Muenster time

Friday night found me still groping for ideas to get my DH out of the house again for another adventure. After a busy week for me and having the kids for a couple of days, we both needed to do something together. Nothing I suggested to him would satisfy. Just as I was about to throw up my hands and call it a day, it came to me! This was the last weekend in April. That must mean it's Germanfest time in Muenster, Texas! Woo-hoo!! DH was excited and immediately insisted I find another couple to go with us. (Never mind that it is 9:30 pm.)

He was all over this one and in the closet searching for his German outfit! Haha!! (He recalled something about free admission to anyone wearing their "authentic" ;-) German clothes.)

Authentic!

Not!
(Actually, he is pretty authentic!)

Now his isn't really authentic, as you probably could tell. This shirt was purchased many years ago at an Oktoberfest in Addison, Texas. And the day he put it on, we took a pic of him and then thought it might be fun to imprint the pic on a tee shirt for me. Funny, huh? It was at the time.

These are two shirts I haven't dared to throw away, but trust me, they stay tucked away in the back of the closet hoping he will forget about them. No such luck. He asked (begged) me to wear this in hopes of getting free admission for me as well. (You understand it isn't about the money, it's about DH having some fun!)

Well, it looks like somebody changed the rules because the ticket agent said, "Sorry, that really doesn't qualify as 'authentic' German attire." (When is the last time you saw a leather tee shirt?) But, when I unzipped my jacket to display the front of my shirt, everybody in the ticket booth burst out laughing and said they really, really wished they could let us in free, but again, sorry.

Our friends, Bill and Carol, joined us for a great day out on Saturday to check out all the wares in the booths, a little sampling of some (maybe more than a little) German sausages, red cabbage, sauerkraut, potato salad, funnel cake,

and lots of oompah music, which is still ringing through my head.



This lady could play the xylophone and dance wildly while playing!



Our friends, Carol and Bill. Carol is an amazing woman of faith and strength. I told about her in a past blog. She fell a couple of days after Christmas, breaking her right leg and left arm! After 3 1/2 months, she is finally out of the wheelchair and was able to walk all around the park on Saturday.

We watched the Chicken Dance!

The German bands all love to sing,

"In heaven there is no beer."

Uh, I'm good with that.

Super Jack!

  

April 22, 2011

Sister Kate doing the happy dance!

His smiles were sweet from the beginning

A future firefighter?

So kissable

 

What boy doesn't like a motorcycle?

 

 

Lovable Jack

Does he ever have any bad moments?

 

Well ... not very often.

 

Awwwww. He really didn't want to pose for a pic that day.
Christmas is too much fun.

  

Giving a few orders from
his fire truck.

Being outside is one of his favorite things

 

Birthday toys to play with in the
sandbox Daddy built

 

Super Jack with a remote control car
for his birthday

 

They both want control! ;-)
(Don't we all?)

 



Proud Mommy

Daddy and Mommy

Future Fireman Jack tried to put
out the candles with his tongue!!!!

Look out, Folks!
He just hit the "Terrible Two's"

Bribery?? ... Me??? Nah!

Monday found us driving home from our visit to Tulsa, and just resting up. Tuesday and Wednesday were Bible study days for me and catching up with things left undone while we were gone. The weather this past week brought a mixture of winter, cold temperatures, lots of rain and wind through the middle of week and then warmer temperatures Thursday, sunny, no wind, and just perfect springlike weather.

Kate and Jack were here Thursday and Friday. Need I say more? Well, okay. They're adorable and so much fun to just hang out with!

Throughout the week, DH spent most of his time in the Lazy Boy, catching up on his "The Good Wife" addiction, and in general, just being very sedentary. Speaking from my own experience, it seems that "being" sedentary begets more sedentary. (I don't even know whether that is a good use of those words, but it is what it is.)

Naturally, being a concerned wife, I have been trying to think of ways to get him "up and at 'em" without being a naggy nag (which never works anyway.)

So, this morning I just felt inspired to take some action to motivate DH out of the house because I knew that once he got out, he would feel rejuvenated.

The Plan:
After checking through the long list of things to do in the Dallas metroplex, it occurred to me that the Dallas Arboretum is one of the most beautiful places to just "be" out and about walking on a day like today with the added bonuses of park benches scattered throughout, and the tram that is available to cart you around if you don't feel like walking.

The Bribe Motivation: Breakfast at DH's favorite place!!

DH and I held hands as we walked around a little, then hitched a ride on the tram to take in all the sights around the Arboretum. It just doesn't get any better than seeing the tulips that were still around and the azaleas bursting with color! Our driver was a wealth of interesting information about the plants and the gardens as we enjoyed the background sounds of the joyful birds singing. We toured the DeGolyer Estate on the grounds and the tour guide there must have been 75 or 80 years old, but clearly knew all the facts and it gave her great pleasure to tell us about the DeGolyer family. (Mr. DeGolyer was a pioneering geophysicist and petroleum geologist known for his outstanding contributions to science, education and community.)

 

 

For some reason, DH wanted me to be chauffeur this morning, however, as we left the park, he said he would drive home as he knew a "better" way of getting us there. All right! My way was pretty clear and simple, but being the submissive wife that I am, I agreed to his going another way home.

Yes, we ended up taking the circuitous route and GPS made several attempts at getting us to "make a U-turn, if possible."

GPS gave up on the U-turn and then directed us to turn left, but, uh-oh, there was a bulldozer digging up that particular street. We continued on, and when GPS signaled that we should again turn left, hmmmmm, there were police cars with lights flashing to block traffic, and maybe 100 people dressed in colorful costumes marching about on the street. Well, I knew for sure that we are still in the month of April, so today is not Cinco de Mayo, but as we slowed down and drew closer to the scene, we saw that it was a parade with one lone float dedicated to ... aha!! a Hare Krishna celebration. A quick Google check revealed that today they are celebrating a festival of chariots. Who knew? Kind of ironic since everybody was walking alongside the one float.

 

When we returned home, DH told me how glad he was I had thought of getting out today, and what a good time he had. For myself, I am holding on to that long list of things to do around Dallas, and plan to start checking them off on a regular basis!

 

Can I just say that this morning was fantastic and thank You, Lord for it?
Even the detours along the way couldn't spoil the day.

Tulsa Time

After sealing the deal with the Harley as mentioned in my previous post (what a great relief that was to both DH and me), we made our way to the bank and then got ourselves ready to head northbound to Tulsa for some time with my family. Road trips are always a good time for DH and me (as long as we have a full tank of gas, that is, they then have a tendency to become intense while he sees just how far we can stretch a tank of gas). 

After arriving in Tulsa and lunch on Saturday, we spent the afternoon browsing around with my brother and sister-in-law, Susan, in a shop filled with all kinds of treasures mostly unnecessary good stuff. It had been on my agenda (the bottom of my list) for some time to pick up some silk flowers for the nice crystal vase I found last Spring at Canton Trade Days. (The stems are a little too long, so they will need some fixin'.



I also found this terrific hat that I will now be wearing every chance I get. It's lightweight with an adjustable headband, is washable, scrunches up for packing, and, best of all, it doesn't mess with my hair!!!

Walleroo's model looks pretty cute wearing my hat!

My sister, Roberta, joined us after the shopping and brother Phil took us for a drive around downtown Tulsa. I enjoyed seeing all the improvements that have been made since I left 43 years ago. There is just never enough time for looking around. Of course, I had to take this pic for our grandson, Brady.

 

 

 

We drove around an old section of town just a little northwest of downtown Tulsa. There were some nice old homes there none of us had seen before. Amazing that in all the years I lived there, I never knew of its existence. These people had a birds' eye view of the city.

 

 

We went to our old neighborhood. This is a sad picture and scenes such as this are why I have only visited the old home place a total of three times since leaving. My brother used to play baseball at this field just down the street from our house. Maybe someone should consider tearing this down?

 

 

 

Our house faced a park which used to be known as Chamberlain Park. Pic below is of the tennis court and behind it is the recreation center. Although my sister and I "played at" tennis here, it was also my own personal roller skating rink. I would strap on my sidewalk skates and skate around on the concrete. The park also had a swimming pool for summertime fun. On Friday nights the rec center would host "Teen Town" where one of the local bands would play their renditions of the Beatles and Dave Clark 5 and everybody else had fun dancing.

 

 

This is where we lived at 5042 North Detroit, Tulsa, Oklahoma. My parents were so proud of this house, which they built in 1961, and my place of residence for seven years until I moved out on my own. Although it still looks pretty good at 52 years old, it looked so much nicer when we lived there. In the spring, summer and fall, my Mom had beautiful flower beds all across the front of the house, and I still remember sleeping in the summer with the windows open and the attic fan drawing in the mingled scent of roses and honeysuckle which were on the fence around the yard.

 

 

2013

 

My Dad and brother, Phil, Fall of 1962

 

Those open windows got me in a bit of trouble one night when I was 17. One of my good friends and I had gone out to Keystone Lake (a pretty far distance from our house and, after having been told NOT to go there) and we didn't get back home until 2:00 a.m. Cheryl and I knew we were in trouble, so in order to get our stories straight, we stood on the front porch and discussed it. (Yes, I'm sorry to say we made up a fib.)  After we had it figured out and she had driven away, I very quietly opened the front door and tiptoed back to my bedroom. Just barely made it to the door when I heard "the voice." The stern voice of my Dad. "Connie Jean, where have you been?"

 

I gave him my great story, only to hear him reply, "I've already heard that one!" Yes, he had, thanks to the window in my parents' bedroom being wide open on that silent night in May, and in perfect hearing of anyone else who might have been loitering somewhere in front of the house. Oh well. My shame of disobedience and being found out has lasted longer than whatever punishment he must have given me for not telling the truth.

 

After church on Sunday, we went to the family reunion of my maternal grandmother. My aunt had brought a scrapbook and a box of old photos. Here is a picture of my Granny that I had never seen before. (This was taken after she had cut off her long tresses, which I think was probably a very daring thing for her to do.)

 

I love this pic!

It was great seeing relatives I hadn't seen for many years and I am hopeful my aunt will later share some of the pictures she took. I don't know about you, but sometimes it seems we never get around to seeing family until we have to get together for a funeral. My uncle made the comment that each of us present that day were blessed because of the legacy our great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents had left to us. I agree. 

 

"The reality is, the loving kindness of others – some gone ahead and some still here – has imprinted God’s love on my heart."  Glynnis Whitwer, Proverbs 31 Ministries

 

Now, on a lighter note, does anybody remember these?

 

At what point did this become unfashionable? 

Although I never really liked them,

it would have been nice to be able to wear one on a windy day like yesterday.

It was impossible to keep my hair out of my eyes as I loaded the groceries in my car.

But today was even worse!

It's soooooo cold here today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good-bye, Harley Davidson

It's a done deal.
Cold, hard cash!!!

And we're off to the bank running!!!

 

 

Random Happenings

Just catching up on what has been an interesting (for us) and full week.

Kate was over Monday, after having spent the night with us on Easter. Kate is a precious girl and it is a joy to spend time with her. We play, talk, color, whatever we're doing is just fun. She doesn't eat enough to keep a bird alive, as they say, and Sunday's meal was so yummy, how could anybody pass up on brisket tacos? I fixed corn on the cob for the kids and she probably ate two bites. Oh yes, and she ate several candies from her "Easter Bucket," some Peeps, jelly beans, M & M's and the frosting off two cupcakes. That girl! When her parents and brother Jack had gone home, she came to me and said, "Nonnie, I'm hungry. Can you send out for a pizza?" 

She went to Sam's with us and walked alongside Grandpa and our cart, or rode on the cart. We had pizza while we were there and she ate every bit of it except the crust which she always hands over to me. Wherever she goes, she is a delight because she is so sweet. She says please and thank you, and hugs the cashier. And gasp! She doesn't beg, whine or throw fits for things in the store. She is just along for the ride.

What a charmer!!

Sad to say, on Tuesday morning, as I was on my way to Tuesday morning Bible study, I got a call from Kate's Mommy saying Kate was very, very sick, crying out because of neck pain and throwing up. So we met and I brought Jack home with me to spend the day while Amy took care of Kate. She was so good at the doctor's office and cooperated in every way. She felt so bad that she even refused the lollipop the doctor tried to give her. The doctor said it was "just a virus" and prescribed meds. By the end of the day and after lots of rest, Kate was back to her old self. Thank You, God.

And thank You, God for another delightful day that we had to spend with Jack. What a sweetheart. Lots of laughter with this boy.

Wednesday morning Bible Study Fellowship - YES - we are more than halfway through the book of Genesis which we have been studying since September! What a book of beginnings.

Thursday I had my annual visit to the oncologist. Seven years out and still good report! Yay!!! And I give thanks to God for His mercies.

On my way home from the doctor, I stopped by to visit with my dear friend and former co-worker, Kay, and was surprised to get to see my boss June Hunt, too while I was there. She is such a busy lady and had I been trying to get to see her, would have had to work around her schedule, so it was a very nice surprise. I had the privilege of working with these ladies for ten years at the ministry June founded many years ago, Hope for the Heart. You can check out this great ministry here and read about all the ways they are reaching out to counsel and help hurting people. June is a generous, dedicated woman who loves God and people. June has built her life around helping others and her most recent vision was fulfilled in the building of an unbelievably nice facility that is now home offices for 40-45 other ministries in Plano, Texas, such as Josh McDowell, Joni & Friends (Joni Earackson Tada), Global for Asia, Probe Ministries, I Am Second, Marriage Matters, and many other great ministries. Her vision was that all these ministries in the same building could have more affordable space and save their ministries money by sharing such things as recording studio, conference facilities, bookstore for their materials, etc.

Pretty awesome, huh?

But when I worked with June and Kay, I worked from June's home and here is a sample of one of the pleasant views I enjoyed every day at work.

Azaleas across the back yard haven't yet burst into bloom

Actually, my eyes were focused on the computer most all the time as I managed her traveling, recording, speaking schedule, assisting her with the books and materials she wrote, doing research and, one of my favorite jobs, placing Scripture contextually with her written material. Everything she counseled or wrote was Biblically based!

Semi-annual trip to the dentist today and yippee, another great report! "Keep doing what you're doing."

Right now: DH and I are waiting holding our breath  to see if the sale of the Harley goes through. Jay is so excited and his hopes are so high, I pray that he is not disappointed. It will be a low blow if it doesn't.

This weekend, as soon as we take care of the motorcycle deal, we are off on a road trip to Tulsa to visit my brother, Phil and my sister-in-love, Susan, and my sweet sister, Roberta and her family. We will get to see my niece Robyn's new home, which I'm excited about because she has worked very hard these past few months updating an old house to make it a really nice home for herself. It was a BIG step for her and so very happy that she took it.

Roberta and Robyn

So last night we took our Schnauzer, Trudy, to the petsitters. That is positively one of the most exciting things for Trudy in her life other than chasing rabbits. She watches out the window as we make the trip over to Linda's and when we turn the corner to her neighborhood, Trudy begins to perk up and moan like crazy, then goes into a very excited yelping and she cannot stay still. LOL! I got a good video of her and had the iPhone on Face Time. This is where she noticed herself in the camera and took a few licks on the phone.

Looking forward to a reunion on Sunday with my Granny's (my maternal grandmother) family, the Upjohns. Isn't that an interesting name? I've not been close to them since they weren't a big part of my growing up years, so am looking forward to hearing all I can about them.

On a sad note, this week also saw my nephew off to Afghanistan. If you pray for the military, please include Chase, for his safety, protection, and wisdom and guidance as he leads others. Thank you.