The Fourth of July at Granny's Cabin

The Fourth of July at the cabin is like Christmas in July! This year we decorated the cabin with red, white and blue lights and the "party barge" with all things red, white and blue. The little kids love the parade on the lake in the decorated barge. We sing songs at the top of our lungs that celebrate our wonderful country. We are indeed, "proud to be an American." There is a sense of excitement from families all over the lake. This last weekend, my daughter said, "Just think, Mom all around the lake, families just like us are making memories. Isn't that funny that they will have memories about OUR lake?" Memories is what life at the lake and at Granny's Cabin is all about. When I prayed for such a place 8 years ago, my prayer was that God would provide a place for my family where my grandchildren could always feel loved and secure and where they could find God in nature. There are so many opportunities to talk about what God has done for us through his creation while enjoying the beauty of the lake. For instance, Elijah and I recently had a conversation about blue dragonflies. I don't see them anywhere else other than at our lake. They are beautiful. We also have zebra dragonflies (which is not their official name). Every year we happily announce that they are back and flying all around. Last night there was a long and detailed discussion about bats. Granny doesn't like bats and the grandchildren love to scare her. Every night at dusk the bats come out and sweep down on the lake eating a plethera of bugs. Bats are our friends, I tell my grandchildren....but I don't really believe it. And, we have turtles. Several days ago, Malia and Reese and I went on a two mile walk stopping to freeze in our tracks and quietly observe the big turtles that sun themselves on a log in the same spot in the lake. I find them fascinating and beautiful and simple. There are days I wish my life was more like the life of a turtle and less like the life of a hare! Grandmas need to be fit and able to run up and down stairs; prepare meals in the midst of chaos and stay sweet and calm when smudges appear on freshly painted walls and dents rise from the dining room table. I recently told my sister-in-law who just completed a wonderful visit at the lake, "One needs to hold all things loosely at the lake." Granny needs to heed her own advice.