Let us start at the very beginning...

Last week was VBS week.  It was so fun.  I had my little group and we were were in Athens with Paul.  It was an exhausting week, but well worth it.  We had to leave VBS a day early so that we could get to the lake with family.  

On Wednesday, I was pretty tired.  The girls had been quite tired and emotional/whiny/plenty of arguing all day.  Nathan came home from work ready to leave immediately for the lake with Lola (he was going a day ahead of the rest of us), and I begged him to keep the girls so I could grocery shop first.  I came home from shopping, hoping certain things would be done and they weren't.  I did those things after putting away the groceries and then I exploded.  "I need more help!  Now I get to make food! I'm so tired!  And now you're leaving!"  It was a really sweet goodbye. *heavy sarcasm*

And I can hardly type this blog post.  After Nathan left, I was using a chef's knife, working fast and pushing hard to chop through hard, dried dates to make some wonderful bars to take to the lake, and nearly removed the tip of my finger.  Oh how the blood was gushing.

The one that's wrapped (pictured below) is my newest cut while chopping onions last night.  I tell Nathan my one great flaw is that I'm such a fast worker. :)

The pointer finger is the one that, if you look closely, you can see that the slice ran it's course through my finger nail, nearly removing it.  I still yell out wen I bump it on stuff.  But I thought I would die that night.  Nathan had gone ahead to the lake with Lola, and I cursed and cried, "Why did you leave me?!"  I rocked myself in a chair and kicked my legs to deal with the pain, much like how I dealt with labor.  I called Nathan, as he was on the road, and told him I thought I was dying and, "why did you leave me?" We decided I really wasn't going to die.  I slept with my throbbing hand above my head.  

The next day I was able to teach my last VBS day, though I considered skipping out to get the finger glued back together.  But I just didn't have time for it.  It seems to be healing alright though.

We finished our VBS day and the big girls and I packed up and headed to the lake.

It has been 7 years since we've seen these cousins, and there were a few new ones.

This is sweet Seth with the awesome hair, helping Nathaniel drive the boat.

Our girls woke up earlier than everyone else, so we had early morning coffee and canoe rides.  I'm actually glad they got us up early.  Isn't early morning Nature's best time?  It was sweet.

This is Lola's newest best friend, Max. :)

We took the cousins to our favorite wading and rock-throwing spot.

We took evening boat rides, which are the best kind.  

Goodness, thank you Lord for sunsets like these.

All the cousins.

Grandma and Grandpa surprised us with the Aqua-Glide (lake trampoline)!  What fun.

We got home Sunday afternoon, all tired and happy.  We woke this morning and decided we couldn't wait until this evening to give the girls a box full of dog toys, snacks, leash and collar, and little "Lucy" tag.  It was so great.  They are so excited.  They immediately cleaned the whole house happily because we've discussed how much Lucy will chew their things.  Maybe this is what we needed all along. :) The threat of tiny, destructive teeth may keep our house clean!  We'll see.

Can't wait to show you our sweet new baby soon.  We'll pick her up this evening!