Happy Anniversary to Angie & Heath!

Today is the 12th wedding anniversary of Angie & Heath (Angie is Deb & Jim's daughter). Congrats!

celebrating Independence Day!

Don's coworker, Rita, invited us to her home for a Fourth of July party she hosts every year. She lives on an acreage outside of Lincoln so it was a short but scenic drive. It rained all morning & into the afternoon so I was skeptical about the party even taking place. (Lincoln's fireworks display at Oak Lake got postponed until tonight . . . with a 60% chance of more rain in the forecast.) But we arrived around 3:30 with a light drizzle falling. Shortly after that the clouds cleared & the sun made an appearance. We enjoyed a great potluck of fish (fried fresh by Rita's husband & brother), pickled eggs, hotdogs, casseroles, deviled eggs & desserts. Families spent time together. Mothers & fathers chased toddlers. Firecrackers were lit with supervision. We brought along our two teenage guests from Japan who are staying with us for four days. Our job is to expose them to American life. And we did . . .





























We were introduced to a game called "horseball" (as opposed to horseshoes).





















Thanks for a great evening, Rita!

Happy Fourth of July!

daylilies

Daylilies are blooming throughout my neighborhood right now. We had them growing on the east & west side of the house out on the farm when I was growing up. I loved them back then. Still love them . . .

Happy Birthday, Angie!

Angie (Don & Cheryl's daughter) shared this photo taken this week by a coworker while she was on the phone with me! He caught her by surprise! I love this small window into her work world: cluttered desk (a sign of a creative person if you ask me), photo of Sadie, her dog, in the background. Not sure what's up with the beach ball though . . .



Have a terrific day, Angie!!

Happy Anniversary to Betty & Ron!

Betty & Ron are celebrating 33 years of married life. Congratulations!

Happy Birthday to Sophia!

Sophia turns one year old today! She is the youngest daughter of Amy & David & granddaughter to Deb & Jim. Amy sent me these photos; says Sophia has been walking for two months already! Here she's napping with Papa Jim.



And this fancy bandana?? It's fashioned out of toilet paper!! I love those blue eyes!



Thanks for sharing, Amy!