“Do the next thing”

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Like My Hallway Paint Colors, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

I finally took the kids to the beach. Well, Adam and Anna anyways. Micah and Erik were not around. We went with friends and had a nice time! We all got a little burned, despite the three different kinds of sunblock in my tote bag. Go figure!! We bought a park pass so we can go free whenever we want now. Let’s hope I choose to take them there more often. They really love it.

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One More Picture!, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

We procrastinated to take one more family photo before Fran leaves again. Here we are at Camp Good News where we dropped Micah off to work for the week. We couldn’t wait any longer. Erik brought his camera, but no tripod, so we asked Hope Field to take the shots!

This just might end up being our Christmas photo for the year. Within months after they arrive in Iraq they will start sending them home for their 2 week vacations. We aren’t sure if Fran will be home again before Christmas or not. Time will tell.

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Fran June13th, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

I don’t know where it started. Yeah, I could google it and know in a few minutes, but it doesn’t really matter where it started! On Friday’s I wear red, and I try to post something patriotic on my blogs.

So, today I’ll just say that our family is about to launch into a 12 to 13 month stretch ahead of unknowns. God is with us and will give us the grace and peace to withstand the stresses and challenges. We trust he will do the same for Fran.

Here he is at Camp Shelby. He says he doesn’t know why he didn’t smile!

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Patriotic Portrait, originally uploaded by Midcoast Mainah.

The Blake family at church is also dealing with deployment. Scott has been gone longer than I can fathom. Just seems like forever. I think when it is all done in August, it will have been 2 years. Now, part of that was spent with Scott home on various leaves, (vacations,) but for the most part, Nicole has been raising their boys alone for all this time, getting advice and encouragement each night in emails from Scott. He is home for another leave. In church I sat behind the Blake family, and at the end of the service, this is what I saw.

And what would give anyone the impression that it might rain?  What, here in Maine?  In the summer?  Give me a break!

(laughs a maniacal laugh, then resorts to drooling….)

Ok, this all day event that we have invited hundreds of people to here at our house and to the field in the neighborhood just may be a wash, (not to be confused with the “washes” out in Arizona during the Monsoons, but sort of.)

We just wanted to give Fran to a chance to visit with everyone he can while he is home, and before heading off to Iraq.  We set up today as an open house of sorts so that people could come and throw stuff on the grill for lunch or supper (OWKA “Dinner,” or” the last meal of the day,”) play a game of Ultimate Frisbee, then ride the trolley downtown for the fireworks.  “Any or all of the above” the invitations said.

Because it is raining, however, it may be a day of, ok, we can grill food, but then bring it in the house and scatter throughout the downstairs to eat and visit.  Rather than Ultimate Frisbee, we may have to resort to Dominoes and home movies!!

Whatever we do today, the purpose is to visit with friends, so it will be just fine, I’m sure…………