River City Connections—2026-07-02 (Patreon)

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HOT AFTERNOON by Emma Vale

Good afternoon, everyone. I’m in the backyard at our home in Eads with Jordan, Hayes, and Cindi. We are lying out on blankets trying to enjoy the sun.

There have been scattered thundershowers today, but right now it is just muggy and hot—over ninety degrees. I’ll confess that lying out in the sun was probably not the smartest idea we ever had.

Jordan called all of us on a conference call a little before lunch. She said she wanted to come out here, and somehow not one of us could tell her no. Everybody adjusted their schedules, and they got to Eads around three o’clock with blankets, sunscreen, and cold Cokes.

Carter came, too. He and Noah are in the barn looking for anything that might be worth cleaning up and trying to sell. Every so often, one of them comes outside and mists us with the water hose so we don’t cook.

So far in the barn, they found an old Dr Pepper sign. Carter thinks it might bring some money on Facebook Marketplace. Noah says Carter is already talking like he owns part of whatever they find.

I haven’t said much about it, but this week felt a little lonely. Noah worked four twelves in a row, and I was home by myself most of the time. I had things to do, but an empty house can get real quiet.

So it meant a lot that Jordan was still thinking about me. She didn’t ask whether we had plans or whether the house was ready for visitors. She just decided we needed an afternoon together and made it happen.

That made me think about how God sometimes cares for us through people who notice when we need company before we say anything.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (NIV)

Encouragement does not always come as advice. Sometimes it comes as a phone call, a blanket in the grass, a cold Coke, and friends willing to rearrange their day.

I’m thankful for that today.

Now I’m going to put on more sunscreen and hope Noah comes back with the hose soon.

Thanks for reading my story.

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