Some of the challenges in my life make me feel like a limp, wrung out dishrag. I am too dry and parched to do any good any where, and I need to be immersed in the Word, to bathe in the Spirit, to be refreshed and renewed so that I have usefulness again.

Fill me up, Father God. Wash me clean, and saturate all my fibers with your love and peace and strength. It is good to know that I can come to you and be filled, over and over. Amen.

We had such a wonderful day on Saturday sharing memories and joy with our big "Krumm" family at our first ever family reunion. My husband's brother and sisters, and most of all their families were there to meet and greet one another after several years absence in some cases.

As the giant Krumm family (all sixty or so of us) sat and stood in the hot noonday sun posing for a big family photo, dear husband and I were a little prideful of the fact that our whole clan was present and accounted for, all twelve of us smiling and only mildly grumbling about how long the process was taking. Spiderman was yawning on my lap...after all, stillness for a three year old can only mean sleep, otherwise perfectly good wiggling, jumping, and running time is being wasted. The grand girls were gracious and kept posing and smiling, and the clouds just never came to make the picture "perfect."

Our grown kid's aunts and uncles and cousins got to meet our grand children and lots of hugging and smiling was taking place. I liked introducing my grand children to everyone. I think our eighty-six year old Great-Grandma Krumm was enjoying seeing all of her family together. We have all wanted to do this for a long time. Gathering at holiday times is too difficult, so this seems a wonderful alternative. We look forward to next year's gathering.

On Sunday we were able to gather and celebrate Spiderman's third birthday with lots of laughter, lots of presents, and lots of goodies. He quickly figured out how to open presents and not worry too much about tearing off the paper. It is wonderful to see how much we all love him. And how in the name of heaven can he be three already!?!

Now comes Monday, and the greatest blessing for me is that I do not have the stress and pressure of running off from my home to go to work and be filled with anxiety over deadlines and expectations. I dread my husband going back to work, but I always get a little leap of joy in my heart when I remember that I get to stay here at home and keep the house for all of us.

Blessings to all. Have a great Monday.

Even though the sun has been up for quite some time, I am struggling to rise to the Monday morning routines of laundry, menu planning, and weekend recovery for my home. It is not that I had a bad weekend, it is that we had such a wonderful weekend.

Because we live nearly fifty miles (or more) from most of my husband's family, we do not see them as often as we would like. Their busy lives paired with our busy lives makes getting together a rare occasion. This weekend we had two high school graduations to celebrate and got to see many of our dear ones at both. What joy!

It is sad that people no longer can send a lilting "hello" over the back fence and summon a sister, cousin, or mother-in-law. My husband and I were filled with a small sense of loss over the years missed in the lives of these bright and talented young people. Our nephew Andrew treated all of us to a percussion recital that was incredible, despite thunder and torrential rain hammering at the roof of the school auditorium. Our niece's daughter Marisa shared her plans for attending training for law enforcement, and we were pleased with the opportunity to hear of her plans.

It all makes me wonder about heaven. I think of those who have gone before us and the joys they have missed here. I know that my dear father-in-law would smile from ear to ear if he could see his grandson's and granddaughter's children. I have so much to do here, and I am in no hurry to go there yet, but I hope our Lord and Father gives us all lots of time to "catch up." I have so much to tell them.