a lawyer, a birthday, economics,and a national holiday

Happy 4th of July everyone. We ended up with a full yet incomplete day. I actually need to begin with last night when Nathan wen to work at 5:00. We shared birthday cake with a friend, red velvet with white and blue coconut, pecan, cream cheese frosting.It was fast Sunday and I am being a military single mom again. Church was great! We had some wonderful testimonies born and went 15 min. over. We also sang some of my favorite hymns today. The patriotic ones. Primary went well. My two rowdiest students were not there:) so the class flowed pretty well. We had a great sharing time lesson on the Nephi's vision of America being a free and blessed land.
Next we went to an open house for a lady in our ward who just finished her law degree and is already in a new practice.She amazes me. Between "His" and "Hers" they have 14
children. She home schools.And now she has passed the bar for law. Had a great time there getting to know some of the ward members that I really haven't gotten to know yet.
We got home about 6:00 and Nathan was just changing out of his uniform so we had very good timing. We ate dinner and then had family home evening.
Our months topic for FHE is finance. Last week we covered debt and interest. This week we covered wants vs. needs. The girls did very well until we came to taking family trips. Want?or Need? We explained that trips were a want but the girls argued that we nee to spend time with family and you have to go on a trip to see family. Nathan got the very unpleasant task of sharing that no going to see grandmas and grandpas wasn't a NEED. All three broke into tears. because when they grow up coming to visit mommy and daddy won't be a need it is a want. Too Sweet huh? The lesson went on for a record breaking 11/2 hours.
Today is July 4th. The day we celebrate our independence from religious and economic oppression. It is a day of tradition. None of which we kept this year. No steak on the grill and corn on the cob, no baked beans or apple pie. And worst of all no FIREWORKS. I love this Holiday and usually we go all out but it just didn't come together this year. WE are already planning next year so wish us luck.
And here we are now 12:30 wishing you all a very good night. Hooray for freedom.
Nina
P.S A friend of mine and I recently processed 150 lbs. of peaches that we paid about $5/30lb. box. After that I processed on my own 26lbs. of blackberries that my family went to a farm to pick ourselves.How crazy and wonderful is that?