Family

 The week after Memorial day, Granddaddy (aka James Stephens, my mom's dad) had a stroke.  We had seen him that weekend, when we had dinner in Salado coming home from our camping trip.  So in the next few weeks, I got to see ALL of my family on both sides.  Kathy came right away and stayed for the whole time, we saw her here in the hospital (she also came to visit us in Austin and came to Friendship).

Then when Granddaddy and family made the decision for him to come home, Angela came with her parents to visit.  This is the last picture I have of Granddaddy, surrounded by many who love him.  This was Sunday morning so we had a little service around his bedside, singing hymns.  

 Since we are close, we got to come up when various family members from other states came to visit.  Kimberly and her husband James (who I didn't get a photo of) brought Noor and baby Roman.  The girls had a blast playing-rearranging the furniture, painting, playing in puddles.  There was a lot of life in the home that evening!

 Granddaddy passed away on June 14, and since some family was out of state/country, the funeral was held June 28 and lots of family came.  There was a lunch in the church gym after the very nice funeral.

 My cousins and spouses.  We got to meet Cathy Stephens for the first time.

 Tracie (no picture) came to the visitation and my Dad's other family came to the funeral.

Family that loves the Lord and each other is such a blessing!

June Fun

 I am really behind on the blog so here is an assortment of fun from June.
On a Sunday Lydia put out all all the 'comfy' stuff because it is a day of rest.

 The kids built an amazing city called Workin'ville with the train set and Playmobile and other random toys.

 Lydia's Sunday school teachers, the Liebs, had a party with a pool, bunny....

 big puppy, lots of food and a cool old house in Taylor to tour.

 Y-E-S for VBS!  It was an awesome week.  And so much fun that Lydia got to be a real part of it and not just in childcare (like Gloria).  We brought two neighbors (and looking at these make me sad because during the summer we haven't seen that much of them) and had a picnic each day after by the beautiful lake seeing fish and turtles and ducks.

 On the last day we got a cd of the week's music and the kids jammed the whole way home, while vacuuming out the car and then for a block party!

We had 12 kids in the front yard enjoying the music, doing volcanoes which of course lead to needing to get the hose out.  I was so exhausted but okay because I hadn't sat down yet :).  Really a wonderful week and I am thinking about renting a 15 passenger van for next year!