Was it this hot when I was a kid?

I love summer and the heat! Really.....I love being home and sitting in the sun for a while each day. I will admit however, that as I age....I realize my skin does not enjoy the sun as much as I do. I am now beginning to see these glorious dark spots on my face. The telling signs of days gone by that were filled with baby-oil and iodine days. Maybe some butter occasionally while laying out on the roof or the hot drive way back in the day! Oh well....glad I get a new body when I get to heaven. Hope that includes the skin too! LOL

Anyway, as I was saying, I love summer days. I remember playing outside all day long and my mom hollering for us to come in! Those were the best. We didn't stay inside all day because there was 'nothing' to do inside. All the fun....was outside with our pals. The ADVENTURE was outside. What does a parent do when their kids do not want to find the adventure? Seriously. Its my own opinion that we must make them find joy in 'the adventure' and do something different. Turn off the TVs for a day. For a week. Whatever - just get them off the couch. Make your teenager play battleship with you. We've had some great conversations that come out of nowhere just because the time is there. Or you could allow them a couple of choices. The choices I offered my 17 year old this week was do you want to do something fun outside with your brothers or do you want to do more yard work for me? Either way....its totally your decision is what I told him. I was delighted when he chose the play with your brothers option. They've ended up playing Nerf, shooting the paintball guns and eventually ended up at the $1 movie theater that night. It was a good day.

When we take time to do something that involves participation with another person and not just computer/Xbox/TV interaction we get relational. And that is a good thing. Speaking of being relational and unplugging from the computer, I recently got back from a great trip to St. Maartin with my husband and our Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. It was a dream vacation for sure! Here are a few pictures from our week. Just a few - I'm going to try and post a new slide show for the front page of my blog that should have more!

This is me and Kevin at Sunset Bar & Grill watching the planes come in...



This is a group shot after one of our adventures driving the back roads. Steve told us this was Robert Redford's House...I need to google to check out the facts. I'll let you know what I find! LOL


This is Orient Beach. A favorite shot - and the beach really was this pretty.


Like I said...only a few shots but some of our favs. Though it was hot on the island, there was a perfect breeze pretty much 24/7 every day. It was glorious. Maybe if I moved to St. Maartin my kids would find more adventure each day because of that perfect breeze. Its worth a shot. I mean, do what you got to do right? Ha! Well, I guess my other option is to keep the battleship game out and find more creative, manipulative ways to convince my kids to spend time together. Actually....that sounds like more fun anyway.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.