On Eagle's Wings

On Eagle's Wings
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

Followers

Monday, August 31, 2015

Just Stuff that Warms My Heart (and other random bits)


On Friday evening, Amy called and told me she was feeling down and tired and really wishing her Mom lived here because she would have gone to see her Mom. But then she remembered she had some place to go. To our house. 
How wonderful! Thank you, God!

We had been looking forward to hearing how school went for all the kids this week. They should have much to tell and will probably want to spend the night, but mom says they need to go home tonight and get a good rest. It will be a very busy weekend coming up. Jack has his first soccer game Saturday and Mom and Dad are going to the Fireman's Ball!

And yes, they did have a lot to tell. As soon as the van drove up and Jack jumped out of the car we went out to greet him. He bent over and pointed to the ground showing me his black tiger and his white tiger, but be careful because white tiger bites. "But wait," he says. "White Tiger is licking your leg so he likes you."

We played and talked and heard all about first grade from Kate. Jack's preschool teacher is Miss Heather and Kate's is Mrs. Price. Kate is reading chapters and she told us she reads her Bible every night. Mommy and Jack went upstairs to rest on the bed and watch the iPad. After we had pizza they wanted to go out and play in the hot tub for a while so we went outside to watch. Both of them showed us how they could jump and flip and play. Jack stands on the edge and says "Everybody watch! I'm going to do something very dangerous. Everybody stand back." Sadly, too soon, it was time for them to leave. Both kids cried and cried begging to stay all night with us. What a blessing that they want to be with us.

This has also been a busy week for us. We started off the week waiting for the plumber to come and doing things around the house getting ready for the week. On Tuesday morning the Ladies Of Grace Bible study met for the first fall session. For the last four weeks or so, it has been my new habit (Yay) to walk, and each morning I pass by a house where a lady is sitting in the garage. I always smile and wave. I decided to stop and talk to her last week and in the conversation found out that she has many health issues and I learned that she is also a believer. So I told her every day I will pray for her as I pass by her house and I've stopped a few times to visit. I told her about our Bible study on Tuesdays and invited her to come. She says she will. (sorry about all the I sentences)

On Wednesday DH and I went to see a movie called The Young and Prodigious T. S. Spivet. It was an enjoyable two hours - a clean and fun movie, which is rare to find these days.

That evening I got to serve in preschoolers at church.

Thursday's plan was to go downtown Dallas to ride the McKinney trolley with our friends Alice and Fred. After making it through the Dallas traffic, (which, in itself, is a great adventure) we found a parking spot, and waited for the trolley. About 30 minutes later, we were told the power was down and the trolley would be delayed. After waiting a while longer and it still was down, we decided to make a change of plan and go over to the George Bush library. As we drove away, what do you think? Around the corner came the trolley! Oh well, maybe another day - maybe a cooler day. It was nice to see the library again, and have lunch at the Café 43. Plus, Alice and Fred had wanted to see it, so everything worked out fine.

Friday morning we went over to visit my friend Connie and see her new place. She has done a great job decorating her new home. While happy for her, sad that she moved such a loooooong ways from us. She talked and talked ... we could hardly get a word in edgewise. DH was a good sport about it. One great tip I got from her today is that I can, in Notes on my iPad, hit microphone and talk and the iPad will type for me. That is what I've done on this page.

Saturday was Jack's big soccer game. Watching four year old boys play soccer for the first time was the best entertainment. Jack made the only two goals and would have scored two more times, but his little teammate kicked the ball out as Jack kicked it in. I think the other little boy will make a fine goalie someday!! A little before halftime, Jack was tired and when he gets tired, he's "done." He began to walk off the field, but we all encouraged him to get back out there and play the game. When he made his first goal, he was so pumped by our applause and enthusiasm, you couldn't wipe the smile off his face and every time he looked over to us, he gave his thumbs up sign! So cute!


Our Jack is in the dark blue.

Sunday night we got to talk with Brady and Noah and hear about their week. Poor Noah had strep throat and had to miss school on Friday! Bless his heart.
Sweet Noah.

These boys get a little wild when we're on the Facetime.



Brady and Noah both play soccer also and Brady is continuing with baseball. I am hopeful we will get to watch them play this fall. One thing I have noticed about the kids' sports. The parents are very well behaved!

Kate can ride her bicycle now.

And here are Kate and Jack's Mommy and Daddy at the Ball!
My own personal opinion says they were the best looking couple there!
For sure the ones wearing the biggest smiles!

There are some times when you forget all the blessings
and focus on the wrong things.
Then, zap, God brings it to your remembrance through His Word,
or a song, or maybe someone who loves you and encourages you.
That happened today. 
So many things to be thankful for.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Back to School!

The time has come.
Summer is over, that is, for the kids.


We say good-bye to another phase in our life of retirement here. What in the world will we do with ourselves without those unexpected visits, those middle of the week overnighters with kids? We are already feeling the quiet house syndrome for too many days in a row. Their calendars and their lives are filling up with activities! Activities that don't include us!!!



Our sweet boys down south headed off to school yesterday morning.
First and third grades.
Their Mom said they were very excited and very cute in that excitement.



Here, a little closer to home, the other cuties went to school. 
One to first grade and the other to pre-K! 
And surprise, surprise!! 
Mom is going off to school too. 
She will be a 7th grade teacher's aide helping with special needs kids.


So everybody is now at work, at school,
and the old folks are left to find something to play.

BOO-HOO!!

I met up with an old friend from high school last week. 
We hadn't seen each other in 45 years!!!

l


Ladies of Grace began today.
Bible Study Fellowship will begin in September.
I have plenty of lunch dates and so does DH.
Our Monday night dates with friends have resumed
and we are consumed
with Poldark!

This Thursday, DH and I are going to downtown Dallas to play tourist.
We will ride the trolley for its entire route just to check out all the things there are to do!

"Downtown, things will be great when you're
Downtown, no finer place for sure
Downtown, every thing's waiting for you."**

Concert season begins in September.
I think we're gonna be all right!



**Songwriters
HATCH, TONY / CAUTY, JAMES / DRUMMOND, BILL

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Back to School Hodgepodge


It's Wednesday again. Time for some good Hodgepodging questions. Join in with your answers to Joyce's questions and link back to From This Side of the Pond.



1. At what age did you feel like a 'grown-up'? What keeps you young now?
I felt like a grown-up at age 18 after landing my first "real" job, making decisions, buying a car, and paying for all my expenses out of my own checking account. I felt even more grown up when I married at 21. Having younger people ask for my opinion or advice about something also makes me feel grown up. HOWEVER, I still feel as young as I did as 22, and though I know my thoughts are more mature, I do not feel old. I take care of myself, can keep up with the young'uns, and I think having a cheerful and grateful attitude are also factors in feeling young. It never ceases to surprise me that I have friends my age who are great-grandmothers! How did that happen? 

2. When did you last buy a vehicle? Was this by design or because you had no other option? Was the car/truck purchased for your own personal use or was it bought for someone else to drive? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being delightful and 1 being 'pass the Excedrin') how would you rate the experience?
2011. My husband (who is ever wanting the newest thing) had his heart set on the little Chevrolet Volt because he wanted to drive an electric car. I was opposed, but it became the car we both drove around town, holding the big SUV in reserve for road trips. This Volt has saved us bunches of bucks in gasoline when prices have been so high. I was against it because it was a Chevy and I thought it was too expensive. I now am grateful to him for the decision he made. I give it a 9! (No 10 because the car doesn't come with a spare tire, which I found to be incredibly stupid before we purchased it, and I am still amazed that this car has no spare with it. At least we have Onstar!**)

3. Corn bread, corn chips, corn pudding, corn on the cob, cornflakes, corn chowder-your favorite of the corn-y foods listed? What needs to be served alongside your selection?
No hesitation here. Cornbread with beans, fried taters, and fresh tomatoes. Put some cottage cheese and ketchup on the side for me, please. (That grosses everybody else out!)

4. What's something in your life that regularly requires you to 'put your thinking cap on'?
Your Hodgepodge!

5. Share a favorite movie set in a school or classroom, or whose theme relates to school days in some way.
Splendor in the Grass with Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. I've watched this movie many times hoping for a better ending.

Natalie Wood reading William Wordsworth's poem

Another favorite with a happier ending would be To Sir with Love!

6. Reading, writing, and 'rithmatic' are commonly referred to as the three R's. What are the three R's in your life right now?
Religion (and I don't like that word, but it does begin with R and the Lord Jesus Christ is central in my life now and forever.)
Relationships
Retirement

7. What's something you've learned or tried recently you can say was as 'easy as ABC'?
Don't laugh! Today I learned how to change AC filters. Easy peasy.  (**I need to learn what to do with Onstar!!)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I need to find some worthwhile/fun/interesting things for my husband and I to do together. We both have things we are involved in separately, but the grandkids nearby who have occupied such a huge part of our time over the past few years are now transitioning into school and preschool, daughter-in-law has a job, and not seeing them on a regular basis will leave a huge gap. 

Relationships and Retirement. Sigh.



Sunday, August 16, 2015

Happy Birthday Kate

Kate really, really wanted a hamster for her seventh birthday,
but after doing some research on it, Mommy and Daddy decided gerbils
might be the way to go.
She is delighted!
Can you tell by that big smile?



Their names are Fluffy and Jerry.
Here's hoping the best for them as Kate loves on them!

Birthday morning surprises included a trip to the donut shop!

Kate with Daddy and Jack and, of course,
new residents, Fluffy and Jerry!

Before the birthday party!

Grandpa and Kate

With her beloved Nana

Grandpa, Kate and yours truly


Playing before the guests arrive.

And let the party begin!
Plenty of shade, and a nice breeze for the adults made this August day in Texas quite pleasant.




Room to play, water to splash in, pizza and cupcakes!

Gifts!
Two Princess dresses and several
Princess nightgowns.


Kate, we love you and are so proud of you!


Kindhearted

Affectionate

Treasured

Encourager

= KATE


Saturday, August 15, 2015

Fun in the Sun

It's been a fun-filled and active week at our house and has now become somewhat of a blur. Had I not taken a few pictures along the way, I'm not sure I would be able to remember. As it is, these are highlights, not all the happenings.

First off, I just find this pic funny!


We brought Kate over on Tuesday for the night, however, she informed us she would like to stay with us for three days! And stay she did! One of the first things we did was make a trip to the mall to shop for new school shoes. The Twinkle Toes are the ones she chose and they are super cute. 



She had fun playing at the mall, we rode the carousel and had dinner at her favorite place - Chili's.

On Wednesday morning, Kate and I hung out together and played a couple of games of Candyland. 
That afternoon we went to Sonic for lunch, then shopped for and filled the goodie bags for her guests who will be coming to her birthday party on Saturday. After dinner with Grandpa at the Texas Roadhouse, we went to church.

On Thursday, we met Mommy at the orthodontist for Kate's first appointment and exchanged one kid for another. Jack came back with us to wait for Mommy and Kate so we could all go to the Rainforest Water Park again this week. That was an unexpected surprise and we had a blast!! 

Then on Friday, out of the blue, their Daddy called wanting all of us (Grandpa, too) to go over to the water park AGAIN!!!! Who could refuse such an offer?

This time, I got my camera out of the bag to try to get a few pics of them.

He isn't shy about jumping in 12 feet of water.
He's just not thrilled that I had the camera on him.
He's funny about that sometimes.


Swim hard, Jack!


They are both excellent swimmers.

Daddy did three double flips in a row.
He wanted me to take a video so he could show Amy. It took me three tries, but I finally managed to get it. The sun was blinding and it's a little difficult taking pics with an iPhone. (On my second try, somehow the reverse button was pressed and I recorded a full minute or so of my face!!!! I'm not sharing a pic of that and hope he deleted it from his camera. I'm sure it was a squenched-up face staring intently into the phone screen.)

 Kate coming down the red slide. 
Jack was pretty ticked off that he isn't tall enough yet for this slide 
and the lifeguards wouldn't let him do it. 
Life isn't fair sometimes.

Grandpa was more than tall enough, but I was concerned about the speed 
with which he came down that slide!

On Thursday night, Kate and I attended Pink Impact at Gateway Church. At the last minute, Jack decided he would rather stay home with Grandpa. (I confess I wasn't sure how that was going to go down since Grandpa was already worn out and I let it mess with my mind while we were at Pink Impact! Struggles with anxiety - I had to ask God to help me just let it go!)



When Kate and I got home, this boy was WIRED!!!
Grandpa fed him the Double Chocolate Coca Cola cake I had made for Kate!!!
As I pulled up in the drive after 9 p.m., he was at the front door 
waiting for me and yelling "more chocolate cake!!!"


All was well! They had a good time together.

These kids have fantastic imaginations and over the years, we have gotten to know many of their imaginary friends and pets. So, they love it when I give them imaginary gold stars for the good things I catch them doing! Problem is, you can't give one a gold star without the other wanting to prove themselves worthy of one also! That is good because they are motivated to outdo each other with earning the stars.

I have to say though, Kate outdid herself yesterday morning. She called me from upstairs wanting me to come see her surprise. She had made up all three beds! 


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