Christmas in July ....

Why not ... no, we didn't have a decorated tree, lovely wrapped presents nestled underneath, or snow flakes falling from the sky ... but we had Christmas.

Our weekend was spent with family .... my family, my two sisters-in-law and their families, one brother-in-laws' father and my parents.


The heat was sweltering, 105 degrees and no relief in sight. So we all gathered at my parents home and spent the afternoon and evening do cannonballs, cartwheels and flips into their pool. Sitting in a field, surrounded by walnut trees and a mountain view, adults and kiddos swam alike!

What fun!

Pizza, salad and fruit for dinner. A quick batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

An impromptu family party. And every party needs music.

And of course, we chose Christmas music.

105 degree and "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" playing in the background.

And it did feel like Christmas ... the night had the spirit of Christmas in the air and in our hearts ... family, laughter, love, joy. True peace .... And the Lord was at the center of the evening ...

(Unfortunately) no photos of the weekends' Christmas celebration ... too wrapped up enjoying the moments. But sometimes the photographs in our minds and hearts are all we need ...



Onto this morning ... another sweltering day. Near 109 degrees. Too hot to go out side. So before the heat got the best of us, my sweet girlie and I harvested all we could ... fresh blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, peppers and zucchini. I love the fresh smell of the garden, the vegetables, the dirt. I could work in the garden all morning. I find it so relaxing, so peaceful. The kiddos enjoy it as well, digging in the dirt, planting, harvesting and of course, finding a worm or two. But not today, it's simply too hot.

Instead, we used our fresh zucchini and baked bread. My little girl had a cooking lesson of sorts, measuring and mixing. Only a few spills ... and a whole lot of fun. The aroma of baking zucchini bread now fills the house. Heavenly ...