A Carousel of Thoughts

Early Summer Bullets

2011-06-21T17:04:00.000-05:00

Wow! Can't believe it's been nearly a year since I posted on this blog!

The summer of 2011 is well under way, so I may backtrack just as an update to what's been going on with us. The best way to do this is with bullets and pictures!

Melynda received her Master's Degree in Social Work in May. Her specialization was The Care of Vulnerable Children. She will continue in the fall with her second Master's degree in the dual degree program at Baylor University/Truett Seminary.

Both Tater and Connor finished their year of preschool at Sierra Vista. They had the cutest end-of-year program which was dedicated to our military. Many of the kids at SV have at least one parent serving in the armed forces and some are deployed.

The following week, Tater had his Preschool Graduation program....he will be starting Kindergarten in the fall! Connor still has another year, thank goodness, since his birthday is in November. They just seem to grow up so fast!! This pic is with his teacher, Mrs. Allen, who was such an awesome teacher and friend! Then, of course a pic with Nana!

In early June, Kerry and I took a few days and went to Colorado. It was great to enjoy the coolness of the mountains and see snow still lying around in the shady areas and on the mountaintops. We did some fun things including ziplining back and forth over a canyon, riding in a CREW ATV up the side of a mountain, and enjoying steak and lobster on the Georgetown Loop Dinner Train. We also got to see family while there....my cousin, Cindy and two of her girls, and Kerry's cousin, Richard.

And speaking of growing up too fast, Carter Chance, our youngest grandchild until Baby Sleeper arrives in November, turned TWO on June 1st, and because everyone was pretty scattered, we had a little family celebration on the 11th. Carter loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, especially Toodles, the little character with special tools each episode to help Mickey and his friends. Thus, his Toodles cake..... He got oodles of new toys, of course, but one of his favorite gifts was the musical card we gave him....singing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!

We went to Plano to see Annaliese's first dance recital, "When I Grow Up". Her class were the 'bakers' and danced to "Do You Know the Muffin Man".

The summer promises to be a busy one, as usual.

Girls weekend with my girls.....special mother/daughter fun!
5th West Family Summer Christmas where my family celebrates Christmas in the summertime
Teaching a Cupcake Decorating class at church....not sure how I got talked in to this one!
Vacation Bible School in July
Mission trip to Venezuela at the end of July through the 8th of August....God is doing some awesome things in preparation for our time there!
And of course lots of family time with the kids and grandkids as summer schedules allow it!

Sunday in Merida, Venezuela

2010-08-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

What a glorious Sunday morning in Merida, Venezuela! Our group arrived safe and sound yesterday to the airport in El Vigia. The two travel days were long, not so much from traveling as from sitting and waiting for the next flight. Our three friends from Tennessee missed a flight and ended up arriving a day later than everyone else. There were many opportunities for witnessing on the planes and sitting in airports, and by the time we got to Caracas Friday night, at least 2 new souls had become believers.

On Saturday, Wes and Wayne (from New Mexico) had the early flight from Caracas to El Vigia, where someone was supposed to pick them up and take them to Mucachies. No one ever came to get them, so Wayne took the lead and began witnessing to people in his broken Spanish. Wes soon joined him and spoke to many people, leading nearly 10 to Christ. Finally, a young man who spoke English showed up and asked if they were with the Texas Baptist. He joined them and they continue to share Christ until our later flight arrived in the afternoon.

From the airport in El Vigia, our group split up. Tom and Murf are working with Pastor Cesar in El Vigia, Sherryl and De are working with another church in El Vigia (which, I think, is a mission of Pastor Cesar's church). Also, Bobby and Ross are working with a young pastor in El Vigia. The rest of us loaded up and drove a little more than an hour up the mountain to Merida where our friend Ladimiro lives. His wife, Sonia, and their church had prepared a wonderful meal for us when we arrived.....arrepas!! and cheeses and ham....tradiditional Venezuelan food. Following the meal our smaller group split up once again with G. I. and Sandy going to work in the First Baptist Church in Merida, and Kerry & I working with Ladimiro and Sonia in their church. We are also staying in their home which is a real treat for us! Buck and Mary, Wayne and Wes traveled on a little further up the mountain to Mucachies where they will work with a couple of churches there.

So from here on, I can only report what happens here in Merida. First let me explain...we are ALL in the STATE of Merida.....Kerry and I, G.I, and Sandy are in the CITY of Merida. Sort of like being in New York, New York! I may occasionally get a report from one of the other groups, and I will pass it on.

This morning we have spent a leisurely morning with Ladimiro and Sonia, sharing and talking with them about many things. They are such wonderful people and love the Lord so much and are so in tune with His will. And they have such a passion for their fellow Venezuelans. Their church meets in the afternoon around 4:00, so we will be participating in that...Kerry will be preaching.

Ladimiro has set up appointments with several people for us to meet with during the week. Ladimiro and Sonia work with professional people here in Merida, and they are very difficult to reach for Christ. Kerry will be leading a couple of seminars, also, on Keys to Success and Finances. We will also be evangelizing at the bus station and in other areas of the city during the week. I'm not exactly sure of what the Lord has for me specifically, but I am open to whatever He brings my way.

Please continue to pray for all of our teams, not just our San Angelo team, but all of the teams across this area of Venezuela made up of Texans, other North Americans, and Venezuelans!

A Passion for the People

2010-08-05T09:41:00.000-05:00

Venezuela....a country which has pulled us into its embrace over the last 5 years. On our first trip to Puerto Ayacucho 5 years ago, God placed a passion in our hearts to work with the people of Venezuela. He has given the gift of friends there. He has given the gift of opportunity there. We have visited and ministered in numerous places, and tomorrow we have the opportunity to see yet another beautiful spot in Venezuela.

As a part of a partnership mission between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Venezuelan Baptist Convention, nearly a hundred North Americans (mostly Texans) will make their way southward to the land of mountains and waterfalls, flatlands and banana trees, peacock bass and piranhas. We will be serving in four different states...Merida, Barinas, Portaguesa, and Trujillo.

Our team, made up of 12 from San Angelo, 3 from Tennessee, and 2 from New Mexico, will be in the state of Merida, spread out over three cities....El Vigia, Merida, and Mucuchies. Kerry and I will be in Merida, home of our good friend and interpreter, Ladimiro. Kerry will lead seminars on "Success" and "Finances" as well as do some preaching. I will be involved in personal visitation and witnessing and will probably sing at the worship services. We are anxious to see the opportunities the Lord gives us while we are there.

The various teams will be leaving throughout the day tomorrow, Aug 6, and we will return home on Monday, Aug 16. Please pray for us. Pray for open hearts in the people we meet. Pray for good health for the team members. Pray for safe travel both to and from the US as well as within the country of Venezuela. We are asking God for 10,000 souls to be saved and 100 new churches to be started. We cannot do what the Lord has for us to do THERE without the prayers of those of you who are praying HERE.

Now, I must go and finish packing. Four o'clock in the morning will come very soon.

Carter Loves.....

2010-04-22T23:08:00.000-05:00

Spending thirty-six hours with Carter Chance....what a thrill! We have not gotten to spend a lot of one-on-one (uh...I guess that would be two-on-one) time with Carter, but thanks to a conference Bill needed to attend in Houston, we got the opportunity to do just that. He & Carey took the older two boys and they had a mini-vacation, taking in an Astros game and an awesome children's museum. Carter came to stay with Nana & Grandpa. And oh, what a delight he is!!! This is what we discovered.....

CARTER LOVES TO BE OUTSIDE! Both evenings we took him outside and he crawled all over the place! He especially seemed to like the breeze blowing in his face.

CARTER LOVES MEALTIME! Well, we already knew this, but he got really upset with me when the oatmeal was all gone! Of course, Nana gave in and mixed up a little bit more....

CARTER LOVES TO PLAY PAT-A-CAKE! He will watch you do it, he will let you 'help' him do it, he will do by himself, and he'll grab your hands and 'help' you do it!

CARTER LOVES HIS BATHTIME! He just started squealing when I started running the bath water; started pulling his shirt off over his head almost before I had the first arm out; and he just crawled around in circles in our big tub splashing and squealing!

CARTER LOVES 'DRUMMING'! A toy, an empty juice bottle, a sock freed from the foot....they all become a drumstick to beat on whatever is handy!

CARTER LOVES TO DANCE! He does the cutest little shake of his head that has been dubbed the 'Carter Chance Baby Dance'....and he was 'dancing' and shaking like crazy to the music at Logan's Roadhouse!

CARTER LOVES HIS GRANDPA AND NANA! And we love him! We had such a fun time with Carter Chance!

Grandkids, Birthdays, and Cakes!

2010-04-11T15:48:00.001-05:00

We are in the midst of the birthday-season for the grandkids! Aidan turned 6 in February, Tater celebrated his 4th birthday in March, and April holds birthdays for both Annaliese and Jordan. Annaliese just turned 3 and Jordan will be 5 in a couple of weeks!

Keeping with the tradition of making birthday cakes for the grandkids, I made Star Wars TIE Fighter cupcakes for young Jedi Aidan, one for each party guest. The theme of his party was Legos Star Wars,

so I also had his name built out of Legos for the center of the display.

Tater's party theme was Spiderman, so I crafted a 3-D Spiderman. His party was at the park on a very windy day, and Spidey just about lost his head! I also made cupcakes for each of the kids.

Cupcakes are just so much easier for a kid's party....especially when the wind in blowing!!

It came as no surprise when I learned that Annaliese would have a Princess Party!

Her party was held at Build-A-Bear in the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco with cake afterward in the food court!

One princess was not enough....had to have three...with cupcakes for everyone!

I will not be able to go to Jordan's birthday party in Lewisville, but we are having a small family party for him when he comes to visit in a couple of weeks. I'll post a couple of pictures then!

Homemade Pizza

2010-01-29T17:40:00.000-06:00

A great way to end a crazy week.....have three of the grandsons over! Of course, Tater is here everyday, but he really gets excited when 'his cousins' come over and play! Friday morning, Connor came over, and the two of them had such a great time! First activity for the day, PLAY-DOH! I love the guy who invented Play-Doh!

Next on the schedule was playing Wii....oh my! Two 3-yr-olds + MarioKart = great morning entertainment! It took them about 10 minutes to finish one race!! But they loved it and had great fun and that's all that matters!

At 12:00 we went and picked up Caleb at school....let the fun begin! While Tater and Connor have fun together, adding Caleb to the mix takes it to a whole new level! (Word of explanation here: It was Jammie Day at school, so yes, Caleb is wearing his jammies in some of the following pics!)

Homemade pizzas were on the menu for the day. I made the dough, divided it into four balls, and gave each of the boys one...and one for me!. With a little help from Nana, we got the dough rolled out into circles.....somewhat. Then each of the boys spooned and spread their sauce and added cheese while Nana sliced up some ham & turkey...sorry, all out of pepperoni and sausage! Then more cheese on top!

Then into the oven they went. What shall we do while we wait? Eat more cheese, of course!!!

The pizza turned out pretty good! The boys were surprised, I think! I know they had a fun time, and it is definitely a do-again project!

After naptime, it was time for some more Wii! Best entertainment of all, watching two 3-yr-olds and a 6-yr-old playing Wii....especially boxing!! First, though, Caleb & Tater played Carnival Games while Connor was still napping. Then bowling. Couldn't get a picture of the boxing....would've been just a blur!

What a fun day!! Made this Nana one happy lady!!

So Maybe Not Every Day

2010-01-28T22:37:00.000-06:00

Maybe the goal of doing a blog post every day was a little over-achieving. Maybe I don't need to post if nothing of consequence happens. Maybe I don't need to write something down just to be writing something down. Maybe I get busy some days and don't have time to write. Maybe I'm tired some evenings and just don't want to do blog. Maybe sometimes I just forget!

So I'm going to take the stress off myself. I've been too hard on myself. I know no one else really cares whether I post every day or not, but I said I was going to, so I've felt bad when I didn't. That's exactly why I don't make new year's resolutions!

But I do promise to try to be better about posting. I promise myself to at least try. And when I have something to write about, I'll write about it! And if I don't have time to write about it the day it happens, I've figured out how to change the date on the post!!

So there!

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Freedom through Christ

2010-01-24T20:10:00.001-06:00

Yuri, imprisoned in Russia in the 1940's at the age of 12 for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family...because he was caught, his family starved to death, and he only survived because he was put in prison. Years later he was still imprisoned, lost in the beauracracy of the day. But God sent a miracle...He sent a worn, used Gideon Bible into the prison where Yuri was, and Yuri became a Christian. And even though he was in bondage, he was freed.

My friend who went to Russia several years ago told Yuri's story this morning in Sunday School. He told how he had visited a prison filled with violent political prisoners, of the barrenness and filth of the aging prison, then of getting to the top of the spiraling staircase in the dormitory where the prisoners were and finding fresh paint, clean floors and walls, ivy painted on the walls, and meeting Yuri. He told my friend, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21) Yuri had such a peace that even living almost his entire life in prison was nothing. Because it was there that he had found Christ. He told of the many prisoners there who had found Christ within those crumbling walls who now had a hope for the future, who now were set free in their hearts even though they would never be set free of the prison walls.

Four years later, my friend returned to Russia where he was scheduled to speak in a worship servicein a church. As he sat waiting, he watched the little children being led in to sit on the front row. As the old man who was leading them turned to sit down, my friend recognized him....it was Yuri! In Russian, he said to him, "Yuri! You've been set free!" To which Yuri replied, "Ah, but I was already set free in my heart!"

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed. (Luke 4:18)

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Weddings & Farewell Receptions

2010-01-23T19:49:00.000-06:00

How strange it is to say 'hello' and 'good-bye' all in one day. People come and go in our lives, everyone on their own little conveyor belt, going at their own speed, and sometimes our paths travel along together for a while. And whether those together times are just a short while, or whether they last for years, the times together with friends are cherished. That's just the way life is. And today was one of those days that found one conveyor belt running alongside of mine and another one moving on.

This morning we officially said 'hello and welcome' to Mary, Buck's new wife. They had a beautiful wedding ceremony followed by a simple cake & punch reception, then followed by a big family lunch at Kenny Blanek's cafe. And since Kerry and I are sort of adopted family, we were included. It was good to see Buck's kids and some of the grandkids who were here...Melissa & Leonel came from Caracas, but the children stayed there; Melissa and her grandson were here from Dallas; and Mike and his family were here from Houston. And we had the opportunity to meet some of Mary's family. Like me, she has a big family! I expect our 'conveyor belts' to run alongside one another for awhile...hopefully a long while....as we welcome her into our hearts and lives.

(There will be a picture in here later of us with Buck & Mary....Leonel took the pic and will send it to me!)

This afternoon, the ladies of the church officially said 'farewell' to Liz. Liz & Ronnie are retiring Jan. 31....next weekend! Liz has been such a integral part of my life over the last 20 years! Being our church pianist, she has accompanied me numerous times singing both solos and in ensembles. She is so very talented on the keyboard, making the notes just dance and float through the air. She has also been a friend, and she will be greatly missed. This afternoon was her "Farewell Tea", and next Sunday, the 31st, we will have a retirement party for her and Ronnie. And although their 'conveyor belt' is beginning to head off in another direction, we will continue to keep in touch with them as they seek the Lord's direction in their retirement years.

Friends come and friends go, but they never really leave our hearts and minds as the memories made together linger, waiting to be visited from time to time. And who knows when our conveyor belts will come together again, if only for a short visit.

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A Blast from the Past

2010-01-22T22:24:00.001-06:00

Look what I found in the closet! I've been working all week on the closet and files in the computer room. Tater has been very interested in everything I've pulled out of the closet....especially this old electric typewriter! And it's not even all that old!

He's Already in Your Tomorrow!

2010-01-21T21:49:00.006-06:00

He's already in your tomorrow
He's walking one step ahead
Whether it's joy or it's sorrow
He'll do just what He said
He'll never leave you lonely
In the land of the great unknown
He's already in your tomorrow
Don't be afraid, keep pressing

(Mark Lanier/Phil Cross)

I heard this on the radio the other day.....such an awesome truth!

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Facebook Friends

2010-01-20T21:59:00.002-06:00

One of the fun things about Facebook, other than keeping in touch with friends and family and reconnecting with old friends, is making new friends. It is not unusual (for me, anyway) to become FB friends with 'third-party' friends...for example, friends of my friends who seem pretty cool according to their comments I read on my friends' posts. I have found some pretty awesome friends whom I have never met in person! So the other day, I requested to be friends with a friend of one of my new friends. (Are you confused yet?)

To my surprise and delight, this is the response I got back...."Oh my gosh, Diane! I was just looking at your pictures and realized I'm the Kathie that kept Dana when she was little!" What? This friend of a friend of a friend is actually one of my long-lost friends!!

In another lifetime, when Jenni & Melynda were in elementary school, I had to find someone new to keep Dana during the day. God placed in our lives a wonderful Christian mom who kept children in her home.....Kat's Kids was the name of her in-home daycare. For two years Dana stayed with Kathie; even when she started kindergarten, she stayed with Kathie in the afternoons.

Kathie was the best childcare provider we had ever had. She loved 'her kids', and they loved her. I can remember when Dana had chicken pox, I called Kathie to tell her, and Kathie told me to go ahead and bring her over! All of the other kids had either already had chicken pox or their parents didn't mind them being exposed, hoping they would get them before starting to school. So I took her, and Kathie put her in the bathtub with Aveeno bath and let her soak her little itching body! Another time, we had to be gone out of town overnight, and Dana stayed with Kathie. We still have a little recipe book that Kathie made with the kids....it has recipes submitted by the moms (favorites of the kids) and recipes made up by the kids. It is a priceless treasure. And in the attic are two things that will be passed on to Dana's kids....a bear-shaped corner shelf and a doll cradle given to her by Kathie, made by Kathie's dad. Get the picture? She was really special to us.

Then we moved to San Angelo. And as much as we missed Kathie, we lost touch with her.

Until today.

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Sisters and Babies

2010-01-19T21:10:00.000-06:00

Being an aunt is one of those wonderful roles I have enjoyed playing so much for the last (how old are you, Maggie?) years! I love my nieces and nephews SO much and have enjoyed watching them grow up over the years. And one of the best parts is watching some of them become parents! Mommies to be exact, since none of the nephews have kids yet. But four of my nieces have become mommies, and I have found that being a 'great'-aunt is just as wonderful!!

Last Friday, on our way to the metroplex to see the kids and g'kids there, my niece, Sharon, was in labor. I anxiously checked my phone for updates as we traveled. Then sometime after 3:00, I got the word...."Amelia Lylan is 8# 3oz and 21 in. Pictures later"....that coming from my big brother who in two and a half years managed to get FOUR grandchildren! (His two daughters had the privilege of sharing their pregnancies together since last spring, and Lara had Baby Penny 7 weeks ago!)

So here was a new baby in Waco....and here we were up in the metroplex....what would it hurt to take a little detour on the way home to see....and hold....that precious little bundle?

Isn't she just a precious little doll? And she has just the perfect little mouth....just like a rosebud, as Sharon says!

And Sharon is doing great.....she is going to be a wonderful mommy.

One of the neatest things I witnessed while visiting with Sharon....she got a call from Lara, who had taken Baby Penny to the doctor and found out she has RSV :( .....but it was so wonderful listening to these two sisters talk to each other as mommies! I just had to smile. They are going to have such great times and make many wonderful memories together as they raise their families together.

Here's a pic of Baby Penny.....sorry the pic is so small...I 'stole' it off Lara's Facebook page!

Praying that she gets over the RSV soon!!

I love you, Sharon! I love you, Lara!

Wonderfully Wild Weekend

2010-01-19T20:27:00.001-06:00

I know, I haven't even made it to the end of the month, and I've already blown my 'blog every day' goal! But I didn't take into account these wonderful little excursions now and then to see the kids and grandkids! And it not really being very convenient to blog while away from the computer. So I'll just group all the days into one blog. Sounds good to me! (FYI...my camera battery was almost dead, so I used my blackberry to take pictures....not as good, but you get the picture!) ;)

It was raining on Friday! Such a welcome sight! And it rained on us pretty much the whole drive to the metroplex. We met Melynda & Jordan and Rich & Christi & Aidan & Annaliese at La Hacienda as soon as we got to town. (Eric was at a debate tournament, so we missed getting to see him this trip....he's gonna be sorry he missed La Hacienda!) La Hacienda has become one of our favorite eating spots....best fajitas ever!

Making breakfast at Rich & Christi's is always a family affair...the kids love to help! Aidan has a new Star Wars Cookbook, and Saturday morning he made Boomba Breakfast Tarts! (That kid lives and breathes Star Wars!) They were pretty tasty! After breakfast we played....tea parties, baby dolls, Star Wars....until it was time for Grandpa, Daddy & Aidan to go up to the church to 'shape' Aidan's race car for the Awana Derby. With the 'boys' gone, the 'girls' got to watch The Sound of Music...Annaliese is kinda stuck on that movie right now and wants to watch it all the time! Her favorite part is the puppet show, although she really likes the scene where the kids say good-night at the party! She even had to 'act out' the part where Gretl inches her way 'up' the staircase, step by step, on their staircase....all the way to the top! It was a fun, relaxing morning, and Aidan commented several times on how much fun we had, getting to stay in their jammies and play. I know this Nana had fun!!

Tea Party with Cinderella (aka Annaliese)

Saturday afternoon we went over to Melynda's, and Jordan played with Grandpa while Nana helped Melynda reorganize stuff in Jordan's room. She had gotten new shelves and was getting rid of 'little kid' toys and making room for his 'big boy' stuff and new Christmas things. We had a great time, then went to meet the Burkles for dinner at Olive Garden. Mmmmm......

Rich & Christi had nursery duty on Sunday morning, and Melynda had 'Little Sprouts' duty at her church! So Kerry & I went by ourselves to Rich & Christi's church, Stonebriar Community, and heard Chuck Swindoll. Awesome message, great singing, worshipful morning. After church, Rich grilled hamburgers and hotdogs so the guys could watch what turned out to be a very disappointing Cowboys game. Melynda and Jordan came over and joined us, and the kids got to play together. This is what you get when you have two little boys who like to wear costumes, and one of them is a Star Wars nut!

Darth Vader (aka Jordan) and Storm Trooper (aka Aidan)

Now they've switched.....Aidan is Darth & Jordan is Storm Trooper!

What an awesome weekend with the kids! It's so nice that they live fairly close to each other so we can see all of them when we go for the weekend.

Monday morning we got up and left for Waco while they got ready to go to the zoo for the day!

Waco......that's another post!

Top Ten Thursday

2010-01-14T22:42:00.001-06:00

Time for a bullet list!!

Went out without my coat today....just because I could! For the first time in WEEKS, it was not so cold outside that I had to bundle myself up like an eskimo. It was 51 when I left the house at 8:45! I've rather enjoyed being able to wear my coat and scarf more often, but it was a nice change.
Worked this morning then got in on a free lunch for the church staff....not a bad deal! Finally got my computer moved over to my desk, away from the window that leaks cold air...much better situation! Put the little space heater back in the closet. Right next to the little fan which comes in handy for my "little personal summers" that hit from time to time!
After work, and after getting Tater at MDO, I went by and picked up Caleb & Connor and brought them home with us for the afternoon. I let them run wild and crazy for about half an hour before I got Tater & Connor down for naps, then Caleb and I played Wii......such fun! Later, Carey & Carter came over while their house was being shown, and Carter did his little "Carter Chance Baby Dance"....TOO CUTE!! BTW, he's going to be crawling very soon!
"If you like to talk to tomatoes, If a squash can make you smile, If you like to waltz with potatoes Up and down the produce aisle...." Yes, we've been listening to Veggie Tales in the car....it's great! My favorite is Larry the Cucumber singing "Oh where oh where oh where oh where oh where oh where oh where oh where oh wherrrrrrrre.....is my hairbrush!?!?"
Found out today that Missy (Kerry's niece) went home from the hospital yesterday. She's been in the hospital since Christmas Day with meningitis and various other infections and ailments. She's still very sick, but at least she's home. Thank you, God!
My niece, Sharon, went to the hospital today with very strong contractions! In fact, she may be pushing even as I type! She is having a girl, though she is keeping the name a secret. Praying she has an easy and quick delivery and everyone is healthy!
My other niece, Lara, who is Sharon's sister, had her baby girl, Penny, on Dec. 1. She has been on maternity leave and has to go back to work next week. So now she will have a chance to go see her new baby niece this weekend before she has to go back to work! Nice how all that worked out!
And yes, this does indeed make me a great-aunt! But then, I'm hoping I've always been a 'great' aunt! ;)
Had our first board meeting for Venezuela Vision tonight. Awesome! It's going to be great to have a group helping us and Buck do all we've been doing on our own. Kerry is the Board President; I am an ex-oficio member. But I will be in charge of setting up a website....guess I'd better go take a Dreamweaver course at ASU! I think I'll also be doing a newsletter. That's okay....that's what I like to do, so it'll be great!
Gotta start thinking about packing for the weekend.....we're heading to the metroplex to see the kids/grandkids! (So here's a disclaimer/warning....I may not be able to blog every day! But I promise I'll post something special for each day when I get back!)

Gotta love it!

2010-01-13T21:40:00.001-06:00

Conversation at lunch today, after much coaxing and pleading, after sands of time and patience had passed through the glass....

Nana: Tater, you need to eat your mac & cheese.

Tater: OK (eats a chip instead)

Nana: Tater, you need to eat your mac & cheese.

Tater: OK (takes a drink instead)

Nana: Tater, you are not listening to me. When I say eat your mac & cheese, you should take a bite of mac & cheese, not take a drink.

Tater: But Mommy says I need to drink lots so I don't have foot cramps.

Nana: And what would Mommy say about you not minding Nana?

Tater: Nana, that is not what we're talking about....you are changing the subject!

Grandpa: (nearly spews everything out his mouth!)

Dinner & a Movie

2010-01-13T21:40:00.000-06:00

Dinner at Franco's......okay; Avatar at Tinseltown......fantastic; an evening with friends.......always the best!

(Tuesday, Jan 12....posted Jan 13)

Blessed by 'Women in the Light'

2010-01-11T22:15:00.000-06:00

God is so good to bring such a variety of wonderful Christian ladies into my life! A couple of years ago I became acquainted with a group of ladies here in San Angelo who were putting together a city-wide one-day conference for the ladies of the Concho Valley....Women in the Light. This past November, Women in the Light held its second conference, and I was on the 'design team' this year.

This evening we held a 'de-briefing' meeting to discuss what went right, what went wrong, what we want to be sure and do again, and what we hope never happens again! It was such a neat, sweet time together as we shared all that day meant to us, how we were touched on various levels by the Holy Spirit, and how God had used such a full, varied program to meet so many needs in the lives of the women there that day. I came away feeling so blessed....blessed to know these women....blessed to be a part of the vision of this group....blessed to be a part of God's work and ministry in this area!

My Jesus, I Love Thee

2010-01-10T15:36:00.000-06:00

How many times have I sung this song....My Jesus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine.

We sang it this morning in church...all four verses. And there it was, hidden down in the third verse, a phrase that I don't ever remember noticing before. I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death...now, here it is....And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath!

When I asked Jesus to be Lord of my life, I turned over all rights to Him in exchange for His saving grace and endless mercy. My breath is not even my own! My God and Creator gave me breath, but it is not mine to keep. It is in His keeping, and He allows me to continue to breathe that I might continue to praise Him!

Now that is good stuff, my friends! Good stuff!!

Thank you, Jesus....I love thee, I know Thou art mine....and I thank you for lending me breath so that I might praise You!

Basketball and Saturdays

2010-01-09T22:25:00.000-06:00

I love Saturdays like today.....only thing on the calendar was Caleb's first Upward Basketball game! Upward is a Christian-based sports league....the kids memorize scripture, every kid plays, every game begins with prayer, and Jesus Christ is shared at every half-time! They even have little cheering squads for the girls who don't want to play.

So we started out this morning, after a record overnight low of 11 degrees, for his 9:00 game....20 degrees outside and about 25 degrees in the gym! It was so much fun watching these little guys play, and Caleb did great, making TWO baskets, one of them a pretty good little jump shot!

Here's a shot Carey got on her camera:

He was also VERY good at guarding his man! He kept his hands up most of the time....when they weren't in his pockets of his sweat pants!

This is his yellow star he got for playing today. The three green stars on his sleeve are for memorizing scripture!

The rest of the day was great, too....just did a few things around the house....nothing special, but got a few things acccomplished....and ended the day by watching the Cowboys win their playoff game!!! Ahhh.....

It's a Cold Day...but it's Friday!

2010-01-08T19:44:00.001-06:00

(January 8, 2010)

It's been really cold here....not as cold as some places, but cold! Today was a stay-at-home day with Tater, and we played games....board games, computer games....put together a shelf for the closet in the grandkid room and just had a really neat day together! All of a sudden he is beginning to pick up new concepts like spelling and adding and strategy! He's so funny....the other day I didn't quite understand what he said, and asked him "What?" So he started spelling it for me! Of course, he just rattled off some letters, then repeated what he had said, then "Understand, Nana?" I didn't, but I couldn't tell him that!

It's also Friday! Kerry came home early and played a round or two of Connect Four with Tater. Then he got in the kitchen and started cooking supper....Chicken Alfredo....mmmmm. Just been a great lazy day altogether....well, not totally lazy....I did the laundry AND folded it AND put it away!!

January 7, 2010

2010-01-08T19:30:00.000-06:00

Venezuela!!

I'm not sure why God placed in our hearts a passion for the people of Venezuela, but He has, and although we have not been down there in two years, we are still very involved. We are beginning three big endeavors in this area. First of all, we are forming a board to administer and oversee the mission that Buck and Ila Mae Smith began in Venezuela over 30 years ago. This will assure that this work will continue long after Buck is no longer able to be involved. We will have our first board meeting next week. Secondly, Kerry has been approached by several of the men in the Venezuela Baptist Convention about setting up a foundation to help fund the work there. Several of the big conventions who currently help support them are suffering from the economy just like the rest of our country, and there is just not enough to go around. Kerry will be heading to North Carolina at the end of this month to attend a conference on major fundraising and setting up foundations. The third thing we are beginning to work on is the upcoming Evangelistic Mission Trip in August! This is a part of the Baptist General Convention of Texas partnership with Venezuela, so they are helping fund everyone's way. Kerry and I will be in charge of making all the arrangements....it's a big job, but so worth it to see people come to know Christ!!

January 6, 2010

2010-01-06T23:48:00.002-06:00

The OCD side of my personality got to play today....my recent purchases of organizers have been put to use in the pantry....AND both refrigerators got cleaned after all the holiday dinners and parties.

January 5, 2010

2010-01-06T23:40:00.002-06:00

I was definitely the fashion queen today....NOT! And definitely no pictures today!

I have been having an awful time with my knees, so I had made an appointment with my orthopedic PA to get cortizone shots today. It was a work day, and Tater's first day back to MDO...my appointment was 8:40am, Tater had to be dropped off around 9:00, and I was due at the office by 9:15.

Surprise! The PA decided she wanted new x-rays. Not only did this mean it would take considerably more time, but it also meant Tater was going to have a fun adventure in the X-Ray Dept! (Thanks, Lucas and Nolen for entertaining the three-year-old full of questions!)

Now, because I was going to work today, I was wearing my gray dress slacks with a white blouse and brick-red blazer with black boots....quite nice for the office. However.....knee x-rays require you to wear these very chic paper shorts. So here I am strolling around in my white blouse, red jacket, bright blue size XXXXXX paper shorts, gray knee socks.......nice....at least I had taken off the back ankle boots! Seriously, I could have put my WHOLE BODY in one of the legs in these shorts!

So Tater was late for school, and I was late for work....but that's okay....it was a fun and educational morning for a three-year-old! And I'm sure I brightened someone's day just by seeing me walking down the hallway in my fashion crime attire!!

January 4, 2010

2010-01-06T23:29:00.002-06:00

YES! I've been waiting for this Monday to arrive! Love Christmas, love the holiday decor & parties & food, love having family together, love having houseguests, love our New Year's Day party...BUT...I really love routine.

And today starts the routine...Jenni is back at work which means Tater is back at Nana's, getting the rest of the Christmas decor packed away and put in the shed and getting the 'regular' decor back in its place!

One of my favorite times with Tater....nap time....he gets a cuddly animal from the basket (unless he's brought his own), a couple of books, we read and laugh and snuggle and maybe sing 'Jesus Loves Me'...then I give him a kiss and turn on his music CD.

"Nap, Nap.....I love you!"

January 3, 2010

2010-01-06T22:56:00.002-06:00

First Lord's Day of the New Year! Spent the morning in Bible Study with friends and in worship with our Lord. Dinner guests of Buck Smith and his fiancee, Mary, in celebration of her New Year's Day Birthday! They are to be married on Saturday, January 23!

Spent the afternoon getting the rest of the Christmas decor down and packed away. By early evening, I was pretty wiped out, so I parked myself on the couch and read a book...actually my Kindle....how did I ever get along without my Kindle? Never again without a book to read!

January 2, 2010

2010-01-06T22:50:00.005-06:00

Party's over....Christmas is over....New Year's is over....time to get the house back in pre-Christmas order! Got the lights down off the house and the two Christmas trees down and packed away. The rest will wait for tomorrow. Finished the evening off with dinner at The Wharf and going to a movie....Blind Side....awesome movie! Awesome day with my favorite guy!!

Speaking of my favorite guy.....this is what he gave me for Christmas! A carousel of Disney Princesses!!

This is how it looks on the piano with some of my other carousels....including the picture on the wall!

My gift to him....a set of Capholon cookware and a mixer stick....he calls it his motor boat....he got to try it out making creme brulee for New Year's Day!

Our gift to each other....Elfa Closet Systems to organize our closets! Don't have them yet...just went on sale Dec. 26....but I'll be ordering them this week....pictures will soon follow!

January 1, 2010

2010-01-06T22:40:00.003-06:00

Our annual New Year's Day Open House/Game Day! We have had this annual gathering of friends for about 9 years now! What an awesome way to start off a new year! This year's gathering was about 42....and there were about 10 of our friends who were not here who have been here almost every year. Much sickness and one of our dear friends had a stroke early that morning...she is home now and expected full recovery with therapy and a little pill every day...praise the Lord!

I didn't do so well taking pictures after a while...I didn't even get pics of the food tables which were overflowing! But we had a great time! In past years, we've always played Chicken Foot....anywhere from 10 to 13 people playing around this table!! But this year, we got a new game for Christmas....Apples to Apples....and everyone loved playing it! We may have a new tradition!

Another 'new' thing this year, our dear friends Rick & Ann came over New Year's Eve to help us cook and get stuff ready, then stayed late on New Year's to help clean up! We love you, Rick & Ann!!

Daily???

2010-01-06T22:20:00.001-06:00

OK, so my niece has started this awesome 365 Project where she takes....and posts....a picture of each of her two girls....every day! What an awesome idea! What an awesome undertaking with two little ones!!

But I have decided, that even though I am already six days late in starting, I am going to try to post at least something every day...some days there will be pictures and some days there will not. Some days may be exciting, most decidely other days will not! And I admit, this is a little selfish....it will help my memory immensely, especially when it comes time to write next year's Christmas letter!!

So, I'm going to play catch-up and briefly blog on each day of this new decade, 2010....and until I figure out how to change the dates on the posts, they will all read Jan. 6, 2010!

God's Gifts

2009-12-26T20:02:00.005-06:00

"God's Gifts"

Christmas is about giving....and God has given us the best gifts ever...gifts that only He can give!

I started out trying to focus on one gift each day....I missed a few along the way, but all in all, it was a very thought-provoking exercise.

Dec. 2....God's Gifts...."He will rejoice over you. You will rest in His love; He will sing and be joyful about you!" (Zephaniah 3:17)

Dec 3...God's Gift...."It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending His Son to be the way to take away our sins." I John 4:10

Dec 4....God's Gift...."Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus" (Romans 15:5).

Dec 5....God's Gift......For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – Ephesians 2:8

Dec 6...God's Gift...CHRISTMAS!! No scripture today, but a thought I had after worship this morning...I just don't understand how folks can have the true spirit of Christmas when they don't know the Reason for the Season! May we not only have the true spirit of Christmas in our hearts, but may we also share that spirit with those around us!

Dec 7....God's Gifts....an ever-present friend and companion..."The Lord himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you." Deut. 31:8

Dec 8 & 9....God's Gifts....okay, I missed yesterday, so here's two for the price of one! GRACE & MERCY! "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ" (Eph 4:7) "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him" (Ps. 103:11)

Dec 10...God's Gift....The greatest gift God gave to you was Himself, the greatest gift you can give God is yourself. The reason God gave you life is so that you would have something precious to give back to Him. The reason God gave you more than you need is so that you would have to give to those who do not have.

Dec 11.....God's Gift......Our God is full of compassion and He loves to give, God is thinking about you continuously all day and night, He is constantly giving to you, every breath you take is a gift from God.

Dec 14.....God's Gifts.....A Plan for Us! "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Dec 16....God's Gifts.....a Spiritual Family...."I will be your father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2Corinthians 6:18)

Dec 17.....God's Gifts....Answers to Prayers..."When a believing person prays, great things happen!" (James 5:16) Also, God's precious gift of our first grandson born on this day SIX years ago! Thank you, God, for Caleb!

Dec 18....God's Gifts....COMFORT...."The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace." Psalm 29:11 Special prayers today for friends who have lost loved ones during this Christmas season....Cynthia, for you and your family in the loss of your mom this week...and for so many friends who will go through this holiday for the first time without that special someone.

Dec 23....God's Gifts....."Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words." (2 Cor 9:15) Why? Why did God go to such lengths to give us the gifts He has given us? The same reason we search and search for just the right gift for someone we love...we do it so they will somehow understand how much we love and say “You did this for me?” That’s what God says, “I did this just for you!”

Dec 24....God's Gifts....HIMSELF! "He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant." (Phil 2:7) Not only did He give Himself in fleshly form, but He gave Himself to serve others....you and me....unworthy creatures that we are...and He served us all the way to Calvary where He gave Himself in death for the salvation of our souls.

Dec 25....God's GIFT.....His Son...."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) The greatest proclamation of love....God giving us His one and only Son not just so that we might live, but that we might live with Him forevermore. I pray that you all know this love in a very personal way.

Merry Christmas!

Snow Day!

2009-12-04T12:52:00.009-06:00

Just as the weatherman predicted (surprisingly!), we woke to a winter wonderland this morning!

Welcome to Winter!!!

What better way to start a SNOW DAY....Grandpa & Tater wearing matching snowmen ties!

And much to the disappoint of many teachers I know, SAISD did NOT have a late start day, so Jenni dropped off Tater at 7:15am as usual.

And playing in the snow with Nana was the order of the day!

And I snagged some pics of Caleb, Connor & Carter from Carey's facebook page....looks like they had a great time in the snow as well!!

And a brief appearance by Carter with the snowy background!

Butterflies, Dragonflies, and Flowers

2009-10-02T20:44:00.011-05:00

Every year the Monarch butterflies come through San Angelo on their way to Mexico for the winter! It is so awesome to drive all over town and see them flitting about! They like to hang in clusters on tree limbs. Tater and I, along with his little butterfly net, went butterfly chasing/catching and had a great time! We would catch one, hold it a little while, talk about it, then let it go....over and over! He even caught a dragonfly in his net!

Of course I had to include some flower pictures! We started out at the Lily Pad Pond, but the butterflies around there were too high up in the trees and were not three-year-old-friendly to catch! We ended up at the Gazebo Garden next to the river on Concho.

Only in San Angelo, Texas......

2009-10-02T20:06:00.002-05:00

Only in San Angelo, Texas, can you go to a hole-in-the-wall awesome barbecue place out by the lake, walk in to a room full of Friday-night-before-homecoming-football-game crowd, have a couple you've never met before offer you to share their table because they are almost finished, end up talking to them for 20-30 minutes (and find out she teaches with one of your daughters), and ten minutes later having your neighbors walk in, again to a crowded room, and asking them to join you, and visit with them another half an hour! And in the mean time, having no less than a dozen people walk through who stop and speak to you because they know you!! Ahh....I love San Angelo!!

Exploring with Preschoolers

2009-06-20T19:13:00.011-05:00

After a trip to Kid's Kingdom Park proved un-do-able after two busloads of 'big kids' (elementary age day camp) arrived and began swarming over the entire park, we crossed the street along the river and 'went exploring'!

They loved climbing the steps up to the Visitor's Center and back down again, and again, and again. I finally bribed them by telling them there was another bridge coming up!

They opted to bypass the second bridge to 'explore this way', so off we went.

One of their greatest discoveries...a turtle and a squirrel!

We finally made it back to the second bridge....they saw a turtle swimming down below.

Then they saw ducks down below...

Rock climbing!

Refreshment!

It was a GREAT morning, exploring along the Concho River with a 3 year old and a 4 year old!

Carter Chance Peacock

2009-06-02T22:04:00.010-05:00

A grandmother's delight...adding another grandbaby!

Carter Chance Peacock arrived Monday, June 1, 2009

7 lb. 14 oz. ~ 21 inches

Now a family of five...Bill & Carey, Caleb (5 yrs), Connor (2 yrs), and Carter

Connor & Caleb absolutely adore their baby brother!

Caleb loves to just sit and hold him, and gives him up rather reluctantly.

Connor is constantly giving him kisses or trying to give him a hug.

Already, they are such loving big brothers!

And then there's the proud Grandpa!

And the adoring Nana!

~~~~~

What a precious little bundle of boy joy!

~~~~~

Here's what I pray for your life:

God, give this child a good heart

One that cares for the weak

One that hears when You speak

A heart that will make You smile

God, give this child a good heart.

(A Good Heart; Ernie Haase and Signature Sound)

80 Years Wonderful

2009-06-02T20:24:00.011-05:00

Eighty years ago, on May 27, 1929, God gave a wonderful gift, and her name
was Margaret. And she just happens to be my mom! Eighty years! An
'octogenarian', as Kerry calls her. She doesn't like that title so much. Maybe
it sounds too much like 'octopus'. Maybe it just makes her feel old.

My mom was the first of nine children. She was born in Coleman County and lived in various places including California and Santa Ana and Bangs, Texas. She moved to Odessa following graduation from Bangs High School.

In 1952, my mother married a handsome young man she met at her church, Belmont Baptist Church. Together they raised five children in a warm, loving, Christian home. They enjoyed life together, experiencing joys and sorrows, good times and hard times, and their lives were a testimony to their faith. My daddy went to be with his Lord on March 24, 2001, just about a year shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.

On Saturday, May 30, 2009, we celebrated Mother's birthday with a party at her church, the same church where she met her sweetheart, raised her children, made many friends, and influenced numerous lives. It was a fabulous event with over 100 guests, friends and family who loved my mother. I asked my mother if she had ever had a birthday party before...she had to stop to think before saying no, she had never had a birthday party. How sad that she had to wait 80 years to have one! She was a professional cake decorator and made many birthday cakes, including cakes for her grandchildren. One of her granddaughters, Marla, who has become a cake decorator/pastry chef herself, made the cake for the birthday celebration. We will celebrate again in July at our West Family Summer Christmas when all the kids and grandkids and great-grandkids are together.

I recently completed Blessings from the Heart: A Woman's Legacy. In that study, we learned the importance of writing to thank those who have blessed us and to encourage those who need a ray of sunshine. I remember compiling a memory book after my daddy died, a book of remembrances and memories written by those who loved him. I decided I wanted to write my thoughts down for my mom before she was gone. This is what I wrote to her...

Mother,
I am who I am because of you and Daddy. Although many people have helped
shape me and make me the woman I am today, you and Daddy gave me the foundation
and basic principles needed on which to build.
You blessed me first by being a Christian yourself, and by marrying a
Christian man and committing yourselves and God to raise your children in a
Christian home. Growing up, I jst took it for granted, figuring everyone had
what I had and was raised like I was raised. As I got older, I realized that was
not so. As I got even older, I realized how privileged I was to have been raised
in a Christian home by two Godly parents.
You blessed me again as I watched you serve God in our home and in our
church and in our community. I know how to serve others because you modeled it
for me. I know the importance of giving your time and energy to the church and
to others because I learned that from you. I know God teaches us to love others
as He loves us, because you taught me that most basic concept. You continue to
bless me as I watch you continue to serve God by loving and serving
others.
You blessed me when you loved me unconditionally. I know there were times
when you were unhappy, angry, or disappointed with me...but you always loved me.
And I always knew that. You modeled God's unconditional love so well that, when
I have gone through struggles of my own, knowing I have made Him unhappy or
angry or disappointed, I know He still loves me and always will.
You have blessed me in so many ways I cannot even begin to list. And you
continue to bless me! And I want to say thank you. Thank you for being a loving,
caring mother who has always been there for me. Thank you for showing me what it
is to be a Christian mother...a Christian woman...a Christian. Thank you for
blessing me and passing on an amazing legacy to me and my children and
grandchildren.
I love you,
Diane

Playing Catchup!

2009-06-02T18:00:00.003-05:00

Two major events have happened in the past week, and I have not had time to blog about them! My last few weeks have included:

planning a birthday weekend getaway for Kerry
planning a birthday party for my mom
receiving and distributing church directories that have been in the making since January
finishing up our Blessings from the Heart ladies study at church and having a special presentation in worship (which included my singing a solo in church which meant time practicing)
going to Caleb's T-ball games, going to Jordan's birthday party in Lewisville, doing all sorts of "Nana stuff"

And of course all the normal, busy everyday things. BUT, I'm catching up tonight! So stay tuned!

Blessed Birthday, Big Brother

2009-05-19T20:44:00.003-05:00

To my big brother,

When I was younger, I knew you hated me. I knew you had one purpose in life, and that was to make me miserable. And you were good at it. I remember positioning the cereal box between us so you couldn't 'look' at me. Your favorite pasttime was thinking up ways to make me mad. And you were good at that, too.

When I got older, something changed. Maybe you got smart. Maybe I did. Maybe you grew up. Maybe I did. One day I decided maybe you didn't hate me. Maybe you were more interested in who I was than in how you could get to me. Maybe you cared about me more than either one of us would have ever admitted.

But that day did come...and I believe we would both attest to the fact that we care very much for one another. You have been there for me through thick and thin. When I felt like no one else understood, you did. When I thought no one else knew what I was going through, you did. When I needed a listening ear, you were there. When I needed a shoulder to cry on, you were there.

Although I would never have believed it when I was younger, I am indeed blessed to be your little sister. You have blessed me in so many ways. You have blessed me with your quiet wisdom. You have blessed me with a realistic and sensible view of life. You have blessed me with your unique sense of humor. And I thank God that He put you in my life.

I love you, big brother!

Your middle little sister,

Diane

A Monkey and His Uncle

2009-04-16T15:03:00.003-05:00

Ray, my older brother came for a visit back in January.

I really enjoyed his visit...always do enjoy his visits...but I think Tater may have enjoyed this visit even more than I did!

I wasn't sure if Tater remembered Uncle Ray or not; he often confused him with Mr. Ray, our yardman. But it didn't take him long at all before he had Uncle Ray down in the floor 'playing rough'.

Or was it Uncle Ray who had Tater down on the floor???

If only you could hear Tater laughing through all of this!!

Things settled down for a bit, and they got out the Disney games....

Disney Dominoes....

Disney "Snap"...which we usually just turn into a matching game cause Tater doesn't really understand the concept...he just likes to say "Oh, Snap!"

Then it was tickle time again....and posing for Nana...notice how they matched with their gray t-shirts and blue jeans...totally unplanned!

And finally Tater calmed down enough to have his picture made with Grannie West.

Thanks, Uncle Ray, for coming to play with Tater....and for coming to visit your middle sister....your favorite, I am sure!!!

Blogging Catch-Up

2009-04-16T14:47:00.002-05:00

During my two-month lapse from blogging, there really was plenty to blog about, just no time in which to do it! Today I happen to have the day to myself, so my goal is to do at least two blogs of things that happened between early January and early April.

I had planned to work in the yard today. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon and evening, but I figured I could get some plants in the ground this morning before it started raining. (I am saying all this because I have so much FAITH in the weather forecasters! Bad idea!) It is now 2:50 in the afternoon, and I have not even set foot in the backyard! First of all, I woke up around 4:15 this morning hearing the sprinkler system....it's supposed to run in the wee hours of the morning on Monday and on Friday...I had it set on Thursday. What that really meant was that the ground in the flowerbeds would be too wet....we have so much clay in our soil that if it is too wet, it is impossible to work with...it's like working with clay, imagine that! Then it was cloudy all morning and sprinkled and spit like it was actually getting ready to rain. Now, this afternoon, the sun and the clouds are playing their own little game of chase, there is no rain, and the wind is blowing...forever blowing.

BUT, my house is clean, there's a cake in the oven for Kerry's meeting tonight, and I have time to blog!

Play Ball!

2009-04-10T20:56:00.007-05:00

The day finally arrived last Saturday...the day I got to watch Caleb play his very first ball game! I have dreamed and waited for this day since he was just big enough to play 'catch' with Nana. Having girls, playing 'baseball' with a toddler was all new for me. I didn't know much about baseball at all until I started watching it with Kerry and going to a few games. And I found out that I really like baseball! And I REALLY liked playing baseball with Caleb. He could throw that little baseball straight to me when he was 2! When he was big enough to really handle the bat, I started pitching to him, and he was uncannily good at hitting most of them! The funny thing is that he would throw with his right arm but bat left-handed. As soon as he would hit the ball, he would take off running across the yard while I 'chased' him with the ball until he got back to wherever the bat had landed. That meant he was 'safe'. So the next thing we did was put out some 'bases' so he could run the bases. But he would always run to third base first! We worked on that, too. Sometimes he would let me bat, and I would let him chase me with the ball! I know, it's a pretty hilarious mental picture...a 50ish Nana running around the backyard with a preschooler, but it was heaven to me! I had SO much fun watching him learn to play ball. It was a special thing between Caleb and his Nana. We even gave him a T-ball set for his 4th birthday. I could hardly wait until he was old enough to play T-ball...and I could go and cheer him on at his games. And now he is 5 and old enough to play in the city league! His team is the Cubs, and he is #6! And he is TOO CUTE!

In 'ready' position as shortstop!

First time at bat!

Running home from third base!

His second game on Monday night, he played first base.

After his first game...with a 'sno-cone reward'...with little brother, Connor, who is gonna be our next great baseball player!!

I can't really put into words how I felt as I sat there during that first game, watching my little Caleb play a real game, catching a ball in his little glove, crouched in his 'ready' position, standing at the tee with his bat and eyeballing the ball, then swinging and hitting the ball, running to each base, then sliding home... Oh my, it was just so neat! I may not be the loudest fan, but I will be one of the most sincere, most dedicated, proudest fan that little boy has, because I will never forget. I am so proud of my little T-ball player!

Where Have I Been?

2009-04-10T00:17:00.005-05:00

Wow! No post since January! Where have I been? Not sure, but I guess I've been pretty busy.

Grandkid Birthdays: Grandkid birthdays are so much fun. Part of the reason is that someone else is doing all the planning and stuff...I just go and have fun with the grandkids and take pictures....and sometimes make a cake! Connor kicks off the grandkid birthday season in November, and Caleb follows in December. Then we skip January...January is the ONLY month we don't celebrate a birthday in our huge blended family of 20! Then Aidan's is in February...can't believe he and Caleb are 5, but then there are 4 grandkids younge and one more on the way, so I guess they have to be! So we went to Plano to celebrate with him at the Airplane Museum near Love Field.

Tater turned 3 in March. We made mini cupcakes and took them up to Glenn and had lunch with his mommy. Then we celebrated his birthday last Saturday at the park. He had a Diego-themed party, and I made his cake, my first cupcake cake!

Annaliese and Jordan both have birthdays in April. We'll go to Plano the weekend after Easter and celebrate Annaliese's 2nd birthday. Jordan will have his birthday party in May after his mommy gets through with school. THEN, it will be just about time for the BIRTH day of our newest grandchild...toward the end of May. YAY! I can't wait to meet him and hold him and spoil him right along with the rest of them! And now that Samm is here, we'll have her birthday to celebrate in September!

Besides grandkids' birthdays, I've been doing quite a bit with the church. I'm still working on the completion of the church directory we started back last November...that's a l-o-n-g story. With the help of a ministry team, I have started a women's ministry called Blessings from the Heart. I don't mean "I" started it...as in created it...I mean I helped get it organized in our church. It is a wonderful ministry put out by Grace Products, and we have 12 ladies in the Sunday afternoon group (which I lead) and 20 ladies in the Thursday evening group. In addition to all of that, I am doing the publicity for our upcoming revival which starts the week after Easter.

Last Saturday, after the birthday party, Caleb had his first T-ball game. What fun! That is a post all in itself!

Saturday we are getting together with all the kids/grandkids for an Easter egg hunt at Bill & Carey's...hopefully I'll post a separate blog on that, too.

I'll close out these bullets with this....Tater had his Easter egg hunt at MDO today. When I picked him up, and he got his Easter basket to show me, he picked out one of those big candy marshmallow-center eggs. "Look, Nana! It's a BIG jelly bean!"

Bare Feet and Butterflies...in January

2009-01-10T21:26:00.012-06:00

January 9...that's what the calendar said. But the thermometer said otherwise...82 degrees! After being outside just a short while, we decided it was time for the socks and shoes to come off! After much giggling over the whole ordeal and deciding that having feet cooped up inside socks and shoes made for very 'stinky feet', we began to actually enjoy our bare-footedness. The deck was warm, a little cooler in the shade, the dry grass was rather prickly, and when Tux walked under our dangling feet, it tickled. It was an adventure for these feet that have been locked inside shoes (or at least socks) for weeks now. To actually feel different textures on the bare skin was quite exhilarating.

Not only did we get to experience going barefoot in January, but we saw a butterfly flitting around the alyssum left in the winter-dry border around the fence, looking for nourishment long gone in that little garden patch.

The Last of a Generation

2008-12-18T22:05:00.005-06:00

Mary Leota Strother, age 92, went home to be with her Lord and join her husband, Francis, and a host of family and friends who had gone on before her.

Leota was my great aunt, sister of my grandmother on my father's side. She was always special to me because she helped me know my grandmother who died when I was three. She was the link to a part of my extended family that I could have missed out on knowing.

Two years ago when she celebrated her 90th birthday, I wrote her a letter...

You have meant so much to me over the years…your special love to us, your great nieces and nephews…your place in our family, always a reminder of how special extended families are…and whether you realized it or not, you were our link to our grandmother whom we did not get to know personally. We knew her through you, through your stories, and through your love for us.
I was always proud to tell people at Belmont that Francis & Leota Strother were my great aunt and uncle…the two of you were role models not only for me but for many in our congregation…strong Christians who worked hard and lived their faith daily. I know the two of you lived through trials, but you allowed the Lord to work them for good, strengthening your faith and dependence on Him. What a testimony!
Although I have greatly missed seeing you, I am so proud that you picked up and moved in the sunset of your life to a new place, made new friends, and found a new place of ministry. I can only think how many more people have been witness to your love and faithfulness to your Lord.

Aunt Leota was one of the last of her generation with only one younger brother still living, Rex Cate. She left a daughter, Karen, and son-in-law, Ed, a granddaughter, Heather, and a grandson, Chris. And of course nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. She had lived in Mississippi near Karen for the last several years, so I did not have the opportunity to see her or celebrate her 90th birthday with her, but I kept in touch with her...she was a wonderful letter-writer! And I will always remember her and what she meant to me...my Aunt Leota.

The Spirit of Christmas

2008-12-09T21:55:00.006-06:00

Christmas sort of 'snuck up' on us this year. It was Halloween, and Connor's birthday, then Thanksgiving....and now it's Christmas....much too soon! I think other people must feel the same sense of surprise and urgency because I've heard people say such things as, "I just can't seem to get into the Christmas spirit" or "I don't have the Christmas spirit yet." This seems very curious to me....and I've been pondering this for a couple of weeks now...what exactly is the 'spirit of Christmas'?

Last Saturday, I think I figured it out. And it has nothing to do with Christmas lights (that some people start putting up before Thanksgiving), or trees (that are supposedly 'pre-lit' but have several strands that won't burn), or decorations (that take up more space in our storage units than anything else). It has nothing to do with going to special Christmas programs, or having Christmas parties, or singing Christmas carols. It doesn't even have anything to do with gifts and presents, although I have always believed that Christmas is about giving...giving not only things but also time and ourselves...giving to family and friends as a way to show love as well as giving to any number or assortment of charities, agencies, or families who need a little extra help this time of year. No, I'm pretty sure the 'spirit of Christmas' doesn't have anything to do with any of these things.

What it has to do with is forgiveness.

Saturday, with it's varying degrees of success and disappointments, had a little lesson tucked away inside for me. On two separate occasions Saturday, God placed in our path people from the past...a past that we don't like to visit very often. I thought, "How strange that we would come across these people...How strange that God has brought the past to our attention twice in one day." That's when it struck me....the past is sometimes filled with regret and grief and hard feelings. Had we met up with either one of these people at any other time, it may not have been the right time. But over the course of time, God has allowed healing on both sides, and that can only come from....forgiveness. In both of these 'chance' happenings, hugs were exchanged! True, honest-to-goodness warm hugs! And when did these 'chance' happenings occur? Right in the middle of the Christmas season!

What does forgiveness have to do with Christmas? It has everything to do with Christmas! I think perhaps it is the spirit of Christmas! Why did God send his only beloved Son on that very first Christmas night? To forgive mankind! To forgive me! And you! Every child in a Sunday School class learns this verse: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16) That's forgiveness! Forgiveness for being the rotten, sinful beings that we are so that we may live forever in His Heaven! Now that is a Christmas gift!

Forgiveness = the spirit of Christmas. I've been rolling this new concept around in my head for a few days now. And you know what else I've decided? That forgiveness is also the key to carrying the 'spirit of Christmas' past December 25, past January 1, into the new year, each and every day. God forgave us...why can't we forgive each other? I'm not sure what it will be, but I am going to find some small token from this Christmas season to keep with me all year long (because this rotten, sinful being is so human) to remind me that I need to have the spirit of Christmas with me all the time, and to forgive others because I have been forgiven.

Merry Christmas, everyone! May you experience forgiveness from both your heavenly Father and your fellow man, and may you know the joy and peace that only Christ can bring.

Wintry Bullets

2008-12-09T17:27:00.002-06:00

This is not my normal style of blogging, but I decided it would do....the ol' bullet stand-by because there are several things running through my head and I don't have time to stylize!

It is C-O-L-D! Definitely our first real taste of winter. The cold front hit around 11:00 this morning with wind and rain...it is now 5:30pm and 38 degrees with the wind chill at 28! It is not raining now, but they 'say' we could have the 'S' word tonight! (snow)
Our Sunday School Christmas party is tonight....which means I have to get out in the cold. And Kerry is gone....which means I have to go by myself...in the cold. I think I would really rather stay home, put a 'cheater' log in the fireplace, and break out my new Karen Kingsbury book. Not that I don't love Christmas parties....I just don't like to go by myself. And did I mention that it is cold outside? And that it might...you know...that 'S' word?
Yes, Kerry is gone. He left Sunday morning and will be back Wednesday night. He has gone to a training meeting. Would you like to guess where? Yeah....warm, sunny Florida. I hate it when he's gone. Everything I do, I feel like I am just going through the motions. I stay up too late. I eat whatever is easy. It helps having Tater here during the day....two-year-old company is better than no company!
Since Kerry is gone, I got to tackle decorating the tree by myself. Actually, I always decorate it myself after he gets it put up, but at least he's usually here to tell me where I need a little more red or another ornament. And he did set up the tree on Saturday before he left....but that's another bullet all it's own.
Saturday was a B-U-S-Y day. Mid-afternoon on Saturday, we got out the tree, put it together (minus the second-to-bottom tier making it a 9' tree instead of a 12' tree), plugged it in, and.....over half the lights were out....on our pre-lit tree. Plus, the angel which I had already attached to the top tier, which worked when I checked it, did not work when we got it up on top of the tree. SO...we pondered and discussed...and decided to go see if we could find another tree. (It was about 5:00 and we were supposed to be at the Symphony at 8:00!) After an hour and a half, we came home with no tree. I decided I would just get some lights and add to the tree. So off we go to the symphony....not great...big disappointment. I guess off-pitch Broadway-Jazz just isn't our style! So we did something I've never done at the symphony....we left before it was over. We decided to go get some hot chocolate and try to change the mood of the afternoon/evening. We went to Cheddars, ordered a decaf coffee for Kerry and a hot chocolate/hold the whipped cream for me....alas, the little gal came back to the table to inform us that they were out of hot chocolate! NO!!! So I had spinach dip instead....suitable substitute.
Saturday MORNING was great. Jenni & I went shopping and had lunch! Without Tater! Yes, it seemed a little strange not to have the little monkey hanging on to us and chattering non-stop. It was indeed a treat...thanks for the invitation, Jenni!
Sunday after church and after going to a baby shower for a girl that Melynda used to babysit (now that will make you feel old!), I came home and began to tackle getting the lights on the tree. Success. Plus, I got the angel on top to work!
I hope you are not looking for any chronological order here, cause there is none!
It is time for me to leave to go to my Christmas party....by myself....in the cold....and there may be white flaky stuff falling from the sky when I get ready to come home. There is one more thought I have running around in my head, but I now think that I will try to tackle it when I get home later and actually 'stylize' it into a blog....so stay tuned for 'The Spirit of Christmas'.

Non-Traditional But Oh, So Traditional

2008-12-02T08:34:00.006-06:00

Thanksgiving at our house may be considered a little non-traditional...we celebrated on Friday, we did NOT have turkey & dressing & all the trimmings, we had steak & ham & squash casserole & lots of other yummy things to eat. We DID have some pumpkin-flavored foods...pumpkin cheese ball, pumpkin trifle, and pumpkin mousse. And yes, we had cranberries...I just chose to put them in the vases with the tulips rather than in a dish with the other food! But if you looked past the food table, it was all about tradition.

We have celebrated on Friday for several years now because the kids have other family gatherings on Thursday...so it is now our 'tradition'. And family....that is what it is all about. We have been so blessed with children and grandchildren! And parents! My mom is our only parent still this side of heaven, and she was with us to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Five of our six kids were here, and four of our in-law kids....we missed Royce and Levi. And ALL seven grandkids were here...actually all eight if you want to count the one who won't be here to bless us until late May or early June!

Here is Samm with all her little boy cousins and her little brother...Connor, Jordan, Caleb, Tater, & Aidan. They loved having a big cousin to play with them! Actually they loved attacking her and climbing all over her!

And where was Annaliese? She was playing in the closet! All the kids love to play in this closet in the 'grandkid room'!

Some of the older kids and I got a hot game of Chicken Foot going, with Caleb, Aidan, and Tater coming in periodically to sit in someone's lap and 'play', throwing out the dominoes just like the adults. And Kerry and the other kids enjoyed watching the football game.

It was an enjoyable afternoon and evening with family. And as non-traditional as our family is, we have come to the point where we actually have our own traditions, which is good. Best of all, we are truly thankful for each one of our kids and grandkids and the family the Lord has blessed us with. God has been good to us, and we thank Him.

Autumn Butterflies

2008-10-25T14:03:00.004-05:00

Monarchs, swallowtails, miscellaneous butterflies...I have SO enjoyed watching the butterflies flit and flutter from blossom to bloom in my garden!

The weather seems like fall, I have orange and yellow and brown fall decor around the house, yet I still have flowers blooming and butterflies floating and bees humming in my backyard!

Pumpkin Patch Part Two

2008-10-25T13:13:00.009-05:00

The pumpkin patch fever continues. Melynda sent pictures of Jordan and their trip to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound.

Diego is Jordan's hero....Jordan is going to be Diego for Halloween

"So how are you doing today, Miss Scarecrow? I like your pumpkin house!"

Sitting in the wagon after going on a hayride

Training for World's Strongest Man....

OK....this will tell you just how crazy I am over pumpkin patches! I found out that there is a pumpkin patch in Grape Creek...about ten minutes away! I was so excited! And you KNOW I had to check it out! It's really nice to have the grandsons here that will go along with me!

Of course, I had to get Tater to pose in the "Harvest Corner" on the front porch.

This is what I do every day...give thanks that I am so blessed with family and friends and a God who loves me no matter what.

Pumpkin Patch Fever

2008-10-17T09:16:00.016-05:00

I love pumpkin patches. I love the orange-ness, the sense of bounty and harvest, the promise of fall and cooler weather. And I absolutely love to watch the discovery on the faces of the kids in a pumpkin patch! And I love pumpkin patch pictures.

Every year since Caleb was almost 10 months old, I've taken the boys to the pumpkin patch at Sierra Vista. It's not really a 'patch'...its a church where they sell pumpkins and gourds to raise money for their youth group. So I am not only having a great time with my grandsons, I am supporting a good cause and helping young people!

It has become a tradition....a very good tradition...

Tater looking over the smaller pumpkins....

Nana! Look at these!

The next day, I took Caleb & Connor...

Caleb knows about posing....Connor says 'cheese' but doesn't look at the camera...but I just love this shy little pose he's got going on!

Then they posed on my front porch with pumpkins we bought...

I don't get to take Adian & Annaliese and Jordan to the pumpkin patch cause they are too far away. But their parents take them and then send pictures...and I love pumpkin patch pictures!

Christi and Rich brought the pumpkin patch to their front yard for Aidan & Annaliese!

Melynda says they went to the pumpkin patch yesterday, so as soon as I get some pictures of Jordan, I'll add them to this blog....so keep watching for an update!!!

Flowers

2008-10-01T10:28:00.006-05:00

I started this spring with a sad looking plot referred to as our backyard. We had extensive work done through the winter and early spring months...new deck, new fence, new sprinkler system. We even had to have new grass blown in. (If you missed the story of Nana looking for the grass, you'll have to scroll back and read it!) There wasn't much money left in the budget for real landscaping, so I planted a few plants and l.o.t.s. of seeds. The result: a pretty nice assortment of floral offerings to gaze upon during the summer. Now that fall is approaching, some of the plants are going away. I'm thinking about some nice chrysanthemums to put in their place.

Grandkids

2008-09-26T13:02:00.010-05:00

Caleb & Connor got to come and spend some time with Nana & Grandpa while Mom & Dad got some R&R out in California. Tater loved having 'his cousins' to play with every day!

It was quite draining physically...it's been a while since I had to keep up with 3 kids every day. But it was uplifting emotionally because I got to experience some of those moments in their lives that I don't normally get to share...sleepy snuggles with Connor and bedtime talks with Caleb...wouldn't have traded it for anything!

And, of course, I documented the days with pictures....

The boys loved playing outside everyday...and Tux got a LOT of lovin'!

Grandpa got to play with the boys and pull them around in the wagon...the three of them won't all fit in that little wagon much longer!

Teeth-brushing time was LOTS of fun! ;-)

I made a sign for Caleb & Connor to send their love to Mommy & Daddy through Facebook!

Tater went to 'school' on Tuesdays-Thursdays, Connor went on Mondays-Wednesdays, and Caleb went on Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays.

Tater & Connor enjoyed a quiet morning on Friday while Caleb was at school.

Then we picked up Caleb at school, and Grandpa joined us at the park for a picnic!

Dinosaur chicken nuggets (with Ranch dip, of course), cheese, and grapes...

but Connor wanted a bite of Grandpa's hamburger.

Then it was play time! Grandpa helped the boys swing before he had to go back to work.

(Don't you just love his 'park attire'?)

They were literally racing around and around climbing up and going down this slide time after time...even Connor!

They had a great time until Nana said it was time to go....not a popular idea...

Naptime was n..i..c..e..

Caleb had 'homework' to do one day...cut out three pictures of things that start with "O".

He thought of Oak tree, Ogre (Shrek), and Oatmeal, then I scurried around to find pictures for him to cut out. I ended up using the copier to copy my Shrek DVD case and a box of instant oatmeal! The tree we found on the front of a catalog.

Connor wanted to do his 'homework', too.....soooo serious!

Dinosaur-shaped cinnamon toast for breakfast....mmmmmmmm!

These croquet mallets...they were the source for a world of imagination...

They were deer rifles, lawnmowers, lasers, hammers, canes, hockey sticks, golf clubs...

Ah, yes....grandkids....

Happy Belated Birthday, Dana

2008-09-15T13:12:00.019-05:00

Yes, my baby had a birthday three weeks ago. But there was too much happening at the time to post a blog. Her birthday was August 26, and that was the day the Lord decided to call home my mother-in-law (see 'Mothers' post). Since that time we have spent most of our weekends and some weekdays in Odessa going through her things, cleaning out her town house, and getting ready for an estate sale. The estate sale was this past weekend. I had intended to post Dana's birthday blog on Sept. 4, the day between Jenni's and Melynda's...but that didn't happen either. So here I am, three weeks later, giving Dana birthday thoughts, and she won't even be able to read it probably for another week or two! She is in Spring (Houston), surviving Hurricane Ike, and the electricity is out in her area...which means no computer, not to mention lights, TV, and AC! Nevertheless, here is my belated birthday blessing to my baby!

Happy Birthday, Dana!

Here is my baby girl, Dana Marie.

Or Dana-bug as we called her when she was little.

We knew she would be the last...the baby...and I guess we always treated her that way. But we didn't spoil her! Her two big sisters took care of that!

Dana, my baby girl...my shy, quiet little shadow.

I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home-mom for her first two years.

And I was fortunate enough to have her stay at home longer after high school, all the way through her college years until she married.

She was still shy and quiet...she just didn't follow me around like my shadow any more.

She has grown into a lovely, strong, Christian young lady. She is a loyal and dependable friend. She is a wonderful wife, a friend and companion to her junior-high sweetheart, Levi! They have been married just seventeen months. And she is a daughter who has become a friend.

(But I lost my fashion consultant when she left home!)

I have always prayed scripture for my girls. My favorite one to pray for my girls and for Kerry's kids is Jeremiah 29:11-13. But one scripture that comes to mind as I think about Dana, now 24 years old and just beginning her 'grown-up life' away from home, is this one...this scripture was put to music and was a song we sang together in a praise team group a few years ago.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:9

Happy Belated Birthday, Dana-bug!

Happy Birthday, Melynda

2008-09-04T22:49:00.007-05:00

This is my little "Playpen Princess"

This is Melynda, and today, September 5, is her birthday!

Melynda has always been a very sensitive and caring person with a sympathetic heart. When she was little, she always wanted to pray for a little friend who was sick, or for someone she had heard mentioned at church who needed prayer. She wanted to be everyone's friend and felt life should be fair and equal to all.

She has found out that life isn't fair, but she is a peace-maker; she still tries to make everything right. I think that is why God has placed a desire in her heart to work with children who have experienced the unfair realities of life. She wants to help make things right in their world.

Melynda is an organizer, a planner. She loves matched sets of anything. She likes order...to a degree.

She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, confidant. She will lend an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. She will do whatever it takes.

She has become a woman after God's own heart, seeking to do His work, in His time.

Happy Birthday, Melynda! I love you!

Happy Birthday, Jenni!

2008-09-03T10:45:00.023-05:00

See this precious baby girl?

This is Jenni, my first-born.

Jenni, my precocious preschooler.

Jenni, my bright, bouncing little girl.

Jenni, my on-the-go junior-higher.

Jenni, my singing/studious high schooler.

Jenni, my daughter who has grown into a beautiful young lady,

a loving wife, an awesome mom,

and a fantastic, caring middle-school teacher!

Jenni, who has become the godly woman I always prayed she would be.

Today is her birthday, and I just want to tell her how much I love her,

how proud I am of her, how I admire her determination and independence.

There will be times when she feels victorious.

There will be times when she feels defeated.

There will be times when she feels elated.

There will be times when she feels depressed.

But every time, God is there for her.

And she knows He is there.

She seeks Him and He is there.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

(Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Happy Birthday, sweet daughter of mine!

Mothers

2008-08-28T13:18:00.009-05:00

There are few women I consider to be a mother figure to me other than my own mom. My mom is the best, and I will forever consider myself to be blessed beyond measure to be her daughter.

But occasionally God has brought other 'mothers' into my life, to share with me their lives and with whom I can share my life and grow to love. Two such women have held the title of 'mother-in-law.' Now I know there are a lot of jokes and bad press about mothers-in-law, but I am honored to have had two of the best!

Thirty-two years ago, Dorothy Presley became my mother-in-law. (Am I really that old???) Twelve years ago, through the difficulties of divorce, she ceased being my mother-in-law but remained my friend and will always be 'my other mom.' She will always hold a very special place in my heart. She will always be loved with the kind of love and respect and admiration that I have for my own mother.

Almost eleven years ago, God brought another 'mom' into my life when I married Kerry...Naomi Peacock...a woman who I have come to love in a very special way. She welcomed me into her family with open arms. And on Tuesday of this week, on August 26, our Lord welcomed her into the realm of His heaven with open arms of grace. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She readily accepted her place as another grandmother to my girls. (In my humble opinion, one can never have too many grandparents!) Oh, and she loved those great-grandkids! She was a strong Christian lady and a hard worker. And she will be missed. In lots of places. About a month before she passed away, she was in our home in San Angelo, and she had the opportunity to see all of Kerry's kids and the grandkids. When I took her home to Odessa, one of the last things, and the most memorable thing, she said to me was, "I'm so glad Kerry found you." That...I will always remember.

Kerry wrote a prayer/poem for her one Mother's Day and read it to her from the pulpit as he gave her a rose. This is what he wrote:

Dear Heavenly Father,
This beautiful flower is like the precious mother you gave to me…delicate and tender…sweet and wonderful! Dear Lord, I know it took you in all your splendor to create such beauty…it took you in all your glory to create mothers. You gave them hearts that love…hands that heal…and hope that radiates from their smiles. Lord, as I think of my mom today…as I look at this beautiful flower that reminds me of her…I thank you for her. I thank you for your gift of love and beauty to me…I thank you for my mother! Amen.

Isn't that awesome? He will read this at her funeral service on Saturday. And I will sing one of her favorite songs (and mine)...Beulah Land. As I sat at her bedside during that final hour, I sang this song...not out loud, but in my heart...it just seemed appropriate...

I'm kind of homesick for a country, to which I've never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken, and time won't matter anymore.

Beulah land, I'm longing for you; and some day, on thee I'll stand.
There my home will be eternal; Beulah land, Sweet Beulah land.

I'm standing now across the river; where my faith will end in sight.
There's just a few more days to labor; and then I'll take my heavenly flight.

Goodbye, Naomi. You've struggled on this earth long enough. Rest in the arms of your Savior. Rejoice in the reunion of family and friends. Remember that we love you and that we will miss you...so very much.

Colorado Pics

2008-08-20T14:30:00.004-05:00

OK...I guess it's time to post some pictures from Colorado.

This was our cabin in Estes Park...we had a great view of the mountains through the rain...sat out on the porch and watched the rain...sat in the hot tub and listened to the rain...(getting the theme here???)

We did a little shopping in Estes Park...a beautiful little tourist resort...we happened to time it just right between rain showers! Now if I can ever figure out my PhotoShop, I can get us both on the same bench!

This is a little stream running through town.

Just outside Estes Park is the Rocky Mountain National Park. We drove through the park and through the rain...it was beautiful!

We found two separate herds of elk right beside the road. This is the buck from the smaller herd...there were about 20-25 in this herd.

We pulled off to a viewpoint area...it was really cold and really windy...the first picture shows the view off to the right of the point...at the low spot at the lower right corner of the picture there were a couple of elk grazing...the second picture shows one of them...I would say my little camera has a pretty good zoom!

This is the second herd we came across...there were probably close to 50 elk in this herd.

Our second full day in Colorado was spent driving to Steamboat Springs. This is Grand Lake along the way.

In Steamboat, we rode the gondola up to the top of the mountain. Actually it wasn't even the top once we got there, but it was close. Here is the view from the top.

We didn't get to see everything we wanted to see, but I'm sure it will still be there whenever we get another chance to go.

Life as it should be...

2008-08-18T08:53:00.003-05:00

I am home...

It is raining...

I saw my Caleb and my Connor last night for dinner and got the BEST hugs...

I slept in MY bed on MY pillow last night...

I am home...

It is raining...

I have Tater with me again and got the BEST hug this morning...

Life is as it should be...

(Now if I could figure out how to get hugs from Jordan, Aidan, Annaliese, and Sam!)

Home Sweet Home

2008-08-16T22:09:00.002-05:00

I am home.

Home. I can't believe how wonderful and blessed it feels.

I got home this evening, went out on the patio to say hello to Tux (who I am sure thinks I had abandoned him two weeks ago when I dropped him off at the vet for boarding) and check on my potted plants (which have spent the last two weeks with Rick and Ann), and just felt such a relief (and release) that the tears started to flow.

Of course, it doesn't take much to make me cry...especially when I'm tired...or when I'm emotionally exhausted...or when I feel so blessed and thankful for the life I share with Kerry here in this house, our home.

We left this house, our home, twelve days ago for a welcome and greatly anticipated vacation in Colorado. We were sitting in the DFW airport when we got word that Kerry's mom had been taken to the ER in Odessa with internal bleeding. Over the next couple of days, we divided our time between visiting with Kerry's cousin and family, enjoying the beauty of the Colorado Rockies and checking in by phone with Kerry's sisters in Odessa. By Thursday, we were no longer enjoying our time...we were sitting in a hotel room in Steamboat Springs, waiting for a call from Texas to let us know if the source of the bleeding had been found and if it had been stopped. The call came...the answer was no..and no. We went to eat, and got another call which made the question to come back home or not a definite yes. The call was from my mom...she was checking in on Kerry's mom, but she had news herself...she was to have an angiogram the following Monday. So we made all the arrangements and cancellations necessary, left SS at midnight to drive back to Denver, turn in our rental car, and catch the first flight back to DFW, then on to San Angelo. We were home about 5 hours...during which time we took a nap, took showers, and repacked...then we were on the road to Odessa by 5:00 Friday afternoon.

Kerry's mom had surgery on Saturday morning, after all other efforts to find the source of the bleeding failed. She had 18 inches of her small intestine removed. Long story short, from last Saturday to this Saturday...the surgeon did an excellent job and she is no longer bleeding. She is in A-Fib, a heart rate irregularity, but has been stabilized through medication. She is still very weak, and is very confused and disoriented. It is going to be a long, hard recovery and rehabilitation. I stayed in Odessa all week to help Kerry's sisters...my shift was 1-5 every afternoon, with occasional evening visits. Today was one of the hardest days to sit with her as she was awake, yet confused and hallucinating.

My mom's angiogram went well...only 20% blockage and NO cholesterol in her veins! (I must take after my dad.) So she wore a heart monitor for 24 hours on Wednesday. Today, her doctor's office called and told her to double the medicine she takes for a "skip" in her heartbeat. Which tells me it is probably worse than it was when she started taking the medicine. She will know more next week when she meets with the doctor.

Add to the stress of concerns for both moms the absence of my own support system, my rock, my friend, my husband....yeah...it's been an emotionally exhausting twelve days.

And yeah...it is so good to be home. Even though there is still garage sale stuff sitting around (from the weekend before we left)...and my suitcase full of sweaters and jackets and jeans from Colorado is still sitting in the middle of my bedroom floor...and there is no milk in the refrigerator...and the stack of mail is about 2 feet tall...and my laundry basket is overflowing...etc. etc.

I am home, with my husband, sitting with him on the couch with my laptop, posting a blog on high-speed internet (my mom still has dial-up and checking my e-mail and reading blogs was the most I could do), and anticipating sleeping in my MY bed on MY pillow.

Yes, I am home. My home sweet home.

Quietness.........

2008-08-03T21:42:00.003-05:00

Shhhh....can you hear it?

I can't believe it...the house is quiet.

For the first time in about 3 weeks, we do not have out-of-town company. Dana and Melynda & Jordan left this afternoon. We have enjoyed visits from siblings, mothers, children and grandchildren. Now we are enjoying the quiet. I think we must be getting old. ;-)

Tomorrow will be spent getting ready for our trip to Colorado on Tuesday where we shall enjoy several days of R&R...and be someone else's guests for a change!

Blogging Memories for Fun

2008-08-01T08:17:00.000-05:00

I found this on Dana's blog and left a comment for her, so I have to do one for myself...

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one (or 2 or 3...) memories that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Caffeine.........

2008-07-31T00:53:00.003-05:00

Do you know what time it is? It is 12:53 AM! And I am NOT SLEEPY!

We went to Zookini's tonight for our 'last supper' with Royce before he goes home tomorrow. And I absolutely love their ice...with diet coke...so I had one. I knew better...sure enough...here I am...wide-awake-and-gonna-be-sorry-in-the-morning.

But it hasn't been fruitless...I made garage sale signs for this weekend, I placed an ad online for the garage sale, I edited the rest of the pictures I took of the grandkids this past week, I caught up on reading some blogs, and I was the first to wish Paul Dawkins a happy birthday at 12:11AM on Facebook chat!

OH! I just yawned! Maybe by the time I get this baby shut down for the night, I can go back to bed and go to sleep! Maybe I'll be taking a nap with Tater tomorrow!

(It is now 1:01AM...maybe I'll go take a Benadryl......)

Drained....

2008-07-28T16:02:00.002-05:00

Drained...that is me. For 10 solid days I have had house guests. Not the same ones...some go, others come. My washing machine has never seen so many sheets and towels in one weeks' time. It's been great, though! Just draining.

On Thursday, the 17th, my baby sister and my big brother and his wife came in. It was pretty cool...without any prior planning, Lucy flew from Idaho and Ray & MJ flew from Virginia, met up in Dallas, and were all on the same flight from DFW to SA. They came for the infamous West Family Summer Christmas. (see previous post) They all stayed with me because they have to shell out the $$ for plane tickets, and I wanted to save them a little on the lodging. Then my mom came on Friday. She always stays with me cause she's the mom! They all stayed until Monday morning. Monday afternoon the washing machine went into action!

We were expecting Rich and Christi late Monday night. They were going to leave Aidan and Annaliese with Nana & Grandpa while they celebrated their anniversary in Fredericksburg, then Rich was going to drive back to Plano, and Christi & kids were going to stay in SA and fly back on Sunday. But their plans changed...Rich's grandmother was in her last days of battle with cancer in Iowa and he needed to go see her. (She passed away Saturday morning...please keep Rich's family in your prayers!) So Kerry went to get Christi and the kids on Tuesday and brought them back. They stayed with us until Friday afternoon...

By Friday afternoon, Kerry's mom was here. Christi had driven to Odessa to get her and bring her back so she could see them and Royce who would be coming in on Saturday.

Whew...are you tired yet? Remember, in the midst of all this was Vacation Bible School every morning last week! (see previous post) :P

So Royce came in Saturday night (while we were babysitting Connor), and he'll be here till Thursday. Although, technically, he isn't "here"...he usually ends up spending the night with friends.

This morning I took Kerry's mom home...she was ready. ;) So since Royce is not really "staying" here, I'm declaring our season of guests to be over. Except wait! The girls and I are having our second annual summer garage sale this weekend! That means Dana and Melynda (and Jordan and possibly husbands) will be here! Guess I'd better get those sheets & towels into the washer again!

I love my family, my kids, and my grandkids....but then I love my quiet house and normal (?) routine once they are gone.

VBS and Grandchildren

2008-07-24T22:15:00.004-05:00

This has been Vacation Bible School week at First Baptist. This is my 5th or 6th year to teach Preschool Music which I absolutely love. The only downside to this is having these silly little preschool songs going through my head 24-7. If you asked me to hum or sing a regular song right now, it would be absolutely impossible. But the kids...they are the reason I put up with "Here We Come-A Walking Down the Street" running through my head. Some are shy at first but quickly warm up. Others are unabashedly loving on you the minute they walk in the door. Some are shy at first and are still shy when they walk out the door on the last day. I love to watch Ethan...he knows me...I have babysat him several times...but he is shy, so he doesn't want to sit in the circle with the group. He sits against the wall and watches. By this time, he has learned the songs and the motions, so he very shyly does the motions and mouths the words, while he sits against the wall. And when we get the streamers out for the last "parade" song, he always wants a streamer...and waves it to the music...while he sits against the wall. And then there's Mason, and Natalie, and Juliana, and others who learn all the words and all the motions and are so excited to participate in everything we do. They even know which song comes next on the custom-made "Preschool VBS Mix" CD. And the younger four-year-olds like Kylee and Annabell just want to sit in your lap or talk to you while you are trying to sing. Plus, having 5 classes of preschoolers for 20 minutes each, singing, dancing, marching around the room is a great workout!

One of the bonuses this year is being able to take my grandkids with me to Bible School! This is the second year I've taken Caleb, who lives here. But this year, Aidan (along with his mommy and baby sister) is here for a visit, so he and Caleb are keeping Miss Jeana and Miss LeeAnn hopping in Preschool 4D! It is quite the adventure...the minute we get in the car, the VBS Preschool Mix is in the CD player, back speakers turned up, and the boys requesting "Nana, we want the 'marching' song!" (That's Choose Jesus....cause they love the motions and the instrumental version is the one we march to with streamers.) Then it's "Nana, now the 'cowboy' song!" ("I Will Hasten" which has music you could ride a horse to and involves slapping your knee and saying "YeeHaw"!) Then Caleb always wants to go back to the 'marching' song, but Aidan wants to listen to the 'love Jesus' song (He Loves You/He Loves Me) which has a great 50's sound. What fun!

Christi and Annaliese are going with us, too! Christi is helping me out in class...along with Brook duBois who is absolutely wonderful and loved by all the kids...especially Caleb! Christi is an elementary music teacher in Plano, so its like having a pro on board. Annaliese, who is 15-months-old, goes to the nursery and comes to music class with the three-year-olds...five precious little girls who love to sing and dance. Annaliese loves to stand in the middle of our circle and watch...she also loves the wave the streamers, and she loves to get her sticker at the end of class.

VBS and grandkids...what a great mix! It's so much fun...so much fun, in fact, that I'm going to give Caleb and Aidan their own copy of the "VBS Preschool Mix" CD...Christi and Carey are going to love me!

Ode to Family

2008-07-22T15:01:00.002-05:00

I've considered several different titles for this blog...I'm afraid I'm going to end up with half a dozen blogs all rolled into one, because there is just so much stuff rolling around in my head. I even briefly thought about doing what I used to do when I was in school...write the paper first, then title it. My English teachers always frowned on that. (Why is that, Jenni?) They always wanted the title and outline of my term paper handed in first! How could I do that? I didn't even know what I was going to write yet???

So....since everything rolling around in my head is pretty much a result of the planning, process, and product of a family reunion, I decided on the title "Ode to Family"...and I wrote it first! (Mrs. Morgan, Sr. Eng. OHS '75, would be proud! And I even used some alliteration!)

Last weekend, 40 members of my family gathered for the 2nd annual West Family Summer Christmas. That's right...Christmas...complete with Christmas tree, gift exchange, stockings, and turkey & dressing Christmas dinner (even fruitcake!).

Christmas was always the time of year when my four brothers and sisters and I, along with our families, would gather at Mother & Daddy's for family time. We always exchanged gifts, ate turkey and dressing, and had a great time seeing how much each others' kids had grown and reminiscing about old times. I am always amazed that when recounting the same incident, each of us remember different things. Individually, our memories are monotone, but together, it's like we each have a different color crayon to color in the memory to keep it bright.

As our kids have grown and married and had families of their own and moved all over the country, it has been harder to get them all back to Odessa to Grannie's house for Christmas. This generation of cousins has always been very close, and they missed not getting to see everyone. We decided we could get together in the summer when schedules were less busy...but we didn't want to lose any of our Christmas traditions which had become unique to the Raymond West family...so we decided to have Christmas in the summer. We tried it last year for the first time and it was a delightful success, so we officially adopted our new version of Christmas...the West Family Summer Christmas.

Why? I've been pondering the "why" of some of the things we do as family. Perhaps this is from being around Tater and listening to his favorite 2-year-old question...why? Why is it so important to us to see one another at least once a year? Why is it so important for us to continue traditions that started when Maggie, Lara, and Jenni were the only grandchildren in the family? Why is it so important that we continue to give gifts to one another in July? Because we are family...and it's more than just a song!

Why are we so eager to see each other? Because my parents taught us that family is one of the most important things in the world. It is the first institution created by God. It is the foundation for the future. We were taught to love each other and respect each other. Now that we are grown with children and grandchildren of our own, scattered from Virginia to Idaho, each living our lives as we feel led by God, we still love and respect each other. We are a part of each other. And most important of all...we actually LIKE each other!!! Why are our kids so excited about seeing their cousins? Because somehow we have managed to pass along these values to them. Even the second generation of cousins are catching on...Tater's comment: "I want to play with my cousins!"

Why do we continue the Christmas traditions even when the thermometer is hovering between 95 and 100? Because it is who we are. Traditions are unique to every family...they are what we have in common with those we love. Strong traditions spawn happy memories, and who doesn't love to walk down memory lane when the flowers are blooming and the creek is babbling? Cranberries may be hard to find in July, but traditions and memories abound all year long.

Why do we give gifts? This is one of the most thought-provoking "why" questions. So what if we get together in the summer? Lots of families do. So what if we have our own set of traditions we like to carry out? Lots of families do. I think the reason goes back to our love for family. We give because we love. The basic act of giving is based on love. None of us really need the trinkets we receive. We probably all have more 'things' than we could ever possibly need...just go look in your closet or your garage. But the idea of looking for a gift for someone you love and finding a gift that fits that person is exciting. It is a tangible way to show our love to our family. And that is important.

Folks heading out to the lake this past weekend probably wondered when they saw our banner on the fence reading West Family Summer Christmas, complete with a picture of Santa in swimming trunks, lounging in a beach chair under a palm tree. But inside the fence, no one had to wonder about the amount of love in our family...it was readily apparent as we shared an absolutely fabulous weekend each other!

Recipe for Peach Cobble-er with Love from a Two-Year-Old

2008-07-12T20:27:00.012-05:00

Step One: Ask your 2-year-old grandson if he wants to help make a peach cobbler for his mommy.

"Oh! That will be fun! I get the helping stool!"

Step Two: Get your camera ready cause it's going to be something special.

Unwrap butter and melt 1 stick in each pan (we made two cobblers)

Stir 3/4 cup sugar into 2 cups peaches

In another bowl, add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour,

1 tsp of baking powder, and 1 cup of milk

Now stir and stir while standing on the helping stool!

Pour flour/sugar mixture into pan of melted butter, and then pour peaches on top. (Do not stir.)

But if you still want to stir, you can put the oven mitt on one hand and stir the empty bowl with the whisk while Nana puts the cobbler in the oven at 325 for 45 minutes.

NOW! What to do while the cobbler is cooking...hmmm...we can have a snack of marshmallows!

(If I could imitate the way Tater says marshmallows, I would try to spell it...too funny)

"You want one, Nan?"

Beep Beep Beep..."The cobble-er is done, Nana!"

"I made this peach cobble-er for you, Mommy!"

A Different Kind of Fourth

2008-07-07T15:33:00.005-05:00

I am witness to the fact that as you get older, holidays change. For instance, last Christmas Day, Kerry and I were actually by ourselves. All the kids were doing other things. So we went and served lunch at the Salvation Army. It was different.

Now we've just had a three-day weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July. Again, all the kids were celebrating with their own families...which I personally think is just wonderful! They should have their own family traditions without grandparents getting in the way all the time! Families grow strong when they have traditions that bond them together, and the most important family unit to be strong is that small nucleus of mom and dad and the kids. (There...that's my own personal little bit of wisdom for the day...free of charge.)

So, Kerry and I had no specific plans for the weekend other than going to Fredericksburg on Saturday because it's 'Peach Season' in Fredericksburg. And even though we still have peaches in the freezer from last year's bounty, we felt like we needed more. We decided to start off the long weekend on Thursday by inviting our friends, Rick & Ann, over for dinner. Kerry is still trying out new things on his new-and-improved grill, so he decided to grill some orange roughy and cook some scallops in a wine/butter sauce (yes, the 'grill' has burners for this sort of thing). YUM-O, as Rachel Ray would say. I made a yellow squash/zuccini dish, and Ann provided the salad and steak fries. After dinner, we introduced Rick & Ann to the World of Wii, and we had so much fun for the next couple of hours. I'm sure if anyone had been looking in the window, they would have been rolling in the grass! Especially when Rick and Kerry were boxing...it was totally hilarious! Ann and I were laughing so hard we had tears! It was such a delightful evening and an excellent way to start our three days of leisure.

Friday morning was cool, so we decided to work out in the backyard for a little bit. I dug around in the yard pulling weeds and watered the seeds I had planted, and Kerry put together the bench arbor to go against the fence in the middle of back flowerbed. The temperature began to rise, so we began our descent...into the sofa to watch a little TV. We decided the scallops had been so good the night before, we would do them again for lunch, along with some fresh asparagus and fresh corn on the cob. Mmmmmm. As darkness fell, we decided we wanted to watch some fireworks (since we had missed the Pops Concert/Firework Display down on the river the night before), so we drove up the street where we had a great view of the fireworks display over the lake. It was an awesome show lasting almost 25 minutes.

We got up Saturday morning and left for Fredericksburg. We decided to take a different route and see different views, so we meandered our way through south central Texas and had a delightful time. We finally arrived in Fredericksburg just in time for lunch and had some good German food (Reuben sandwiches and bratwurst!). Then we strolled and shopped a little before heading out of town to the fruit stands. We stopped at quite a few before we decided to buy...that's just how you do it, apparently. But we finally found some we liked, and we got not only peaches, but also black-eyed peas, okra, Pecos cantaloupes, and vine-ripened tomatoes. And yes, by the time we got home, all we could smell was cantaloupes! We also decided to stop and poke around at this place that had a lot of wrought iron and pottery and 'outside stuff' piled around. We had seen some pots outside one of the little shops earlier that I liked, and Kerry thought we might find some there. He was right! Here is what we found...perfect for our patio.

We were ready to leave Fredericksburg, but not ready to go home, so we decided to drive over to Lake Buchanan. Kerry's family had a place there when he was little and again for a little while about 12 years ago. It was really interesting to drive around and look at all the 'old places'. We were able to find the place where Kerry's two aunts had lived. The bigger house has been redone on the outside (and probably on the inside), but the smaller house is still there, just like it was.

And there is still a stand of cannas right where they had been when Kerry's aunt lived there!

After driving around the lake a while, we decided to go ahead and drive on to Austin and eat at our most favorite restaurant ever....

Carrabba's Italian Grill. We found this about 11 years ago when we were in Austin picking out wedding bands. We had been looking for another Italian place, which we never found, but discovered Carrabba's instead. There are Carrabba's in the Dallas area and Houston area, but we're a little partial to this one. Oh, my...Chicken Bryan...if you've never had it, we highly recommend it! Afterward we went down to the Capitol and walked around a while before getting back in the car and heading home.

Sunday afternoon was cool...low 90's, believe it or not...so I got out in the backyard again and put up a little fence to keep Tux out of the flowerbed around the fence so the little flower seeds will have a chance to grow. Here's the lastest pic of the backyard transformation...it's still in progress, but looking a lot better.

Celebrating the Fourth of July this year was certainly a lot different than we've ever done before. But it was wonderful not to have anything specific on our agenda...just spending time together, which is just about our favorite thing to do.

Now I've got to go and make a peach cobbler!!!

Brayden

2008-07-04T11:54:00.006-05:00

Look at the right hand side of my blog page and scroll down to my blog list, A Carousel of Blogs. You will find 'Rhonda Robbins Photography' listed there.

Rhonda is my cousin, and she is an awesome photographer. She has such a unique style, using old houses, railroad tracks, rundown buildings and warehouses as her backdrop. The colors in her photographs are bright, yet subdued at the same time, if that makes sense. And sometimes she uses black and white for a really neat effect. But more than that, she is able to capture emotions and personalities in the faces of those she photographs.

She has just posted some pictures of her new great-nephew, Brayden. You just HAVE to see them! Brayden's mommy, Bailey, has been through a lot this past year, and God has blessed her and Kyle immensely. As you scroll through the pictures, look at their faces, and say a little prayer for them. They still have a long road ahead, but it'll be easier with your prayers and with that sweet little baby boy along with them.

Love you, Rhonda! God bless you, Bailey, Kyle & Brayden!

(My favorite? The feet and the sunflower!)

Simple Pleasures for a Little Boy

2008-07-01T20:49:00.005-05:00

* Spending the Night (and following day) with Nana

* Wii Bowling

* Chocolate Milk

* Playing with Tux

* Taking a Bath in Nana's Super Duper Tub

* Lion King

* Hunting for Wii Mario Kart (but, alas, not finding it anywhere in town)

* Lunch with Grandpa (including a Chocolate Milk Shake)

* Elevator Ride at Grandpa's Office

* Unidad Park

* One Blessed Nana

(Can you tell I spent the day with Caleb?)

Playing with My Camera

2008-06-29T17:42:00.011-05:00

So I'm cleaning out my files on the hard drive, trying to put pictures onto disks, and I ran across these pictures that I took while I was playing with my new camera...my Christmas present last Christmas. Just had to share some of them with you....

My first day of playing...this is the centerpiece on the coffee table.

Driving home from Odessa...going through Sterling City...playing with the Color Accent feature

More Color Accent...the steering wheel...

Can you guess where we stopped for drinks???

A carousel horse on my Victorian Christmas tree

We had our backyard torn up pretty much throughout January through April, so the boys had lots of opportunity to dig in the dirt!

The out-of-focus strings on the badminton racket...

Looking through the dormant crape myrtle to the house across the street...

Our OLD fence...was literally on it's last legs...

Looking up into the underside of the patio umbrella...

Our patio furniture...

Most people have to ask what this is when they see the entire thing with their own eyes...it's a Wiggle Worm Sprinkler!

The Frog

2008-06-28T16:37:00.007-05:00

Everyone arrived throughout the afternoon and evening at various times. All of our kids and their families were gathering at Lake Placid on the Guadalupe River near New Braunsfels for a family weekend getaway. We were excited to see the kids, brothers and sisters were excited to see each other, and the cousins...oh, the cousins! As Tater aptly put it upon Jordan's arrival, "Jordan, my cousin, is back!" These six little cousins just love to get together and play with each other, and it is so much fun to just sit back and watch.
That first night, bedtime came much too early for the little boys...even though it was way past bedtime. Caleb & Aidan were going to sleep in the master bedroom with us because there were two queen beds in there. They had been in bed for a while when I decided to go upstairs and check on them...I met them at the top of the stairs...with all sorts of excuses for not being able to go to sleep. I told them I would lie down with them until they went to sleep. Aidan went right to sleep then, but Caleb's little brain was still going ninety miles an hour. We talked about all sorts of things...the crickets chirping outside, the people next door having a party outside...we talked about going fishing and swimming and boat riding the next day...whatever his little brain could think of to not go to sleep. Finally, he decided he needed to go to the bathroom. So I took him into the master bathroom, which probably had not even been used since we all got there that afternoon. He lifted the seat...and there it was...the frog...

Surprise! He took a step back and gasped...I took a step forward to see what was going on...and gasped! "What's that, Nana?" "Well, Caleb, it looks like a frog!" It was so still I began to wonder, "Is it some sort of ornamental thing? Kinda weird, but who knows?" About that time, I saw it's eyes blink. Yep, it's real! "Caleb, I think we need to go get Grandpa!"

So Grandpa came and saved the day...Nana grabbed her camera on her way back upstairs...and voila! An instant memory of our first night at the lake. Needless to say, Caleb went to sleep with his mommy...and was very wary about going to the potty the next day!

Way Too Long

2008-06-24T21:42:00.002-05:00

Wow...I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged! It's not that I haven't had anything to write about or share...there are several blog-worthy things going around in my head. No, I have just chosen to do other things...spend time with family, read, play on Facebook...and then there are those things that have to be done that you have no choice...laundry, clean house, etc. etc.

Weekend before last we spent an awesome weekend with the kids and grandkids on Lake Placid on the Guadalupe River near New Braunsfels. It was so neat spending time with our family, watching the grandkids interact and play and fish and swim and experience a boat ride...nothing could be better. Look for details in future blogs.

At the end of last week, I went to Lewisville to spend a few days with Melynda and Jordan...mainly because Melynda needed a babysitter for Jordan on Thursday night. Eric was out of town at a National Debate Tournament, and she teaches swimming lessons every evening. That's my new motto..."Need Nana...Will Travel". We had a great time...shopping, eating at Rainforest Cafe, and taking Jordan swimming.

This week I am catching up with housework (ugh), yardwork, sewing/mending, and downloading/filing digital pics. It is not a week without grandkids, though...Connor gets to come and play on Thursday!

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-29T12:27:00.015-05:00

I guess I am still recovering from the weekend...just can't seem to get my energy level back! We had a great weekend, though, starting with a 60th birthday party for Kerry on Friday night. We had several friends over, and Kerry made his "Grill Debut" with his new super-duper grill.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KERRY!

On Saturday, we had four of our six kids and five of the seven grandkids...it was wonderful! Rich & Christi, Aidan & Annaliese had gotten in the night before, and about mid-morning, Jenni & Tater and Bill & Carey, Caleb & Connor came over. The boys all went swimming and had a great time. Tater and Connor tired of the pool sooner than the older two, which suited them just fine since they then had the pool to themselves!

Annaliese sat and had a great time watching the boys splash around.

Then Kerry grilled some hamburgers and hotdogs for everyone, and gave Tater and Connor tidbits of hotdog to nibble on.

After lunch the kids played LOUD and HARD in the house until all the parents decided that it was naptime...and that the kids should have a nap, too!

Our friends Rick & Ann Williams took us to Pirini Ranch in Buffalo Gap for dinner on Saturday evening. It was a continuation of Kerry's birthday. We had a great time, great food, and great company. After dinner, we drove into Abilene to pick up a Wii from Circuit City that we had ordered online a couple of nights before. It started looking pretty stormy, so we started back and drove through LOTS of rain, thunder, lightening, and ominous-looking clouds. Then we got to Bronte....you guessed it...blue skies! We got nothing in San Angelo. Oh well.

On Sunday, we drove over to Brownwood for another birthday. My Aunt Nancy celebrated her 70th birthday, and her kids were giving her a surprise party. I got to see lots of cousins and their kids that I haven't seen in several years.

On the way home, we could feel ourselves relaxing, realizing that we had no more commitments for the rest of the weekend. We had the day to ourselves on Monday which we spent doing only what we wanted to do which included going to see the new Indiana Jones movie. Often on Sunday evenings after a hectic weekend, we wish we could another day to relax before going back to the weekly routine/grind. And that's exactly what we had! So we took full advantage of it!

Summer Temps and Swimming Pools

2008-05-21T20:33:00.008-05:00

What better way to spend the first 100+ day than in the swimming pool? That's right, thermometers hit 101 yesterday. Knowing that it might reach the century mark, I set up the pool while Tater was at Mom's Day Out. After his nap, Grandpa was home...setting up his new grill on the patio...and we went outside to see him. I purposefully stood where he could see the swimming pool if he looked up. Sure enough, he glanced away from Grandpa and his eyes spotted the pool...oh, how they twinkled!

"Go swimming?" He placed his little hands on my cheeks and turned my face toward him. I love it when he does that.

I could hardly get his swimsuit on him fast enough. Here are some fun pics I took of the "first swim of the season."

Swallows...Still...

2008-05-19T14:28:00.006-05:00

Well, just as I suspected, the plastic bag did nothing to deter the swallows...they just piled their mud on top of the plastic! So this morning I remembered that I had some mesh netting from when we had new shrubs in the front and we didn't want the deer to eat them (but we took it off too soon, and the deer ate them anyway!). I got the netting and stapled it to the ceiling and wall around the porch light so the birds can't even get to it. I felt so bad...I sat out on the patio and watched these swallows (there are still 3 of them???) as they would swoop in with "nesting material" in their beaks. They would fly up to the netting, fan their wings while they hovered, perplexed, then fly off only to return immediately and do the same thing.

Then they sat on the edge of the roof or the top of the patio umbrella and watched. They did this all morning!

We'll see...............................

A Day with Caleb

2008-05-17T18:21:00.009-05:00

Thursday was "Caleb & Nana Day". I miss that little kid after having him every day for two years. I'm glad he gets to stay home with Mommy and baby brother Connor, but I still miss him.
The original plan was to pick him up after I took Tater to school, but Tater stayed home with his Mommy that day, so we had the whole day to spend together...although we did share lunchtime with Grandpa and "Uncle Buck" Smith.

We filled the day with as much fun time as we could. We got out my scrapbooking scissors...the ones that cut all sorts of wavy, curvy edges...and paper punches...hearts & snowflakes, bunny rabbits & teddy bears...and made collages with bits of paper and colored popsicle sticks, fuzzy pompom balls, glitter glue and art foam letters. What fun!

Then he was ready for "active play"...oh my! We played on the deck (baby grass is still growing in the yard) and he wanted me to pull him in the wagon. Tater or Connor would have been satisfied to just sit back and ride while I pulled at a leisurely pace. Not so with Caleb..."Run, Nana! Make me go fast!" It's amazing what you will do for your grandkids...and I'm so glad for our privacy fence so everyone coming down the street couldn't see me running around in circles...because that's all they would have seen, me running around in circles...they would not have been able to see the four-year-old in the wagon that I was pulling! But he had so much fun! Squealing with delight as I rounded the turn around the patio table each time! Then we got out the froggie game and played lily pad hopscotch for a little while and shot foam rockets into the hammock swing. Such simple pleasures for a little boy!

After all that, he was ready for a snack...here's how a grandson wraps his nana a little tighter around his finger:

"Hey, Nana...I know what would be a good idea! We could get our snack and go to the park and have a little picnic! Wouldn't that be a great idea!"

That, in combination with a four-year-old excitement in his voice and a couple of big brownish-green eyes peering up at me, was all it took. We loaded up the little cooler with snacks and "Brr" to drink (that's another posting altogether!) and cups and went to Unidad Park. I must say this is the first time I've ever taken him to the park when he did not play on one single plaything. We went over to a picnic table, had our snacks, watched some ground squirrels, watched other kids playing, and just chatted about whatever he happened to think about. Then we played a little game of tag in and around a series of posts that are there before he discovered the mesquite beans. We had gone back over to the table to get a drink, and he spotted the beans hanging in the tree overhead. "What are those, Nana?" So we talked about mesquite beans, and he stood on the table and pulled as many as he could reach. We had finished off a tin of "Nana Cookies" (Pepperidge Farms Pirourette Cookies) and decided that would be a good place to keep the beans.

After we got back to the house, he wanted to play pirates...one of his favorite things! He has pirate dress-up things at his house, but Nana had to scrounge. A strip of red cloth tied around his head, one of Grandpa's coats, my red belt (with brads all the way around) slung over one shoulder, a old pair of Dana's boots (out of the garage sale stuff), and a straight attachment section to my vacuum cleaner for a spyglass/sword. I was the "pirate girl" so I found a scarf to tie around my head and some hoop earrings and the other vacuum cleaner attachment hose. We fought off many "bad guys" as well as sharks and whales in the living room ocean! Imagination is a wonderful thing!

And grandmothers playing with their grandkids is a wonderful thing! I have been so blessed to be able to spend time playing with my grandkids! They love it...I love it...it's just an awesome opportunity that I won't pass up. Thank you, Carey, and Jenni, and Melynda, and Christi, for allowing me this privilege!

Swallows....

2008-05-17T18:02:00.003-05:00

You've heard of the swallows who return every year on the same date to San Juan Capistrano? I've decided it is because they are a very tenacious and stubborn species! We have these swallows who are determined to build a nest on the porch light on our back patio! There are three of them (explain that one???) that have been flying in for about three weeks now, sitting on the top of the porch light or on one of the ceiling fan blades, delighting Tater as they would fly around in circles up under the porch. And I've been watching and inspecting all around the house to make sure they weren't building a nest on the side of the house anywhere. I know they need to nest, but I prefer they not do it on my house! Well, last week it rained, and I guess that is all it took for these swallows to start building a nest (with all the fresh mud around). I walked out on the patio one day as two of the swallows flew off...I glanced up at the porchlight, and saw it...grass and mud plastered to the top of the light fixture. So I knocked it down with the broom and put a paper sack over the fixture. I also turned on the ceiling fan thinking the movement might keep them away. No way. The next day I went out to check on things...they had started building on top of the paper sack! Well, I could sort of understand that...there was a flat surface (the bottom of the sack) up against the wall....perfect for a swallow's nest. Well, needless to say, I pulled down the sack, wiped down all the muddy splatters (and who knows what else) off the walls and ceiling, and wrapped the light fixture with a plastic bag this time. Today we came home from an overnight visit to Odessa...I went out to check on the situation. You guessed it...mud already packed in on top of the plastic bag. Kerry's says they can't build a nest on the bag, and they'll give up. I'm not so sure. I know how stubborn and determined these little guys are! I'm going to watch the building process for a couple of days and see what happens. I just hope I catch it before they get far enough along to lay eggs...I am a preventionist, but not an abortionist!

A Mother's Day Prayer

2008-05-09T14:18:00.003-05:00

This is a different sort of Mother's Day writing. I wrote this many years ago when my own children were small. For some reason, I think about it every year around this time and, though I may not have it handy to read, I pray this prayer for these moms...

Lord, what about those young moms raising little children single-handedly. Who tells them they are appreciated? Who buys them flowers? Who takes them out to dinner? Lord, send someone their way.

And what about that mother who lost her baby? She still has a mother's heart. And she's been through a heartache many of us mothers will never share. Lord, give her a blessing today.

And Lord, many mothers are sadly reminded today of their children who are missing. Their reason for mothering has been snatched away from them. Bring the children home, Lord, and bring comfort to these mothers.

Bless the mothers, Lord, of yesteryear; those who sit alone and forgotten in nursing homes and retirement centers; those who have no family to shower them with love and appreciation. Send someone to be their family.

And let's face it, Lord; there is evil in our land, and there are mothers out there who cannot be proud of what their children have done. They may feel like failures when it comes to mothering. But they still love their children, Lord, just like you still love us when we do wrong. Send them a special word of encouragement today.

Ook, Nana!

2008-05-05T14:59:00.003-05:00

We've been doing extensive work in the backyard since before Christmas and our poor yard has surely suffered for it! What was once a lush green lawn perfect for playing baseball with Caleb or playing in the water with Tater or just watching Tux chase the boys around had become a sparse brown and green mottled expanse. There were patches of grass here and there but not enough to keep the area from becoming a mud pit when it rained or a dust bowl when the wind blew.

About ten days ago we had grass seed blown in, and I've been watering if faithfully...three times a day for about 5 minutes each. Last Friday, Tater and I were out in the backyard, which has become our after-nap-routine. Get some juice, a snack for Tater and a snack for Tux (Bacon Beggin' Strips) and go outside and play till Mommy comes. I had gone over to the edge of the deck, squatted down, and tried to see if there were any little baby grass shoots coming up. Tater came up to me and said, "What doin', Nan?" (His new nickname for me is Nan...I actually think it's pretty cute!) "I'm looking for some grass," I told him. He looked at me, put his little hand on the back of my neck and gently said "'ook, Nana" while pointing with the other hand at one of the patches of grass that has been there all along! I'm sure he was thinking, "Poor Nana, she's lost it, can't even see the grass!" I was laughing so much I almost fell on my face in the dirt!

Kerry has loved this story...which I admit is pretty funny. But it also reminds me that many times what we are looking for is right there in front of us...satisfaction with our life, an answer to a problem, everything we need to live a life pleasing to God. All we have to do is look...and sometimes it takes looking through someone else's eyes...God's eyes.

Who Needs Classy Cleaners?

2008-05-04T21:48:00.003-05:00

Last year, the week of Dana's wedding, I hired "Classy Cleaners" to come and clean. Wow! Did they clean...everything from floors and baseboards to air vents and ceiling fans. They did everything with the exception of windows and anything "behind a closed door" such as closets and cabinets. Of course, they were well paid for their services...their regular cleaning fee which is equal to about six month's worth of normal biweekly cleaning. Granted they came in with a team of about six or seven, and they had this house clean, top to bottom, in about 5 hours. But they also drive around in Cadillac Escalades. I decided I wouldn't do that again.

So...I started cleaning. Now I don't particularly like to clean, but once I get started, I sort of get into it and can really get after it. Just ask Kerry....or my girls. I become a regular cleaning machine! I must confess, though, it took me a little longer than 5 hours. I started on Tuesday and finished up on Saturday. It takes a little longer when you have a 2-year-old in the house from 7:30am to nearly 5:00pm. But my house is clean! The baseboards, the ceiling fans, tops of the door frames even! I managed to clean out the pantry, utility room, my closet...even the guest bedroom closet! I've been avoiding that one...it looked like Hobby Lobby had exploded in there! And the top drawer in my chest of drawers which is pretty much a catch-all junk drawer. Well, it had certainly been catching all of my junk! It is now clean!

What I'm saying is...who needs Classy Cleaners? I can clean, and I like to consider myself as somewhat classy! And I'm not nearly so expensive. I would only charge half of what CC charged...I wonder if Kerry would pay me? Probably not...then he would charge me for the meals he cooked while I was in "high cleaning gear" and didn't want to stop for anything...although I did manage to stop to eat!

The only thing I haven't tackled yet are the windows. I'm hoping to get Kerry to help me on that one...after he finishes his list...the one I made for him!

Carousel of Life

2008-05-02T22:59:00.001-05:00

just browsing through "carousel" sites and found this....thanks, Aradia

http://www.soulsjourney.bravepages.com/Aradia/Aradia/aradia/carouseloflife.html

Finding Old Journal Entries

2008-04-27T21:34:00.004-05:00

I've been going through pictures again. This time I was looking through pictures and journals from my trip to the Ukraine in 1995. In the middle of the spiral notebook I used as a daily journal on the trip, I found a random writing from May 21, 1992. (Don't ask!?!?)

We've made it through the first year of junior high! Jenni adjusted to junior high life much better than I expected. I think Sara's extrovert personality helped. Last week was Jenni's awards program. She has received straight A's all year. Tonight she had a choir concert. I know you shouldn't compare, but I can't help it. Jenni is one of the more mature seventh graders. And one of the prettiest! Of course, she doesn't think so, and what do I know? Also, she sings better than most. She has certainly enjoyed being in choir this year. She made All-City Choir, and she received a "1" on her solo at UIL Solo & Ensemble. She will go far with her voice.

Thank you, Lord, for Jenni...for her voice & musical talent, for her being herself, for her love for you.

Now, sixteen years later, Jenni teaches at the very same school she attended when I wrote this. She did go far with her voice, but she went even further in being herself. She discovered a love for teaching...teaching English...teaching English to seventh graders. Wow! God has given her the opportunity to influence young lives in a positive way at a very crucial time in their lives. She has also discovered the joy of being a mommy. God blessed her with a precious little boy who is cute, smart, funny...and she is a wonderful mommy! She sometimes struggles to find the balance between finding the time to be the parent she needs to be to Tater and being the teacher she needs to be for her students. But all working mothers have struggled with this, and she will find her balance.

I thank God for Jenni and for her love for Him. And I pray that He continues to show her His plan for her life and guide her toward hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Three Years of Blessings

2008-04-27T19:05:00.008-05:00

Three years ago today I experienced one of the most priceless moments in my life...I witnessed Jordan's first moments of life. I cannot even express how I felt as I saw that tiny life emerge and heard that first precious cry as the doctors and nurses scurried to check him over and whisk him off to the NICU. Little did I know that day that we would not hear him cry again for a very long time. He went through so much in those first few days, including major surgery when he was 5 days old to insert a tracheostomy tube and a feeding tube. Daily we learned more about Stickler Syndrome and Pierre Robin Sequence and how they were affecting Jordan. There were people all across our country who were praying for him, and God answered those prayers in every way possible. As days moved into weeks, and weeks into months, Jordan went home and daily life for Melynda and Eric took on a whole new dimension. But God was there for them and gave them the strength both physically and mentally to care for a baby with special needs.

Jordan's first year was filled with doctor visits and medical procedures, home health nurses and strict schedules, trach changes and tube feedings, and all sorts of medical supplies & machines. But eventually little improvements became bigger improvements. I remember when Melynda and Jordan came for a visit when he was about 14 or 15 months old. He had just gotten a little cap which Melynda put on his trach for a few minutes at a time. This made it possible to hear his little baby noises. While most babies this age would be saying their first words, Jordan was a year behind in talking. We rejoiced in his little sounds and grunts and occasional squeal. But then one evening, he tripped over a toy and fell. And he cried. And we heard him...for the first time since Melynda and I had heard him cry in the delivery room, we heard him cry. And the two of us sat and cried with him!

Today Jordan turned 3 years old! And he is one of the brightest little kids I know. [The other bright kids I know are my other grandchildren ;)] He is right on track in every area except physical development, such as jumping with both feet in the air. He still has a couple of physical limitations that affect his speech, but in time, that, too, will correct itself...I truly believe it will. More than that, he is a sweet little guy who will melt your heart. He loves animals and can name more animals than most kids twice his age. He loves books and will sit and "read" for the longest time. He loves to play with his toys and role play through his wonderful imagination. He is a special little guy. He is a miracle.

Thank you, God, for Jordan; for every little glorious moment of his life; for showing us your mighty power and loving care in his little life.

The Eyes Tell the Story

2008-04-20T21:22:00.004-05:00

I feel a need to write about my experience this past week in serving the young mothers and children of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS). I won't bore you with the background...it's been in the news for over two weeks now and our little hometown has become known around the country and around the world. But I want to express a personal view from me...a wife, mother, and grandmother.

Our church has had the privilege of serving meals to one of the two groups being housed at the coliseum. It is the smaller of the two groups and seems to be made up of the younger mothers and children. Actually, they are all children...no one in this group is over 17, yet they have babies and small children. Kerry and I helped serve the evening meal last Thursday, and then I went again on Friday morning to serve breakfast. Most of them had been there since Monday, so I think they were beginning to get used to the routine. I smiled and spoke to them gently as they filed through for their dinner. The younger ones, especially the boys, were a little more open with their return smiles and questions about what we were serving. The young mothers were polite and smiled, but you could tell that their focus was on getting plates filled for their little ones.

Kerry and I went back this evening (Sunday) to serve dinner. I had wondered if there would be a change in their attitude after the judge's ruling on Friday. What I found for the most part was that there was little difference. In fact, if there was much difference at all, it was in a positive light. The children were more talkative, the boys more boisterous, their attitudes more accepting. But then I realized that this was really only a surface attitude when I began looking in their eyes.

I remember last week there was a certain curiousness in their eyes...they are as curious about us as we are about them! That was still there tonight…a couple of them asked about my earrings. I also saw a hint of wonder still in the eyes of the younger ones. I suspect they feel like all of this is a grand adventure, not really knowing the importance nor the possible outcome of it all. The babies still clung to their young mothers, but it was the eyes of these young mothers that were the saddest of all. While I saw a smile on their face, and a politeness in their demeanor, the eyes held the real story. While too young by law to be mothers, they were not too young to know what was going on. And not too young to remember what they had been taught about the outside world. There was almost a sense of defiance in their eyes, a look of contempt, an expression of scorn.

There was one girl in particular that I can’t seem to shake from my memory. She was probably 17, one of the oldest ones in this group. She was beautiful…dark, silky hair styled perfectly…beautiful, clear complexion without needing help from cosmetics…tall and slender. She carried a baby on her hip and a little one (about 2 or 3) clung to her skirt. When I asked her tonight how many hotdogs she would like, she smiled and answered politely. Yet I will never forget her eyes. They were deep, and it seemed I could see a whole world in there. A world that said, “Leave us alone; we don’t need you.” My heart breaks as I realize that she doesn’t even understand that the world she knows is not only an abusive world, but it is a dark world…a world where men have placed themselves as gods…a world that has no room for the one true God, the God who created them and who loves them and who sent His Son to die for them. All I can do is pray for her and for the other 415 children and their mothers. I can pray that somehow, somewhere they will understand.

7 - 3 - 1

2008-04-16T20:54:00.007-05:00

I've been going through old photographs....see what I found?
This picture was made in 1963, the year I started to school. First grade, that is...that was before they had kindergarten! This is one of the rare times in my life that I had short hair. Here's the story...my aunt, a professional beautician, was cutting my hair...reached down to pick up the thinning shears...grabbed the regular scissors by mistake...and you guessed it...cut right across the back of my hair at the neckline.

As you can see, we had a big family...Seven! Five kids! I remember a couple of years after Dana was born, Jenni decided we needed another baby in the house. "Oh, I think I would go crazy if I had any more kids!" I said. "But Grannie had five!" she replied. "See there! That's my point!"
I'm not sure my mother really saw the humor in that one!

The house we lived in was built by my daddy and my granddaddy. We thought it was great; we had everything we ever needed. Lots of room inside, a big backyard with a swingset, a sandbox and a tetherball pole, and a carpenter's shop out back if we got bored in the house! And it was right next door to my twin cousins, and two doors down from my granddaddy! Let me tell you about our house.

It was probably about 1500 sq feet...that's a really wild guess. We had three (3) bedrooms for our family of seven (7)...one for Momma and Daddy...one for Ray & Donald...and one for Marie, Lucy, and me. Marie and I shared a full-size bed; in fact we had an honest-to-goodness bedroom suite...white with gold trim...french provincial or something like that. Lucy stayed in her crib till she was almost three, I think, then she slept on a little child's cot (like they use in daycares now, only it was made out of wood and green canvas like a miniature army cot). After she outgrew that, she slept on a little loveseat that Momma moved into our room. But she never complained (about her bed, anyway!)

In addition to our three (3) bedrooms and our kitchen and living room, we had one (1) bathroom. Now think about that! A family of seven (7) and only one (1) bathroom! And it was small! No double sinks or jacuzzi tub! I can remember before eating a meal, we kids had to line up in the hallway to wash up. And afterward, line up again, with that forever-etched-phrase-ringing-in-your-head, "Keep your hands off the walls!" On Saturday night, we had to start the bath routine about 3:00 in the afternoon just to get everybody through! Well, maybe that's stretching it, but it did take quite a bit of time! Needless to say, we didn't all take a bath every night. During the week I think we kind of took turns. But on Saturday night...everyone took a bath! Whether they needed it or not! The main thing was that you ONLY used the bathroom for bathing, brushing teeth, washing hands & faces, and doing your business! Momma did her hair and makeup in her bedroom. Luckily, we girls weren't into the makeup drill at that point, and our hair was done in our bedroom. (I do remember that the butch wax that the boys used on their hair was kept in the medicine cabinet above the bathroom sink.)

Not until we moved to San Angelo, and Momma and I came to look at houses, did I realize how small a house we had when I was young and how little we had. Momma could write a recipe book on 101 Ways to Make Wienees that Your Family Will Love (Hey, calm down...that's what we called them back then!) The Wienee Entree was nearly always accompanied by pork & beans...which I cannot seem to be able to put in my mouth now. But she was truly amazing at cooking low-cost meals for a family of seven (7). She is going to get several extra stars in her crown for that!

Momma and Daddy did the best they could do, and the best things they gave us didn't cost a penny. They gave us unconditional love and a Christian foundation. They gave us a strong sense of family and loyalty and acceptance and sharing and giving. They taught us life skills...physical skills, emotional skills, spiritual skills...that have helped us get to where we are today. They taught us that seven (7) really is a lucky number; seven (7) really is the number that symbolizes completeness. They taught us that three (3) is a pretty good number, too, cause Christ rose on the third (3rd) day, and the Trinity is 3-in-1, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And they taught us about the number one (1)...there is only one (1) way to the one (1) God (the Father) and that is through Christ (the Son).

See what happens when you start going through old photographs? You get caught heading straight down memory lane...thanks for tagging along!

My Empty Nest?

2008-04-15T15:04:00.005-05:00

One year ago this week, my baby got married and moved to the Houston area. So finally it is time to write about that bittersweet time.

Dana wasn't my first child to leave home. I had been through the process twice before. Jenni moved out when she started college. She went to school here in San Angelo, but she moved into an apartment with a friend. Melynda left when she started college and moved into the dorm at Hardin-Simmons University. But Dana stayed home during college. Why not? She pretty much had her side of the house to herself, didn't have to share a bathroom with two sisters anymore, and Mom was there to feed her. And I think that is part of what made the difference. She was home during a time when the parent/child roles begin to change.

It is during the college years that moms cease being so much the disciplinarian/teacher/authority figure and start becoming more of a friend/confidant/sounding board. I experienced this with all three of my girls, but with Dana it was a little more. Probably it was because we had more opportunity to do things together. We went shopping (at the mall, online, it didn't matter), we watched chick flicks together (and talked about all sorts of issues), we got hooked on the same books (Christian fiction by Karen Kingsbury). We shared so many more experiences together, life experiences that pull you close.

So as wedding plans became reality, and Dana's room became stacked with moving boxes, the emotion began to mount. Kerry and I talked about it alot, how excited we were for Dana, how nice it would be to have the house to ourselves, all the familiar "empty nest" talk. We also talked about how hard it would be to adjust to having the house to ourselves, to not having Dana there to banter opinions back and forth, to not having someone around to double-check our fashion conscience!

As April 14, 2007, dawned, it was a bittersweet day. I was so excited for Dana & Levi. They had been together for a long time...much of that time he was at Oklahoma State and later flying for the airlines, and she was here at home finishing up her education. Finally they were going to be together...no more 9pm phone calls, no more waiting for those weekends when he could come home, no more having to say good-bye. They would be able to be together, to build a home together, and meld their two lives into one.

But my baby was leaving home! Who was I going to watch One Tree Hill and Gilmore Girls with? Who was I going to share Christmas and birthday secrets with? Who was I going to carry on long conversations with in the afternoon while the grandkids napped and she had the afternoon off? I was really going to miss her! And she was moving seven hours away! I couldn't just hop in the car and go see her; and she couldn't just hop in the car and come home. Thank goodness for e-mails and unlimited minutes on the cell phone!

It took several months for me to adjust. Sometimes we would be driving home from church and decide to go eat...I would have the strongest urge to call Dana and see if she wanted to meet us or if she wanted us to bring her something. I would often stand in the doorway of her room and sigh. Shopping trips to Target and Hobby Lobby were boring. It's not that I didn't have anything to do...I had plenty to do. I just didn't have someone around to share that part of my life with anymore. (Kerry isn't too keen on watching chick flicks or going to Hobby Lobby to look at scrapbooking supplies!) But as the months passed, I got used to her absence.

Now I look forward to her visits...love it when she stays with us...tolerate it when they take their turn staying with the Sleepers! Watching her and Levi enjoying their life together makes it all worthwhile. After all, that was my job...raise her, teach her, mentor her, support her...then send her out to be her own person. And while I have an "empty nest", there's still enough activity with kids and grandkids in and out of it that it's not so bad.

And I hang on to one little thing that makes me feel a connection with Dana...I still watch One Tree Hill!

Measuring Up

2008-04-04T15:37:00.004-05:00

(I wrote this on March 17th, 2008)

I bought a rule today. Not the kind of rule that you are supposed to (but don’t want to) obey. The wooden kind that carpenters use…like the one my daddy always used…like the one that we always played with when we were little…like the one that my little sister requested to have when our daddy died.

You see, Kerry and I were laying edging tiles for the flower bed in the back yard yesterday. I needed something to help keep the row the right distance from the fence. It didn’t have to be exact, so I looked around, and there, lying on the deck, was the little toy broom that all the grandsons love to play with. (One of these days they will swear they never have and never intend to touch a broom!) But there it was, and it looked about the right length for the distance I wanted the bed border to be from the fence. So I got the broom, laid it perpendicular to the fence and started placing my tiles down. Kerry was sitting up on the deck and just started hee-hawing!

“Your daddy would be laughing at you!” he said.

“Why? Because I’m measuring this with a toy broom?”

“He would be saying ‘I taught her better than that!”

“No, he would be proud of me for using whatever was at hand that would work. And this works!”

You see, I have a measure tape…the thin metal kind that you pull out of its little case and push a little button that makes it stay at the measurement you want. In fact, I have a very nice one in a wonderfully inclusive tool kit that Kerry bought for me! But as nice as it is, the little button doesn’t work very well, and the tape tends to slide slowly back into its case. That’s what I used to measure to see how many tiles would be needed for the border! I figured 62 (each tile was a foot long, so that made it easy) and rounded it up to 65 just in case it was off a bit, since the tape kept slipping. Kerry asked how much we needed, I told him 65, and he said we should get 70 in case any broke. I hadn’t thought about that, so I didn’t mention I had already rounded it up by 3.

So we got home with 70 tiles, and after spending much of Sunday afternoon digging a little trench (a broomstick’s length from the fence!) to lay the tiles, we had 11 left over. I figured that wasn’t too bad, especially since I laid out one corner a little differently than what I measured and probably used 2 or 3 less tiles than I had figured.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t going to pull that silly little measuring tape out every other brick to make sure I was on track. The broomstick worked just fine! Even though Kerry…and probably my daddy…was laughing at me! So I started thinking about what my daddy would use. A wooden rule! He always had that rule in his pocket. I often wondered how many of those rules he went through. My little sister (the one who has Daddy’s rule) reminded that the first section was always broken off. My older brother, who worked a lot with my dad, said that was because most measurements were less than 12”, thus requiring the rule to be used most often with the first section extended, thus making the rule more vulnerable to breakage. (That’s an engineer’s answer!) My brother also told me that our dad was very careful when buying a new rule…he would always choose one that had the 66-72 inch marks showing when folded and the 1-6 inch marks on the inside of the first section. This was because the numbers often rubbed off the tip end of the outside section and it was more difficult to measure accurately. I also figured that when the first section (the first 6 inches) was folded out, it would lie flat against whatever was being measured. My daddy not only worked hard, he worked smart! Alas, the one I bought has the first six inches showing when it is folded…and brick spacing marks on the inside! I don’t even have a carpenter’s rule; I have a brick mason’s rule! I didn’t pay that much attention when I bought it…it just looked right. Mainly because it was white, and the others where yellow. My daddy’s was always white.

All this talk about measuring and choices of measuring devices has brought me to think about how I measure up in God’s eyes. Am I choosing the right measuring device, the right standard with which to guide and direct my life? Or am I just looking around to see what is at hand that seems to be right? Am I careful to choose the right "measure" for the job, or am I just using what looks right. Obviously, if I am not reading my Bible and praying and using Jesus Christ as the "standard", I am going to be off track, out of "plumb", totally messed up! My daddy could eyeball measurements within a fraction of an inch! But he also knew that when it came to living his life in accordance with God's will, he went straight to the Bible; he prayed; he served his Lord unselfishly. Some days I am right on track, other days I could use a good "measure". And God is so good...He is always there to help me get back in line!

Why?

2008-04-03T15:07:00.003-05:00

"Why do people feel the need to blog?" Kerry asked me this question the other night. As I began to answer, I realized there are many reasons people blog. It just all depends on the blogger. I won't go into all the reasons I came up with...I'm sure you can come up with your own list if you are at all interested in the why. I will just tell you why I blog.

I used to call it "writing", then it became "journaling". I used to write my thoughts, poems, stories, etc. in a spiral notebook, then I started typing them on the computer. One of these days when I'm gone, the girls will find all my little pieces of writing all over the place...in spiral notebooks, in folders in my filing cabinet, on my computer. Dana told me the other day it wasn't "blogging" unless it was on the web; since my stuff is in Word, it was "dlogging". So be it. I will become official...I will blog my writing, my journaling, and post it on the web.

I actually am not a novice to blogging. I started a blog for our Venezuela work. But it's not really mine. It belongs to everyone who has ever had a part...or a heart...for our evangelistic work called Venezuela Vision. (You can read it at www.venezuelavision.blogspot.com.) This blog will be mine. I will write new stuff; I will go through my files and spirals and type in stuff I've written in the past; I will dream; I will reminisce; I will brag about grandchildren!

And so it begins.......