That’s what I (don’t) love about Sunday

Sunday used to be one of our favorite days, now it is a painful day. You see Sunday is the day Jo has to go away for the week, every Sunday for ….. ever? We still believe that a miracle will occur and that she will be with us, but until then it is very hard to take a little girl you love with all your heart, who is crying and begging not to go, and give her to someone that you don’t think loves her as much as you do, or will care for her like you.

Yet every Sunday afternoon we do just that. It gives us a knot in the bottom of our stomach and a fist in our throat. We do our best not to think about it, but sometimes it just sneaks up on you and you realize the gravity of the situation and the pawns we have become in that struggle that is her life. Further, instead of getting easier as the weeks pass by, the pain increases, and the reality of the weeks and months that we have missed weigh heavy on our souls and cloud our minds.

We pray, try to lighten the mood, and encourage her telling her that she will be back, and maybe, just maybe next time it will be for ever. So from the time we pick her up on Friday to Sunday, we try to make the most of our time, and that is just what we did this Fourth of July weekend.

We started the weekend with a 2 hr. parade, yes 2 hours! An hour and a half of it were Harley riders and wrecked race cars. But the kids got tons of free candy, and after all isn’t that what Independence Day is all about?

Jo loving the deer. He better be glad hunting season is still a month a way.

candy hounds, this is how the spent 90% of the parade. I don't think they saw but 2 floats.

Jo took a picture of daddy

After the parade we boogied down to Clam Gulch and hung out at the beach all day. The weather was absolutely perfect and we staked claim to a great section of beach. The kids played in the freezing water, the miry clay, the unstable bluff and had a great time. If we hadn’t forgot the hot dogs, it would’ve been perfect. Good thing Tra thought to pack some meat for hamburgers and saved the day.

every day at the beach must include rock throwing

Ok, the water's a little colder than I thought

Hmmmm, looks like she does at home.

hmmm, looks like he does at home ( minus the cool shades & fire)

you know how I feel about cameras!!

I don't remember painting red, white and blue on my toes... I thought I went with straight blue.

Olivia and Jake

Jake and Jo

The warrior with the farmer tan, Ben.

No hot dogs, no problem

From the clan of ignorant fools.

Sunday was another beautiful day, and after church and a fried chicken lunch, the slip-n-slide was calling my name. I didn’t answer it, but the kids did.

Jake prepping the slide for maximum slippage.

Jake in action, and yes this is a redneck slip-n-slide.

Livy in action

uhhh, Kassie in action?

a redneck slide must have a redneck fort

sisters forever

this is how you do it.

spray action

Jo eating something that is probably not meant to be eaten