4th of July at Delta Lake

What does Independence Day mean to you and your family?  For us, it is not just a day in the past, but rather the present.  Independence day is a day that has been fought for us; a day that is being fought at this moment for us.  And as our family prepares to fight for you, because this deployment is not just Andrew fighting it is our whole family. In your life I hope that you remember this day in the present, because it is in ours.  On this July 4th our family soaked in the last remaining days before our world changes and we become a family deploying. 

This Independence day we had the opportunity to travel 3 hours to upstate New York to a special childhood place of Andrew's.  Andrew spent many summers at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center and was excited to show our Buddy Bee what a special place it had become to him. Plus, Mommy, in the 12 years we have been together, has never experienced this special place that Andrew is so fond of.

Daddy and the Bee swimming in Delta Lake.

Buddy Bee waisted no time in splashing away.

Swinging into the water with Daddy.

I was happy sitting on the sidelines watching my boys together.

Andrew, a former lifeguard at Delta Lake, teaching his boy to swim.

My boys taking a break from swimming and enjoying the water and view.

A few minutes later my boys were back to swinging in the water.

Soon, our boy was shivering, but our little fish was not interested in getting out of the water to warm up.

I am not sure who was enjoying the day more, Andrew or Buddy Bee.

Our boy was having a grand time.

My two fishes taking a break from the water.

It was a short break because soon they were making their way back to the water.

Our view of Delta Lake.

My boy splashing in the waves.

Buddy Bee soon discovered that lake rocks are really good for pouring out of a bucket.

I love that when he finds something he loves doing our serious little boy appears.

I love my boys together.

Park Family 4th of July 2012

Our view walking back from the lake.

 Our day was quickly passing away so, we headed back from the lake to see Nana and Papa, who also came along on our adventure.

After the Bee was changed from his little speedo into more appropriate clothes we headed to the playground for some more Buddy Bee fun.

The first thing the Bee spotted was the sandbox.

Our Buddy Bee can't pass up a chance to do some digging.

And what could be better than a sandbox full of trucks!

This little boy melts my heart.

The Buddy Bee soon noticed that there was more to do on the playground than the sand box and was off running with Daddy.

Sliding with Daddy.

The boy was fascinated that there was a ball on a string.

"Ma, Da won't let me down!"

Andrew played on this duck when he was a kid which for this mama was kind of sentimental.

Daddy can always get our boy to laugh by tickling his legs.

Buddy Bee got to meet Jill, Andrew's childhood friend from Delta, for the first time.

Waving goodbye to Delta Lake.

Nana and Papa, Buddy Bee, and Andrew all ready to head home.

As our days as a complete family are numbered we are thankful for these special little moments in our lives where we are one family and able to laugh and smile together.  These are the days that will get us through Andrew's 2nd deployment.