Funny Kid Story...

Martha came into the stadium a minute ago with her bubbly personality still intact. She's a co-worker whose office moved to a building on campus; far away from the rest of us who work here. We don't get to see Martha very much anymore and so much miss her funny stories... especially since she has become a grandmother. Today she had a Dylan story. He and his little brother go to a Christian daycare owned by a dear friend of theirs. They eat breakfast and lunch there so of course when they come home their mommy asked them what they had and how their day went. On this particular day, Maci asked Dylan, "What did you have for breakfast?" He said, "We had cupcakes." She thought he most likely meant 'muffins' so she said "Do you mean you had muffins for breakfast?" "No" he said. "They were cupcakes with icing and little bottles on top. Somebody was getting pregnant today, so we had cupcakes." Funny funny kids. I love it!

Upon Seeing the Dawn...

Who but You Lord can make a sunrise?

Who can make a tree sing in the wind?

Can a man come forth

without the very breath of You?

Can love be perfected in any other way

except You give it?

Your morning beauty on the horizon

takes my breath away.

Tiny Treasures From Heaven...

Tiny treasures; yet growing up right before our eyes. Having children is wonderful, but the experience of grandchildren is amazing in a different way. To see my babies having babies and to know their little ones are part of me is too... well, too wonderful for words. Allie came ten years ago and we were all fascinated with this little beauty who entered into our lives. She is now closer to a teenager than the baby she once was and still as beautiful, in a more grownup way. Then came Jack with his loving and tender heart; his desire to help whenever he sees a need will be a blessing throughout his life to many I'm sure. Several years went by with tiny ones in between who were lost before we knew them. I could have never imagined the sadness I felt at not ever getting to hold and love on these grandchildren, and the pain of watching my children who were going through such a loss to the depths of their souls was almost more than my heart could bear. We all survived with God's grace and loving-kindness all around; and then before we knew it, the good news came that we would have two more. Skyler and Cooper were born nine days apart and are two years old at the time of this writing. Sky is a bubbly active little girl full of words and innocent perceptions of life around her. Cooper is funny and tender hearted like his big brother. How could a little boy be so serious and so hilarious all in one moment? He has his own language at this point, but his mommy is a great interpreter; understanding him better than anyone else. Mommies are like that. Claire came along a year ago and we are about to share in her celebration tomorrow. Such a happy delightful little girl who, up until now anyway, has never seen the need to sleep much at all. Her mommy and daddy are very tired, but Claire Bear hasn't missed a thing in nearly 12 months, so of course, she is very very smart. Our newest addition; Mr. Asher Case came along 4 months after Claire and he is an absolute delight. No two ways about it. Always smiling with his winning grin that is quickly filling up with teeth month by month. Such a happy joyful baby boy. So my grandchildren have become one of the best things life has to offer, and my commitment to share in investing the love of Jesus; His ways and principles into their lives has become a priority as I live my life before them. Yes; they have ushered in a new season and I love them more than words could ever tell. As I was thinking about their names today and praying over each one; I jotted down some adjectives that I thought just fit. Amazing Allie who first named me her Gibbie; Joyous Jack who can make everyone smile with his hugs and tender heart. Then there is Scrappy Skyler... although I must admit I gave her the word Sparkly as well. Her eyes are so full of life and excitement at whatever she discovers next. Comical Cooper who truly does have a way of making all of us laugh with his funny ways and expressions. Cutie Claire is a bundle of energy as she toddles from here to there; running as fast as she can to see and explore whatever is in her path; realizing there is more to get into than she could have ever imagined. Adorable Asher is a cuddler; inquisitive and loving. All six have special and wonderful personalities and we are blessed as a family to have each one. These children God has blessed us with are a part of who we are and to think there are most likely more little ones to come. Oh the joy of it!

God's Best and God's Grace...

We had fully intended to go to church, but around 9:15ish Darrell noticed a vine growing up into an oak tree that had come up volunteer next to the front fence a few years ago. He began pulling the intrusive vine out and I started helping. We have no excuse for what came next. The rose bush beside the driveway inside the picket fence caught our eye; it just looked so leggy and trashy, so Darrell got the pruning shears and started trimming; one thing led to another and before we knew it we were headlong into cleaning out that flower bed. BAM! It was 10:30 and we were both sweaty and dirty from our head down to our grimy little toes. We had somehow, once again, made the choice to not go to church. A cool morning in July (somewhat cool; coolness is relative, isn't it?) makes it easy to work outside rather than wait until the middle of the afternoon. We had a great morning; a prosperous yard morning, but we missed what God had to offer us to feast on at church and I'm sorry for that. I don't feel condemned, but rather that God is quietly and lovingly saying that I have a choice to make; a fork in the road and the potential to form new habits that may not be His best. We have missed so many Sundays for a couple years now for seemingly good reasons; some very good reasons and have even gone to church at times with our kids, but as Darrell and I sat out on the deck this past Sunday morning enjoying the out of doors, the birds singing and a cool breeze blowing; feeling good about the work we had accomplished; I told him that for the first time, I got a glimpse of his mom's way of thinking. Granny always said, "I work six days a week and Sunday is my day off to do what I want around my house and to rest." I see now that I had a very judgmental attitude toward her for that and was nothing more than a self-righteous stumbling block that may have kept me from loving her completely. It would be so easy to not go anywhere on Sundays because I'm tired and want to do anything besides sit in a chair again on my 'day off', but the better thing is to not forsake the fellowship of believers around His throne whether we sit or stand or dance or kneel before Him. I think we'll go to church this next Sunday morning... just because we can. It is not demanded of us and I know God still loves us, but for me, I think I'm missing out and the fog of apathy is falling heavy round my shoulders. Anyway, all that to say, I rejoice in the times when we have had God's blessing to just be together; to feel the freedom to take a break on a Sunday morning, but I pray for discernment and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit to do God's best and not just what draws my attention and focus in the guise of something good. Such ramblings, but isn't that what a blog is for? To express our thoughts and to then be able to see more clearly why we are given this brief life on earth and to make sense of how to live it? We were made to worship Him and to love each other in the process. I love that about life!

Summer Musical Observations

Sitting on the porch swing,

listening to the locusts sing their summer song

with a chorus of birds in God's natural harmony.

The wind directing it's orchestra of leaves and wind chimes...

and I watch as evening comes.

Billowy clouds sauntering across the blue with tinges of pink and orange;

a half moon high up and the excitement of catching a glimpse

of the first twinkling star.

Summer after summer, night after night

thankfulness bubbles up out of me for the faithfulness of this phenomena;

the peace I find in watching the day say good-bye

and the fire flies appear.

I Did It!!!!!!

YEA!!!! I learned how to add pictures to my blog entries! I'm not quite sure how to place them just right, but let's just start out with the photo of the ones who I love more than life itself. "My Quiver Full"

I typed all your names as you are seen in the photo and this presumptuous blogger thing took it upon itself to put your names in alphabetical order. Good grief! So, for anyone who doesn't know my kids; they are, in order as shown at the ocean... Coby, Adrielle, Amy, Corey, Sara, Beau, Emily, and Allan. So there Mr. Computer.

A Good Word...

A good prophetic word; not my own, yet I receive it as such. Lord, let me learn from Your beautiful creation the things You would teach me about You. Devastate me with Your love today; overwhelm me with who You are. Precious word...

Singing. Before dawn, I began to hear a lone bird singing. It was perched in its nest on the side of a building. Everything else was silent. Within a few minutes, the birds in the surrounding trees began to sing in great numbers. The Lord spoke these words: Be bold and declare my goodness and deliverance even if you have to do it alone. Others will follow. Testify of Me and exalt My name in all the earth. Declare your utmost dependence upon Me. Decree that I am your man of war. Watch how I will fight your battles for you. Stop whining; rather, speak faith and life. The Lord is My name. Singing.

Exodus 15:1-3 "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name."

Oh how I do love it when God speaks to us through His creation. I'm an early riser, so I have heard this very scenario every morning. One little bird begins to sing his morning wake-up song; then another and another and another, until birds are singing everywhere and the sound of it is so beautiful. Oh that the world would hear a song of love to our God each day. It's only then that they might come and sing to Him as well.

Snakes...

Speaking of snakes... there have been a few this rainy summer let me tell you. The thought used to terrify me and surprisingly... though I still do not care for the slithering reptiles, they are becoming common. I remember the year we moved to Central Texas. I was appalled at finding out we were living in the midst of the most broadly populated land of insects I could have ever dreamed or had nightmares about. Ticks, fleas, scorpions, various colors and sizes of beetles and spiders, etc. etc. We finally adjusted and faced those bugs head on by way of an exterminator and now here we are; living out in the country with snakes all around. The rain seems to have drawn them in, made them healthier and more abundant. I cannot count the number of pigeon eggs and baby squabs they have enjoyed or how many snake heads have been cut off when Darrell finds those pesky reptiles bunched up in a corner of his pigeon pen with that tell-tell lump in its middle. Chicken snakes, garden snakes, bull snakes, and unfortunately a few Copperheads. YIKES! Just day before yesterday my hubby and I were out walking; walking and sweating; sweating and walking when shhhhh... I saw it! Just ahead on the road in front of us and next to our very own yard. I grabbed Darrell's arm; it took him a few seconds to focus in on the thing that set off my mental alarm and blended so well with the pavement, but there it was; a huge and very long chicken snake; slithering along, stopping; sensing there might be danger close by. Barely moving at all thinking, I'm sure, that it had somehow become invisible. Darrell was carrying an old golf club in case he had to valiantly protect us from any fierce dogs on our little stroll through the neighborhood, but all of them are gone; thank the Lord! That's a different subject... back to the snakes. I begged him not to hurt the unsuspecting animal just lying there with no hands or feet, so he opted to play with it for awhile like an adventurous little boy, tormenting it as he pushed it around to see what it would do, scooping it up and slinging the thing across the road. It coiled and struck several times at the inanimate object that had become it's enemy. To no avail. Finally, the poor thing escaped into the grass and headed toward Mary Anne's house. I'm sure she would really appreciate that if she knew about it. Ah well, there are more snakes where that one came from and plenty to go around during this hot rainy summer. The love of my life will fill his quota I'm sure. Shhhhh... don't tell the girls he said. hahaha

What Am I Missing?....

As I look around my little office space, the day after day focal point has truly become my trusty computer; a center for communication to the outside world; a way to cross over from my quiet world with sounds of familiar mechanical pecking as volumes of paper swoosh through all the printers stationed here and there throughout this department. The whrrrr of the hard drive and an occasional phone ringing besides my own; a page turned, occasional gum smacking, a cough here, a sneeze there... then silence. My computer is a friend of sorts; connecting me to other friends and family members; drawing us closer when staying far apart is the tempting thing to do while unconsciously submitting to the raging currents of busy lifestyles. The beauty around us can so easily become nothing but a multi-colored blur. I often wonder... what am I missing while I sit; my trusty computer and me.

Snakes, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails...

Some of you may or may not know about the ongoing saga regarding Smiley, the yard and/or neighborhood dog. Smiley was abandoned by her owners a few years ago and our little country neighborhood took her in. One neighbor eventually moved, so Smiley shares her days going back and forth between our house and Mary Anne's across the way. One day Smiley was sleeping on the cool sand beneath Darrell's truck when... WHAM! To my dear husband's horror, he first heard and then saw his tire resting on Smiley's leg. He got back in the truck and rolled off her. To our surprise there were no broken bones, but the wounds were deep and terrible. After a trip to the vet, two days of IV's with high-powered antibiotics, four meds, and what we call her 'bonnet' to keep her from licking her wounds; she's on the mend. A free surprise pet has now become a very valuable dog to say the least. You know the wood shop we were planning in the near future? Well, that has become Smiley's new name instead. She made her third trip to the vet yesterday and though the deep wound where the bone was exposed is healing, they felt it wasn't closing fast enough, so they put her out and stitched 'er up... cha-ching... another 158 bucks. That puts her worth significantly over $1000. Good grief! We would NEVER pay half that much for a dog for Pete's sake, but what else could we do? ... I don't want to hear it... The vet wants us to bring her back in two weeks, but my wise husband says, and I agree, that if we can tell the wound is healing well, we'll forgo that trip and hope for the best. The vet also "gave" us some ointment to put on 'Woodshop' twice a day for a mere $38 more. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Yeah, 'Woodshop' is a good and fitting doggie name, isn't it?

This Blog Thing...

I am trying my darndest to figure out how to have a blog. This is complicated I can tell, but hopefully I'll have my thoughts up and running in no time. Lord knows I don't have the foggiest how to add a photo. If anyone reads this thing; let me know if you know how to do anything else to make my blog more interesting.

Still trying to figure it out...

OK, this is the second time I've typed this second blog entry. HELP! I do not know how the heck some of the info on my profile got there... such as my age being 1956 for Pete's sake; I don't do the horoscope or zodiac thing, but there it is. Lord knows, I haven't the foggiest as to how to attach a photo, but would love to. Anyone read this? Feel free to send suggestions.