A couple of Saturdays ago, our chapel had a Father-Family event in/near Augusta, MO. Those who are bike-riders rode along the Katy Trail from Dutzow to Augusta, and those of us without bikes met in Augusta and walked along the trail there. Once the bike-riders arrived, we headed up the hill to the town of Augusta. We stopped by Augusta Wood, a delightful shop owned by friends of ours, when went to the park for a picnic lunch.

Mom Smith also met us at the park in Augusta. It was the first time we saw her after the folks’ trip to N.C.

This gets to the core of me every time I see it. It’s even better in the context of the rest of Louis’ talk, so if you can, get hold of a copy of the DVD How Great is our God.

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He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:13-20

I’m thankful my hands are finally letting me get a post done about Katie’s birthday! I’ve been very slowly creating collages over the last week, and am glad to get to post them.

About 8.00 on Katie’s birthday morning, we got a call reporting that a customer (for whom we had installed a water softener and filter in February) had water all over her basement). It turned out to be not our fault at all, but Jonathan had am unexpected two-hour round trip to her house, plus some time to diagnose the problem and help her clean up some of the mess. So we had some extra time at home that morning before leaving on our planned trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. The kids read, played carpet ball, got pedicures from Aunt Beka, played with blocks, etc. It actually turned out to be a lovely morning.

We departed for the Gardens around noon, and stopped on the way for a lunch treat courtesy of Aunt Beka and Uncle Eric (in absentia). Then we headed for the gardens! It was a very hot day (the time/temp sign I noticed on the way home said 100′), and all things water were a decided hit. Despite the heat, I think we all enjoyed our outing very much. Here are some pics:

Katie had requested ham for her birthday dinner, along with corn and peas and the most important cake and ice cream. Beka, Georgia, and I got everything ready for her birthday dinner the day before: ham (in loads of butter and brown sugar) that cooked in the crockpot while we were gone; pasta salad with peas, corn, and cheese; and applesauce. I’d also done the cake the day before. It was delightful to come home and have everything ready!

And then, on to the cake, ice cream, and presents!

It was a fun day for everyone. Katie thoroughly enjoyed being the Birthday Girl, especially sharing the day with Aunt Beka and The Cousins.

Grandpa and Grandma Smith were out of town on Katie’s birthday, so she got to enjoy another birthday-ish evening last night. It was a good thing she needed to open presents from the Smith g’parents, because it reminded me to pull out what Papa and Gramma Byrd had sent weeks ago (oops!). It was great to catch up on Dad and Mom Smith’s recent North Carolina vacation, and Katie loved all her new presents.

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Sweet Kate’s birthday was Tuesday, and we had a great celebration day with The Cousins and Aunt Beka. I’m eager to tell all about the day and share pictures, but my hands are not permitting me to do that right now. Hopefully soon!

We are loving having Beka and The Cousins here to visit. They arrived Friday evening, and we get to have them with us until Wednesday morning. The Blessings and The Cousins are wearing themselves out every day having fun together.

The kids cleaned and began to fill the pool (aka stock tank) on Saturday, and had to stop midway through because we were having water issues. But the half-filled pool doesn’t bother the kids at all, and they have been thoroughly enjoying it. Meanwhile, Beka and I have been thoroughly enjoying sitting in the sun beside the pool playing lifeguard.

We all went to church this morning, and the kids were terrific! Beka and most of the children sat along one side of the chapel, and it was fun to watch them. They really did a great job of being still and paying attention.

After church, we hopped in the van and the truck and ate leftover pizza for lunch on our way to Wal-mart for some groceries. Our trip to Wal-mart, while a bit crazy, was actually a lot of fun. The kids were well-mannered and cooperative (yay for them!), and we all enjoyed the two sample stands of ice cream. And I giggled, wondering how many people wondered if Jonathan was there with his two wives and eleven children on Fathers Day.

We had a fun relaxing afternoon (even Jonathan, who mowed for a while). Then we made seafood chowder for dinner and cookies for dessert. Yummy Fathers Day meal!

Here’s a collage from Saturday’s pictures. Somehow I didn’t take a single picture today.

I’m beyond thankful for the fathers in my life.

The greatest Father of all, my Heavenly Father.

The best earthly father I could have asked for, my beloved Papa.
And the wonderful father of my Blessings, my lover and best friend, Jonathan.

First of all, I’m going to admit right off that I realize that Google’s browser, Chrome, has its challenges. It has issues dealing with certain types of media, and just this week, it started doing a bizarre thing when I want to print stuff. But I just can’t make myself leave and go back to Internet Explorer. I’ll use other browsers when I have to, to get a page to work right, but I’ll put up with that hassle in order to keep my Chrome.

Here are some screenshots to illustrate two reasons why I love Chrome too much to leave.

1. I love the “New Tab” tab. When I click to open a new tab in IE, I get this uninspiring view (and that’s the improvement that comes with IE8!):

Oh, but when I click to open a new tab in Chrome, I get this:

Those lovely little boxes are links to the most often recently used websites. I’m very predictable, and 9 times out of 10, what I want is going to be right there. Love that. Note, none of your blogs are there, not because I don’t read them, but because they’re in my Reader on my homepage.

2) It’s wonderfully minimalist. Look at how much room the actual webpage gets in Chrome (on the left), compared to IE8 (on the right). I am claustrophobic, and I guess that applies to the things I see in my computer screen as well. When I need to use other browsers, I feel like I’m cramped… like I should duck or something.

The advertisement for Google is rather incidental… they just happen to be who makes the browser I like best. The shameless plug for my photo blog, Yesterday, on the other hand, is totally intentional, and I hope you decide to follow it/put it in your reader/check it every day for the rest of your internet days (or for as long as I manage to be faithful to posting on it).