first time in years.  (We seem to lend it once a year.) 

It was remarkable.  I have not stopped praising God for His merciful timing.  THE WEATHER WAS PICNIC-PERFECT!!!!!

I never pulled out the camera until dessert time.  (Not to be confused with swimming-time, eating-time, talking-time, football-time, etc.)

Riffy had so much lemonade and her weight’s worth of chippy-chips. 

My kids had a blast.  In their minds there is NOTHING cooler than playing football or swimming with friends. 

I love gatherings.  I do, I do.  We seem to have fewer and fewer each year which makes me sad.  But when we do, boy, do I enjoy them.  And let me tell you… many hands make light work!  The food was amazing and you’d never know from looking that there were 28 of us here yesterday!!