About those parks...

So, to begin my review of the parks, let me first say that I decided to write these up half way through my adventure, so I don't have many (read...any) pictures for the first three.  Sorry about that!  I will do my best to give you a good picture though!
The first park, and really the park that started the whole shabang for me, was Southland Park.  It's located right behind Southland Pool and Clay's Mill Elementary.  It came highly recommended by friends and I became frustrated with myself that I have a four and a half year old and I still hadn't ventured out to other parks.  Hence, the Park a Week summer plan.
Well, Southland Park did nothing to disappoint all the rave reviews I had heard about it from friends!  We met a few friends there around 11 with lunch in tow.  I had my three kiddos ages 4, 2 and 7 months.  If my four year old were reading this she would quickly correct me "I am four and a HALF!"  Such an important distinction!  When we got there there was a end of school picnic going on for what looked like the 4th or 5th grade of the nearby elementary school.  I was a little worried since mine are so much smaller, but I was so pleasantly surprised!  The playground itself is great!  It is laid out so well!  It has a great variety of equipment that spans the ages really well!  The right side of the playground has things for slightly older children, while the left side is more geared towards the littles.  My friend and I spread out on a blanket under one of the very large shade trees lining the edge of the playground.  Notice I said SHADE!  That's a very important thing to find when looking for a great park!  The thing I noticed and LOVED about this park was these trees.  I'm not much of a landscaper or botanist, so I have no idea what kind of tree this is, but with age I have grown a great appreciation for large old trees.  Someone had great foresight to plant these beauties, and may not have ever lived to see them in their full glory.  Makes me want to go out and plant a tree for the next generation of mamas, who will certainly need some shade!
Ok, back to the park.  From our nice shady spot we could see the whole playground.  The playground itself isn't very shady, no problem for my kids.  My eldest plopped down underneath a slide and proceeded to get everyone involved in building a "worm castle" for all the worms who live in the playground mulch.  My son loved the mulch diggers, a mini-bulldozer piece of equipment he could sit on and pull some levers and dig up the mulch.  He wasn't quite coordinated for the machine, but that didn't stop him from trying!  The equipment has a nice variety to it.  We didn't even make it over to the right side and we stayed for a few hours!  The kids loved some of the smaller trees off to the side also.  They got lots of accessories for their worm castle from there!
Next to shade, there is one other all important factor to a great park...bathrooms!!  And this one comes well equip.  There is a shelter with picnic tables and restrooms.  The parks and rec website says this shelter seats 50, and rents for $50/day.  Sounds like a birthday party waiting to happen!
Well, I'm very sorry to say that I don't have any pictures from this adventure to share with you, but I hope you go and make some good memories for yourself!!
Grab a picnic blanket, set this address into your GPS and go!

625 Hill n Dale Dr.
Lexington, KY 40503

Still changing lives

Two years ago we lost a dear friend in a tragic and inexplicable accident. No rhyme or reason, he just fell. We miss Jay all the time. We find our selves mentioning him often. Thinking he'd enjoy something we're seeing or doing. Telling stories about him, or when we just happen to be at the last place we saw him. For sure we have been changed by him. Both Bert and I each have our individual reasons. Jay saw each of us through some crazy hard times in college. But while he is gone, he is not done changing lives.

Like I said, Jay still comes up in our home often. He is mostly brought up by Tempie funny enough. Bert and I were both trying to remember if she'd ever met him. If she did, she was certainly too young to remember. But she brings him up any time she wants to have a spiritual conversation. Any time she wants to talk about God or heaven, she begins the conversation by saying "mom/dad you miss your friend Jay don't you?" She then proceeds to talk about him being in heaven and she'll ask whatever question is on her mind about God. But it always starts with Jay. Jay is the lead in to Christ for Tempie.

She's already talking about asking Jesus into her heart. She's so sensitive spiritually. I really wish I could tell him...I guess he already knows. Thank you Jay...you are still being used by God.