Happy 4^th of July everyone!!! I hope you had a fun friends- and family-filled 4^th this year! Steve, Emma and I spent it on the Lake at Duroga Park. Hawley, Eric and their little ones Lydia and Bryce came up to join us and the Colyars, which made it all the more fun. We swam, boated, tubed, lunched, and just hung out with our feet in the water and chatted.

During the drive home Steve and I couldn’t help but think how blessed most of us are to be able to have such sweet holidays, traditions, and people who love us to spend these momentous days with. Days like this remind me to think of the people who don’t have loved ones to share holidays with. Wives who’ve been widowed, couples in the midst of divorce, and elderly people whose best friends may have passed. Times like this remind me of how important it is to reach out to people both individuals and families who may not have a place to spend holidays and special events with. Whether the occasion be Christmas, Easter, or Superbowl, we all want to know we’re loved and have a place to go to celebrate. I find it really easy to get wrapped up in my own plans and become a little self- or family-centric during these times, but we’ve got to practice sharing our holidays and occasions…inviting people into our homes, holidays, and lives to share what we’ve been so richly blessed with. After all, we never know when it will be our turn to need another’s hospitality.