being outside

my friend tara thinks it's sooooo funny that i don't appreciate the outdoors. a bunch of friends are going camping for the 4th of july, but not us. we are not camping people. i told tara one time (and she has never let me forget it) that i only really like to be outside if there is cement around me. i don't like parks that don't have a sidewalk or path, etc. anyway, we now have a patio and we are really enjoying it. here's a photo of us outside. we are truly enjoying our little firepit. we've become s'more experts.

so, on a completely different note, i talked to my sister kara tonite. she is such a love. really, she is such a loving and kind person. she was always the one in our family with the softest heart toward people and especially animals. well, now she has a family of her own and she is just amazing. she has three girls who are soooo beautiful and sweet and a husband who is sooooo nice and fun, etc. she works so hard for her family and i'm sure they appreciate her, but i wanted her to know how amazing i think she is. like everyone i've ever met, she has her struggles. she's taken on a tough situation and made a family out of it. i don't know very many people who could just step into a situation and instantly love, but kara's done it. kara is my youngest sister. she has a daughter who is 15, a daughter who's 7, and a daughter who's 2. her sweet 15 year old is the most beautiful and kind and loving girl. but she's had a really rough 15 years. you can't possibly believe what she's been through. the point is, she is having a tough time. kara and her husband are amazing. they just keep trying to do what they feel is right and what will help their sweet girl. they keep loving her and they keep on trying to help her. i just can't help but think of jesus christ and his example of always loving, no matter what. i feel so blessed to know that jesus christ will always love us, no matter what we have done in our lives. we can always turn to him and find love. i know this, because i have felt his love in my life so many times. so, i hope that alyx knows that her dad and kara love her no matter what choices she makes. i know that they do, because they keep trying and they keep trying and they keep trying. also, i'd like kara to know that she and her family are in my prayers every single day. i love kara so much and miss being with her. she's an amazing person, and did i mention funny? i love you, twixed-up min.