Happy 232nd birthday America. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country. God Bless America!!!

Stella is crawling!!! Leann & Matt will celebrate their second wedding anniversary this month, time flys when you’re working four jobs between the two of yous. We also have two birthday girls in July, Riley turns 5 with a “Puppy-Party” and Katy steps beyond the quarter century mark with a dinner at the Spaghetti Factory the end of the month. As an extended family we will be celebrating my dad’s life with a memorial breakfast in his honor at which time we will present mom with a memory book that everyone in the family has contributed to. I’m looking forward to honoring a man who has touched so many lives with his unconditional love and support and pleased that mom will have many sweet memories of her husband of 61+ years right at her fingertips.

The office and hall stairs weren’t done when I hosted Bunko this month… oh well. Hubby’s been busy in the field making the big bucks so we can afford gas at almost $5.00 a gallon OUCH, OUCH, OUCH. I can remember the ’70’s and gas rationing… the scare of gas going to $1.50 a gallon some day and thinking I’ll never be able to afford it, I’ll have to sell my car!!! Yep, we are still driving but only when we absolutely have to. No more of those legendary Sunday drives like we used to take with my grandparents in the fifty’s & sixty’s after church along Pacific Coast Highway… *sigh* those were the days.

Post Script…. July 10, 2008; Welcome Gina Louise born first, 1 lb. 8 oz. 13 inches long & Thomas James just 15 oz. & 10 1/2 inches long. Born during an emergency C-section at 26 weeks. Mother and father are preparing for a long haul, the twins will not be released until their original due date of October 16th but mommy’s life is no longer in jeopardy and the family requests lots of prayers for these two tiny tots and everyone who loves them. Congrats to our grandkids… you have two more cousins!!! God bless you all.
RIP Randy Pausch