Here we are enjoying a little backyard fire time.
Definitely NOT thinking about the fact that there are creatures in this backyard that never lived in our old backyard.
I’m sure there were NO snakes anywhere near me and certainly not a single spider was at all close by.
Have I mentioned how much I miss my old yard?
I “met” Mary online on my Disney message forum. Though our on-line banter was not copious, we had exchanged posts enough that her screen name was clearly on my radar as “someone special” that day when I saw a little map someone made up with everyone’s avatar and geographic location.
Wait – SHE lives near ME?
WELL – turns out that the Butlers aren’t the only people to take advantage of a pandemic to pull up roots and start over somewhere new.
She had been here a lot last summer as she and her family weathered the remote/lockdown life with her SIL and family. They asked Jesus to show them the way and here she is.
With me.
At Steam Coffee – where we ate yummy food, shared testimonies, and prayed together as only people who have had their world shaken up can pray together.
I look forward to more visits with her.
What do you think?
(do you see how stupidly small our driveway is? I miss our old driveway and backyard more than I can describe)
After church today, we headed over to another church where the bus for The Blood Connection was doing a blood drive. I had signed up ahead of time to make a donation at 1:30. My family waited. The American Red Cross doesn’t have a large presence here, so I hadn’t given blood since we’d moved here. I then figured out this was the most viable option.
Shall I mention no masks required? Though of course vital signs are.
They had the best treats, too, and were super fast.
Afterwards, Nan treated us to Pizza Hut. We’ve had a hard time finding excellent pizza, but at least Pizza Hut is consistent and we all love a pan pizza or five now and then.
Since I am sharing this later I’d love to share that I still have Covid antibodies from last December.
We saw the signs for the rodeo pop up a few weeks ago. Tracking down details was not easy, but we found the address and time, and that was good enough.
It took longer to get in to park than it did to drive there.
There were a few thousand people, a bunch of bleachers, space for lawn chairs, enough food trucks to feed barely 10% of the guests, some porta-potties, and the kind of fun I wouldn’t miss for the world.
People packed shoulder to shoulder. No masks. No temperature checking. There may have been hand sanitizer here and there.
The MC for the night started with a military salute. He followed it up with a more authentic prayer than I’ve heard in a lot of “official” places. Finally we all stood for the national anthem. There wasn’t a knee in the crowd.
More than one of my kids commented after the event that THIS was why we left NY. I’m sure Satan is working overtime to spread the corruption to every nook and cranny of this country, but for tonight it felt great to be here.
BUT – The best part of the night was when the calf roping event started and the first cowboy came out of the gate, lassoed the calf, hurried over and flipped the calf on its side to tie it up and Johanna and Katriel absolutely lost their minds. I would pay to see that again. I am laughing so hard here as I type it. Katriel started yelling, “What are they doing? What are they doing?” in stunned disbelief and Johanna just let out a shriek of horror. It was definitely one of the most satisfying moments in recent memory. They recovered. The people in front of us were laughing so hard. Then they saw the kids come out and untie the calf and all was good.
Hoyts also came – but we couldn’t quite sit together.
You tube link to a one-minute video from the night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O3_wNvcf-M
Welcome to South Carolina, y’all.
YEE HAW
There have been something frustrating me lately.
But then there was this guy.
It’s hard to get frustrated when someone like this greets you in the kitchen.
And we finally got some pretty shelves up in J and K’s room. You know – for frogs.
Johanna had a full day. She had a soccer game at noon. (Noon in South Carolina 
. ) And then had Adopt-A-Road clean up with her American Heritage Girls troop at 3PM.
Village night out rounded out the day. 
I love being busy again! But I bet she sleeps tonight!! 
After an early dinner, we headed down to Fountain Inn Main Street.
There was a tribute to Fountain Inn Fire Fighters tonight in our little town as a local furniture and electronics retailer hosted “Bike Night.” The Hoyts met us there and Marguerite and I made up for missing our annual 4th of July photo. We were dressed for Patriot Day – so it worked out.
Since 2002, the first thing on my calendar every year is CBS.
Since 2006, it has been with my CBS family in Finger Lakes Day Class.
This year we drive ONE HOUR each way to attend the CBS in Greenwood.
It is much smaller, but still has a homeschool program (Thank you, LORD Jesus). This morning as I was asked multiple times, “How much longer?” we talked about how around the world there were people who traveled in secret to other Believer’s homes to hear parts of the Bible. And there are people who huddle near radios listening to static ridden broadcasts of teaching in their own language. Those folks might marvel at how we travel in an air conditioned passenger van every week to have this type of study.
It’s still a long drive…. but it is perspective.
Today I had to run back out to the car for Katriel’s journal and got to the door just in time to hear her leader praying over the class. Her prayer moved me deeply. Community Bible Study leaders are a gift from GOD. I am so grateful for the ministry and all the leaders who have been in our lives.
That’s a dumb title.
But what else should I call it?
Trying to get an appointment as a new patient is rough and miserable?
We had to find masks so we could wear them?
Katriel gets pink medicine?
The pediatrician at the office linked with “ours” (where she’s never been seen) was very very nice. He did say her ear drum was bulging remarkably and it could still easily rupture given the size of it.
(It did not.)
She was a champ – fever and all. ♥
Dayspring Disciples 