It Makes My Heart Happy

 Yesterday we celebrated Owen's 5th birthday with a party in the Party Barn.  As we were talking this morning at breakfast, Gary and I came up with the same high points of the day -- overall.

One is ---all of the kids were having fun playing together.  Landon, Tessa, Cooper, Owen, and Lynnlee.  Beau.  The three Padgett kids.  All were in the same age ranges and they were everywhere. Kids jumping in the bounce house.  Tessa told Hilary later that she had a Petting Zoo using the goats, rabbits, and maybe the cats.  Kids were squealing and yelling on the trampoline.  The four-wheeler was slowing making its way around the yard, Landon driving by himself, and a few times with Alex taking Beau and then Owen for rides.  Tessa was pulling cushions off the swing and the gazebo furniture to make her signature bunk beds using the bench in the gazebo.  They were on the deck with the bottles of bubbles and the wands. Screams.  Giggles  Noice.  No danger at all.  Just fun.

Two - less mess party.  The food was on our makeshift serving table in the Party Barn.  Tables were set for eating, sitting and chatting, gifts, cake, drinks.  If something spilled, no problem.  If you went away hungry, it was your own fault.  The old grill (that had been moved to the Party Barn after Gary's new one arrived in May) always serves the purpose for parties like this), the old fridge (moved from the house when our new one arrived in September 2018) full of drinks and room for salads and other cold stuff.   Anyway...just less mess.  Easy clean up.   Perfect.  

Third - as we sat under the cherry trees yesterday it occurred to me that I was just happy.  There we were...Gary and I with our two daughters, one son-in-law, one of his sisters and her husband, relaxing in our chairs under the trees on a perfect late summer day.  As I sat there and listened to the kids, I saw Fred and Nancy in the gazebo, then later Jan and Don in the gazebo with Blaine then Hilary joined them.  Alex and Erin were in the gazebo and chasing Beau around.   We have a place where everyone feels comfortable, where we can drift from place to place and visit, where everyone was just happy and having fun.

Fourth - as the party drifted to a close, we also drifted to the firepit.  Even though sticks had been burned in the ring a few times before, this was the first time I remember having a fire in that particular ring.  We had added another ring to the area in front of the party barn a few times for a fire, but we hadn't used the ring by the gazebo.  Well, not that I remember.  Sitting around the fire with Karen and Clay, Blaine and Hilary...watching the Landon, Tessa, and Owen move from the trampoline to the swing and back again.  Roasting marshmallows and making S'Mores.  Listening to the occasional train.  Watching the moonrise in the east behind the cherry trees.  Just a peaceful evening.  As I sat on Dad's swing that we had brought from Wooster, I knew that he would have loved being there to enjoy all of the family moments just as I had been all day.

Yes, it made my heart happy.  I am so thankful that Hilary and Rebecca found this place originally.  I am so thankful that Hilary had her eyes open for the perfect place for us.  I am so thankful that Rebecca was so in tune with what we wanted and that she had reminded me not to 'settle,' to wait until I found the prefect place for us.  I am so thankful for family that feels comfortable with using the property for family get-togethers and parties.  

And I thank God for providing us with the means to be able to purchase the property with no debt.   

We are so blessed.

It makes my heart SO happy.