Neal is getting me my favorite ice cream from Marble Slab – chocolate with pineapple mixed in, served in a waffle bowl. YUM…and yes, I do get crazy looks every time I order that combo. It came from a craving I had when I was pregnant with Seth and it kind of stuck.
Today was a gorgeous sunny day in the low 70’s. It was the kind of day that people appeared all over town in their ‘toys’, motorcycle’s, and sporty mid-life crisis deathtraps with the tops down. By mid-afternoon my kids were already wearing their swimsuits thinking it was the perfect weather to finally try out the pool! Could you imagine their faces if I’d let them jump in??? 🙂
I compromised by turning on the hot tub. We had friends over with their three boys and the kids had a ball making the most of the hot bubbling water. And then it rained…and got cold.
What’s up with this weather?!
Despite the weather and the rain on our parade the evening was a success. The biggest success is knowing that our friend who came over tonight is about to go on the ACTS retreat this week. Neal is on team as well. Our friend has apprehensions in going on this retreat (which he lovingly calls ‘church camp’…I think it’d be funnier to call it Jesus camp but he hasn’t seen that documentary… lol.) But his wife has been on the retreat and having that time to ‘meet God face to face’ really did something for her and she wants them to share it as a couple. I don’t blame her, I was the same way with Neal. It is tough to grow in your faith in such a way that you are enriched and, well, happy. It’s not that it changes you, but when we are able to get away from the daily stresses of life to focus on your relationship with God you can’t help but hear what He has been trying to say to you all along.
So, it was good to have this day to appreciate family, friends, the warmth of the sun (if only for a little while), and all the ways in which God has blessed us…and to support our friend if even silently, allowing him to see that we are not ‘weird’ or ‘different’ or whatever it is he might be afraid of becoming. We are just people that recognize His love and our love for one another.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Blessings
Shannon