Gramma's "Wit": My Life In Pictures- July

I've had quite an eventful summer. My next trip after River was born was the weekend of the 4th of July. First I went camping at Indian Springs with Donnie & Katie & the boys. We had a blast! We swam (of course) we watched bugs, and fish, and fireworks. We had yummy food prepared by Donnie & Katie. The first night there, Heather and the kids were there to swim and picnic with us too. I FORGOT to take pictures while she was there! But I did get a few fun ones the next couple of days. Following is a collage of just a few of the pictures.

After leaving Indian Springs, I spent a couple of days at Heather's. It was a lot of fun... Brady and Jade and River came over for a barbecue, then we all loaded up and went to see fireworks. It was marvelous! I like to think I am seriously patriotic and on the 4th, every year the fireworks just fill my soul with joy and celebration. The grand finale each year- with inspiring music in the background- always brings me to tears.

Brady and Jade are so cute with their little River girl. And they are so happy to bring her around so family can love on her too! It was great to be able to get pictures of River with Jim (his first time seeing her) and with Jim's mom- Gramma Esther as the kids call her. She just loves having all the kids come and visit her. We are blessed to have her in our lives. Once I married Jim, she just took us into her heart and her home like we'd been family from the first. She is a wonderful woman.

When Jim came down, we had the privilege of going to our granddaughter Eliza's baptism. My camera batteries were almost dead so I didn't get many pictures from there, but I did get this beautiful one of Eliza. She is so precious and dear to my heart. I had the honor to be present at her birth and when she and her family lived here in Boise we were so close. I love the time I have with Eliza and her family. It is amazing how much love swells in our hearts for children that are ours through marriage. I have truly been blessed. As you can see, there are pictures of Tanner and Tyler in this collage also. Tanner and I have some truly outrageously fun together!

This next collage is a collection of pictures of River with her cousins (and Uncle Donnie and Gramma). As you can see, she is very very loved! I think as a family we are all absolutely thrilled that Brady has found this happiness in his life. We just love Jade to pieces- how could we not? She is a delightful person and she has given happiness to Brady that had eluded him for quite a while.

One of the highlights of every summer for me is the Toomer Reunions. The big one is every other year, so on the off year we have just our immediate family. This year was the big family- and although there were many missing, we still had aunts, uncles, cousins, and family from several states there. It seems like our family (my mom & dad and all o'us) always have the biggest showing. Every one of my siblings were there! All seven of us! Sadly, many of our children didn't make it, but each of us had at least part of our family there. Following the reunion in the park, a bunch of our family always goes out to the lake (Bear Lake) and we do have a TON OF FUN!!! Sand, water, water fights, games, kids, grownups, we all just LOVE it!

On Sept. 11th the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, the choir I sing with, performed in a concert to commemorate the tragedy of the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on our country. The concert didn't focus on the grief- rather on hope and growing and moving forward. The music we performed was written and composed by a local man, Paul Aiken in 2005 in memory of that date. It has been performed twice here and before I joined the choir, they even performed it at Carnegie Hall in New York. It is amazing music, The concert was free, but they collected donations for the Interfaith Sanctuary which provides food, clothing and shelter to the homeless and the donations came up to $4000.00! Now they will be able to build some showers at the shelter. I think that is just wonderful! I love this choir and I love the challenge of singing classical music.

Jim cannot do very much- he can hardly travel... but this year he has been slowly, steadily working on projects to improve our yard. I am so proud of him, (I have helped when I could, but my allergies are so bad I'm pretty useless on outdoor working). So I've included a couple of collages of our yard. It is not perfect, but it is a work in progress.... my favorite of course are the angels we have collected -feels like a bit of heaven. This first collage is different shots of parts of the front yard. Jim has almost finished the setting in the very front with the white rock, trees, and angels.

This next one is different areas in the back. There is actually a lot still to be done in the back, but again, Jim is working slowly but surely. I think it helps him mentally and spiritually to get outside and work a little. He can only do about an hour at a time, then has to rest in bed for a while, but he is steadfast and things are looking better and better.

Okay- when I first posted this blog, somehow the description of this collage was lost. Very simply- amongst my pictures I downloaded I found these silly faces.... I thought it was funny that Donnie, Carter and I all had these goofy pictures along with the straight pictures. Can't tell we're related can ya?