Special Treasures

Yesterday was another good day for garage and yard sales. My dear mother and I had a good time together and we each found some special treasures.

I have been slowly redecorating our bedroom and I'm enjoying the fun of finding special things to finish the project. One small area between our window and a corner needed something that was just the right shape and size. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to put there, but I knew when I found it I would know it was right! Our walls are very soft sage green (which doesn't show up in the picture below) and I use darker greens and yellows in the room. You can imagine my delight when I found this wonderful old picture in a "25 cents each" box at a local church basement sale. It's perfect for my spot and the colors are exactly what I needed.


I found several other treasures and some great bargains through the day. After lunch we went to a little town about 3 miles from home to shop at an antique mall where we love to go. You never know what you will find that needs to go home with you -- some days we don't buy anything and on other days we find that special something that we must have. I found these yellow Fiesta salt and pepper shakers and they seemed to call out my name and say they belonged in my yellow kitchen!

There are other things to share from our adventures yesterday. I will share them soon.

Happy Birthday To Our Dear Daughter

Happy birthday to our dear daughter, Mrs. M. 30 years ago today she entered our world. She captured our hearts, and our lives have never been the same since then. She brought a new dimension to our home in ways we never dreamed possible. I think we might have been a rather ordinary family without her! There were three of us - my sweetheart, our young son (Mr. J.) and me. We were a fairly quiet family --that is, until Miss M. arrived. She added activity and experiences we would have missed without her.

She was beautiful and bright, cute and clever, fun and full of passion for life, inquisitive and intriguing - always on the go! She was very special and we loved her very much and she knew it. She pushed us to go the extra mile and we often did things I'm sure we never would have tried without her urging us. The day she entered our world was one of the most wonderful days we can remember -- we can't imagine life without her.

Happy birthday, dear daughter. You have added more to our lives than we can comprehend. You have grown to be a woman of strength and compassion, kindness and love and a good mother to your three precious children. There has been a lot of laughter and fun through the years and some tears and trials along the way. You have walked on mountaintops and through some valleys, you have studied and worked hard and you have become such a special lady in the lives of so many people. We love you -- we are so proud that you are our daughter.

Happy 10th Anniversary

Ten years ago today Mrs. K., our beautiful daughter-in-law, became the wife of our son, Mr. J. Our hearts were touched deeply as they exchanged vows and promised to walk through life together with Christ at the center of their marriage. There were tears and there was laughter; there were smiles and hugs. Most of all, there was much love - the love of a precious young lady and a special young man and the love that only God can give. They promised to love each other no matter what life brought their way - and they have. They have walked together for better or worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and health, in joy and sorrow. God has blessed them with 4 precious little boys to love - two who bring such joy to their home, one who is in the arms of Jesus, and one who will be born in just a few weeks. They have served Him together in youth ministry in two churches and now they wait to see what ministry lies ahead for them in God's plan.

Mr. J. and Mrs. K., we love you much. You have blessed our lives in ways no words can express. You bring joy to our hearts as we watch you grow in grace and in the love of Jesus and as you follow Him each day and raise your boys to know and love Him, too. We are proud of you and we pray that God will give you many more years together as you walk through life with Him. The best is yet to come!

Morning in My Garden

This morning I walked around my garden to enjoy a few quiet minutes before the busy-ness of the day. Let me show you what I saw.

Welcome to my garden!

Hollyhocks beginning to bloom!

Ripe Raspberries!

Bunches of baby grapes!

A house high in the sky near the grapes!

(A mamma bird sat nearby scolding me.)

Miss Savannah hiding from the birds!

We live in the heart of a growing suburban community, on a very busy street. What used to be rural areas, orchards and agricultural fields all around us are quickly becoming row after row of closely placed homes on very small lots. I am blessed to have a big yard and garden. Sometimes we talk about "down-sizing" and moving into a place with less yard work. That may happen sometime in the future. But, will we really be happy with no garden? With just a few pots of plants on a deck or patio? We will be happy wherever God leads us but, when that time comes, we will always look back and savor the memories of the yards and gardens we've had through the years and the quiet moments here and there along the way that brought us such pleasure.

So I will sing this song that I love and treasure every moment of today.

Verse 1
Hold tight to the sound of the music of living
Happy sounds from the laughter of children at play
Hold my hand as we walk through the sweet fragrant meadows
Making memories of what was today

Chorus
We have this moment to hold in our hands
And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come
But we have this moment, today

Verse 2
Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling
For [mommy] to hear just what she has to say
My little boy running there by the hillside
May never be quite like today

Verse 3
Tender words gentle touch and a good cup of coffee
And someone who loves me and wants me to stay
Hold them dear while they’re near and don’t wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today

Verse 4
Take the blue of the sky and the green of the forest
And the gold and the brown of the freshly mown hay
Add the pales shades of spring and the circus of autumn
And weave you a lovely today.

Song: "We Have This Moment Today" - Words and music by Bill and Gloria Gaither

Happy Anniversary!

62 years ago today my parents were married in a beautiful ceremony in my dear mother's home church in Southern California. The church was decorated like a garden - all done by friends and family. My grandmother made Mom's bouquet and fresh orange blossoms encircled her veil. I'm sure a sweet fragrance filled the little sanctuary -- not only from the flowers but from the sweet presence of God that filled that place. Mom and Dad commited their lives to each other "in the presence of God and these witnesses" that Sunday afternoon - and they commited their lives to God for service in fulltime ministry. Dad had graduated just weeks before from a Bible Institute in Seattle where he met my mother. They served God together for nearly 58 years before He took Dad home to Heaven.

We will celebrate this special day with Mom and recall how two very special people who loved deeply and forever had a marriage that was truly made in Heaven and that reflected the love and grace of God through their years together. We will feel Dad's absence keenly but we will remember fondly how he loved Mom and how their marriage was the just the beginning of a legacy that lives on.

A Surprise Visit

Our doorbell rang late last night. When my sweetheart opened the door - to our surprise - there stood Mr. J., our son, Mrs. K., our daughter-in-law and the boys, Mr. R. and Mr. G. They live in a city about 40 minutes south of our home and had attended a wedding in our town. (Mrs. K. said when they turned off the freeway to drive toward our town the boys got excited and thought they were going to Grandma's house!) After the wedding they decided to drive by and see if we were at home and still awake. We were delighted to get lots of hugs and have a wonderful visit together.

While we chatted and talked Mr. J. spied my camera nearby. He decided to see the pictures I had taken. Mr. R. and Mr. G. wanted to see them too. One thing led to another and soon the boys wanted to take some pictures. Here's the result:

Grandpa

Mr. J. (Daddy)

Mrs. K. (Mommy)

(Special effects)

Mrs. K. again

(Can you see where our soon-to-be grandson is growing?)

Mr. G.

Super Mr. G.!

Three Silly Boys

(Mr. J. took this one of himself and the boys!)

Bein' Silly Again!

You may notice that there are no pictures of me. There were but they have "disappeared" from my camera! I took editorial privileges to decide the best use of the space here and on the memory card in my camera. The pictures of me were most unflattering and you would have only seen the side of my head and a picture of my knees. Anyway - please enjoy some of the minutes we shared with our surpise visitors last night.

What Really Matters

A few days ago Kathy shared her thoughts about her blog and her frustration that her house didn't always reflect what other blogs were sharing -- appearing to always be clean, perfectly decorated, never messy. I identified with her and her desire that her blog would reflect the "real" her. Not just the interior and exterior of her home, but who she is before God, herself and those who really know her. I've thought a lot about her words and reflected on my own wish to do the same here in my blog. As I look at my home, I see it the way I visualize it -- always clean, tidy and ready to take pictures to share with you. I see the projects all finished, the rooms all decorated, the welcome mat always out and the tea kettle ready at a moment's notice! I can't take a picture of the way I see it or the way I hope it will eventually be. And that's not real life in a home, anyway.

I have a little "If Teacups Could Talk" flip-calendar by Emilie Barnes. It's in my kitchen where I can't miss it. I'm always amazed how much each day's thoughts and Scriptures seem to be just for me. Today's little message is no different.

"Not every home can be 'house beautiful',

but every home can be filled

with the spirit of loveliness --

the spirit of warmth and caring."

That's what really matters. Thanks, Kathy, for giving my thoughts substance. Thanks, Emilie, for putting this reminder on the calendar for today, June 21.

Hidden Pearls

Once a month I help two other chaplains at a care center in Portland where they minister each week. I join them to lead a monthly hymn-sing and help with devotions. The residents there are very sweet, special people and I love being with them. Yesterday afternoon was our time to be together. Just as we were ready to start singing, two family members of a resident arrived to visit her. She told them she couldn't visit right then because she didn't want to miss the singing or the devotion -- she said they would have to wait until we were finished to talk to her! I invited them to join us and they enjoyed it so much they talked of coming to sing with us again next month.

As I headed home I stopped at a big Goodwill store nearby to see what might be waiting there for me. I try to stop there whenever I'm in the area. They have a fantastic book department - I'm a book lover - and I hardly ever leave without books to add to my collection or to share with someone special. Yesterday I found a real treasure!

I love the old hymns and I collect old hymnbooks. There are a lot of beautiful, old hymns that are not well known . Every time I "discover" one of them it's almost like finding a new friend. I enjoy learning the stories behind the hymns and knowing about the writers. There on the bottom shelf was an interesting-looking book. When I picked it up you may have heard me squeal with delight! Here is what I found:

This book is a collection of ten hymns and their inspiring, untold stories, "a beautiful collection of hidden pearls that tell the story of a 'divine romance' that exists between God and His people." Each chapter has beautiful illustrations and includes the words of the featured hymns, the stories behind the hymns, wonderful devotions, and a brief description of the hymn writers' spiritual experiences—"whether those of sweet tenderness, spiritual warfare, or of deep suffering. These experiences became the press from which the wine of their poetic utterances poured forth." A CD that features the London Philharmonic Orchestra and vocals was included. (You can learn more here.) The music is beautiful and it lifts my soul. I will spend many hours with this book and CD.

I called this post "Hidden Pearls". When I started writing I was only thinking of the book title but as I began to share about my afternoon, I realized that the real hidden pearls are the folks at the care center who bless me every time I am with them. They have graciously opened their hearts to me and I hope that some of the beauty I see in them will be reflected in my life.

A Grateful Heart

Today is a very busy day for me but as I rush around taking care of the responsibilities of my day I am more aware than ever of God's watch-care over His children. My heart is full of praise and gratitude as I think about the events of yesterday and the way He worked in the lives of 3 very special men.

Rev. D. is a close family friend of many years. He is in his 90's and needed to have surgery for cancer yesterday. His age and heart condition were against him. In the normal scheme of things, there was cause for fear. But God brought him through and he is recovering to complete the plan God has for him. Only He knows the measure of our days and I am so thankful that He guided the hands of the surgeon and the doctors involved with our dear friend yesterday.

Mr. J. is a young man - husband, father - whom we have never met. He lives thousands of miles away from us but God isn't affected by time or distance. Mr. J. is a close friend and associate of one of our dear family members and the urgent request to pray came yesterday morning. Mr. J. was on vacation with his young family - relaxing and playing on the beach - when he fell or was pulled under the water. Apparently he hit his head very hard and walked out of the water asking his wife to get help because he was sure he had broken his neck. Lifeguards and paramedics assisted him immediately. It was confirmed at the hospital that he had, indeed, broken his neck. The doctors all said it was a miracle that he is alive and walked out of the ocean. Many hours of surgery followed. The report came last evening was that he came through surgery fine, would probably be walking in his hospital room last night and may leave the hospital today! Once again, God had a plan for a man that nothing - not even the waves of the mighty Atlantic Ocean - could change. Our God is an awesome God!

Mr. K. is a young man in high school who has come into our lives over the past year or two. He is a strong, fine, very committed Christian. He began to help my sweetheart with yard work at our home and at my dear mother's home. Yesterday afternoon he was on his bike, on his way to work in our yard, when he was struck by a car in the intersection of the highway that goes through the middle of our town. He was knocked from his bike and landed on the sidewalk nearby - flat on his back. Emergency personnel were on the scene immediately but they determined that he did not need medical care. Other than some sore spots and bruises it appears that he is doing OK. This accident could have had a different outcome but, once again, God had a plan for Mr. K. that nothing could stop.

My heart is full of praise today and I feel a sense of awe as I think about these 3 men and how God took care of each of them yesterday. And I wonder how many times He protects us and the people around us and we don't know it!

O LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

You have done marvelous things,

things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1

Psalm 23

I have started sharing a little series of devotions on Psalm 23 with the dear folks in the care centers and retirement communities where I minister as a chaplain. This well-loved Psalm is comforting to many of us and we turn to it in the rough spots on the road of life. It has been set to music by quite a few people. This is my favorite. May it touch your heart today.

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green; He leadeth me

The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;

And me to walk doth make

Within the paths of righteousness,

E'en for His own Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,

Yet will I fear no ill;

For Thou art with me; and Thy rod

And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnishèd

In presence of my foes;

My head Thou dost with oil anoint,

And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life

Shall surely follow me;

And in God’s house forevermore

My dwelling place shall be.

From Scottish Psalter, 1650

Home

Home
by Edgar Guest

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
It ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.

Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled, an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.

Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.

From the book "A Heap o' Livin'" ©1916

Oh, What A Dad I Had!

I think I had the world's greatest dad! This is the 4th Father's Day he has celebrated in Heaven with Jesus. He was the sweetest person you could hope to meet and he was quick to express gratitude and appreciation to anyone he met.

He was a fun dad to grow up with. He was big and strong and fearless, at least I thought so. Not only was he a tall man -- he stood tall, head and shoulders, above other men I knew. He was a true man of God who lived his faith every moment of every day. He was a preacher, and I was so blessed to call him my pastor as I grew up (although one day when I was 5 years old I did threaten to stop attending his church because I was upset with him!). The way he was on Sunday was exactly what you saw every other day of the week. One time someone asked me if he was the same at home as he was in public. My answer was an emphatic "Yes".

I would like you to meet my dad. I wrote this tribute for his memorial service.

MEMORIES OF MY DAD
By Adrienne T. S.

"I’m J.T.'s daughter!" I have always said those words with such pride. Many times in my life those words have given me instant identity because Dad always seemed to know everyone wherever he went. I have often been asked, "Are you J.T.'s daughter? He’s told me all about you, and I feel like I already know you." And I’ve been asked if I would share my dad so someone else could be his son or daughter. While I was always willing to share him, I knew that no one else could ever share my place in his heart. I have been very blessed to have him as my Dad.

We had lots of fun together. We rolled down hills together; did somersaults together; had snowball fights together; made snow angels together; sang silly songs together; read stories together. Dad was so patient – he helped me with homework, endured my constantly changing hairstyles and taught me to drive. When I was upset and knew he would be mad because I had just put a big scratch along the side of his brand new car, he gently said, "It can be fixed."

There were many special times with my dad – Christmas shopping each year together for his gift to Mom, the moments before he and I walked down the aisle together at my wedding, the arrival of my children and my grandchildren and the last days of his life on earth.

What I treasure the most about my dad was his deep commitment to Christ. What you saw in public was exactly what I saw behind closed doors at home. Because I trusted Dad, I learned to trust God, the Father. When I was just a baby, he sat me on his big hand and as I grew stronger and could sit up well enough to balance myself, he would slowly raise his hand higher and higher until his arm was fully extended and I was high in the air. When I could stand by myself, I graduated from sitting to standing on those big hands. His other hand was always ready to hold me if I lost my balance. It’s no wonder that I love the Bible verse that tells me that "underneath me are the everlasting arms [of God]." Because I knew – and trusted – the security of my father’s arms, I have no trouble resting in the arms of God, my Heavenly Father.

Dad was a man of prayer. I grew up hearing him pray. Not only did he pray in public, but he prayed at home. He prayed for everything – before meals, at bedtime, when my cat was sick, when I was sick, when the car wouldn’t start. Every morning our family sat together as Dad read from the Bible and then we prayed together. He was patient with me when, at age 3, I announced that I was not going to pray anymore because you can’t see God anyway – He’s all covered up with sky. Soon after that, I began to pray again. When I was 7 years old, my mother was in the hospital and not expected to live. The doctor told Dad that they had done everything they could do for Mom – there was no more that could be done. The doctor knew Dad was a praying man, so he told him to go home and pray that God would spare Mom’s life. I’ll never forget seeing Dad kneel by his bed, in tears as he asked God to save Mom’s life. I quietly slipped into the room, joined Dad and together we asked God for a miracle for my mother. God heard our requests, and Mom came home from the hospital a few weeks later. Not too many teenagers have the privilege of hearing their father pray early in the morning before daylight. When I was in Jr. High School, Dad’s office was in our house, in a room next to mine. Dad never prayed quietly, and I often woke to the sound of his voice in prayer. It was not unusual to lay in bed around 4:30 in the morning and listen to my dad pray. He prayed for the needs of the world, for missionaries, pastors, family and friends. I loved to hear him pray, but the prayers that meant the most were when I heard him pray for me! The sound of my father praying for me was a strong influence through my teen years. He continued to pray for me right to the end of his life. Just before Dad went to be with Jesus I found the following quote by Martin Luther on Dad’s desk: "I have so much to do today that I shall spend the first 3 hours in prayer."

Yes, I’m proud to be J.T.'s daughter. We have had a great life together. Heaven seems a lot closer now that Dad is there, and I wonder when I get there, will someone ask "Are you J.T.'s daughter? He’s told me all about you, and I feel like I already know you."

Grandkids in the Garden

Two of our grandkids came to spend the day with us today. Miss A . had a secret project she needed to work on and her brother, Mr. C., came to help Grandpa in the garden. Their little sister, Miss E., decided to stay at home with her mommy.

Sometimes when you're having fun your plans just go "out the door" and fun takes over. That was true today. Some of the garden got planted but there were a lot of fun and games, too. Miss A. joined Mr. C. and Grandpa in the garden when she finished her project. You can see their hard work and the fun they had here:

Mr. C.

Miss A.

Is this where you want it, Grandpa?

Here's how you do it.

Let's give it some special food to help it grow.

Then Mr. C. discovered some ripe raspberries! His next task was to see how many he could eat without getting caught.

I'll just have one!

Oh no, not Grandma and her camera again!

Maybe I can hide behind the grapes.

Miss A. reveals her finished project.

The garden will grow and so will Miss A. and Mr. C. Someday we won't remember what we planted in the garden this year but we will remember all the fun and laughter one Saturday in June when we were together in the garden.

Nanny's Rose Revisited

Recently I shared here the story of my great-grandmother Nanny's rose that is growing in my dear mother's backyard. When I took the first pictures the rose was absolutely gorgeous. Now that the blossoms have all opened this is the most breathtaking sight but that doesn't even begin to compare to the sweet fragrance that fills the air. I hope you enjoy seeing it again.

Garage Sale-ing (Or Sailing?)

(If you enlarge the picture you can see my cat, Miss Savannah, enjoying the sun by the fence!)

Our town is quite the "Garage Sale" town and we sure have fun! Every Friday my mother and I do something special together. That usually means garage sales from Spring to Fall! Some weeks we can fill the car with goodies and sometimes we don't find much. Today was a winner!! I'll give you a sneak peek at some of today's treasures (they all require work!). I will show them to you when they are finished. There are a few other goodies that I'm not sharing yet, but you will see them soon.


My $10.00 table needs a lot of work. I'll probably paint it white again but I can see the original finish when I turn it upside-down and the thought of refinishing it briefly passed through my mind. Do I really want to do all of that work instead of just sanding and painting it so I can put in its new spot in my living room? I don't think so! It will replace a round particleboard table with a long skirt, a K-Mart special -- hopefully soon.

On the table are some of my garaging bargains. There are two flower pots -- a yummy yellow pot and a blue one that is square. The Williamsburg Pottery pitcher and the little, old ceramic bird were each $1.00. During the Spring and Summer I decorate my living room with birds, birdhouses, nests, birdcages - anything to do with birds. I have them outside on the patio, too. This little white bird will find a special place somewhere in my living room. I'm not sure what I'll do with the pitcher. I love this little Mexican flower pot! Over the past few years we have taken several missions trips to Mexico and we have vacationed twice in a condo on the beach in Baja. I fell in love with Mexico and the people there. Our guestroom/library is decorated with things from many countries, especially things that we gathered during our trips to Mexico. During our last two trips to Mexico I searched for just the right flower pot for our special room at home but I didn't find what I wanted. I wanted something very colorful to hold a fat, round cactus. After all of my searching in Mexico, I found exactly what I wanted at the first garage sale today -- a few blocks from my house! When I saw it I knew it was for me -- I paid 25 cents for it. What a deal!



This little nightstand isn't crooked - it's the angle of the picture. For a long time my sweetheart has been using a little stool for a nightstand. It belongs with the antique oak dressing table that's part of our bedroom set. It really hasn't been the ideal nightstand! For quite awhile I have been looking for a nightstand so I could return the stool to its place beside the dressing table. I hoped to find something with a drawer and maybe a shelf or two for his Bible, a few books and whatever other things he wants there. There it was at the last sale we stopped at today. I saw it before I was out of the car -- $5.00! I need to clean it up, sand it and paint it so he can "move" into it. I'm sure it was just waiting for me to find it!


Isn't this just the cutest pot-y chair? I don't know yet what I'll plant in it - maybe some Lobelia - but I can't wait to get it all finished. Whatever I plant in it won't hide the cute flowers someone carefully painted on it. Where will I put it? Not sure yet, but maybe near my front door -- maybe not.

When my projects are finished I'll let you see them again. I need to go now -- I have lots of work to do!

Boys, Ballgames and Bunches of Fun!!!

We spent last weekend with two of our grandsons, Mr. R. and Mr. G., while their parents attended an out-of-town conference. Part of the weekend was spent at their house in a nearby city so Mr. R. could play two Little League games -- one on Friday night and one on Saturday morning. After the game on Saturday we ate lunch at their house, packed up our car and brought the boys to our house until Sunday evening when their dad (our son) came to get them. What a weekend we had!!

Mr. R. at bat

(He hit the ball deep into the outfield.)

Mr. R., the Catcher

A game of Rock-Paper-Scissors on the sidelines

(Grandpa and Mr. G.)

Backyard baseball at their house

(If you look closely you can see the ball in mid-air!)

Some very important things happened at our house after church on Sunday:

Sudoku

(Mr. G. and Grandpa)

Making Salad for lunch

(Mr. R. and his Great-Grandma, Nana)

Football with Grandpa

And a Sunday Afternoon nap for Mr. G. and Grandpa!

We wouldn't trade our weekend with the boys for anything -- it was one of those times we will look back on and treasure. They will grow up way too fast and will never be exactly like this again but in their hearts, and ours, we will always remember a couple of days in June and the boys, the baseball and the bunches of fun!!