Our Fourth of July

This has been a very unusual Fourth of July weekend for us.  Dick has worked all weekend, including today.  For the first time ever, we're praying they have no work today, so he can leave at noon and take half  a vacation day!  There is a big 4thFest up here today, and Anthony's band is playing at 2.  I don't know if Lori and Austin will be back from Long Island on time for it, and I really don't want to go all by myself.  

Last evening we missed the big concert and fireworks at Longs Park in Lancaster for about the first time in 25 years.  I don't even know how they could have it without us, hahahahahaha!!!!  Late yesterday afternoon Ray called and said, "We're in Philly heading to Longs Park.  Where are you sitting?"  I said, "We aren't even there!!  Dad works this weekend and we're in State College."  He said,  "What????  You guys always go to Longs Park."  See what I mean???  So we missed our chance to see Ray and Thyda.  I admit I shed some tears this weekend.  But to make it feel like a celebration, I splurged and got steaks for us to grill last evening.  I don't think I bought steaks for at least ten years.  We just don't eat red meat ever.  But last evening we did.  After working all day, Dick came home and grilled those steaks, and along with baked potatoes, a wonderful breeze blowing across the porch, the birds singing their hearts out, and a lovely view of the mountain right behind us, we had a nice, intimate celebration.

 

And we topped it off with the best summer goodness of all.

This evening we'll get to watch the fireworks up here.  Supposedly they're synchronized with music if you tune your radio to a certain frequency.  That sounds pretty cool.  But nothing quite takes the place of those live cannons during the 1812 Overture at Longs Park.  And being with my sister Doris's family as we have done ever since our children were young.  And Destiny.  She's been there with us every year since she was born.  Okay, I'll get over it now.

I've had plenty of things to work on.  Anthony and I are finally starting to work on a music project we've been keeping on the back burner ever since we moved up here.  I'm subbing for the piano player at Houserville UM next Sunday morning, so I have music to prepare for that.  We'll be having another prayer and praise service at Fillmore in two weeks, and this time we'll add another guitar player from our choir, so Dick will be able to play bass.  So I've been doing the Power point slides and getting all the lead sheets arranged for that.  We'll practice with him next weekend when he gets back from vacation.  

Before I leave for a few days of vacation.  YES!!  I'm going to Florida for a few days!  Lori has a conference in Clearwater next week.  So she, Anthony, Austin, and I are going down and staying at Lisa's from Tuesday till Saturday.  As you can see, Dick and I are still taking turns with our trips to Florida.  He was there in January, now it's my turn.  We dream of the day we can do these things together.  I'll get back just in time for our prayer and praise service Sunday evening, the 17th, hopefully bringing Destiny with me for the week.   That week Dick will be doing a road trip for few days to Canton, Ohio where our Swedish grandson Bjorn will be participating in the Four Nations cup USA Football tournament.  And the weekend after that we'll go to southern York County, PA to be with my family at our annual reunion at Ebenezer Bible School.  Lots and lots and lots of my family will be there.  

So you see, there is much to look forward to!