Flagstaff 4th of July

We just returned from another great weekend in Flagstaff. It is such a blessing to have a cool place in the pines to get away to with our family. We are so grateful that Poppy and Gigi let us come up with them and enjoy their Flagstaff home.

This was probably the best 4th of July I can remember. Although, to be fair, I should probably admit that it seems like our holiday celebrations just keep getting better. Truly, my life is so much richer as our family grows. My sweet husband is such a good father and these two boys are our blessings from the Lord. Words can't really describe how much I needed them, how much I love being their mommy, and how rich they have made our lives.

I love Proverbs 10:22 ...

The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Whenever I hear this proverb, in my mind it is inextricably linked with and can not be untangled from Psalm 127:3-5 ...

3 Children are a blessing from the LORD;
they are a reward from him.
4 Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior's hands.
5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

I am so grateful that the Lord knew how to make Tim and my lives truly rich, so much better than we did. Without a doubt, parenting these two requires most of our time, resources, and efforts. Even so, and especially so, I am unbelievably grateful for the blessing of my boys and for what a testimony they are to us of the Lord's goodness and reward. How could I not trust a God so good?

I'll post some more pictures and highlights of of our 4th of July celebrations a little later.

Life with these two sweet boys is so fun and so full.





















The boys doing puzzles at the house with Gigi (my mom) and Dja Dja (my 93 year old grandpa - isn't he the cutest??)






















Flagstaff "Art in the Park"





















Picnic in the park ...





















One of the highlights of Flagstaff is the train that heads through town. The boys are thrilled when we catch it coming through. You can hear the engine's whistle from just about everywhere in town - every time Will hears it he shouts, "Oh NO!! Choo Choo!"





















The boys both loved carrying their own American flags.



























I love this one of Jared snuggled into his Daddy's chest to keep warm on a cool morning. Doesn't Jared look so content? Looking at it, I can't help but be reminded of our Heavenly Father's great love for us.





















Devotions on the deck.






















































The weather in Flagstaff was beautiful. Warm, sunny days in the 80's with afternoon showers Friday and Saturday. Tim went golfing with my parents on Friday - when they tee'd off, the weather was sunny. A few hours later they were called off the course due to lightning storms. By the time they go to the car, the storm had turned into a torrential downpour, complete with tons of hail. These are the pictures of the storm from our house ...

PS: Our cute little pair of woodpeckers have hatched their babies in the dead tree behind the deck. We enjoyed watching this busy mama feed them all day long. She'd return every few minutes and duck into their nest, greeted by the sound of several hungry chirps. A minute later she would duck out and do it over again. What a good little mama - she must have been TIRED! ;-)