Best Summer Ever!
"Mom, this is the BEST summer ever!", exclaimed my exuberant Faith.
Last night we were given a beautiful gift. Papa was invited by a very nice gentleman in Red Lodge to come up and watch the city fireworks display on his property. There was a pre-display ice cream party at a friend's house. We met our benefactor at the gate of the property, and were led down a tree lined private driveway to a hidden cabin oasis, complete with a breathtaking series of ponds and green grassy yards. As we entered the log cabin, we passed a wall lined with book shelves, one of which was stocked with box upon box of candy. I think I might have seen my boys swoon as they gazed at the floor to ceiling candy shop supply of candy bars. Legitimately they looked like the kids in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Just a few more steps and they were in a room with a private ice cream parlor. Folks, this place was what dreams of children are made of. Instead of a 20 foot long varnished log bar with bar stools serving up tasty brews and mixed drinks, candy, flavored popcorn, salt water toffee and every ice cream delight one could imagine was offered. This was an in-home ice cream parlor, with 15-20 ice cream flavors, 20 + topping choices and different sauces as well as multiple spinkles choices and whipped cream. I don't really think the kids thought that this place was for real. I'm not sure I thought it was for real. With individualized frozen treats in hand, we made our way out to the back porch where a deck gave way to a bridge over one of the ponds where we could walk on a manicured path along the pond.
Once I finally quit pinching myself that this little fairy tale spot was real, we made a quick pit stop by the restroom, before heading up the road to our perch on the East Bench, about 100 yards from where there city fire works were being launched. Faith couldn't contain her joy a moment longer and as we washed our hands she told me that this summer was at the top of her list. We shared our joy and thanked God for giving us such a lovely delight after this hard spring.
Following a handful of some other vehicles, we turned off the main road into a field dense with prairie sage, which remained a pleasant fragrance throughout the night. The evening was cool as the sun was long in the western sky, and a slight southern breeze kept the bugs from bothering us much. Arriving just before the end of sunset we were able to sit on the edge of the bench, overlooking our dreamy little mountain town. Celebrations were underway down below, and everyone's private fireworks became our delight as the foreground to the sun setting long behind the western mountains. Faith and Teagan were blessed to make fast friends with a few little girls and they perched themselves in an uncles pickup truck bed on an air mattress with blankets. The little girls big brother became a barrier to keep the 4-5 littles from falling out of the back of the truck bed, and he provided quite a nice place for them to all pile on and giggle.
Jacob joined the joy in the back of the truck, and Jonathan and I sat beside each other awaiting the magic to begin. Papa and Sunshine sat in our car where they had a spectacular view for the fireworks, no breeze, and could hear the giggles. When the first boom set off the first display, Faith stood up and yelled with abandon, "BEST NIGHT EVER!!!" We then sat under the most vibrant light display I have ever seen. Simply by virtue of our proximity to the launching, the show was absolutely breathtaking. My face ached from smiling and exclaiming, "Amazing" over and over. Jonner held my hand as we both giggled from the delight of seeing the lights and hearing the whirling and whizzing from the different fireworks.
As the show came to a close I became emotional as I came to realize that we had just unwrapped the most delightful gift from God. After these months of hard and dark and pain, He already blessed us with a 4th of July celebration above our expectations by just keeping us all together. We've had an epic 3 days. Epic. But tonight, tonight was just Him giving us an absolutely unexpected, extravagant gift. I am certain that He loved hearing Faith's outbursts of joy as much as I did, more. He knows that she has had so much emotional pain these last months, and tonight He just delighted her with joy. Magical joy. Naomi was home with pain, and wanted some quite time with her daddy. Mimi doesn't find fireworks to be magical but rather menacing. Kit was glad to be with his girls, and keep his leg up. But our boys have been suffering along side us. They are healthy and able bodied, and they have missed out on so much since our accident, as their family cannot function as healthy families do. Tonight they were given a night that will live on in their memories as a night kissed with magic and exploding lights and ice cream dreamland and unique blessing. My heart brimmed to overflowing with the lavish nature of a night completely unfettered by struggle. Just delight.
This morning I awoke with this verse in my heart:
If you, then, though you are fallen, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? Matthew 7:11
Last night was a giant good gift. Like chocolate sprinkles on a delicious dish of ice cream topped with whipped cream.
Last night we were given a beautiful gift. Papa was invited by a very nice gentleman in Red Lodge to come up and watch the city fireworks display on his property. There was a pre-display ice cream party at a friend's house. We met our benefactor at the gate of the property, and were led down a tree lined private driveway to a hidden cabin oasis, complete with a breathtaking series of ponds and green grassy yards. As we entered the log cabin, we passed a wall lined with book shelves, one of which was stocked with box upon box of candy. I think I might have seen my boys swoon as they gazed at the floor to ceiling candy shop supply of candy bars. Legitimately they looked like the kids in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Just a few more steps and they were in a room with a private ice cream parlor. Folks, this place was what dreams of children are made of. Instead of a 20 foot long varnished log bar with bar stools serving up tasty brews and mixed drinks, candy, flavored popcorn, salt water toffee and every ice cream delight one could imagine was offered. This was an in-home ice cream parlor, with 15-20 ice cream flavors, 20 + topping choices and different sauces as well as multiple spinkles choices and whipped cream. I don't really think the kids thought that this place was for real. I'm not sure I thought it was for real. With individualized frozen treats in hand, we made our way out to the back porch where a deck gave way to a bridge over one of the ponds where we could walk on a manicured path along the pond.
Once I finally quit pinching myself that this little fairy tale spot was real, we made a quick pit stop by the restroom, before heading up the road to our perch on the East Bench, about 100 yards from where there city fire works were being launched. Faith couldn't contain her joy a moment longer and as we washed our hands she told me that this summer was at the top of her list. We shared our joy and thanked God for giving us such a lovely delight after this hard spring.
Following a handful of some other vehicles, we turned off the main road into a field dense with prairie sage, which remained a pleasant fragrance throughout the night. The evening was cool as the sun was long in the western sky, and a slight southern breeze kept the bugs from bothering us much. Arriving just before the end of sunset we were able to sit on the edge of the bench, overlooking our dreamy little mountain town. Celebrations were underway down below, and everyone's private fireworks became our delight as the foreground to the sun setting long behind the western mountains. Faith and Teagan were blessed to make fast friends with a few little girls and they perched themselves in an uncles pickup truck bed on an air mattress with blankets. The little girls big brother became a barrier to keep the 4-5 littles from falling out of the back of the truck bed, and he provided quite a nice place for them to all pile on and giggle.
Jacob joined the joy in the back of the truck, and Jonathan and I sat beside each other awaiting the magic to begin. Papa and Sunshine sat in our car where they had a spectacular view for the fireworks, no breeze, and could hear the giggles. When the first boom set off the first display, Faith stood up and yelled with abandon, "BEST NIGHT EVER!!!" We then sat under the most vibrant light display I have ever seen. Simply by virtue of our proximity to the launching, the show was absolutely breathtaking. My face ached from smiling and exclaiming, "Amazing" over and over. Jonner held my hand as we both giggled from the delight of seeing the lights and hearing the whirling and whizzing from the different fireworks.
As the show came to a close I became emotional as I came to realize that we had just unwrapped the most delightful gift from God. After these months of hard and dark and pain, He already blessed us with a 4th of July celebration above our expectations by just keeping us all together. We've had an epic 3 days. Epic. But tonight, tonight was just Him giving us an absolutely unexpected, extravagant gift. I am certain that He loved hearing Faith's outbursts of joy as much as I did, more. He knows that she has had so much emotional pain these last months, and tonight He just delighted her with joy. Magical joy. Naomi was home with pain, and wanted some quite time with her daddy. Mimi doesn't find fireworks to be magical but rather menacing. Kit was glad to be with his girls, and keep his leg up. But our boys have been suffering along side us. They are healthy and able bodied, and they have missed out on so much since our accident, as their family cannot function as healthy families do. Tonight they were given a night that will live on in their memories as a night kissed with magic and exploding lights and ice cream dreamland and unique blessing. My heart brimmed to overflowing with the lavish nature of a night completely unfettered by struggle. Just delight.
This morning I awoke with this verse in my heart:
If you, then, though you are fallen, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? Matthew 7:11
Last night was a giant good gift. Like chocolate sprinkles on a delicious dish of ice cream topped with whipped cream.
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