What Happened to July?

June ended with a kind of fog rolling over our journey. If we were still in California, fog rolling in in June is called June Gloom!

Keeping our balancing while juggling on a unicycle going across a tight rope, describes how it has been feeling.

To catch up, I'll begin by spinning off the prompts from FMF that I missed while figuring out some of the paths to take on an adventure that literally just fell into our laps.

Like this adventure that was surely a blessing to find this teeny tiny kitty, near death in my drive way.

Had I not found her that morning, she wouldn't have survived the 115+ degree day we had. She was called Faith! There was a reason she was where she was and where I was for this to all turn out like it did. She was one very sick kitty. Given a 50/50 chance of surviving the weekend. We didn't get to bring her home for another 2 weeks after it looked like she was going to be okay. She is surely creating some comfort around here. For two weeks she was loved on by this little girl and since by this little man.

I also had the pleasure to watch these six play around for a full week. These kiddo's created some incredible memories that will stick with them for years to come. I can't believe how fast they have all grown. The oldest ones are in the middle of their high school years. The young ladies are ending their last year at middle school or junior high. While the two youngest are very eager to begin the 1st grade.

Of course, we were missing four others that fill in the last of the grammar school years as well as the middle school gang. Let see, all that adds up to; 3 - 1st graders, a 4th grader, a 6th grader, 3 - 8th graders, a 10th grader, and an 11th grader. Wow! I did have the opportunity to see them briefly for an afternoon the beginning of July. We will get to see them again next month, too. Knowing when always brings me comfort! Try as we might, getting schedules to coincide with everyone has been near impossible. Fortunately, we have a plan. Something else to look forward too and brings even more comfort.

If you think raising kids can go by fast, watching your grandchildren grow up seem to go by even faster.

With so many blessings and the comfort knowing God leads the way, allows us to collect so many memories while we continue to take some time to play on our journey through life!

And play is just what we did at the beach with this little man!

It was a much-needed escape from our hot days, even if just for the afternoon before it was time to pick up his brother and sister. I have wanted to check out the sandcastle competition in San Diego for a few years now. We went a long time ago when our kids were teens and have been wanting to get the "Grand's" to it someday. That day finally came, but it was with only one! Insert a sad face here.

While exploring Imperial Beach, we found a few options that just might work for future visits. It also allowed me the opportunity to find many items on the 9th Annual Scavenger hunt that @Clickinmoms does each July. I posted some of my photos on my 365 Days a Year page. Other's are on my Instagram page.

Like any "Grand" time a "Grand" Finale is needed to celebrate the wonderful time we had.

 Oh and what about that new addition to our family?

In the beginning, Bella just nosed and licked her a lot. Now they are best buddies! It's almost like Bella has a baby she never had, and Faith has a mommy she never had.

That pretty much covers what's been going on around here. Other than catching up on the yard work, our first week back to normal, well as normal as it can be for us, was just as busy as it had been all summer.

School started this week for the "Grand's" in town which means Grandma Wednesdays resume. I can't believe how fast July went. Or the year for that matter? Is it too early to say Fall is just around the corner? I am looking forward to the weather it brings and giving my dead garden some new life. Each year I learn something new about gardening in the desert.

Five Minute Friday ~ Inspire

Needless to say, I've missed a few Five Minute Friday's.

Four to be exact!

What better week to jump back in, then with inspire.

Ready. Set. Go!

Over the last month, I have been inspired in so many ways. Facing an unknown can rattle me in such a way that I just dive head first into my bible.

Each week as I checked in to see what the prompt was for that week, then prepared to write my five minutes, I wasn't one bit surprised when blah, blah, blah, blah, blah was all I was able to muster. Words were just going out of my mind and in every direction. Making any sense wasn't even close.

In fact, I haven't even written about our adventures in over a month! Being vague right now is all I can be until we know exactly what we are facing and how we will be inspired to get through it. Every prayer is that it will all be something simple. Prayers that the right people are contacted to assure the best outcome possible.

God sends us messages all the time. It's up to us to hear and see them.

Being faithful, going to church, praying and participating in bible study is just the beginning of what He wants us to be inspired by. I believe He also wants us to inspire others with His words through our words. Sharing how His answered prayers have strengthened us to go after what His plan is for us. Through trials and errors, as we learn how to navigate a particular path, sharing how faith got us from point A to point B, sets an example of the work others might have to go through to get to their destination as well.

I can look back over the last 50 years that got me to here, and I can still see the many faces and remember the many words that inspired me.

Stop!

UPDATE:

I am not breaking the rules! In editing this post from last week, I did not touch a single word in my five minutes. I just wanted to separate my update of our journey from what I am inspired by.

God has and will always will be my number one inspirer.

Throughout my 10 years of blogging, I have been inspired by so many wonderful writers, photographers, grandma's, mom's, crafter's, gardener's, and some really awesome Christians. Every visit brought new insight and inspiration during times of searching for answers, reasons, and why's to then the how's. Growth doesn't happen without some type of water. All of those things that have inspired me, has been my water for my soul.

After 40+ years in the water business, 23 of that as owners, growing through the many different changes in business to new technoglogy, we wouldn't have or be where we are without the inspiration of so many. Everyday, be it a customer or a colliege, someone has given us something that inspired us.

 

Thanks for stopping by to read about Our Journey Through LIFE! I really appreciate you visiting, and if you leave I comment that you were here, I will visit your blog as well. If you're not familiar with Five Minute Friday, click the link at the beginning and check out what others have written.

See you next week.