July 3 – “Thanks for that”

July 3^rd.  July 3^rd.  Something happened on July 3^rd.  Oh, yeah.  That’s when our own personal fireworks display entered our lives.  Our youngest son Nathan was born, and he hasn’t looked back ever since.  Hasn’t slowed down, either.  Well, maybe some now that he’s so … old.  Well over thirty years now he’s been around.  And in that time he has survived a leap or three from rooftop wearing roller blades as well as too numerous to mention times when he has raced into burning buildings or mangled cars to effect rescues as a fire fighter.  And of course his wisest decision came when he chose to take a wife.  Wise?  Absolutely, for it led to our third daughter-in-law.  And of course to our first granddaughter and now “official” road trip companion, Cailyn.  So, thanks for that one, Nathan.  And Happy Birthday.

We picked up a special treat yesterday.  Literally “picked up.”  We were invited to the Jackson’s home.  They are a long-time Seaside family who lives out in Bay Harbor.  Ed has taken me fishing out on the Bay Harbor pier a time or two over the years.  This time, though, they wanted to share a different kind of bounty.  Their garden has been overrun with watermelon vines.  And on those vines are quite a few of those delectable favorites of my lovely wife … watermelons.  While Chris and Pat enjoyed a cup of coffee, Ed took me out for a tour of the garden, and ended up cutting off a pretty big hunk of fruit for us to take home.  Watermelon is a fruit, isn’t it?  I don’t anticipate it will last long once we open it up.  Chris has a propensity toward demolition when it comes to that particular delicacy.  I’m anxious to try out my inevitable tiny slice.  Thanks for that one, Ed and Pat.

Psalms 73:28 says, “But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

Father, you have gifted us with some amazing children and grandchildren as well as some pretty great church folks.  Thanks for that.  Amen.