1. I get to be around my Natey Boy! His latest: “Ticky (my nickname) close your eyes! Let’s play a game.” Me: “Not right now Natey I’m cleaning the kitchen.” Nate: “Close your eyes. Just close them. Now!” Me: “What is it you want to play Nate? I don’t get it.” Nate: “Remember? The Macky Johnny game?” Me: “What???” Then I think about it for a while Macky Johnny . . . “Oh! You mean Marco Polo?” Nate: “Yes! That’s what I mean!” Me: “You’re a dork! You goof ball. . .” then I continue laughing for a while. All of the sudden it dawns on me where he got Macky Johnny from. What a good little Master’s student he’d make! I was then lost in fits of laughter for a couple of minutes. 
2. People here have the right view of marriage. This made me laugh really hard too. I reeeaaaallllllyyyyy LOVE this t-shirt. The funny thing is I’d actually wear it. You in Northern CA may have Tractor Supply stores near you. I found this t-shirt there. I’m sure people in the store thought I’d gone off my rocker when I couldn’t quit laughing. 
3. I get to train dogs this summer. The one I picked up on Sunday is horrible. But, Lord willing it will have a heart change and turn in to a nice dog. If I actually start to like it, it’ll be a job well done. The puppy I had last week is a doll. Just love him to death. I’ve dreamed of a Great Pyrenees for a few years now and I have to watch my attitude when I think that I still don’t have one but have so far convinced two people to get one. I am happy that I am able to train this little guy though. I gave him to his owner on Sunday and then get him again when I’m done with the Boxer. A month of German Boxer and then back to this baby!
4. I was able to do VBS 2 weeks ago. I was the teacher of the 1st and 2nd grade kids. It is so sobering to think that at least 5 of these kids don’t go to church and don’t have the gospel shared to them on a regular basis . . . I could seriously get depressed about this, but thank God for His sovereignty. I had 26 kids (way too many for one group) and wasn’t able to personally connect with them which was too bad, but that’s ok, as I said before God is sovereign over it all. 
5. I get to do Brazilian Jui-Jitsu 1-2 times per week. This is because I only have so many classes for the summer, but I am enjoying it sooooo much! After being thrown in the pool by a mere eagle scout and squinty eyed fellow I decided I must go get some real training! Hahahaha! Just kidding! I’ve been wanting to do this for a year now and just wasn’t able to because it was not really appropriate. However, we found an amazing academy with an amazing teacher and there are a couple of other girls there for me to grapple with :) 
6. I get to live out in the country. No street lights shining in my face when I’m sleeping. I can go outside and no one is watching me. I can talk to squirrels and birds and no one looks at me like I’ve lost my noggin. I can watch calves grow up, laugh at the kids down the road, look out for colts when we’re driving into town, make a game of finding fawns in the grass . . . I can look into the wind and breath deeply and people don’t ask me if I’m ok. I can rejoice in the rain and take a walk in it and everyone understands.
7. I am setting up an area on my balcony to do school in this fall. I’ve got potted plants and am hopefully gonna find a deal on a patio chair that I can sit in. So far, I am just busy helping my plants survive through the heat of the summer, but I guess everything takes off again in the fall when it cools down and we start to get rain again. 
8. FOOD. My family understands what good food is. They understand what is precious about sitting down and having good conversation over a cup of coffee. Whether in a sad, rejoicing, or just normal everyday situation, first we have coffee. Desserts are REAL chocolate. Main meals stick and don’t leave a bad aftertaste or a fatty feeling in your gut when you’re done. We eat a little chicken, a little pork, and a lot of BEEF!!!!!!! Yes, yes, yes!!!!
9. Bird watching. We have tons of birds here. There's cardinals, finches, sparrows, swallows, and I don't know what else. Tons of them though. We keep bird baths filled and they keep coming. Up on my porch I've got feed and so at almost any given time I can look out the window and see some pretty little fellow eating from there.
10. Water. It is so hot here. It's humid and muggy a lot of the time. We have been taking advantage of the rivers around here. Also any other water we can get ahold of such as water balloons, water slides, sprinklers, etc. Funny thing, I'm not a great swimmer, yet water brings me such joy! (You getting cold backs just thinking about it some of you?)As always, everything really does go back to Romans one. We need to be thankful for all of the blessings God has given to us. I'm a romanticist at heart and so the little things are what intrigue me, maybe you aren't and the whole picture intrigues you more. Either way, Romans 1:20 talks about God's creation and how He is seen in all of it. Creation is His masterpiece and in it He is reflected. We are the ones who miss it, suppress it, and refuse to acknowledge Him in it. We change it to something grotesque and do not glorify God because of it. I'm working on looking at all of the little blessings and enjoyments that I am finding this summer and seeing God's hand in it all "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." Creation can't show us salvation, but having the gift of salvation, we can see God clearer through enjoying His creation - His handiwork.
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