Happy 4th of July!

I've taken a long blog break.  Its been over a month.  We have walked through a lot in the last couple of months.  Some of it fun and delightful, relaxing and sweet.  Some of it frightening and heavy.  In the midst of trials and joys, life still just keeps going on.  I know that some of you will understand that - how when your own world seems stopped and all around you continue on.

I'll probably spend some time trying to play catch-up over what I've wanted to share the last few months, but will probably skip things too.

For now, I'll just share yesterday.  Fourth of July.

As we prepare for our days, I sometimes wonder am I doing enough to prepare my heart.

This has long been one of my favorite holidays.  Some of it for what it represents.

Freedom.

Sacrifice.

Independence.

And also because of what the day has been for my family.  It has long been a holiday where my family all gathered.  I have pictures from this holiday when Christopher was just a little 2yo.  It has been a sweet family tradition to go to the mountains where the days are cooler and spend time celebrating together.

This year though, things are different.  The wonderful mountain home is no longer in our family so the gathering place is gone.  Circumstances unfolded so that it didn't work for us to be together.

And yet, we still celebrate.

We still take time to thank the many that have sacrificed for us.

We thank God for the ways He has blessed our family and our nation.

We give thanks.

We started our day with a trip to a $1 movie - Hugo.  It was a wonderful film.  Our day was a lazy one.  Smoke bombs and sparklers.  Then a trip to Kenan stadium to watch fireworks.  It wasn't the memories that we've made in the past, but new memories for today.  No matter what happens, life still goes on.  We still have much to be thankful for even in the midst of trials and troubles.

I'm thankful for so much.  I'm thankful that through good times and bad, God is close and in control and good.

 I'm thankful that even though I wasn't able to be with all of my family, I have a wonderful family to be thankful for.

With a thankful heart,
Leslie