Years of Summer: Lily's Story (30 page)

I sit outside on my porch swing and watch my kids play in the yard in front of our three-bedroom brick house.  They’re throwing the Frisbees for our two golden retrievers—Summer and Sammy.

Sunshine lived to the ripe old age of fifteen and blessed and graced our family everyday with her presence.  Summer and Sammy came from the same bloodline as Sunshine did.  We knew they were going to be good dogs.  They were brother and sister and we specifically called the breeder of them and bought them from her, because we wanted some part of Sunshine to stick around with us.  Summer and Sammy are two years old.

  Sam wasn’t too happy when we gave one of our dogs his same name.  So they bought them a little White Yorkie and named her, Lily.  I laughed when they told me that and so did Dave.  Sam and Ally have two children Jared and Amy.  Jared is Amy’s big brother.  He was born when the boys turned two and Amy was born a couple of years later.  She is older than Caroline and Claire, by about six months.

I still can’t believe how fast time has gone by.  Dave and I have been married for sixteen years.  I am waiting on him to get home because the boys have a game tonight and we are all going to watch.  The boys are really good.  Jordan is the pitcher and Jacob plays first base.  Jacob is the back-up pitcher.  I believe they inherited their father’s talent for baseball.  We’re going out to eat after the game.  I hear his giant Suburban coming over the hill.  So do the dogs and the kids.  It’s funny to see them look with anticipation at the road in front of our house. 

It’s just an access road, never busy.  The only people that come down it are us and the neighbors that live up the road—Sam and Ally.  We went in together to buy the four acres we live on and had an access road put in, actually it’s just a gravel drive.  We built our houses on two acres a piece.

Mom and Dad are retired and traveling and loving it.  Dad bought a huge RV when he retired and told my mom that they were going to travel and as of now I think they have been in each of the 48 contiguous states at least once.

You know, it amazes me how things work out just right.  I shouldn’t be amazed, but I am.  It never fails once providence has been put into motion.  Dave is home. 

“Hey Honey, how’s my best girl?  Are you ready for summer?  I sure am.  Summer, Sammy, heel.  Boys go get your uniforms on.”

“Okay, Dad.  We’ll be ready in a minute.”

“Girls, are you ready too?”

“Yes Sir. Dad can we get ice cream after dinner?”

“We’ll see.  Lil, will you get the water cooler ready?”

“Sure will, you need to go get your uniform on too.”

“Lily don’t forget your shirt.”

“I won’t.” 

Okay, I know that sounded funny, but I have a team jersey that has “Jordan and Jacob’s Mom” on it.  That is what he was talking about.  Both of the girl’s have sister shirts just like it.  They are into cheerleading and of course I am their sponsor, so I work that end.  We all have team jerseys for their football teams too. 

I love my life, and Dave and my kids just make everything better.  Ally and Sam and Jared and Amy are coming too.  Mom and Dad usually stay in town until baseball season is over so they can see the boys play.  Then they travel until football season and then come back to watch the girls cheer.  When football season is over they travel from October to December, come home for Christmas and New Years and then leave out until March when baseball season starts again.  They are the best grandparents ever and Dave’s mom and dad are too.  Our children are so spoiled by them.

His sisters are abroad with their husbands.  They’re all a part of this group of doctors and nurses that travel to third world countries to provide medical attention to people in those countries.  We hear from them occasionally.  I think they’re coming home this summer and staying put for awhile.  They have been traveling for four years straight.  I bet they’re ready to come home.  

  Well, we have to get ready to go.  I’m looking forward to having a great summer and we always make the most of every moment. 

Each moment is a blessing given to you.  Make it count for all its worth.  Learn that in life and life will be more meaningful.  Enjoy it!  Life is a gift!

Enjoy the entire four-book saga:

They Walk Among Us—Saga of “The Chosen.”

By Morning’s Light —book 1

Across the Fields—book 2

Beyond the Gate—book 3

Years of Summer:Lily’s Story—Prequel

Bethanie is a full-time Mom, homeschooling parent to her children, and when the clock strikes midnight her alter ego takes over—Bethanie Armstrong, Author. She enjoys writing stories that prick at the heart of her readers as they laugh and cry along with the characters. She lives in Alabama with her husband, two children—ages thirteen and eleven, a frisky feline named Scarlett, a giant German Shepherd named Ember, and a little Rat Terrier, named Charlie that believes himself to be a giant among dogs.