Fireworks, Food, and Fun

Where to begin? It was a glorious weekend full of lots of laughter, yummy food, and good times. And it all started with the drive home.

As you can see below, we took my kitty, Katie, with us to her new home at my mom's farm. Now Miss Katie is used to coming and going as she pleases and she did not relish the idea of being in a cat carrier for five hours. Let's just say that ride was pretty darn eventful and that my car now has cat hair in it. We eventually had to let her out of the carrier because she wouldn't quit meowing. So I held her. And then she'd climb into the back window or sit on my leg and look out the passenger window. We were all relieved when we finally got home and Miss Katie could explore the farm.



My mom remarried this year and she now lives on a gorgeous farm with her husband in western Nebraska. We enjoyed playing badminton and volleyball on her front lawn and my daughter absolutely loved the swing and playing with my mom's two baby kitties. This is the view from my mom's front porch. Beautiful, isn't it?

Here's my brother getting ready to smack the birdie - I thought this was a pretty cool photo.

And you have to have a farm dog! This is Shaggy.



On Saturday, it was softball, softball, softball. My brothers were in a softball tournament and we spent most of the day shuttling between my grandmother's house (which is literally right across the street from the softball diamond) and the fields. My brothers both played baseball when they were younger - my younger brother even played college baseball, so I'm quite used to hanging out at the ball diamonds. It was great to watch them again. (And I forgot my camera, but my dad took a ton of photos, so hopefully I can just get some of those).

And oh, the food! Wow. I think I'm still full!

We hit the rodeo Saturday night. Here's my nephew hamming it up with his friend.

I know the top of this photo got cut off, but it'll give you a taste of the bucking broncos! I'm really not a rodeo fan, but it was fun to watch - except the bull riders. Sheesh! I was on pins and needles the whole time!

Of course, you can't have the 4th of July without some fireworks! The local volunteer fire department put on a great show. My camera isn't the best at capturing action shots, but here's a few cool photos.

It was so wonderful to be with my family again. I desperately needed to be around them after everything I've gone through the past few months. Since I had a pretty lonely birthday this year, my mom got me a birthday cake and we celebrated my birthday on Friday. Just about made me cry! I dearly love them all.

Returning to the city after a trip back home is always bittersweet. I need the sweet, peaceful country air to rejuvenate my body and soul, but I thrive on the energy of the city. I guess I have the best of both worlds! My brother and his family live on the farm (he's the 4th generation to farm it), my dad lives out in the country just a few miles from him, and my mom lives on a farm with her husband. I have three places to get my bit of country! And really, it's a bit of heaven when I go home. I feel like it centers me. Though I probably couldn't live there again, I absolutely love going home and visiting.

Family comes first with me. And I am fortunate to have a wonderful, loving, and supportive family. God truly has blessed me!