Happy Birthday, America!

Happy Fourth of July!

And...Happy Birthday to our beautiful America!

Today is either a lazy day or an extremely busy day for everyone. Families gather at mountain retreats, lakeside cabins, a day at the lake, someone's home. Wherever you meet, the day is filled with hugs, laughter, good conversation, and good food.

Our Fourth has changed over the years. We used to spend days at the lake, boating, swimming, fishing and cooking out for a group of friends and family. These days we're kicked back and work in the yard or watch ballgames.

My son is all about fishing. His son, age eleven, had a fishing pole in his hands as soon as he could hold one. Over the years many a fish has landed on the banks. This morning my son called at 8:00, he'd taken my grandson fishing at his other grandfather's lake. He emailed a photo of my grandson's latest catch. It was a huge Bass! My grandson said his dad told him it must weigh in around four pounds! That's a big fish! Did they keep the fish? No. They turned the nice catch loose so they or someone else could catch it again. I think that's the best thing to do.

I hope you have the best and safest holiday ever.

Do you have special memories of The Fourth of July?

I'm adding my page seven, seven sentences from J.D. Faver's challenge below.

This excerpt is from "A Smoky Mountain Christmas."

"Oh! Sorry." Apparently now wasn’t a good time for brain freeze. Since the man was the only warm body she’d seen in hours, and the exasperated look he’d given her, she’d best try to concentrate, hard though as it was. The prison escapees hung in the back of her mind.
Tina tried a couple of times to turn the engine over. But all she heard again was - click, click, click. That, too, faded into the crisp air.

Carol DeVaney

www.caroldevaney.weebly.com

Spider-Webbing

Have you ever thought how similar we are to spiders? Yes, spiders. I'm not kidding. We just aren't creepy, crawly things. :)

While I sat on the deck yesterday morning, I noticed something swaying and glistening from one of our Silver Maple trees. When it caught the sun's ray, I realized it had to be a spider web, and couldn't believe how long it was.

As a spider weaves its web, we also weave our webs to grab whatever life has in store for us. Sometimes those webs attach to not so good things, but mostly we grab hold of the best of our decisions and wrap them in a cocoon for safe keeping.

As the spider works, we also diligently work to gather our own food. Except other material objects we want or need, the spider has no use for those things and can focus on their need. They are focused.

I think of my mom when she was younger. She had a hard time raising her children, but always reached out to other kids in the neighborhood. But the one thing I remember most about those days was, no matter how little we had, she always shared with the ones who had less. Her heart was gentle and big. So she reached out with her web and pulled in those who needed help without a thought. I could go on and on about the unselfish acts my mom performed, but for now it's enough to know she did them without malice or forethought. Helping others was simply the next thing to do.

I'm a people watcher. While at the grocery store I see so many souls that are sad, down and out. A smile, a genuine smile, is enough to lift their spirits. And a smile is good for your heart, too. For one moment you have given freely of yourself.

I hope I continue spinning my web. I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I believe in reaching out to the point where what I do, or say, makes a difference.

Today, I'm Spider-Webbing with my grandson. Lunch at school. To some, lunch may not be a biggie. But...to my grandson and myself, that time together is huge. I bind my web along with his and together we're making memories that will last a lifetime. To me, that's the biggest web-spinner of all.

Are you Spider-Webbing?

Carol DeVaney