YUM!  I made my first peach cobbler of the Summer this week for our Family Home Evening dinner group.  Good peaches really don't happen until July, and I got a couple of boxes that were delightful.  

 This time of year always brings back fond memories of the Peach Festival in Marysville.  They close off the main street downtown and have vendors selling peaches, peach pies, cobblers, and drinks. There are bands and dancing, as well as an area for children.  

The festival reminds me of happy times in "small town America", and how times have changed.  I think next summer we need to make a trip to Marysville!

 This week, Adam tried to compete with Dad to see who could do the most damage to their hand.  Sadly, his left hand got caught in a winch, and he had a difficult time freeing it.  Cory took him to the ER, where they cleaned the wound thoroughly and put in some stitches.  It is still swollen and sore, with very little sensation.  Hopefully, once the swelling subsides, the feeling will return.  Not a fun way to start a new school year 😟.

 The Monument clan has been busy trying to make the most of their Summer vacation.  A visit to the Rock House in Palmer Lake, where they have the best ice cream!  (I think Cory worked there when she was in High School).  I am wondering if Milo got a "pup cup"?😋

They have also been on some bike rides, and I know Adam was looking forward to swimming at Jellystone this week, but probably won't be able to because of his injury. 

 

PIZZA ANYONE?

You will have to find your way to Iowa for one of these treats.  Jonathan has become a connoisseur and master chef when it comes to delicious homemade pizza.  Yes, he has a pizza oven, and yes, it turns out amazing every time😁.

 Saturday morning, Dad and I went to the Temple for the sealing of these newly adopted little boys and their parents.  Jeremiah and Apollo are just 6 months apart in age, and both have special needs but are loved by the Rieck family like no one else.  

After the sealing, we went to an endowment session and then headed home, only to find ourselves stuck in traffic from Denver to Castle Rock.  Thank you, Eilis, for stopping by and giving Sendai some attention!  It was stop-and-go the whole way, so we got off the freeway in Castle Rock and made our way to some Gelato.  I totally get why my Dad had to have a bowl of ice cream every night before bed.  (Sometimes he even asked for "seconds" and asked me not to tell Mom 😊)

  This week in my Book of Mormon class, we discussed pride and how easily it is to fall into the habit of judging others and comparing ourselves to them.  I think it was in the video by Elder Stevenson that I posted last week, where he said that when we compare ourselves to others, we either end up discouraged or prideful, neither of which is good.  As I was doing a little more studying this afternoon, I found this quote from a talk given by Julie Beck several years ago. 

 "Through the blessings of the priesthood, the Lord shows us that He is "no respecter of persons." In my travels, I usually have the chance to visit members in their homes.  Some of those homes are very basic dwellings. At first, I would say to myself, "Why am I blessed with a house that has electricity and plumbing when this family does not even have a water source near their home? Does the Lord love them less than He loves me?"

"Then one day I sat in a temple next to a sister who lives in a humble house. I spent two hours at her side. I often looked into her beautiful eyes and saw the love of the Lord in them.  As we finished our work in the temple, I had a powerful realization. In all of the eternal blessings, in all of our most important privileges and opportunities, we were equals. I had been baptized, and so had she. I had spiritual gifts, and so did she. I had the opportunity to repent, and so did she. I had received the Holy Ghost, and so had she. I had received temple ordinances, and so had she. If both of us had left this world together at that moment, we would have arrived equal before the Lord."

 
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS!

Kate will celebrate her birthday next Sunday, August 3rd 

Owen Leister is getting married on August 8th

Josh's birthday is August 14th

Lily will be 14 on August 19th (I don't know how that can be 😳)

Dad celebrates his birthday on August 21st

It is a busy month for our family - lots of birthdays, kids going back to school, and work resumes for Kate, Jonathan, Kim, Cory, and Adam.  We love you all so much and pray for you every day.  If there is anything we could do for you, please, please let us know. ❤